Subway & bus
Tapping out, transfer rules, buying a card
Tap out of the subway too (extra charge since March 2026)
In the Seoul metro area, if you leave the subway without tapping your card, an extra 1,550 won (adult) is charged the next time you ride. Single-journey tickets and passes are not affected.
Sources: 서울시 미디어허브 (하차 미태그) ↗
Rules by region
| Region | Tap when getting off | Transfer window | Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul · Gyeonggi · Incheon | Required | 30 min after getting off (60 min from 21:00 to 07:00) | Up to 4 |
| Daegu | Required to get the transfer discount | 30 min | Up to 2 |
| Gwangju | Required to get the transfer discount | 30 min | Up to 1 |
| Jeju | Required to get the transfer discount | 40 min | Up to 2 |
Sources: 서울시 환승할인 안내 ↗ · 캐시비 블로그 (지역별 하차태그) ↗ · jeju.com ↗
Rules everywhere
- One card per person. Sharing one card between two people breaks the transfer discount.
Sources: 서울시 환승할인 안내 ↗
- No transfer discount between buses with the same route number.
Sources: 서울시 환승할인 안내 ↗
- Whether it counts as a transfer depends on when you board the next vehicle.
Sources: 캐시비 블로그 (환승 시각 기준) ↗
- Some buses do not take cash. Carry a transit card.
Sources: 디지털데일리 (현금 없는 버스) ↗
Changing subway lines
- When you change lines inside a station, you usually do not tap.
- If there is a gate in the transfer passage (lines run by a different operator), tap your card there.
- Always tap at the exit gate.
Sources: 서울시 미디어허브 (하차 미태그) ↗
Buying a card or ticket
- Transit cards such as T-money, WOWPASS and NAMANE are sold at convenience stores.
- Since 17 March 2026, new machines at 273 stations on Seoul Lines 1–8 accept foreign Visa and Mastercard for single-journey tickets and Climate Card short-term passes (1, 2, 3, 5, 7 days). Refunds can be done at the machine.
Sources: 데일리안 (해외카드 발매기) ↗
- You cannot tap a foreign credit card at the gate yet. Seoul plans to introduce it by 2030.
Sources: 한국경제 (2030 신용카드 승차) ↗
Checked 2026-11-08