Comparison and Recommendations of Foreigner-Only Transportation Cards in Korea: Korea Tour Card, M-PASS, and Discover Seoul Pass
In Korea, most locals use T-money transportation cards or credit cards equipped with postpaid transportation functions for public transport. So, are there transportation cards available for foreigners as well? This article introduces three representative transportation cards that foreigners can use, detailing their features, pros, and cons, along with recommendations based on different situations.
| Table of Contents 1. Korea Tour Card 1-1) Purchase Locations 1-2) Price and Notes 1-3) Advantages 1-4) Official Website 2. M-PASS Card 2-1) Purchase Locations 2-2) Price and Notes 2-3) Advantages 2-4) Official Website 3. Discover Seoul Pass 3-1) Purchase Locations 3-2) Price and Notes 3-3) Advantages 3-4) Official Website 4. Conclusion and Summary(Recommendations) |
1. Korea Tour Card
The Korea Tour Card is designed for foreign tourists and provides discounts at various tourist attractions, partner shopping centers, and cafes. Essentially, it's a rechargeable T-money card with added discounts at numerous locations.
1-1) Purchase Locations
- Convenience stores
- Shinhan Bank
- AREX vending machines(Seoul Station B2, Gimpo Airport, Incheon Airport T1 B1)
- T-money Service centers(Incheon Airport T1 between Gates 8-9)
1-2) Price and Notes
- Price: KRW 4,000 (cash only)
- Can be used as a T-money card after charging at convenience stores or subway stations
- Refundable balance with a KRW 500 service fee(no fee for balances under KRW 1,400)
1-3) Advantages
- Widely available in seoul (convenience stores and T-money centers)
- Discount at various tourist attractions and facilities( e.g. convenience stores, Homeplus, McDonald's, partner cafes, Seoul Sky, Lotte Aquarium, Everland)
Cons: Although many discounts are available, most partner businesses may not be typical destinations for tourists or are in hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, checking for affiliated businesses on the official website may be inconvenient for some.
1-4) Official Website
visit the https://www.koreatourcard.kr/
코리아 투어 카드
Download Mobile Guidebook View card usage instructions, purchase/top-up guidelines, payment/use locations, and discount affiliates all at once.
www.koreatourcard.kr
You can check the affiliated businesses by visiting the Korea Tour Card official website. (Please note that some discounts may require reservations or may be subject to change, so it is recommended to contact the business in advance.)
2. M-PASS Card
The M-PASS card is a transportation card designed for short-term foreign visitors traveling in Seoul and the metropolitan area. Simply put, it functions as a T-money card for foreigners. It offers various pass durations and is ideal for those planning to visit Seoul, Incheon, and the surrounding metropolitan regions. The card allows up to 20 uses of public transportation per day, which effectively makes it an unlimited daily pass
2-1) Purchase Locations
- Seoul Station, Exit 10, 1F T-money Town(Open Weekdays only 09:00-18:00)
2-2) Price and Notes
a. Price (Only cash)
| Duration | Prices | Price after 5PM |
| 1-day | KRW 15,000 | KRW 12,000 |
| 2-day | KRW 23,000 | KRW 20,000 |
| 3-day | KRW 30,500 | KRW 27,500 |
| 5-day | KRW 47,500 | KRW 44,500 |
| 7-day | KRW 64,500 | KRW 61,500 |
b. Notes
- Discounted prices apply for purchases made after 5 p.m. (However, the validity period starts counting from the first use. For example, if a 3-day pass is first used at 7 p.m. on November 2, it is valid until midnight on November 4.)
- A deposit of 5,000 KRW is included. When returning the card, a fee of 500 KRW is deducted, and the balance is refunded (only applicable if there is more than 500 KRW remaining on the T-money balance).
- The card allows up to 20 uses of public transportation per day, including metropolitan subways, the Airport Railroad (standard train), Seoul city buses (local, blue, green, circular routes), village buses, and Seoul night buses.
- The card can be used for taxis and more when charged with T-money (rechargeable at convenience stores and subway station ticket machines).
- If not used within 30 days of issuance, the card will expire.
2-3) Advantages
- Flexible multi-day options
- Generous 20 rides per day limit
- Discounted prices after 5 PM
Disadvantages of the M-PASS card: The card has limited purchase locations and cannot be bought or refunded on weekends or public holidays, which can be inconvenient. Additionally, sales are only available until 6 p.m., meaning that while the discounted price is offered starting at 5 p.m., the actual window to buy at the discounted rate is effectively only one hour. If you aim to purchase at the discounted time but are late, you may miss the opportunity to buy it entirely, so caution is advised!
2-4) Official Website
https://www.t-money.co.kr/ncs/pct/tmnyintd/ReadFrgnMpassIntd.dev
수도권 Mpass - 엠패스 - 외국인 전용 카드 - 티머니 카드소개 - 티머니 소개 - 티머니
외국인 전용 티머니(for Foreigners) 외국인 관광객을 위한 티머니 카드를 소개합니다. 수도권 엠패스 수도권 지하철, 서울 버스, 인천공항철도 등의 대중교통수단을 1일 최대 20회탑승 가능한 기간
www.t-money.co.kr
Visit the T-money site for more information.
3. Discover Seoul Pass
The Discover Seoul Pass is a card that offers the dual benefits of functioning as a transportation card and allowing entry to various attractions in Seoul for free or at discounted prices. Additionally, it is the only card that provides a mobile version, enabling usage without a physical card. When purchasing the mobile card, users receive discount vouchers and a limousine bus ticket for airport transportation, making it popular among foreign visitors.
3-1) Purchase Locations
| Physical Card | Mobile Card |
Online Purchase: You can purchase in advance through the mobile pass app and present the voucher at designated pickup locations (passport and ID verification required).
|
Online Purchase: You can buy the pass through a mobile application on your phone. Offline Purchase: Available at CU convenience stores, where you can purchase a prepaid PIN number. Enter the number found at the bottom of the receipt into the app to activate the pass (only available for cash purchases and can be bought outside airport locations). |
3-2) Price and Notes
a. Price
| 48-hour | KRW 70,000 |
| 72-hour | KRW 90,000 |
| 120-hour | KRW 130,000 |
b. Notes
Please be aware that there are differences in the benefits provided between the physical card and the mobile app card.
- The mobile app card does not provide the T-money transportation card function (only offers discounts and free entry to attractions).
- The physical card can be used like a T-money card after being charged and can also be used for taxi payments (chargeable at convenience stores and subway station ticket machines).
- A maximum of 10 cards can be purchased per person.
- Individual refunds are not allowed (for example, if you buy 3 cards, you cannot refund just one).
- The card’s validity starts from the first use, and it must be used within 5 years of issuance.
- Refunds are possible within 30 days of purchase (but not after use has started).
- Physical cards cannot be refunded if lost.
- If you have not yet received the physical card and wish to request a refund, it can be done at the Myeongdong Tourist Information Center.
3-3) Advantages of the Discover Seoul Passs
- In addition to the transportation card function (only applicable to the physical card). , offers various discounts and free entry to tourist attractions.
- Available for purchase and ticket collection at locations that operate year-round, so you can buy it anytime.
- Can be conveniently purhased and registered through the online app.
- Payment via card is available when purchasing through the app.
- Many of the partner tourist attractions are popular and easily accessible.
- Offers a variety of coupons for experiences and one-day classes that younger tourists may enjoy.
- Can be gifted to others.
3-4) Discover Seoul Pass Website
https://www.discoverseoulpass.com/app/main
Discover Seoul Pass
Discover Seoul Pass is the all in one pass that lets you visit 100+ attractions in Seoul. Travel Seoul without worrying about your budget.
www.discoverseoulpass.com
https://www.discoverseoulpass.com/app/spot/index/list?page=1&subFilter=free
Discover Seoul Pass
Discover Seoul Pass is the all in one pass that lets you visit 100+ attractions in Seoul. Travel Seoul without worrying about your budget.
www.discoverseoulpass.com
4. Conclusion and Recommendations(Based on Situation)
So far, we've explored three types of transportation cards for foreign visitors. If you're traveling to Seoul, choose the card that best fits your travel style to enjoy your trip in Korea. Personally, I would recommend the Discover Seoul Pass for travelers focusing on sightseeing in Seoul, and the M-Pass for those primarily using public transportation. For those looking to explore various regions outside of Seoul, the Korea Tour Card would be a great option.
Using public transportation in Seoul is essential for any trip, and I hope foreign tourists will make the most of these transportation cards to enjoy a more convenient and fulfilling experience. If you have any foreign friends planning to visit Korea, be sure to recommend these transportation cards to them.
