If you’ve ever found yourself in Seoul at a subway kiosk, sorting through coins and a T-money card, looking somewhat confused – well, this news is for you. Soon, all of those obstacles might be gone.
Looking at the bigger picture, Seoul is about to go international with its transit system. The Seoul Metropolitan Government is in the midst of developing an open-loop payment system that would operate under EMV standards – Europay, Mastercard, and Visa – essentially, the technology behind most credit and debit cards used around the world.
Now, here’s the fun twist: this hasn’t just sprung up overnight. Seoul has paid attention. The tourism number has grown rapidly since the pandemic – 16.36 million in 2024, and expected to climb to 20 million in 2025. That’s a lot of people trying to figure out how to buy a subway ticket.
The foreign tourists haven’t been able to use their credit cards issued overseas to reload cards for the local transit. This has lead to chances of awkward moments at kiosks, stuck looking for cash, or waiting in line hoping someone with english will help out. The government finally said, “Yeah, that’s a problem.”
Here’s the update: foreign cards will be accepted at 440 subway kiosks across Seoul Metro Lines 1 to 8 by the end of the year. You will be able to load your transit card or simply buy a transit card from the machine with your Visa or Mastercard. No cash. No hassle.
And for all you Apple users, don’t worry — foreign cards will be accepted through Apple Pay in the T-money app as well. Android users are ahead of the game — the Korea Tour Card app allows you to reload with a foreign card right now!
This is not just about convenience, though; this is part of a much bigger plan. Seoul wants to become a fully connected smart city by 2030. Both PayOn and this open-loop system will operate side by side — this is simply a way for Seoul to say, “we can do it all.”
By 2026, buses citywide will be outfitted with EMV modules and will expand to subway terminals on Lines 1 to 8 by 2027. From 2028 to 2030, the technology will expand to local “maeul” buses, private rail lines, and the surrounding metro area.
The advantages go both ways. Koreans traveling abroad will have access to their local cards where transit is already EMV-based, like in London, Singapore, Sydney, and in the near future, Hong Kong.
At the end of the day, Seoul’s messaging is simple: a world-class city needs a world-class transit experience. As Yeo Jang-kwon, the head of the transportation department explained, “Seoul has now become a global tourism city, and our transit system needs to reflect international standards.”
So, the next time you take a bus in Seoul, don’t worry about fumbling with your won, or trying to top up a card that won’t accept your foreign Visa. Just tap, smile, and enjoy the ride, Seoul has finally caught up with the world’s tap-and-go movement.
