Money in Korea

Cards and cash, transit cards compared, the tax refund and tipping. Each line shows the date we checked and its source.

Cards and cash

Most businesses in Korea accept credit cards. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and other cards work, but some stores may not take them, so check before you buy.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Money and banks
Banks are generally open 09:00–16:00 on weekdays.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Money and banks

Transit cards

Transit cards for visitors in Korea
Option	Price	Covers	Where to buy	Top up	Refund
Tmoney Travel CardTmoney	4,000 KRW	Buses, subways, taxis, airport and express buses nationwide	Convenience stores, and bus ticket offices at Incheon Airport	Subway ticket machines, up to 500,000 KRW on the card	Under 50,000 KRW at convenience stores; more at Tmoney Town near Seoul Station Exit 10
Details and sources (4) Tmoney Travel Card: buses, subways, taxis, airport and express buses nationwide. Price 4,000 KRW, sold at convenience stores and bus ticket offices at Incheon Airport. Checked 2026-10-15 · Tmoney: Travel cards for visitors Tmoney cards are sold at convenience stores nationwide (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven and others) and at Seoul subway station information centers (Lines 1–8), for 3,000–5,000 KRW. You can top up at subway ticket machines, up to 500,000 KRW. Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Transportation cards Refunds of over 50,000 KRW are made at Tmoney Town near Seoul Station Exit 10; smaller amounts at convenience stores. Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Transportation cards The Korea Tour Card has been discontinued and is no longer sold. Checked 2026-10-15 · Tmoney: Travel cards for visitors
Tmoney Travel Card + WOWPASSTmoney, WOWPASS	6,000 KRW	Transit like a Tmoney card, plus card payments at shops	Convenience stores, or WOWPASS kiosks at major subway stations, hotels and airports (passport needed)	WOWPASS kiosks, in KRW or foreign cash such as USD, JPY and CNY	—
Details and sources (4) Tmoney Travel Card + WOWPASS: transit, plus payments at any card merchant nationwide. Price 6,000 KRW, sold at convenience stores. Checked 2026-10-15 · Tmoney: Travel cards for visitors WOWPASS is a prepaid transport card only for foreigners, which you can also use to pay and to exchange money. Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Transportation cards Buy it online or in the app and pick it up at the airport, or at kiosks in 300 locations, including major subway stations, hotels and international airports. You need your passport. Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Transportation cards At a WOWPASS kiosk you can load KRW, or foreign cash such as USD, JPY and CNY. Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Transportation cards
Climate Card short-term passSeoul city	1 day 5,000 KRW to 7 days 20,000 KRW, plus the card	Unlimited Seoul subway and Seoul city buses, for 1 to 7 days	New ticket machines at Line 1–8 stations; convenience stores near Line 9, Ui-Sinseol and Sillim line stations	Ticket machines in subway stations; the pass starts the day you load it	Register the card on the Tmoney Card & Pay website, or it cannot be refunded
Details and sources (9) The Climate Card is a pass for unlimited subway and bus rides in Seoul for the period you choose. Checked 2026-10-15 · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass Short-term passes: 1 day 5,000 KRW, 2 days 8,000 KRW, 3 days 10,000 KRW, 5 days 15,000 KRW, 7 days 20,000 KRW. Checked 2026-10-15 · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass A physical Climate Card costs 3,000 KRW at Seoul Metro information centers in subway stations and some nearby convenience stores. Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Transportation cards Covers: subway within Seoul, Seoul city and village buses (including night and circular buses). Not covered: Shinbundang Line, GTX, subway outside Seoul, intercity and airport buses, buses licensed outside Seoul, Ttareungyi bikes and the Hangang Bus. Checked 2026-10-15 · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass You can ride from a covered station to Incheon Airport Terminal 1 or 2 and get off there, but you cannot start a trip at those airport stations with the card. Checked 2026-10-15 · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass The pass starts on the day you load it, from the first train (04:00) on the first day to the last train of the last day. You cannot load it in advance. Checked 2026-10-15 · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass Physical cards are sold at new ticket machines in Seoul Metro Line 1–8 stations and at convenience stores near Line 9, Ui-Sinseol and Sillim line stations. Pay in cash or by credit or debit card (no corporate cards). Checked 2026-10-15 · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass Since 17 March 2026, the new ticket machines at Line 1–8 stations accept credit and debit cards issued abroad for the short-term pass. Checked 2026-10-15 · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass FAQ Register a physical card on the Tmoney Card & Pay website (one card per person); unregistered cards cannot be refunded. Refund = amount loaded − fares used − a 500 KRW fee. Visitors without a Korean bank account get a cash refund at Tmoney headquarters. Checked 2026-10-15 · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass

Tax refund

Immediate tax refund at the shop: each purchase must be at least 15,000 KRW and under 1,000,000 KRW, and you can spend up to 5,000,000 KRW in total this way on your trip. Show your passport and ask for the tax refund when you pay.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Duty free and tax refunds
The law sets the same limits: under 1,000,000 KRW per purchase including tax, and up to 5,000,000 KRW in total after you enter Korea, and the shop checks your passport.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korean law: Special rules on VAT for foreign tourists (Article 6)
Purchases under 15,000 KRW in one transaction do not qualify for the tax refund.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korean law: Enforcement rules of the special VAT rules for foreign tourists (Article 2)
Tax refunds are for non-Korean citizens staying in Korea less than six months, and you must leave Korea within three months of buying.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Duty free and tax refunds
Goods must be new (unopened and unused).
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Duty free and tax refunds
Refunding at departure: show the goods and the refund receipts to customs and get the Customs Export Approval stamp on the receipts.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Duty free and tax refunds
Refund booths at airports and port terminals have no purchase limit; downtown refund booths take receipts up to 6,000,000 KRW each.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Duty free and tax refunds

Tips

Most taxis charge by the meter and do not require tips.
Checked 2026-10-15 · Korea Tourism Organization: Taxi

Sources

Korea Tourism Organization: Money and banks Checked 2026-10-15
Tmoney: Travel cards for visitors Checked 2026-10-15
Korea Tourism Organization: Transportation cards Checked 2026-10-15
Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass Checked 2026-10-15
Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card short-term pass FAQ Checked 2026-10-15
Korea Tourism Organization: Duty free and tax refunds Checked 2026-10-15
Korean law: Special rules on VAT for foreign tourists (Article 6) Checked 2026-10-15
Korean law: Enforcement rules of the special VAT rules for foreign tourists (Article 2) Checked 2026-10-15
Korea Tourism Organization: Taxi Checked 2026-10-15