Mastering the Network of Korean Public Transit

Mastering the Network of Korean Public Transit

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In Seoul, most visitors and new residents get around with a rechargeable transport card, and the right choice depends on how long you stay. According to VisitKorea, the Korea Tourism Organization’s English site, travellers can pick from the Tmoney card, the EZL card, WOWPASS and the Climate Card. Short stays usually suit a pay-as-you-go card; the Climate Card is an unlimited-ride pass for Seoul. This article covers what the official and news sources say about the cards and fares, and which details to check before you pay.

The four cards VisitKorea lists

VisitKorea’s transportation card page describes the options like this:

  • Tmoney: sold at convenience stores nationwide (GS25, CU, 7-ELEVEN and others) and at Seoul subway information centers, for 3,000 to 5,000 won. It can be reloaded at subway vending machines, with a maximum balance of 500,000 won.
  • EZL: sold at nationwide convenience stores from 4,000 won.
  • WOWPASS: bought through an app with kiosk pickup, or at kiosks in more than 300 locations including airports and hotels, for 5,000 won. A passport is required. It accepts Korean won as well as foreign currencies such as USD, JPY and CNY.
  • Climate Card: sold at Seoul tourist information centers and subway stations. The physical card costs 3,000 won.

Card prices and sales points are the sort of detail that changes, so treat the figures as a guide and check the price at the counter.

Transfers between buses and subways

VisitKorea notes that the cards give free transfer discount benefits between buses and subways within set time frames. The page does not list the time limits or amounts, so check the current transfer rules with the operator or Seoul’s transit information before planning a route around them. A Korea Herald report on an earlier fare increase described distance charges that apply after the first 10 kilometers, at an additional 100 won for every 5 kilometers of further travel, which is why a long trip across the metropolitan area costs more than a short one.

What the base fares are

The Korea Herald reported that Seoul Metro raised the adult subway base fare from 1,400 won to 1,550 won, the teenager fare from 800 to 900 won, and the child fare from 500 to 550 won, effective from the first train on June 28. Early-morning discounts before 6:30 a.m. also rose: adults from 1,120 to 1,240 won, teenagers from 640 to 720 won and children from 400 to 440 won. The paper noted that round-trip fares passed 3,000 won for the first time and cited Seoul Metro’s cumulative deficit as the reason.

The same newspaper’s earlier report on the preceding increase stated that Seoul city buses rose to 1,500 won. Bus fares may have moved since then, so confirm the current figure at the card reader or on Seoul’s transit information pages. Both reports were about Seoul; fares in other cities are set locally, and none of the sources read for this article covered them.

The Climate Card for short stays

VisitKorea gives Climate Card passes ranging from 5,000 won for one day to 20,000 won for seven days. Korea.net, the government’s official website, reported earlier prices for foreign-tourist editions of the unlimited card: 5,000 won for one day, 8,000 for two, 10,000 for three and 15,000 for five, plus 3,000 won for a plastic card. According to Korea.net, the cards give unlimited rides on Seoul’s subways and on city and shuttle buses, and cardholders get a 50% discount at the Seoul Science Center and Seoul Grand Park. Unlike the regular 30-day version, which lets the user choose when to start, the short-term tourist cards can be used right away after charging.

Because the two sources list slightly different price ranges, check the current menu of passes at a tourist information center or subway station customer service counter. Korea.net names the Seoul Tourism Plaza on Cheonggyecheon-ro, the Myeong-dong tourist information center, customer service centers on Lines 1 to 8 and nearby convenience stores as places to buy.

Choosing between a pay-as-you-go card and an unlimited pass

  1. Count your likely rides per day. Multiply by the base fare in the Korea Herald figures and compare with the pass price for the days you will be in Seoul.
  2. Check where you will travel. The Climate Card is described as covering Seoul’s subways and city or shuttle buses; confirm whether the lines or buses you plan to use are included.
  3. Consider payment method. WOWPASS requires a passport and accepts foreign currencies; Tmoney and EZL are sold at convenience stores.
  4. Think about leftover balance. VisitKorea states that Tmoney balances over 50,000 won can only be refunded at Tmoney Town at Seoul Station, and that EZL balances under 20,000 won are refunded at convenience stores. Load only what you expect to use.

Common mistakes and what to verify

  • Buying an unlimited pass for a low-ride day. Compare against the base fare before paying.
  • Using old fare figures. Fares have increased in steps; confirm the current amount.
  • Assuming Seoul rules apply elsewhere. The Climate Card is a Seoul pass.
  • Overloading a card. Check the refund conditions above before adding a large balance.
  • Forgetting the passport. WOWPASS needs one.

Prices and rules change: check with the operators

Fares, card prices, discounts and refund conditions are set by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Seoul Metro, card issuers and the Korea Tourism Organization, and they change. Confirm current details at a subway customer service center, on the card issuer’s page or through the 1330 Korea Travel Helpline that VisitKorea lists. This article is general travel information, not a guarantee of any price.

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