Distinguish the products
Tmoney is a rechargeable transit payment system. You can use a supported physical card or a compatible mobile product, but setup, funding and refund procedures differ.
Tmoney's foreigner product page says that sales of the physical Korea Tour Card have ended and describes the replacement Tmoney Travel Card products. The separately named Android visitor app is a different product.
Check the current card price, stock and partner benefits before buying. A card's purchase price is separate from the balance available for travel.
Use Tmoney on a compatible iPhone or Apple Watch
Tmoney supports eligible cards in Apple Wallet on compatible devices. Follow Apple's Tmoney information and the current Mobile Tmoney instructions for device, software and funding requirements.
Express Mode lets an eligible transit card work without opening the app or unlocking the device. Supported iPhones can also provide limited power-reserve use after the battery runs low; that does not mean the card works indefinitely or after every kind of shutdown.
Check the accepted funding methods and fee before topping up. An overseas card's network appearing in the app does not guarantee acceptance of every card from that network.
Check the Android visitor app
Domestic Mobile Tmoney and the visitor Korea Tour Card Tmoney app have different requirements. Check the visitor app's current listing, including NFC support, device compatibility and funding methods.
Test setup before relying on the phone for your first journey. Keep another way to pay if installation, activation or a top-up fails.
Check the actual balance and refund rules
Physical-card instructions do not automatically apply to mobile balances. Read the terms for the product you are using, including top-up fees, maximum balance and the way a refund is returned.
Start with an amount appropriate to your travel needs rather than loading a large balance before testing the service. Keep the card or device available until travel and any refund are complete.
A Travel Card product with WOWPASS, a prepaid shopping card, adds a separate shopping balance. Check which balance pays for transit and which pays for purchases; do not assume the balances are interchangeable.
Follow the local transit rules
Tap as instructed when boarding and leaving. Metropolitan transfer rules apply to a linked journey, not to a daily allowance of discounted transfers, and conditions vary by transport system.
A Tmoney product does not guarantee payment on every train, express coach or transport service. Check the particular route and booking method before travelling.
