T-money in Busan

Last checked: 2026-11-12

The 30-second version

1. Get a card

Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven and others) sell rechargeable transport cards. In Busan you will see two brands, T-money and EZL. Either one works on the Busan metro and city buses, and both work in other Korean cities too. The card itself costs a few thousand won depending on the design, and that part is not refundable.

Tap in at the metro gate and tap out when you exit. On the bus, tap when you get on and again when you get off, so transfers are counted.

2. Top it up: cash only

As of 2026, transport cards in Busan can't be topped up with a foreign-issued credit card, at a convenience store or at a metro machine. Hand the cashier your card and cash and say how much you want to add, or use the top-up machines in metro stations (they have an English menu).

• Top-ups go in ₩1,000 steps. Adding ₩10,000–20,000 at a time is easy to manage.
• Get cash at airport ATMs or convenience-store ATMs. If one machine refuses your card, try another bank's ATM.
• Busan Metro station ticket machines were cash-only when reporters checked in June 2026. The operator said card payment was planned for later in 2026, so if your station's machine has a card reader, try it, but don't count on it.

3. No cash? Use the Busan Metro app

Since December 2025 the official Busan Metro app (Busan Transportation Corporation, iOS and Android) accepts Visa, Mastercard and JCB issued abroad. With a foreign card you can buy:

• single-ride QR tickets, and
• 1-day and 3-day unlimited metro passes.

You scan the QR code on your phone at the gate. Two limits to know: it covers the metro only (not city buses or taxis), and it can't be used to top up a T-money or EZL card. Install the app and test your card before you fly, while you have Wi-Fi and time.

4. Visit Busan Pass

The Visit Busan Pass (sold to foreign visitors for 24 or 48 hours of attractions) also works as a transport card. Its transport balance is topped up with cash, just like T-money. Buy the pass for the attractions, not to avoid cash.

5. Phone wallets

When T-money arrived in Apple Wallet in 2025, adding money required a card issued in Korea. We have not found an official announcement that this has changed for foreign cards, so treat a phone-based T-money as a bonus, not your plan. A physical card plus cash works every time.

6. Before you fly home: get your balance back

• Convenience stores refund small balances (up to ₩20,000) for a ₩500 fee. The price of the card is not refunded.
• Larger balances need a card company service point, which is a hassle on a short trip. Easier: top up little and often, and spend the last few thousand won on snacks at a convenience store that accepts the card.

Arriving late or with heavy bags?

If you'd rather not deal with cards and cash on day one, a pre-booked airport transfer takes you straight to your hotel. Routes and fares for every option are in Gimhae Airport to Haeundae.

More set-up tips: eSIM, transport card & paying · Busan without a Korean phone number

Sources we checked

• Busan Transportation Corporation, Busan Metro app credit-card payment launch, reported by Segye Ilbo, 1 Dec 2025 (foreign Visa / Mastercard / JCB; single tickets and 1-day / 3-day passes)
• Busan CBS / Nocut News, “Foreign visitors stuck at Busan metro ticket machines”, 10 Jun 2026 (cash-only machines and top-ups, Visit Busan Pass top-up, operator's plan for card payment)
• Busan Metro app listing, App Store (Busan Transportation Corporation)
• EZL (Cashbee) official user guide for foreigners: convenience-store refunds for balances under ₩20,000, ₩500 fee, card price not refunded
• VisitKorea, transport card guide (T-money and EZL retail locations and refunds)
• T-money / Apple Wallet launch, July 2025: top-ups require a Korea-issued card