If you are currently buying single-use subway tickets with cash every time you ride, stop. Just stop. You are wasting time, you are losing money, and frankly, you are annoying the 50 Koreans standing behind you in line.
In Korea, cash is (mostly) dead. The real king is a small piece of plastic called T-Money.
It’s not just a subway ticket. It’s your wallet, your key to the city, and your “Get Out of Jail Free” card for taxis.
Welcome to Level 1. Here is how I learned the hard way that “Cash is NOT King” in Seoul.
🎬 The “Idiot” Archives: The Beep of Shame
Flashback: 3 years ago. Hongdae Station, Rush Hour.
I thought I was smart. I had my fancy American credit card. “It works globally!” the bank told me. So, I confidently marched up to the subway turnstile and tapped my Visa card.
“BEEP-BEEP-BEEP.” (Error Sound)
I tried again. “BEEP-BEEP-BEEP.”
The gate didn’t open. Behind me, a businessman sighed loudly. An Ajumma clicked her tongue (Tsk tsk). The line was growing. I panicked. I tried to put a dollar bill into the slot. (Yes, I was that stupid).
Finally, a station staff member had to rescue me. I felt like a caveman trying to use a spaceship.
🛑 Enter “Ssam” (The T-Money Guru)
I met Ssam later, traumatized. “Ssam, why does the subway hate my money?”
Ssam pulled out a cute card with a Kakao Friends character on it. “Alice, you need T-Money. In Korea, this card is God.”
He explained the “Cheat Code” benefits:
- Transfer Discounts (Hwan-seung): If you take a bus within 30 minutes of getting off the subway, the bus is FREE (or very cheap). Cash users don’t get this.
- Convenience Stores: You can buy water, ramen, and beer at GS25 or CU with this card.
- Taxis: Drunk at 2 AM? Just hand the taxi driver your T-Money card. No fumbling for cash.
💡 Level 3 Wisdom: The Rules of the Magic Plastic
Okay, so you need one. But there are rules. Ssam taught me these, and now I teach you.
1. Where to Buy? (Anywhere)
Go to any convenience store (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven). Say: “T-money card, please.” It costs about 4,000 KRW ($3). Pick a cute design. It’s a souvenir.
2. The Golden Rule: CASH ONLY for Recharging
This is the part that confuses everyone. You CANNOT load money onto the card with a credit card. You must use CASH (Korean Won) to recharge.
- Where: Subway ticket machines or Convenience stores.
- Pro Tip: Always carry 10,000 KRW cash in your pocket just for recharging.
3. TAG OUT! (Don’t lose money)
When you get off the bus or subway, TAP YOUR CARD AGAIN. If you forget to “Tag Out”:
- You won’t get the transfer discount.
- You will be charged double the next time you ride.
- Ssam will be disappointed in you.
👋 Alice’s Bottom Line
Don’t be the person holding up the line at rush hour. Get a T-Money card. Put 20,000 won on it. It’s the cheapest insurance you can buy for a smooth life in Seoul.
Plus, you get to feel like a local when you hear that satisfying “Beep” instead of the error sound.
🧳 Survival Hangul: At the Convenience Store
- “티머니 카드 있어요?” (T-money card isseoyo?)”
- Meaning: “Do you have T-money cards?”
- “충전해 주세요. (Chung-jeon hae-juseyo.)”
- Meaning: “Please recharge this.”
- Action: Hand them the card + cash.
- “얼마 있어요?” (Eolma isseoyo?)”
- Meaning: “How much is left on it?”