Where to Buy T-Money Card at Incheon Airport and How to Purchase/Recharge

2025-12-24 1219 words 6 minutes views

Contents

Hello! I’m Guide H.

Today, I’ll introduce how to buy a T-money card at Incheon International Airport.

I’ll first explain what a T-money card is, why you need one, and then guide you through how to purchase it at Incheon Airport.

Please note that Incheon Airport has Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, so please read this guide according to which terminal you’ll be arriving at!

This article was written based on 2025 standards. Policies and features may change, so please check the latest information before using!

What is a T-money Card?

A T-money card is a prepaid transportation card that can be used instead of cash on Korean public transportation (subway, buses, and some taxis).
It can be used on city subways, city buses, airport buses, and some convenience stores. Simply tap the card on the terminal when boarding, and payment is automatically processed, making it very convenient. Note that it can also be used on the Airport Railroad Express (AREX), but only on the All Stop (regular) trains, not the Express trains. Most importantly, foreign-issued credit and debit cards cannot be used for direct tapping (touch payment) on Korean public transportation, so
you must purchase a separate transportation card. In other words, a T-money card is an essential item when visiting Korea.

🔹 Cheaper than cash: You can save about 100-200 won per trip when using the subway or buses compared to cash.
🔹 Convenient transfer discounts: When transferring between different modes of transportation, you automatically receive discounts, saving additional costs.
🔹 Rechargeable: You can pre-load money onto the card and recharge it anytime when the balance runs low.
🔹 Payment at convenience stores/vending machines: You can also make simple payments at some convenience stores, vending machines, and chain stores.

Therefore, even for short trips, purchasing a T-money card is much more convenient and economical than buying single-journey tickets. Since it can be used in Seoul, the metropolitan area, Busan, and other major cities nationwide, it’s highly recommended if you’re planning to travel in Korea.

📢 What’s the Difference from WOWPASS, Climate Card, etc.?

[WOWPASS]: A hybrid card that combines transportation card functions with foreign card charging and shopping capabilities
[Climate Card]: A limited unlimited transportation pass for Seoul only (1-day 5,000 won, 3-day 10,000 won, etc.) with a different nature
T-money: A pure transportation prepaid card (rechargeable for multiple uses) with the highest convenience

For detailed comparisons, check here.

If your travel period is short and you only need basic transportation, a T-money card is the most reliable choice.

How to Buy a T-money Card at Incheon Airport (Terminals 1 and 2)

You can purchase a T-money card at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Incheon Airport. Below, I’ll guide you through the purchase methods in detail.

⚠️ Important: T-money card purchases and recharges are only possible with cash (KRW). Credit cards or debit cards cannot be used for purchases or recharges, so please prepare cash in advance.

1️⃣ Purchase from Vending Machine - Terminal 1 Only

The most convenient method is to use the T-money vending machine located at the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) Transit Centre.

⚠️ Note: Currently, purchasing from vending machines is only available at Terminal 1.

Location: Follow the Airport Railroad Express (AREX) signs to find it at the Transit Centre.

How to Purchase:

Insert cash (KRW)
Select the card you want
Press the green button and the card will be dispensed from the bottom

Price: Approximately 5,000-6,000 won (the card comes empty, so you’ll need to recharge it before use)

2️⃣ Purchase from Convenience Store

Convenience stores at Incheon Airport (e.g., CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) are the easiest places to buy T-money cards. At most convenience store counters, you can purchase one immediately by saying “티머니 카드 사려고 합니다” (I’d like to buy a T-money card).

Purchase Locations: Convenience stores are located in various places including each floor of Terminal 2, the B1 concourse, and near the arrival hall.
Price: Approximately 4,000-5,000 won (recharge amount separate)
Recharging: Can be recharged immediately at the convenience store

How to Purchase

Go to a convenience store and ask the staff “티머니 카드 주세요” (T-money card, please) or “T머니 카드 살 수 있나요?” (Can I buy a T-money card?)
After receiving the card, request a recharge for your desired amount (e.g., “1만원 충전해주세요” - Please charge 10,000 won)
Payment (cash only / some stores may accept card payment, but cash is recommended to be safe)

Note:
Terminal 1: Convenience stores (especially CU, etc.) often don’t officially sell them, so using a vending machine is more reliable
Terminal 2: Almost always available at convenience stores

3️⃣ Purchase with SIM Card at LGU+

If you also need a SIM card to use the internet in Korea, you can purchase both a SIM card and T-money card together at the LGU+ counter.

Features:

After removing the SIM card, the remaining case functions as a T-money card
Staff will help you remove the SIM card
Recharging is available at vending machines in the Transit Centre

This method is very convenient as it allows you to prepare both a SIM card and transportation card at once. It’s especially recommended if you plan to use the internet in Korea.

Tip: If purchasing a SIM card and T-money card together, you can book in advance with discount codes on Klook to get them cheaper than buying on-site!

How to Recharge a T-money Card

After purchasing a T-money card, you must recharge it before you can use it. Here are the recharge methods:

Recharge at Vending Machine

Go to a transportation card recharge machine (usually located next to vending machines or subway ticket machines)
Change the language to your preferred language
Select the “교통카드 충전” or “Recharge Transportation Card” menu
Place your T-money card on the card reader
Select the amount you want to recharge and confirm
Insert cash (one bill at a time)
Recharge is complete

Recharge at Convenience Store

You can also recharge at CU, GS25, or 7-Eleven convenience stores. Simply ask the counter staff to recharge and tell them the amount you want.

Using T-money When Traveling from Incheon Airport to Seoul

The most economical and popular way to travel from Incheon Airport to Seoul is by using the Airport Railroad Express (AREX).

There are two types of trains on the Airport Railroad Express (AREX):

Express Train: Requires a separate ticket and cannot use T-money cards
All Stop Train: Can use T-money cards, making it a more economical choice

When traveling to downtown Seoul, you can use the All Stop Train and pay directly with your T-money card.

For detailed information on how to get from Incheon Airport to Seoul, please refer to the Guide on How to Get from Incheon Airport to Seoul.

Conclusion

I’ve organized the methods for purchasing a T-money card at Incheon Airport.

The most convenient method is purchasing from a vending machine, and at Terminal 2, you can also purchase from convenience stores. If you also need a SIM card, purchasing both together at the LGU+ counter is also a good option.

Preparing a T-money card in advance will make your trip to Korea much more convenient. Have a great trip to Korea! 😊

This post was written based on 2025 standards. Prices and purchase methods may change, so please check the latest information before purchasing.