T-money Card: Charging Limits, Refund Fee, and the 30-Minute Transfer Rule
At a glance
- Cash charge per transaction
- ₩1,000 ~ ₩90,000
- Max card balance
- ₩500,000
- Where you can charge by card
- Only Woori Bank ATMs and GS25, ₩10,000~₩50,000 per transaction and ₩150,000 per day
- Refund fee
- ₩500 (waived if you suspend the card in the app after using 80% or more)
- Card purchase amount
- Not refunded
- Transfer window
- 30 minutes after getting off; 60 minutes from 21:00 to 07:00 the next day
- Transfer count
- Up to 5 consecutive boardings recognized
- Seoul base fares
- Subway ₩1,550 · city bus ₩1,500
Cash charging runs from ₩1,000 to ₩90,000 per transaction, and a single card can hold up to ₩500,000. The only places that take debit or credit cards are Woori Bank ATMs and GS25; everywhere else takes cash. You can get the remaining balance back at convenience stores, minus a ₩500 fee, but the card purchase price itself is not refunded. The transfer discount applies only if you board the next vehicle within 30 minutes of getting off.
How much can you charge, from what minimum to what maximum
With cash, you can charge from ₩1,000 to ₩90,000 at a time. The maximum amount a single card can hold is ₩500,000.
You can charge at convenience stores with a T-money sticker, subway stations, street vending points, and T-money partner ATMs.
You can also charge by bank transfer within the same limits (₩1,000 to ₩90,000 per transaction). However, only certain ATMs work: Kookmin Bank, NongHyup, Shinhan Bank, the Credit Union (Shinhyup), the Post Office, Jeju Bank, and Hana Bank.
| Method | Per charge | Max card balance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | ₩1,000 ~ ₩90,000 | ₩500,000 | Convenience stores, subway stations, street vending points, partner ATMs |
| Bank transfer | ₩1,000 ~ ₩90,000 | ₩500,000 | Kookmin, NongHyup, Shinhan, Shinhyup, Post Office, Jeju, Hana ATMs |
| Debit/credit card | ₩10,000 ~ ₩50,000 | ₩500,000 | Only at Woori Bank ATMs and GS25, ₩150,000 per day |
There are only two places where you can charge by card
The only places where you can charge T-money with a debit or credit card are Woori Bank ATMs and GS25. At other convenience stores and subway station charging machines, you must pay in cash.
Card charging has its own limits, too: ₩10,000 to ₩50,000 at a time, and up to ₩150,000 per day.
So if you plan to charge at a subway station machine or any other convenience store, you need to have cash ready.
The transfer discount only applies if you board within 30 minutes
A transfer is recognized only if you board the next mode of transport within 30 minutes of getting off the previous one. Nights are more lenient: from 21:00 to 07:00 the next day, you get 60 minutes.
Up to 5 consecutive boardings are recognized. The fare is applied at the highest fare among the modes used, and the base distance is 10km.
The modes covered are Seoul metropolitan subway, Seoul city and village buses, Gyeonggi and Incheon city and village buses, and the GTX-A.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Time limit | Board within 30 minutes of getting off |
| Nighttime (21:00 to 07:00 next day) | Within 60 minutes |
| Count | Up to 5 consecutive boardings recognized |
| Fare calculation | Highest fare among modes used, base distance 10km |
| Covered modes | Seoul metropolitan subway, Seoul/Gyeonggi/Incheon city and village buses, GTX-A |
20% cheaper if your first ride is before 6:30 AM
If your first public transport ride of the day is before 6:30 AM, the base fare of that mode is discounted by 20%.
If you have to move early in the morning, it is worth checking this time window.
Seoul base fares
The base fare for the Seoul subway when paying with a transit card is ₩1,550. This has been the amount since June 28, 2025.
Seoul city buses cost ₩1,500, a rate in effect since August 12, 2023.
When transferring between the two modes, you do not pay each one separately; the fare is calculated as the single higher fare.
| Mode | Base fare | Effective date |
|---|---|---|
| Subway | ₩1,550 | June 28, 2025 |
| City bus | ₩1,500 | August 12, 2023 |
Refunds deduct ₩500, and the card price is not returned
You can get the remaining balance back. T-money puts it this way: "The remaining balance is refunded after deducting the actual amounts used for public transit/Ddareungi/Han River buses and a set fee (₩500) from the charged amount."
There are cases where the fee is waived. If you have used 80% or more of the charged amount and then suspend the physical card in the Mobile T-money app, there is no fee.
The money you paid for the card itself is a separate matter. The normal-card refund notice states flatly: "For cards with no defects in appearance or function, the card purchase amount is not paid out." Only the balance comes back.
| Item | Refunded? |
|---|---|
| Remaining balance on the card | Yes |
| Fee of ₩500 | Deducted |
| Card purchase amount | No |
| Suspended in app after 80%+ usage | Fee waived |
Where can you get a refund
The refund counters are convenience stores: GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, and Ministop.
It is also processed at the T-money Service Center inside subway stations and at T-money Town at headquarters.
Applications are also accepted on the website. However, balance refunds via photo refund applications are limited to at most 5 per year.
FAQ
Can I charge with a debit or credit card?
The only places that accept card charging are Woori Bank ATMs and GS25. At other convenience stores and subway station charging machines, you must pay in cash. Card charging runs from ₩10,000 to ₩50,000 per transaction, up to ₩150,000 per day.
How much can I charge at once?
Cash and bank transfer run from ₩1,000 to ₩90,000 per transaction. Debit and credit cards run from ₩10,000 to ₩50,000 per transaction. Either way, the maximum a single card can hold is ₩500,000.
Within how many minutes do I have to board for the transfer discount?
You must board the next mode within 30 minutes of getting off. Between 21:00 and 07:00 the next day, you get 60 minutes. Up to 5 consecutive boardings are recognized, and the fare is calculated at the higher of the modes used.
Can I also get the card price back?
No. The normal-card refund notice states that for cards with no defects in appearance or function, the card purchase amount is not paid. What comes back is the balance minus the ₩500 fee.
Is there a way to avoid the refund fee?
Yes. If you have used 80% or more of the charged amount and then suspend the physical card in the Mobile T-money app, no fee is charged.
Where can I get a refund?
At convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, Ministop), the T-money Service Center inside subway stations, T-money Town, or via application on the website. Balance refunds via photo refund applications are limited to at most 5 per year.