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Seoul's short-term Climate Card gives unlimited subway and city bus rides for 1 to 7 days, from ₩5,000. What it covers, where to buy it, the airport catch, and when a pay-as-you-go T-money card is the better deal.

Which one should you get?

1. RIDESCount your rides per day

   With T-money, a subway ride starts at ₩1,550 (more on long trips) and a blue or green city bus is ₩1,500. The 3-day pass costs ₩10,000, about the price of 7 base-fare subway rides (7 × ₩1,550 = ₩10,850). If you ride 3 or more times a day, the pass usually wins; if you walk a lot, T-money is cheaper.

2. AIRPORTThe airport catch: you can't start a ride at Incheon Airport

   Seoul says the Climate Card covers AREX rides that end at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 or 2, but you can't board at those airport stations with it. On arrival day, pay with T-money (or a ticket); start the Climate Card once you're in Seoul. It covers the trip back to the airport on the AREX all-stop train.

3. DAYSPasses run by calendar day, not 24 hours

   A pass starts on the day you charge it, from the first train (4 AM) until the last train of its final day. You can't charge it in advance. Example from the city: a 1-day pass charged on July 1 works until the last train on July 1.

4. NOT INWhat the Climate Card doesn't cover

   The Shinbundang Line, GTX, subways outside Seoul, red express (광역) buses, airport buses and buses licensed outside Seoul. Short-term passes also don't include Ttareungi bikes or the Hangang Bus. If you get off at a station outside the coverage area, the full fare is charged (the city's example: board at Jongno 3-ga, get off at Indeogwon).

How to buy and charge the Climate Card

1. WHEREStation machines on Lines 1–8, or convenience stores near stations

   The plastic card is sold at the new-type transport card machines in Line 1–8 stations and at convenience stores near stations (also near Line 9, Ui-Sinseol and Sillim line stations). Ask for the card by its Korean name.

   기후동행카드 단기권CopyGoogle Maps
2. PAYCash works; bring some

   Seoul says the plastic card can be paid in cash or with a credit or debit card (not corporate cards). The city page doesn't say whether foreign cards work at every machine, so carry some cash (our tip).

3. CHARGEPick 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days

   Charge it at the unmanned charging machines in stations on Lines 1–8, Line 9, Ui-Sinseol, Sillim and Gimpo Goldline, on the day you want the pass to start.

4. PHONEMobile version: Android only

   The mobile Climate Card is issued in the Mobile Tmoney or Samsung Wallet app on Android 12 or later. On an iPhone, use the plastic card.

5. REFUNDRefunds only while the pass is valid

   You get back the charge minus the rides you used and a ₩500 fee, and only during the pass period. Register a plastic card on the Tmoney Card & Pay website first; unregistered cards can't be refunded. Visitors without a Korean bank account can get a cash refund at Tmoney's head office.

How T-money works

1. BUYConvenience stores and station machines

   T-money cards are sold at convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24) and at subway station machines. The card is sold empty; the price of the card itself depends on the design.

   티머니 카드Copy
2. TOP UPTop up with cash

   Hand the card and cash to a convenience store cashier, or use the top-up machine in any station (switch it to English).

3. TAPTap in and tap out, also on buses

   Tap when you get on and again when you get off the bus. Transfers between subway and bus are discounted within 30 minutes of getting off (60 minutes from 9 PM to 7 AM), for up to 5 boardings in a row.

4. EARLY20% off before 6:30 AM

   Seoul takes 20% off the base fare for the first ride of the day if you board before 6:30 AM with a transport card.

Say it in Korean (show this screen)

1. SAYA Climate Card short-term pass, please.

   gi-hu-dong-haeng-ka-deu dan-gi-gwon ju-se-yo

   기후동행카드 단기권 주세요Copy
2. SAYA T-money card, please.

   ti-meo-ni ka-deu ju-se-yo

   티머니 카드 주세요Copy
3. SAYPlease top up ₩10,000.

   man won chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo

   만 원 충전해 주세요Copy

Local tips

• Our tip: on arrival day, buy a T-money card at the airport for the ride into Seoul, then start a Climate Card the next morning if you'll ride a lot.
• Our tip: a pass you charge in the evening still ends at the last train that day, so start it in the morning.
• Seoul ended its 30-day Climate Card in 2026; the 1–7 day passes for visitors are still sold. Fares and rules can change, so check the city's Climate Card page before you buy.

FAQ

Sources: Seoul Metropolitan Government: Climate Card guide (coverage, short-term pass prices, validity, refunds) · Seoul Metropolitan Government: Seoul subway and bus fares, transfer and early-morning discount rules · Etoday: Climate Card short-term passes, 1–7 days, ₩5,000–20,000 (June 2024) · 10 Magazine: 30-day Climate Card ending; short-term passes continue (2026) · Etoday: Seoul-area subway base fare ₩1,550 from June 28, 2025 · Hankyung: subway base fare rises from ₩1,400 to ₩1,550 (June 2025) · Sateconomy: Seoul city bus fare ₩1,500 from Aug 12, 2023 · The Soul of Seoul: where to buy a T-money card · Trip.com: T-money card guide 2026

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