What T-money actually is
T-money is a nationwide rechargeable transit card that works on Busan's subway and light rail, city buses, most taxis, and as regular payment at convenience stores and some vending machines. A card bought in Seoul works in Busan and vice versa — you don't need a separate local card, though Busan also has its own co-branded cards that function the same way.
You do not need a bank account, ID or app to use one. It's a prepaid card: you load cash onto it and the balance goes down with each trip.
Where to buy one
Convenience stores are the easiest source — CU, GS25 and 7-Eleven all sell T-money cards at the counter for roughly 2,500–4,000 KRW for the card itself, which does not include travel credit. Point at the small card rack near the register if it isn't obviously displayed. Subway station vending machines also sell and load cards, with English-language menu options.
- Convenience stores near the airport, Seomyeon and Nampo-dong all typically stock them
- Card cost and starting balance are separate — load extra credit at the same counter
- A physical card is generally easier for short-term visitors than the phone-based versions, which have device and carrier restrictions
How to load and use it
To load credit, hand cash to a convenience store cashier and tell them the amount, or use a top-up (충전) vending machine at any subway station — most accept both cash and card and have an English option.
On the subway or light rail, tap the card on the turnstile reader when entering and again when exiting; the fare is calculated automatically by distance. On city buses, tap once when boarding at the front door, and tap again at the rear door when getting off — skipping the second tap means you lose the transfer discount on your next ride.
Transfers and common mistakes
Transfers between bus and subway, or between two buses, are discounted or free within a set time window (typically around 30 minutes) as long as you tap correctly on both ends of every leg. The most common mistake visitors make is forgetting to tap out when leaving a bus — this both loses the transfer benefit and can result in being charged the maximum possible fare for that route.
What to do with leftover balance
Small leftover balances are easiest to spend down at a convenience store before you fly home, since cards themselves aren't worth much and partial refunds for foreign visitors can be limited depending on the card type and where it was issued. If you plan to return to Korea, it's fine to simply keep the card — balances don't expire quickly.