How to Top Up a T-money Card (2026): Subway Machines and Convenience Stores, Step by Step

Topping up a T-money card takes about 30 seconds once you know where to go: every subway station has top-up machines with an English menu, and every convenience store will do it at the till. The one thing that catches visitors out is payment. Topping up is still mostly cash only. Here’s how to do it, step by step.

Last checked: October 2026. Dollar figures use about 1,330 KRW = 1 USD (October 2026).

First time in Korea? Start here: our step-by-step guide from landing to your first day.

Where you can top up

Newer station machines accept foreign Visa and Mastercard since March 2026, but only for single journey tickets and short-term passes, not for topping up a T-money card. Keep some cash in 1,000 and 10,000 won notes for top-ups (money in Korea).

Top up at a subway station machine

1. Find a machine marked 교통카드 충전 (transit card top-up). They stand next to the ticket gates.
2. Tap English on the first screen, then choose Transportation Card Top-up (sometimes shown as Card Reload).
3. Place your card on the card tray and leave it there. The screen shows your current balance.
4. Choose an amount or just insert cash: 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 won notes work everywhere.
5. Wait for the confirmation showing the new balance, then take your card. Don’t lift it early or the top-up may fail.

Top up at a convenience store

1. Hand the cashier your card and the cash, and say how much.
2. They put the card on their reader and load it. You can ask for a receipt (영수증).

Convenience stores also sell the card itself if you don’t have one yet. Ask for a “T-money card”. Prices start at a few thousand won depending on the design.

How much should you add?

• A basic subway or bus ride costs 1,550 won with T-money (October 2026), and transfers within 30 minutes are discounted or free.
• Most sightseeing days in Seoul use roughly 5,000–10,000 won (~$4–7) of travel. Add 20,000 won for a few days and top up again as needed.
• The AREX airport train and long trips cost more, so check your balance before heading to the airport.

Checking your balance

• The gate shows your remaining balance every time you tap out.
• Any top-up machine shows it as soon as you place the card.
• If a gate beeps and won’t open, your balance is probably too low. Top up at the nearest machine. You don’t need to exit.

Money left at the end of your trip

Spend it in convenience stores (T-money works as payment in most of them), or ask about a balance refund. Refund rules and fees are set by T-money, so see the refund section of our T-money card guide. Keeping the card for your next trip is also fine. The balance doesn’t expire quickly.

FAQ

Can I top up T-money with a credit card?
Not at most machines or stores. Top-ups are still mainly cash. Newer machines accept foreign cards only for single tickets and short-term passes.

Where can I recharge my T-money card?
At any subway station top-up machine or any convenience store till.

Can I top up at a bus?
No. Top up before you board; the bus reader only deducts the fare.

Sources: Seoul Start – T-money and transit cards (Aug 2026) · Seoul Tourism – T-money card guide · Korea Experience – topping up T-money with cash (2026)
Photos: hyolee2 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 · LandAndTree / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0