Foreigners Will Soon Ride Buses & Subways in Korea with Just a Credit Card π³π Korea Plans to Introduce an “Open-Loop” Public Transportation Payment System If you’re living in Korea as a foreigner, you’ve probably experienced this at least once:landing in Korea or moving to a new city, then realizing you must buy a transportation card before you can even get on a bus or subway π Good news—this inconvenience may soon be a thing of the past. The Korean government is officially preparing to introduce an open-loop public transportation payment system, which will allow foreigners to use their overseas credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) directly on buses and subways—no separate transit card required. Let’s break down what this means, when it may happen, and why it matters π https://biz.sbs.co.kr/article/20000275097?division=NAVER π What Is Changing? Currently, foreign-issued credit cards do NOT work on Korea’s public transportation system.Foreign residents and tourists must: Buy a T-money or Cashbee card Charge it with cash or a Korean bank card Or purchase a special foreigner-only prepaid transportation card While this works, it’s inconvenient—especially for short-term visitors or newly arrived residents. Under the new plan, foreigners will simply tap their own credit card at the gate or card reader, just like locals tap a transportation card. β No extra cardβ No cash top-upsβ No confusion https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/422/0000811984 π‘ What Is an “Open-Loop” Payment System? Korea currently uses a closed-loop system, meaning: Transportation cards are separate from regular credit cards The system relies on domestic standards and infrastructure An open-loop system, on the other hand: Accepts global credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, etc.) Connects directly to international payment networks Is already widely used in cities like London, New York, and Singapore π With open-loop payments, your credit card becomes your transportation pass. https://www.insight.co.kr/news/524547 π Why Is Korea Introducing This Now? The number of foreign visitors to Korea is rapidly increasing. π From January to October this year: 15.8 million foreign tourists visited Korea That’s a 15.2% increase from last year Even higher than pre-COVID levels (2019) Despite this, Korea’s public transportation system still feels difficult for newcomers. The government believes this change will: Improve convenience for foreign tourists and residents Make Korea’s transport system more globally friendly Modernize Korea’s digital payment infrastructure https://www.insight.co.kr/news/524547 ποΈ Will This Be Available Everywhere? Not immediately. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport: Nationwide rollout all at once is unrealistic Replacing card terminals costs trillions of won Cities and transit operators need time to coordinate π The system will be introduced gradually, starting with major cities.Seoul has already announced plans to: Introduce open-loop payments Roll them out step by step until 2030 Other regions will follow later. https://www.insight.co.kr/news/524547 π What About Transfer Discounts? One big question is whether Korea’s transfer discount system will still apply. If you’ve lived here, you know how generous Korea’s system is: Bus → subway → bus transfers Automatic fare discounts Complex but very efficient settlement system The government is currently studying: Whether transfer discounts can apply to credit card payments How to handle fare settlement across cities and operators How Korea’s system compares to overseas cities This part is still under review, but officials say it’s a key issue. β° When Will This Actually Start? Based on current plans:ποΈ Research period: Starts this month Ends by the end of next yearπ¦ Earliest possible launch: Late next year, or The year after thatSo yes—it’s coming, but not tomorrow. β Important Things to Know This system is primarily for foreign-issued credit cards Koreans using foreign cards will not be included Domestic transportation cards will still exist The new system will likely run alongside the current oneIn other words, no need to worry—T-money won’t disappear anytime soon. β¨ Why This Is a Big Deal for Foreign Residents For foreigners living in Korea, this change means:π Easier first days in Koreaπ Less stress when traveling to new cities𧳠No need to explain transportation cards to visiting friendsπ A more international, welcoming systemIt also shows that Korea is actively adapting to a more global audience—not just tourists, but long-term residents too. π Final Thoughts Korea’s public transportation is already one of the best in the world.This move brings it one step closer to global standards. Soon, hopping on a bus or subway in Korea could be as simple as: π Tap your credit card and go. If you have foreign friends living in Korea—or planning to visit—this is definitely news worth sharing π #KoreaPublicTransport #OpenLoopPayment #KoreaTravelTips #LivingInKorea #ForeignersInKorea #KoreaTransportation #KoreaSubway #KoreaBus #CreditCardPayment #VisaMastercard #KoreaTravelNews #ExpatsInKorea #KoreaLife #VisitKorea #KoreaTourism #DigitalPayments #SmartTransportation #SeoulTransport #KoreaPolicy #TravelConvenience #KoreaInfrastructure #GlobalStandard #TapAndGo #CashlessTravel #KoreaUpdate #KoreaDailyLife #ForeignResidents #KoreaLivingTips #TravelInKorea #FutureOfTransport All rights reserved Stay14 Bespoke
