How To Get A T-Money Card For Kids in Korea

I wrote a whole guide to using the Seoul Subway System and where to buy a T-money card, but I wanted to do an extra-focused parent-friendly article. If you’re planning a family trip to Korea, ensuring smooth and convenient transportation is key. Using subways and buses is efficient, budget-friendly, and a great way to travel, but you should know how to get a T-money card specifically for your kids because they can get discounted rates on fares.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of obtaining a T-money card for children in Korea. It’s easy to get a T-money card, but if you have kids, make sure you follow the steps to take advantage of the discounted rates afforded to the little ones you might have in tow.

• What is the T-Money Card?
• Do Kids Need a T-Money Card In Korea?
• How to Get a T-Money Card for Kids in Korea
• Benefits of Using a T-Money Card for Kids
• Important Reminders

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

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What is the T-Money Card?

The T-money card is Korea’s go-to prepaid transportation card, simplifying your travel experience by allowing you to pay for public transportation, including the Seoul Subway System, buses, and even taxis.

Beyond transportation, the T-Money card doubles as a convenient payment method for purchases in convenience stores, vending machines, and traditional markets, making it an essential item for both locals and tourists. Does this also mean your children could go on a snack spending machine at their nearest CU or GS25 though? Yes, so make sure they understand the power they have in their pockets.

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Do Kids Need a T-Money Card In Korea?

When you’re traversing to and fro and jumping on subways and buses, a T-money card makes it easy to get here, there and everywhere and children ages 6 to 18 are required to pay for travel. Do they need their own card? Not necessarily.

If you’re only using buses in Korea, you can tell the driver you’ll be paying for yourself and your child and you can just use one card. However, if you’re hoping to travel by subway, then you should get a T-money card to make it easier. You can certainly by subway tickets at each station, but the T-money card is much more convenient.

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How to Get a T-Money Card for Kids in Korea

Unlike standard adult fares, children’s fares offer discounted rates. However, to get these rates, it’s crucial to note that the birthdate of the child must be added to the card. This can be done in convenience stores, which is generally where most people do it because they’re so prevalent, but you can also do this at a subway information booth.

1. Purchase a T-Money Card: The first step to get your child a T-money card, is actually getting the T-money card. Visit any convenience store to purchase a T-Money card. Any card will do for the initial purchase.
   • When in South Korea, you can easily acquire a T-Money card at just about any convenience store. I say just about any because from time to time they might run out. Simply request a T-Money card from the store attendant. If you can’t speak Korean, say “T Money” and they’ll know exactly what you need. It’s the same in Korean.
   • Typically, the cards are kept behind the counter so you won’t be able to spot them in the aisles. The attendant will present you with available design options, and you can select your preferred one. You should note that different designs may cost a bit more. The basic fee for a plain card is 3,000 won, while more elaborate designs, like the Kakao Friends T-Money Card, may cost 4,000 to 5,000 won.
2. Inform the attendant that the card is for a child: After purchasing the card, hand it back to the attendant and communicate that it’s for a child. If language is a barrier, bring proof of your child’s age or date of birth to show the attendant. When my daughter was with me, I didn’t have to show any proof, but I can speak Korean and just told them the date of birth and pointed to her. It was pretty straightforward. If you’ll be doing this sans kid, or can’t speak Korean, just take your child’s ID or passport to show as proof. This step is crucial to unlock discounted fares for children aged 6 to 12 or youth aged 13 to 18. The attendant will input the date and update the card on the card reader.
3. Top It Up: Once the card is updated, you can easily top it up with the desired amount, ensuring your child is ready to travel without any inconvenience.

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Benefits of Using a T-Money Card for Kids

• Time and Money Savings: Enjoy discounted fares for children and youth, saving both time and money on your family’s travels.
• Convenient Payment: Use the T-Money card for purchases in convenience stores, vending machines, and traditional markets.

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Important Reminders

• Children Aged 0-5: Transportation (buses and subways) is free for children aged 0-5 in Korea (except on trains).
• Age Verification: Children aged 6-12 and teenagers aged 13-18 are eligible for discounts only upon registration of their date of birth at the counter service of the convenience store after purchasing the card. Present any ID card or passport to verify their age.
• Fines: You might wonder if adults can get away with using a child’s card and what would stop them. A child’s card beeps more than an adult card when checking into a bus or subway so attendants can easily see who is using a card. If you’re (as an adult) caught using a child’s card, there will be fines assessed.

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I had used the bus almost exclusively with my daughter for years so didn’t need to get her a T-money card for awhile as I could just tell the driver to add her to my card. I noticed online that a lot of parents ask where to find a child’s T-money card so I thought I should write up a quick guide to explain that any T-money card can be a child’s T-money card in Korea, it just needs to be registered with a birthdate! Happy travels!

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