How to buy a transportation card in Korea

What should you do when you come to Korea? When you get off the airport, the first thing you do is take a bus, subway or taxi to the hotel, right? You need cash or credit card to take the bus, subway, or taxi. But cash will be inconvenient. 

So you need to have a credit or debit card equipped with transportation card function. But if you don't have such a credit or debit card, don't be worried. You can buy a transportation card at a convenience store. 

Today I will teach you how to buy a transportation card at a convenience store in Korea.

If you have completed the immigration process at Incheon International Airport, Gimpo Airport, or any other airport and collected your bag, go to the convenience store first. The convenience store sells T-money transportation card. (T-money is the name of the company that makes transportation cards)

The price of the T-money transportation card is between 2,500 won and 10,000 won, and the price varies depending on the design. However, there is no difference in function or performance, so you do not need to buy an expensive card.

<Check the Logo 'Tmoney'>

Convenience stores that sell T-money transportation cards include CU, GS25, SEVEN ELEVEN, and STORY WAY. 

After purchasing the card, you have to charge the transportation cost separately. If you ask for a charge of 10,000 to 50000 won, the convenience store staff will take care of it.

When you receive a transportation card that has been charged, you can tag it when you get on the bus and tag it when you get off, the same goes for subways. You have to tag once when entering the ticket gate and once when exiting. In the case of the Seoul subway, there is a transfer gate, so you may have to tag once more at the gate you need to pass through when transferring.

First of all, today, I explained how to purchase a transportation card and how to recharge it.

In the next post, I'll explain what happens if you don't tag the get off.

*Learning Korean (at convenience store)

🇺🇸) I want to buy a T-money transportation card. /or/ T-money transportation card please!

🇰🇷) 티머니(T-money) 교통카드(Kyotong card) 있나요?(Itnayo?) /or/ 티머니(T-money) 교통카드(Kyotong card) 주세요(Jooseyo).