Where can I refund my T-money card balance?

Any CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, or Emart24 convenience store refunds balances under ₩20,000 in cash, minus a ₩500 fee. This includes stores inside Incheon Airport.

Can I refund more than ₩20,000?

Balances over ₩20,000 must be refunded at the T-money headquarters near Seoul Station. The easier option is to spend the balance down below ₩20,000 first — convenience stores accept T-money as payment.

Is the card purchase price refundable?

No. The ₩2,500–4,000 you paid for the physical card is not refundable — only the loaded balance. T-money balances don't expire, so you can also keep the card for your next trip.

Can I refund T-money at Incheon Airport?

Yes. Use the CU or GS25 stores in the arrivals/departures halls before you pass through security. Refunds are cash-only, so do it before you exchange your remaining Won.

T-Money Refund: Get Your Balance Back Before Leaving Korea (2026)

The Rules at a Glance

Your balance	Where to refund	Fee
Under ₩20,000	Any CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24 — instant cash	₩500
Over ₩20,000	T-money headquarters near Seoul Station (or spend it down below ₩20,000 first)	₩500
Card price (₩2,500–4,000)	Not refundable — you keep the card	—

Step-by-Step: Refund at a Convenience Store

Check your balance — tap at any subway gate (it shows on the display) or ask the cashier to scan the card.
Hand your card to the cashier and say "hwan-bul hae juseyo" (환불해 주세요 — please refund). Just "hwan-bul" works fine.
The cashier taps your card on the same reader used for recharges and empties the balance.
Take your cash — your balance minus ₩500. The card stays yours and still works if you reload it later.

No passport, no receipt, no paperwork. The whole thing takes under a minute — the same counter process as a T-money recharge, in reverse.

Balance Over ₩20,000? Do This Instead

Convenience stores can only refund up to ₩20,000. Larger balances are handled at the T-money headquarters near Seoul Station — a detour most travelers don't have time for on departure day.

The practical fix: spend the balance down first. Every convenience store in Korea accepts T-money as a payment method — snacks, drinks, travel supplies for the flight. Get under ₩20,000, then refund the rest at the same counter.

Or simply keep the card: T-money balances don't expire. If there's any chance you'll return to Korea, the card works exactly the same on your next trip.

Refunding at Incheon Airport

Both terminals have CU and GS25 stores in the public areas, so you can refund right before check-in. Two things to get the order right:

1.Refund before you pass security — airside options are limited and the refund is paid in Korean Won cash.
2.Refund before exchanging your leftover Won, so the refunded cash goes into the same exchange.

Arriving instead of leaving? See our guide to buying T-money at Incheon Airport.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I get the card price back?

No — the ₩2,500–4,000 purchase price of the physical card is never refunded, only the loaded balance. Think of the card itself as a ~₩3,000 souvenir that still works next trip.

Can I refund T-money in Apple Wallet?

Mobile T-money on iPhone works differently from physical cards — the balance stays on your device and doesn't expire, so most travelers just keep it for the next trip. See our T-money on iPhone guide.

Can I refund at a subway station?

Some stations have staffed offices that can help, but availability is inconsistent. Convenience stores are the reliable option — there's one within sight of almost every station exit.

What about Korea Tour Card, NAMANE, or WOWPASS?

The T-money transit balance on these cards follows the same convenience-store refund rules. WOWPASS's separate prepaid payment balance has its own refund process via WOWPASS machines. Comparing cards? See T-money vs Climate Card vs WOWPASS.