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T-Money Korean: Buy, Recharge, Tap, and Fix a Card Error
Level
A2
Type
Guide
Theme
Travel
작성자
Y
작성시각
To buy a transit card at a convenience store, ask 티머니 카드 있어요?: "Do you have a T-money card?" Then say 만 원 충전해 주세요: "Please add 10,000 won."
The card itself is simple. The Korean you need appears when the cashier asks how much to add, a machine shows 잔액 부족, or a gate does not open. Learn those moments before your first subway or bus ride.
Buy and recharge the card
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
티머니 카드 있어요? | ti-meo-ni ka-deu i-sseo-yo? | Do you have a T-money card? |
교통카드 있어요? | gyo-tong-ka-deu i-sseo-yo? | Do you have a transportation card? |
이 카드로 할게요. | i ka-deu-ro hal-ge-yo | I'll take this card. |
만 원 충전해 주세요. | ma-n won chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo | Please add 10,000 won. |
잔액 확인해 주세요. | ja-naek hwa-gi-nae ju-se-yo | Please check the balance. |
교통카드 is the general Korean word for a transportation card. 충전 means recharging or adding stored value, and 잔액 means the remaining balance.
The card price and the money loaded onto it are separate. If the cashier explains this, you may hear:
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
카드값은 별도예요. | ka-deu-kka-beun byeol-do-ye-yo | The card price is separate. |
얼마 충전해 드릴까요? | eol-ma chung-jeon-hae deu-ril-kka-yo? | How much should I add? |
현금만 돼요. | hyeon-geum-man dwae-yo | Cash only. |
Answer the amount, not the number of rides: 오천 원이요 ("5,000 won") or 만 원이요 ("10,000 won").
VisitKorea's current transportation-card guide says T-money cards can be purchased and loaded at convenience stores nationwide and reloaded at subway machines. Its 2026 transportation guide notes that international credit cards are not accepted for prepaid T-money purchase or top-up, so travelers should have cash ready. Check the official transportation-card guide for current details.
Read a subway recharge machine
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
교통카드 충전 | gyo-tong-ka-deu chung-jeon | recharge transportation card |
충전 금액 | chung-jeon geu-maek | recharge amount |
카드를 올려 주세요 | ka-deu-reul ol-lyeo ju-se-yo | place the card on the reader |
현금을 넣어 주세요 | hyeon-geu-meul neo-eo ju-se-yo | insert cash |
충전 중 | chung-jeon jung | recharging in progress |
충전 완료 | chung-jeon wan-ryo | recharge complete |
잔액 | ja-naek | balance |
영수증 | yeong-su-jeung | receipt |
At a machine, 중 means the action is in progress, while 완료 means it is finished. Leave the card on the reader until you see 충전 완료.
If you cannot find the machine, ask station staff:
교통카드 충전하는 곳이 어디예요?
Where can I recharge a transportation card?
Where can I recharge a transportation card?
Tap on the subway
Tap at the entry gate and again at the exit gate. After a successful tap, the screen usually shows the fare and remaining balance.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
승차 | seung-cha | boarding / entry |
하차 | ha-cha | getting off / exit |
요금 | yo-geum | fare |
잔액 | ja-naek | remaining balance |
잔액 부족 | ja-naek bu-jok | insufficient balance |
다시 대 주세요 | da-si dae ju-se-yo | please tap or hold it again |
If the reader says 잔액 부족, add money before trying again. If it tells you to tap again, hold one card flat against the reader instead of waving your wallet over it.
Ask for help when the gate will not open
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
카드가 안 돼요. | ka-deu-ga an dwae-yo | The card isn't working. |
문이 안 열려요. | mu-ni an yeol-lyeo-yo | The gate won't open. |
잔액 부족이라고 나와요. | ja-naek bu-jo-gi-ra-go na-wa-yo | It says "insufficient balance." |
어디에서 충전해요? | eo-di-e-seo chung-jeon-hae-yo? | Where do I recharge it? |
여기 찍는 거 맞아요? | yeo-gi jjing-neun geo ma-ja-yo? | Am I tapping in the right place? |
Do not force the gate or keep tapping different cards. Show the card and the message to station staff, then use one short sentence.
Tap on and off the bus
On a city bus, tap when you board and again before you get off. Seoul's official bus guide instructs passengers to tap when getting off for transfer processing.
Korean you may hear | Pronunciation | Meaning |
승차입니다. | seung-cha-im-ni-da | Your boarding tap is recorded. |
하차입니다. | ha-cha-im-ni-da | Your exit tap is recorded. |
잔액이 부족합니다. | ja-nae-gi bu-jok-ham-ni-da | Your balance is insufficient. |
카드를 다시 대 주세요. | ka-deu-reul da-si dae ju-se-yo | Please tap the card again. |
승차 and 하차 are formal transit words. Once you recognize them on the bus, you will also understand signs such as 승차장 ("boarding area") and 하차장 ("drop-off area").
Ask whether T-money works here
T-money can be used on public transportation and at affiliated places displaying the logo. For a taxi or shop, ask instead of assuming.
Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
티머니 돼요? | ti-meo-ni dwae-yo? | Can I use T-money? |
교통카드 돼요? | gyo-tong-ka-deu dwae-yo? | Can I use a transportation card? |
티머니로 결제할게요. | ti-meo-ni-ro gyeol-je-hal-ge-yo | I'll pay with T-money. |
이걸로 계산할게요. | i-geol-lo gye-san-hal-ge-yo | I'll pay with this. |
In a taxi, check whether an app has already charged you before presenting any card. In a store, look for the T-money logo and wait for the cashier to activate the reader.
A complete convenience-store exchange
You: 티머니 카드 있어요?
Cashier: 네. 어떤 카드로 드릴까요?
You: 이 카드로 할게요. 만 원 충전해 주세요.
Cashier: 카드값은 별도예요. 현금 있으세요?
You: 네, 여기 있어요.
Cashier: 충전됐습니다.
You: 잔액 얼마예요?
Cashier: 만 원이에요.
Cashier: 네. 어떤 카드로 드릴까요?
You: 이 카드로 할게요. 만 원 충전해 주세요.
Cashier: 카드값은 별도예요. 현금 있으세요?
You: 네, 여기 있어요.
Cashier: 충전됐습니다.
You: 잔액 얼마예요?
Cashier: 만 원이에요.
You bought the physical card, chose a recharge amount, understood that the card price was separate, and confirmed the balance.
A complete gate problem
Reader: 잔액이 부족합니다.
You to staff: 죄송한데요, 잔액 부족이라고 나와요.
Staff: 저기에서 충전하시면 돼요.
You: 교통카드 충전기요?
Staff: 네, 맞아요.
You to staff: 죄송한데요, 잔액 부족이라고 나와요.
Staff: 저기에서 충전하시면 돼요.
You: 교통카드 충전기요?
Staff: 네, 맞아요.
The useful pattern is -이라고 나와요: "It says ___ on the screen." You can reuse it with 오류라고 나와요 ("It says error") or 사용 불가라고 나와요 ("It says unavailable").
Remember the full sequence
1.
티머니 카드 있어요?: buy the card.
2.
만 원 충전해 주세요.: add value.
3.
승차 / 하차: recognize successful taps.
4.
잔액 부족: know why the gate stopped you.
5.
카드가 안 돼요.: ask staff for help.
The card teaches more Korean than it first appears to. 충전, 잔액, 부족, 승차, and 하차 repeat across machines, buses, gates, and signs. By the end of the trip, those words will no longer be labels you memorized; they will be actions you have performed.