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WOWPASS and Prepaid Travel Cards in Korea: How They Work (2026)

Checked against official sources on October 20, 2026

Information counter in a bright terminal hall at Incheon Airport

Summary

WOWPASS is a prepaid card for foreign visitors with two balances: a payment balance for shops and a separate T-money balance for transit. You get it from a WOWPASS machine, load it with foreign cash or by card in the app, and withdraw what is left in won for a ₩1,000 fee. As of October 2026 the first registration fee is ₩6,000 on the operator's FAQ.

At a glance

Card fee
₩5,000–₩6,000
Balances
Payment and T-money, separate
Machine top-up
Foreign cash, 16 currencies
Withdraw
Up to ₩100,000, ₩1,000 fee
Use for
In-person payments only
Bring
Passport

Step by step

How to use a WOWPASS card in Korea

Step 1 of 9 · Find a machine

1Find a machine

About 446 self-service machines nationwide

환전 · 선불카드 키오스크hwanjeon · seonbulkadeu kioseukeuExchange and prepaid card kiosk (design is an example)

Read all steps as text

  1. 1. Find a machine

    About 446 self-service machines nationwide

    Korean you will see: 환전 · 선불카드 키오스크 = Exchange and prepaid card kiosk (design is an example)

  2. 2. Choose your language

    Choose your language on the screen

    Korean you will see: 언어를 선택해 주세요 = Please select your language

  3. 3. Place your passport

    Place your passport on the scanner

  4. 4. Pay the first fee

    First registration fee: ₩6,000, not refundable

    Korean you will see: 6,000원 = First registration fee (operator FAQ)

  5. 5. Take your card

    Take your card

    Korean you will see: 카드를 가져 가십시오 = Take your card

  6. 6. Insert foreign cash

    Foreign banknotes (16 currencies): cash top-up is free

    Korean you will see: 지폐 넣는 곳 = Insert bills here

  7. 7. Top up in the app

    In the app: top up with an overseas card or mobile wallet

  8. 8. Know the two balances

    Two balances: payment and a separate T‑money balance

    Korean you will see: 티머니 잔액 = T‑money balance (transit)

  9. 9. Withdraw leftover won

    At a WOW Exchange machine, enter the 8-digit code

    Korean you will see: 8자리 코드 = Enter the 8-digit code (example screen)

Details

WOWPASS is a prepaid card for foreigners, run by Orange Square. It works like a debit card in shops and also carries a T-money chip for buses and the subway. Below is how to get one, load it and get your money back, with the fees the operator publishes.

Before you start

  • Your passport. VisitKorea's transport card guide says you need it to get the card.
  • Cash or a card to load. Machines take foreign banknotes. The app takes overseas cards.
  • The WOWPASS app. You need it to register the card, check balances and withdraw leftover money.
  • Korean won coins or notes for T-money. The transit side is topped up separately (see Step 4).

WOWPASS is not open to Korean nationals. KoreaStep is not affiliated with WOWPASS or any card issuer.

Step by step

Step 1 — Find a machine

The operator says there are "around 446 self-service machines nationwide". Check the map on the official site, wowpass.io, or in the app before you go.

Machines differ by location. According to the operator's FAQ:

  • Incheon Airport machines take Korean won cash only, for new cards, reissues and top-ups. Currency exchange and balance withdrawal are not available there.
  • Jeju Airport machines do not offer currency exchange.
  • Machines in CU convenience stores do not offer cash withdrawal.

Step 2 — Get the card

Choose your language on the screen, follow the prompts and pay the first registration fee. The operator's FAQ lists it as ₩6,000, not refundable. VisitKorea's transport card page (updated August 2026) lists the card at ₩5,000. Check the machine screen for the current amount.

Step 3 — Load your payment balance

  • At a machine: insert foreign banknotes. The FAQ says machines accept 16 currencies and that cash top-ups are free of charge. Check the rate on the official site or the screen before you confirm.
  • In the app: top up with an overseas credit card or a mobile wallet. The FAQ sets limits of ₩200,000 per transaction and ₩1,000,000 per month.

Machine limits in the FAQ: up to ₩1,000,000 at once, ₩2,000,000 per day and ₩10,000,000 per week.

Step 4 — Top up the T-money side

The T-money balance is separate. You cannot pay a bus fare from the payment balance.

  • With cash: top up at a subway 교통카드 충전gyotongkadeu chungjeonTransit card top-up machine or at a convenience store counter, in Korean won.
  • In the app: move money from your WOWPASS balance to T-money. You cannot move it back.

See How to use a T-money card for the top-up machine screens.

Step 5 — Pay in shops

Tap or insert the card where cards are accepted. WOWPASS works for in-person payments only, not for online shopping or delivery apps. On KTX trains, a PIN is needed for purchases over ₩50,000.

Step 6 — Get your leftover money back

Register the card in the app, then go to a WOW Exchange machine and enter the 8-digit code it shows. You can withdraw up to ₩100,000 at a time, in Korean won only, for a ₩1,000 fee. Bank transfers are not supported.

Money left on the T-money side is stored on the chip. It does not move to a new card if you reissue, and it is refunded under T-money's rules, not WOWPASS's: a ₩500 fee, and station T-money service desks refund up to ₩50,000. See How to use a T-money card.

Costs and limits at a glance

Item Amount (operator FAQ, checked October 2026)
First registration fee ₩6,000, not refundable (VisitKorea: ₩5,000)
Card reissue ₩3,000 or ₩4,000 (the FAQ gives both)
Cash top-up at a machine Free; 16 currencies
App top-up limit ₩200,000 per transaction, ₩1,000,000 per month
Machine limit ₩1,000,000 at once, ₩2,000,000 a day
Cash withdrawal Up to ₩100,000 at a time, ₩1,000 fee
Validity 6 years per the FAQ, which does not say clearly whether this counts from issue or from the last top-up; the terms of use mention 5 years. Check in the app

Other travel cards

Card Operator What it does Price Notes
Tmoney Travel Card T-money Co. Transit nationwide, plus small purchases at T-money shops ₩4,000 Sold at convenience stores and Incheon Airport bus ticket offices
Tmoney Travel Card+ T-money Co. T-money plus a WOWPASS payment balance ₩6,000 Sold at convenience stores
Climate Card short-term pass Seoul city Unlimited Seoul transit for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days ₩5,000–₩20,000 plus ₩3,000 card Since 17 March 2026, 440 machines at 273 stations on Lines 1–8 accept international cards (about 3.7% fee)
NAMANE I-AURORA Payment and transit balances Not published on official pages we could open App lists Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Alipay+ and convenience-store cash top-ups
Trip.PASS Lordsystem with Shinhan Card Prepaid payment card Not published App says foreigners can top up by credit card or at convenience stores, up to ₩2,000,000

The Korea Tour Card has been discontinued, according to T-money. For a side-by-side look at transit options, see Transit card comparison.

Common problems

  • "Insufficient balance" at a bus. You loaded the payment balance, not T-money. Move money in the app or top up T-money with cash.
  • The airport machine won't exchange your dollars. Incheon Airport machines take won only. Exchange at a bank counter first, or wait for a city machine.
  • No withdrawal at a convenience store. CU-store machines don't do withdrawals. Find a WOW Exchange machine in the app.
  • App top-up declined. Your home bank may block the payment. Call your bank or load cash at a machine.
  • Lost card. Suspend it in the app straight away. Under the terms, payments made before you report the loss are your responsibility. T-money says balances on lost T-money cards cannot be refunded.

Questions and answers

Is WOWPASS worth it?

It helps if you want to pay by card without your home card's foreign fees, or if your own card is often declined. If your card works well in Korea, a plain T-money card for transit may be enough.

Can I use WOWPASS on the subway?

Yes, through its T-money balance, which you top up separately.

What happens to my balance when I leave?

Withdraw the payment balance in won at a WOW Exchange machine before you fly. The FAQ says balances stay valid for up to 6 years (the terms of use mention 5), so you can also keep it for a later trip.

Can I top up WOWPASS with my credit card?

Yes, in the app, within the per-transaction and monthly limits. The operator's FAQ describes machine top-ups in cash.

Does WOWPASS work for online shopping or delivery apps?

No. As of October 2026 the operator says it works for in-person payments only.

Official sources (12)

Last checked October 20, 2026Next check due January 18, 2027

Rules can change. Confirm on the official site before you travel.

Next stepKorea Tax Refund for Tourists: Step by Step (2026)

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