Planning to travel to Seoul South Korea? You’re going to want to read this Korea travel Pass Comparison analysis where I compare all the different travel pass options that are out there such as the WOWPass, Namane, T-Money card, Discover Seoul pass and many more to help you choose the right Korea travel pass for your trip
After allm it is not a simple question to answer as that depends on many factors such as what you’re looking for the travel pass to do, how long you plan to stay in South Korea for and what you plan to do while you’re in South Korea
In this article I am going to summarise everything I found out while researching before I went on my trip to help you save time!
(1) T-Money Pass (T-Pass)
The T Money pass (short for Transportation Money Pass) is a card both locals and tourist can use on all forms of public transportation in Seoul
What is a T Money Pass? | The T Money pass is the card which will allow you to use all forms of public transportation such as the metro and buses in all the major cities in South Korea |
How Much is a T Money Pass? | The card cost starts from 3,000 Korean Won and you can get them at convenience stores such as 7-Eleven, Daiso, CU, Ministop and GS25 |
Where Can I Use the T Money Pass? | – Public transportation – Ourchases at the very same convenience stores listed above and anywhere where the T-Money logo is listed as a payment method |
How Can I Top Up My T Money Pass? | You can top up your T Money pass at ANY subway station |
Can I get my balance back? | Yes (at any T Money card sales or top up locations) – service fee of 500 KRW |
(2) MPass (Metropolitan Pass, M-Pass)
What is a M Pass? | The MPass (short for Metropolitan Pass) is the T Money alternative designed for tourist and short term visitors as it is basically the TMoney pass with a validity of 1 to 7 days | ||||||||||||||||||
How Much is the MPass? | Prices start at 15,000 Korean WON for a one day pass up to 64,500 Korean WON for the seven day pass
The price INCLUDES a deposit of 5,000 Korean WON, you will get this back together with whatever card balance is left when you return the card at the T Money Town and like the T Money pass you will be charged a 500 WON service fee for the refund | ||||||||||||||||||
Where Can I Use the MPass? | – Public transportation on Seoul and Jeju Island (only) – unlike the T money pass you are limited to 20 transportation rides a day | ||||||||||||||||||
How Can I Top Up My MPass? | You CANNOT top Up a MPass | ||||||||||||||||||
Can I get my balance back? | Returning the card to get the remaining balance back. If the balance is over 500KRW, service fee of 500KRW will be charged |
(3) Discover Seoul Pass
What is a Discover Seoul Pass? | The Discover (short for Metropolitan Pass) is designed for tourist and short term visitors to get he absolute most out of their visit as they are essentially a super loaded MPass with all the extras as these passes cover ALL transportation costs and access ticket costs to over 30 top tourist attraction spots in Seoul! |
How Much is the Discover Seoul Pass? | There are 3 options – the 1, 2 or 3 day passes that start from 50,000 Korean Won up to 90,000 Korean won as you can see here, once you swipe the card at the first attraction spot the count down timer begins Yes it is quite a bit more expensive compared to the other options discussed so far but you could actually end up saving money if you plan on covering all or even most the tourist spots included in the package |
Where Can I Use the Discover Seoul Pass? | You can use this to access over 30 of the most famous tourist attraction spots in Seoul (full list on their website) with all the associated transportation cost to and from the venue covered as well! The pass also allows you discounts and special offers at a list of selected shopping hotspots such as Hyundai Seoul and Shinsegae (full list here) The Discover Seoul Pass also includes the AREX (express train) ticket from Incheon Airport to Seoul |
How Can I Top Up the Discover Seoul Pass? | You CANNOT top Up a Discover Seoul Pass |
Can I get my Discover Seoul Pass balance back? | No |
Basically the Seoul Pass is worth it if you plan on doing a LOT of sightseeing the downside is if you’re planning to hang around Korea for more than 3 days you will still need to get another one of the passes mentioned in this article
(4) Korea Tour Card
You may have also heard of the Korea Tour Card which is currently discontinued until further notice as you can see on the website here (https://www.koreatourcard.kr/bbs/purchase.php?&lang=en)
(5) WOWPass
What is a WOWPass? | The WOWPass is basically the T Money Pass with built in money exchange and debit card capabilities! There are 2 separate balances on the card – the WOWPass balance that you can use ANYWHERE credit cards are accepted and a T Money balance which does exactly what the T Money pass I outlined earlier does |
How Much is the WOWPass? | The WOWPass will cost you 5,000 Korean WON to purchase but you can get it for 4,000 WON if you reserve it at the WOWPass website or app prior to your arrival thanks to their all in one airport package which includes – WOWPass Membership fee (4,000 WON) – Optional – Top up WOWPass balance – Optional – Korean SIM or ESIM card with unlimited data) for 10% OFF – Optional – AREX Express Train Ticket from Incheon to Seoul City for 20% OFF – 10,000 WON T Money Balance If you skip all the optional you will pay 14,000 WON for the package, not to fret you can top up the card later when you’re in Seoul |
Where Can I Use the WOWPass? | – All public transport in Seoul – Use as debit card/cashless payment anywhere credit card is accepted – Cashback/Special Offers at selected restaurants and venues (full list here) |
How Can I Top Up the WOWPass? | You can top up the WOWPass balance using either Korean WON or Your own local currency using either cash or your credit or debit card at ANY of the WOWPass machines located at all subway stations or within the WOWPass app itself making it amazingly convenient HOWEVER like the T Money pass, the T Money balance of the WOWPass can only be topped up using Korean WON cash at machines that look like this at the subway stations |
Can I get my WOWPass balance back? | Yes but you can also choose to keep the WOWPass to use on your return visits to South Korea! |
(6) Namane
What is a Namane Card? | A Namane Card is basically likea WOWPass aka a prepaid card you can user for all your transportation and cashless payment needs in South Korea. The only difference is this card allows you to customise and design your card |
How Much is the Namane Card? | You may purchase a Namane card for 7,000 Korean WON at over 200 Namane card machines located throughout South Korea! |
Where Can I Use the Namane Card? | – All public transportation in Seoul – Use as debit card/cashless payment anywhere credit card is accepted – Cashback/Special Offers at selected restaurants and venues (full list here) |
How Can I Top Up the Namane Card? | You can top up the Namane card balance using Korean WON or Your own local currency (credit card only) at ANY Namane machine located throughout Seoul (check for your closest machine here) The T Money balance of the Namane card can only be topped up using Korean WON cash at machines that look like this at the subway stations |
Can I get my Namane Card balance back? | Yes but you can also choose to keep the WOWPass to use on your return visits to South Korea! |
This is the closest alternative to the WOWPass but for me the only notable difference was the ability to customise the card
Conclusion
To help you with your decision here’s a summary table comparing all the Korea travel passes
Features | T-Money | MPass | Discover Seoul | Korea Tour Card | WOWPass | Namane Card |
Price (KRW) | 3,000+ | 15,000 – 64,500 | 50,000 – 90,000 | N/A | 5,000 (4,000 via all in one airport package) | 7,000 |
Where Can I Use? | Public transport and convenience stores | Public transport | AREX*, 30++ tourist atttraction spots in South Korea, all transportation costs from and to venue, special offers at selected venues | N/A | Public transport and anywhere where credit cards are accepted + special offers at selected venues | Public transport and anywhere where credit cards are accepted + special offers at selected venues |
Where Can I top Up? | Any subway station machine | Cannot top up | Cannot top up | N/A | Any WOWPass machine or WOWPass app using credit/debit card and cash in WON or local currency | Any Namane kiosk or within Namane app |
Can I get any balance back? | Yes | Yes | No | N/A | Yes | Yes |
Can I reuse this card? | Yes | No | No | N/A | Yes | Yes |
As you can see so here is no one best korea travel pass that suits everybody, it just really depends on what your looking for the card to do!