Source: VISITKOREA

What this is

Korea’s cities run on reloadable prepaid transit cards — Tmoney, EZL, WOWPASS, and Seoul’s Climate Card short-term passes among them. VISITKOREA’s transportation-card guide frames them as the default way to ride subway and bus without buying a paper ticket every time. This brief is a product map for visitors, not a daily fare table (prices and rules change).

How it works in Korea

According to VISITKOREA, these cards are prepaid stored-value products that do not require a local bank account. They unlock transfer discounts on public transport and, for most brands, also work at affiliated stores that show the card logo.

Tmoney is the widest retail footprint: convenience stores nationwide, Seoul subway information centers on Lines 1–8, and station reload machines (reload cap listed at 500,000 won max on VISITKOREA’s table). General card prices are listed around 3,000–5,000 won. Large refunds over 50,000 won are routed to Tmoney Town near Seoul Station, not every kiosk.

Foreigner-oriented Mpass (a Tmoney product) sells as timed Seoul subway/city-bus/AREX (non-express) passes — VISITKOREA lists 1-day 15,000 won, 2-day 23,000 won, 3-day 30,500 won, 5-day 47,500 won, 7-day 64,500 won, cash-only purchase, 30-day validity from issue, with a 3,000 won discount if bought after 17:00. Pickup/return guidance points to Tmoney Town near Seoul Station Exit 10.

EZL is another convenience-store card (from about 4,000 won on the same guide) with store payment after charging and app registration for phone tap.

WOWPASS is positioned as a foreigner all-in-one prepaid card (listed 5,000 won) for currency load, retail, and transit, with airport/kiosk pickup and passport required.

Climate Card Short-Term Pass (Seoul) covers unlimited Seoul buses and most Seoul subway lines for a fixed window — VISITKOREA lists physical card 3,000 won plus short-pass loads of 1-day 5,000 / 2-day 8,000 / 3-day 10,000 / 5-day 15,000 / 7-day 20,000 won. The same page notes that as of October 1, 2026, only short-term Climate passes remain; longer postpaid/30-day Climate products are being wound down on the schedule published there. Sinbundang Line and GTX are called out as outside the Climate unlimited set.

Express coaches and KTX remain separate tickets. Treat the guide’s numbers as as-of the VISITKOREA page date and re-check machines on arrival.

Why it matters outside Korea

Landing without a card means cash or single tickets — slower gates, missed transfer discounts, and more friction on cashless bus fleets. Assignees who assume “any credit card taps the turnstile” hit foreign-card limits on some reload paths. Choosing Mpass vs Climate vs plain Tmoney is a trip-shape decision, not a brand loyalty quiz.

What travelers and expats should watch

• Do buy and load a card at a convenience store or subway info center before your first multi-leg day — VISITKOREA’s point is convenience plus transfer benefits.
• Do match product to itinerary: short Seoul-heavy stays may favor Climate short passes or Mpass; multi-city trips usually favor plain Tmoney reload habits.
• Don’t treat the won figures above as a permanent fare table — re-check the VISITKOREA page and machine screens when you land.
• Expect Climate Card scope and long-pass rules to keep shifting around the 2026 cutoff noted in the source.

Context

Read transit cards as urban mobility plumbing, not as one logo forever. The habit — load, tap in, tap out where required, reload — matters more than memorizing every brand name. Phone wallets help residents; many visitors still win with plastic for the first week.

Korelay take

This is a first-party living guide, not a news wire rewrite. Use it to plan behavior (what to buy, book, say, or avoid) before you land — then confirm prices and rules on the linked official page, because retail and admin details move.

Source

VISITKOREA — Transportation Cards (page notes an August 2026 update). Korelay editorial framing for overseas readers — not official fare advice; confirm on arrival.