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K-Culture Decoded

Can Foreigners Top Up a Climate Card With a Credit Card? Seoul Guide

Facts last checked: Updated:

The 30-second answer

Yes. Since March 17, 2026, the newer ticket machines at 273 Seoul Metro stations on Lines 1–8 accept overseas Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards for buying a Climate Card and loading 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, or 7-day passes, with a service fee of about 3.7%. Older machines and some other lines may still take cash only.

Key takeaway
A short-term pass starts on the day you load it and runs until the last train or bus on its final day, so load it on the morning you start riding, not the night before.
Pro tip
Planning a day trip outside Seoul, or heading to Incheon Airport? Getting off outside the city costs an extra fare, so keep a little cash or a regular T-money balance for those rides.

What the Climate Card is and why tourists use it

The Climate Card (기후동행카드) is Seoul's unlimited-ride transit card. Residents used a 30-day version, which Seoul is replacing with a new product called the Climate Pass from September 1, 2026. For visitors, the city also sells short-term passes of 1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days.

The physical card costs ₩3,000, and you then load a pass onto it. During the pass period you can ride Seoul's subway and Seoul-licensed buses as much as you like, and it also covers the Ttareungyi public bike (after you register the card in the Ttareungyi app).

Until 2025, loading a pass usually meant finding cash or a Korean card. Seoul added support for international cards and, in March 2026, rolled out new machines across Lines 1–8 that take overseas cards directly. That makes the pass a real option for visitors who don't carry much cash.

Climate Card short-term pass vs. T-money vs. WOWPASS

Option Upfront cost Ride cost Paying with a foreign card Best for
Climate Card short-term pass ₩3,000 card + pass: 1 day ₩5,000, 2 days ₩8,000, 3 days ₩10,000, 5 days ₩15,000, 7 days ₩20,000 Unlimited rides within Seoul during the pass Yes, at the new machines at 273 Seoul Metro stations (Lines 1–8), with a service fee of about 3.7% Several rides a day, mostly inside Seoul
T-money ₩3,000–5,000 card Pay per ride from a stored balance Station top-ups are usually cash; check the machine Light use, or travel outside Seoul
WOWPASS ₩6,000 card (per WOWPASS's FAQ; some pages still show ₩5,000) Pay per ride from a stored balance Top up at WOWPASS kiosks, which accept won and some foreign currencies Visitors who also want a prepaid card for shopping

How to buy and load a Climate Card short-term pass

  1. Step 1: Find a newer ticket machine on Lines 1–8

    Go to a Seoul Metro station on Lines 1–8. The new machines at 273 stations accept overseas Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards. If a machine takes only cash, try another machine or station, or ask at the station's information center.

  2. Step 2: Buy the card

    Choose the Climate Card on the screen and pay ₩3,000 for the physical card. You can also buy the card at convenience stores near stations, such as GS25 and CU.

  3. Step 3: Load the pass on the day you start

    Choose the short-term pass (1, 2, 3, 5, or 7 days) and pay. The pass starts the day you load it. You can't choose a later start date or load it in advance, so a pass loaded at 11 p.m. has used up its first day.

  4. Step 4: Tap in and out

    Tap the card at subway gates and on Seoul buses as usual. If you get off at a station outside Seoul's service area (Seoul Station to Indeogwon is Seoul's own example), you'll pay a separate fare for that part of the trip.

  5. Step 5: Add Ttareungyi if you want to bike

    To use the pass on Seoul's public bikes, register your Climate Card number in the Ttareungyi app before your first ride.

  6. Step 6: Ask for a refund before the pass ends

    If your plans change, request a refund before the pass expires. Seoul says refunds aren't available after the expiration date. The ₩3,000 card price isn't refunded.

Show this in Korean

  • 기후동행카드 3일권 충전하고 싶어요.

    Pronunciation: Gihu-donghaeng-kadeu sam-il-gwon chungjeonhago sipeoyo.

    I'd like to load a 3-day Climate Card pass.

  • 해외 카드로 결제할 수 있어요?

    Pronunciation: Haeoe kadeuro gyeoljehal su isseoyo?

    Can I pay with a foreign card?

  • 기후동행카드 환불하고 싶어요.

    Pronunciation: Gihu-donghaeng-kadeu hwanbulhago sipeoyo.

    I'd like a refund on my Climate Card.

Foreigner FAQ

Is there a fee for using a foreign credit card?

Yes. Seoul's March 2026 announcement says purchases and top-ups with overseas-issued cards carry a service fee of about 3.7%. Your own bank may add its foreign transaction fee on top.

Does the Climate Card work on the Shinbundang Line or airport buses?

No. Seoul lists the Shinbundang Line, buses licensed outside Seoul, and intercity, airport, and metropolitan express buses as not covered. T-money also lists GTX-A as excluded.

Can I use it to get to Incheon Airport?

Don't count on it covering the full trip. Incheon Airport is outside Seoul, and Seoul says you pay a separate fare when you get off outside the service area. Airport buses aren't covered at all.

Is a 24-hour pass the same as a 1-day pass?

No. The pass runs by calendar day. A 1-day pass loaded on Monday works until the last ride on Monday, no matter what time you loaded it.

How are refunds calculated?

T-money says it refunds the amount you paid minus the regular fares you actually used (subway, bus, Ttareungyi, Hangang Bus) and a ₩500 fee. Refunds go to a Korean bank account or as a partial cancellation of your card payment. If you don't have a Korean account, ask station staff; Visit Korea says foreigners can go to T-money's head office.

Should I still get a T-money card?

If you'll mostly stay in Seoul and ride several times a day, the Climate Card usually makes more sense. For day trips outside Seoul or only a few rides, a pay-per-ride card like T-money or WOWPASS is simpler.

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