Payment

How to Pay for Subway, Bus, and Taxi in Busan

Use a rechargeable transport card as the default. Buy or top up at convenience stores or stations, keep backup cash or a card, and do not assume every foreign contactless card will work like an open-loop metro card.

how to pay for subway bus taxi in BusanUpdated 2026-05-13Busan first-timer guide

Quick answer

What to do first

Default choice

T-money or EZL/Cashbee works for subway, city bus, light rail, and many taxis.

Where to buy

Use airport or city convenience stores, subway stations, and transport card machines where available.

What to keep

Carry a backup credit card and some Korean won for top-ups, refunds, or taxis that do not support your preferred payment setup.

Steps

Follow this sequence

Buy a physical card

Pick up a T-money or EZL/Cashbee card after arrival. Choose the card you can find fastest rather than searching across the city for a specific design.

Top it up before the gate

Charge enough value before the first ride. Some machines and stores may be easier with cash or Korea-issued cards.

Tap once per rider

Tap at subway gates and when boarding buses. For multiple riders on one bus card, tell the driver before tapping.

Use taxis with a backup plan

Many taxis accept transport cards or credit cards, but app payment and foreign-card acceptance can vary. Keep pay-to-driver as a fallback.

Card workflow

The payment sequence to remember

live app checklist

Buy card: convenience store or station

Top up: cash or supported card

Tap: subway gate, bus reader, light rail gate

Backup: cash/card for taxis and top-ups

Why this is not a static screenshot

The goal is not to memorize every card brand. The goal is to avoid ticket-machine friction during the first hour.

App screens, fares, route timing, and button labels change. This page keeps the public guide durable while linking out to current official sources.

Common mistakes

Avoid these decisions

Expecting tap-to-pay like London or New York

Korea still commonly uses prepaid transport cards for tourists. Do not rely only on a foreign bank card.

Leaving a large balance before departure

Refund rules differ by card and amount. Spend down the balance before the end of the trip when possible.

FAQ

Traveler questions

Is T-money better than EZL/Cashbee for Busan?

For a short Busan trip, either card is usually fine if you can buy and top it up easily. Choose availability over perfection.

Can one card pay for two people?

On buses, you may be able to tell the driver the number of passengers before tapping. For subway gates, each rider should normally use a separate card.

Sources

Last checked sources

Visit Korea: Transportation Cards

Official tourist-facing overview of Tmoney, EZL, WOWPASS, retail locations, accepted locations, and traveler card notes.

Last checked: 2026-05-13

Source URL is stored in the editorial registry.

Jung-gu Seoul: Transportation Cards

City government guide that explains T-money/Cash-bee purchase, charging, and tap use on public transportation.