Subway ticket gates at World Cup Stadium Station in Seoul, photographed in 2013. Photo: 쉰지식인, World Cup Stadium Station (Seoul) Exit 1 Ticket Gates.JPG / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0; image unchanged by RentSmart.
For subway and bus travel, an ordinary Tmoney card is enough. Consider WOWPASS if you also want a local Korean prepaid payment card. WOWPASS already includes Tmoney transport functionality, so you do not need to buy a separate transport card. Its shopping and transport balances are managed separately.
What is the difference between Tmoney and WOWPASS?
ItemOrdinary physical TmoneyWOWPASSMain useSubway, bus and other transport, plus participating merchants displaying the Tmoney logoPrepaid payments at local merchants, with built-in Tmoney transport functionalityWhere to buy and costConvenience stores and information centres on Seoul Subway Lines 1–8; ordinary cards about ₩3,000–5,000Official Machine (Pre-booked) collection offer: ₩5,500; passport required for collectionTop-ups and balancesAdd transport value at convenience stores or subway stationsTop up the payment balance at machines or in the app; add transport value separately, including transfers through the appRemaining balanceSmall balances can be refunded at designated convenience storesWithdraw payment balances at WOWPASS machines; use Tmoney refund channels for the transport balance
Buying the card and adding value are separate costs. Ordinary card prices come from the Korea Tourism Organization's transport card guide. For WOWPASS, the example is the official Incheon T1 pre-booked collection offer shown on 16 October 2026, rather than a uniform price for every on-site channel.
How do I buy or collect a card?
Ordinary Tmoney: buy at a convenience store and add value
Buy a card at a convenience store such as GS25, CU or 7-Eleven, then add value using Korean won cash. Tell the cashier the amount, or use a transport-card top-up machine at a subway station. Check the balance before leaving. This guide covers ordinary physical cards rather than mobile Tmoney registration.
WOWPASS: bring your passport and booking code
The Machine (Pre-booked) offer on the official WOWPASS collection page was ₩5,500 when checked, with an original price of ₩6,000 displayed. This covers the card only; add Tmoney value separately. The booking voucher is valid for 180 days and cannot be cancelled or refunded after purchase.
After choosing and paying for the offer, keep the code in the confirmation email. At a WOWPASS machine supporting collection, choose “Get a New Card” and “Issue via Code”, scan your passport and enter the code. Follow the screen to collect and top up the card, then insert it once more to activate it. Finally, scan the barcode on the back in the WOWPASS app and enter the CVC to register it. Each passport is limited to one WOWPASS.
Build travel miles through everyday rent payments
Pay eligible rent through RentSmart with an applicable credit card for the opportunity to build miles under the card's reward terms and prepare for your next trip.
Explore rent payments and miles
How do WOWPASS top-ups work? Separate the two wallets
Merchant payments use the WOWPASS balance; transport uses the Tmoney balance. At offline merchants accepting local Korean credit/debit cards, insert the WOWPASS chip into the reader. On the subway or bus, tap the card to deduct the transport fare.
You can add Korean won cash to the payment balance at WOWPASS machines, with overseas card/e-wallet channels also available in the app. The current official homepage lists Mastercard, JCB and Visa via PayPal. After selecting the method and amount in the app, check the confirmation screen's fees and credited amount before paying. This list does not establish support for every Hong Kong bank card or rewards eligibility for a top-up.
Transfer payment value into Tmoney through the app
- On the WOWPASS app's Tmoney page, tap “Top-up” and hold the physical WOWPASS near the phone's reader.
- Choose “Top-up with WOWPASS” and enter the transport top-up amount.
- Hold the card against the reader again until the screen confirms completion, then check the new Tmoney balance.
This process requires a compatible NFC phone. Enable NFC on Android; the current iPhone WOWPASS app requires iOS 16 or later. App-based card reading and top-ups support WOWPASS cards only. You can also add transport value with cash at convenience stores or subway stations.
The transfer works in one direction: WOWPASS payment balance → Tmoney. Tmoney value cannot be transferred back to the payment wallet, so add transport value in stages according to your itinerary.
Handle the two balances separately before leaving
Tmoney: refund small balances at designated convenience stores
Small remaining balances on ordinary Tmoney cards and the Tmoney function within WOWPASS can be refunded at designated convenience stores for a ₩500 fee. For example, a ₩10,000 balance refunded at GS25 or 7-Eleven returns ₩9,500 after the fee. Refund locations for larger amounts depend on the balance tier; convenience-store refunds do not cover every amount.
WOWPASS: withdraw the payment balance at a machine
At a WOWPASS machine supporting withdrawals, choose “Withdraw Cash”, insert the card and complete PIN verification through the app, then choose an amount. The limit is ₩100,000 per withdrawal, with a ₩1,000 fee. This handles the payment balance rather than refunding Tmoney.
Use the app to find a machine with withdrawal service before leaving the city. The official guide says machines inside the AREX area at Incheon Airport do not offer withdrawals. If keeping the card for another trip, store the physical card safely and remember to check the transport balance as well as the payment balance displayed in the app.
Build travel miles with monthly rent
When planning your next trip, explore the rewards available through RentSmart rent payments. Eligible rent may earn miles under the applicable credit card terms.
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