The practical setup that makes a Korea trip smooth — transit cards, apps, payments, and getting around.
A T-money card is a rechargeable transit card that works on subways, buses, and most taxis nationwide. Buy one at any convenience store or station machine for about ₩2,500–4,000, load cash onto it, and tap in and out. It is the simplest way for visitors to get around Korea.
Install a Korean map app (Naver Map or KakaoMap), a translator (Papago), and a transit app before you arrive, because Google Maps transit is unreliable in Korea. Add a taxi app and, optionally, food delivery to round out a smooth trip.
Korea is easy to get around with public transport. Take the Airport Railroad into the city, ride subways and buses with a T-money card, cover long distances on the KTX high-speed train, and use taxis for short hops. A Korean map app ties it together.