Seoul's subway and bus base fares have increased from what many returning visitors will remember — see our getting around guide for how the system works day to day. Exact fares by distance and mode shift periodically, so treat any specific number as approximate and check current fares in a transit app once you land rather than relying on a fixed figure here.
Easier payment for visitors
Subway ticket machines in Seoul now accept international debit and credit cards directly for T-money top-ups and single-journey tickets at a growing number of stations, reducing the old friction of needing cash or a Korea-issued card. Separately, T-money — the city's core transit card — can now be added to Apple Wallet on supported iPhones, letting some visitors skip buying a physical card entirely.