Short answer
Design T-money cards are sold behind the counter at convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven and others, each with its own designs), at character and K-pop shops, and as limited editions through brands and hotels. Expect about ₩5,000–6,000 for a character design, more for special shapes or LED cards, and no money loaded. Each card keeps its own balance for years, so name your cards in an NFC reader app like TapSeoul and you will always know which one to grab.
Quick facts
- Plain card
- About ₩3,000–5,000
- Character designs
- Usually ₩5,000–6,000
- LED and special cards
- From about ₩6,000
- Where to buy
- Convenience stores, character and K-pop shops
- Card price refundable?
- No; only the leftover balance
- Balance expiry
- 5 years after the last top-up or ride
Why collect T-money cards?
A T-money card is the one souvenir you use every day of your trip. Besides the plain white card, there are hundreds of designs: cartoon characters, K-pop idols, webtoons, games, museum and city designs, and seasonal limited editions. Some light up when you tap them; some come as keyrings, figures or mini cards.
They are cheap, they are small, and unlike most souvenirs they are useful again on your next trip, because the balance stays on the card.
Where to buy design T-money cards
| Where | What you'll find | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, emart24) | Character and collaboration cards | Usually displayed near or behind the counter. Each chain has its own collaborations, so check more than one. |
| Character stores | Branded cards of the store's own characters | Look in the stationery or travel-goods corner. |
| Stationery and gift shops such as ARTBOX | Cards with in-house characters | Often next to phone accessories. |
| K-pop and merch shops | Idol and album cards, sometimes as part of a goods set | Popular editions sell out quickly; areas like Hongdae and Myeong-dong have the most shops. |
| Brand and hotel promotions | Limited editions, sometimes preloaded | In 2026, for example, LOTTE HOTELS offers mother-of-pearl-inspired T-money cards with a stay package. |
Recent examples give an idea of prices: in late 2025, T-money and Sanrio released LED cards whose characters light up at the reader, for ₩6,000 at GS25, and glitter cards for ₩6,000 at 7-Eleven. Ordinary character cards are usually around ₩5,000, and shaped or accessory-type cards cost more.
Before you buy: will it work?
- Check the logo on the back. Not every pretty transit card is T-money. Some are other brands, such as Cashbee, which also work on transit across Korea but are a different system. TapSeoul reads physical prepaid T-money cards only.
- Prepaid, not post-paid. Collectible cards are almost always prepaid (you load money), which is what visitors need.
- Kids' cards need registering. A child or teen fare only applies once the card is registered for that age. See several T-money cards on one trip.
- The card price is not refundable. When you leave Korea you can get leftover balance back for a small fee, but never the price of the card. Collectors usually keep a little balance on each card for next time.
Using several cards without mix-ups
Collections cause one very specific problem at the gate: card clash. If you hold a wallet or phone case with two transit cards against the reader, the gate may reject both or charge the wrong one. Keep one card in the slot you tap with and the rest elsewhere.
Other habits that help:
- Pick a daily card for the trip and keep your collection at the hotel.
- Keyrings and mini cards have a smaller antenna. Hold them flat and still on the reader.
- LED cards draw their light from the reader's field, so they glow at the gate, not in your pocket.
- Balances last. A T-money balance expires only 5 years after the last top-up or ride, and even after that it can be refunded if you bring the physical card.
How to keep track of your collection with TapSeoul
After a few trips, the real question is not which card is cutest but which one still has money on it. TapSeoul turns your phone into a card reader for physical prepaid T-money cards.
- Tap Read my card and hold the card against the top of an iPhone or the back of an Android phone until the scan finishes.
- A new card is saved to My cards. Give it a nickname you will recognize, like "Sparkly LED" or "Seoul 2024 souvenir".
- Scan the next card. Each one keeps its own balance and Last scanned time.
Open a card to see its balance scan history: the time and balance of each scan, up to the latest 300, kept on your phone. It is not a list of payments, but it shows at a glance how fast a card is being used and which one has enough left for the airport train.
Card references, names and balances stay only on your phone, and TapSeoul never charges or tops up a card. The iPhone version, which is on its way, will also let you keep a photo of each card's front, which is handy when several cards look alike.
FAQ
Where can I buy cute T-money cards in Seoul?
At convenience stores such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven and emart24, where designs are kept near the counter, and at character stores, stationery shops like ARTBOX and K-pop merch shops. Each convenience store chain sells different collaborations.
How much does a design T-money card cost?
Most character designs cost about ₩5,000–6,000. LED, glitter, keyring and figure-type cards cost more. The price is for the card only; new cards have no balance.
Do character T-money cards work on the subway and buses?
Yes. A T-money design card works exactly like a plain one on subways, buses and most taxis across Korea, as long as it has enough balance.
Can I get the card price refunded?
No. You can get leftover balance refunded for a small fee, but the price you paid for the card itself is not refunded.
Does T-money balance expire?
The balance expires five years after the last top-up or use. Even after that, you can still get it refunded if you bring the physical card.
Can I check the balance of several T-money cards on my phone?
Yes. With an NFC reader app like TapSeoul you can scan each physical prepaid T-money card, save it under a nickname, and see the balance from its last scan.
TapSeoul is an independent app by gatepop inc. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by T-money.
No account. Cards and visited places are stored only on your phone. Photos are processed on the device and never uploaded. Optional analytics stays off until you opt in.
Sources
- Where to buy a T-money card in Korea (The Soul of Seoul, updated Sep 2026)
- Sanrio LED T-money cards at GS25 and 7-Eleven (Lady Kyunghyang, Dec 2025)
- LOTTE HOTELS travel pass with limited-edition T-money cards (Kyodo News PR Wire, Sep 2026)
- Expired T-money prepaid balances and the 5-year rule (Electronic Times, Jun 2026)
- T-money (Wikipedia)
Fares and rules are as of October 2026 and can change. Check the official sources before you rely on them.