Wondering how to pay for metro and bus rides in South Korea - cash only, or do cards work too?
South Korea is very card-friendly for transport. In Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, you buy a T-money or Cashbee card from convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven), then load it with cash or card. You tap in and out on metros and buses. Foreign Visa/Mastercard often work at reload machines, though sometimes cash is easier. Single-journey tickets also exist, but locals all use rechargeable cards. ATMs from Shinhan or KB Kookmin are everywhere if you need won.
You can’t use your foreign Visa or Amex directly on buses or subways - only Korean-issued contactless cards work that way. I used a T-money card throughout Seoul and Suwon during a short study program this March, and it was fast and reliable. You can even use it for snacks at convenience stores. If you forget to tap off on a bus, you’ll be overcharged, so pay attention to the beeping sound. Honestly, the system is more streamlined than in London or NYC.
Don't bother with cash - metro and buses in Korea are built around tap cards. I grabbed a Cashbee card in Busan and it worked in Daegu too. The machines at the stations don’t take foreign cards for top-ups, so you’ll still need to load it using won. Each ride is like ₩1,250 to ₩1,350 depending on distance. No one expects exact change anymore. The cards are reusable - I kept mine as a souvenir.
Riding the metro in Seoul is super smooth with a T-money card - mine cost ₩2,500 and I reloaded it in subway machines using cash. Most subway stations have English menus. On buses, you just tap the same card when boarding and exiting. I never saw anyone using cash, honestly. If you're visiting for more than a day or two, grab a card at the airport or any convenience store. Also worked on AREX airport train, which was a bonus.
You absolutely want a T-money card or Cashbee - I picked one up at a GS25 right in Incheon Airport. You load it with cash and just tap in and out on buses and metros. No need to fumble with coins or bills. I used mine from Seoul to Busan, even on local buses in smaller towns like Gyeongju. You can also use Korean credit/debit cards with contactless, but foreign cards won’t work directly on readers. Cash is technically accepted, but slower and not ideal.