Seoul Subway Now Accepts Overseas Credit Cards for Tourists

Seoul’s subway system has begun accepting overseas credit and debit cards for the purchase of single-journey tickets and Climate Cards, effective Tuesday, March 16, 2026. This change aims to improve convenience for foreign visitors, particularly with the anticipated influx of tourists attending the BTS comeback show this Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square.

Expanded Payment Options

Previously, foreign tourists without Korean-issued cards were limited to cash payments at subway ticket machines. Now, visitors can use Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards at 440 ticket machines across 273 subway platforms on lines No. 1 through 8 as reported by the Korea JoongAng Daily. Mobile payment services like Kakao Pay and Naver Pay are also accepted.

Climate Card Access for Tourists

Tourists can now purchase and top up short-term Climate Cards – available for periods ranging from one to seven days – using their overseas-issued cards. These cards provide unlimited rides on Seoul subways and buses during the selected period. A physical Climate Card costs 3,000 won (approximately $2 USD) and can be topped up with passes ranging from 5,000 won for a one-day pass to 20,000 won for a seven-day pass.

Service Fee

A service fee of approximately 3.7 percent will be applied to purchases made with overseas-issued credit or debit cards.

Promotional Support for Tourists

The Seoul Metropolitan Government and Tmoney, Korea’s transportation card provider, will operate promotional booths at key stations frequented by international tourists – Seoul Station, Myeongdong Station, and Hongik University Station (Hongdae) – to provide multilingual guidance on purchasing and using Climate Cards. These booths will be staffed on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday to coincide with the BTS concert.

Future Expansion

The city government plans to assess demand and potentially expand the service to include monthly Climate Cards in the future.

Seoul Subway Fares (as of June 28, 2025)

Here’s a breakdown of Seoul subway fares as of June 28, 2025 according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government:

• Base Fare (Card): 1,400 won
• Base Fare (Cash): 1,550 won
• Teen Fare (Card): 800 won
• Teen Fare (Cash): 900 won
• Child Fare (Card): 500 won
• Child Fare (Cash): 550 won

About the Seoul Metropolitan Subway

The Seoul Metropolitan Subway is a comprehensive railway system consisting of 24 lines, serving the Seoul Metropolitan Area, including Incheon and surrounding Gyeonggi province as detailed on Wikipedia.