Seoul to Gradually Introduce Open-Loop Payment System
Ride Public Transit with Credit Cards, No Need for Separate Bus Card
System Launches in Seoul in 2027, Expands to Greater Metropolitan Area by 2030
Starting in 2027, foreign tourists will be able to use their overseas credit cards directly to access Seoul subways and buses.
On October 16, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it will gradually introduce an "open-loop based transportation payment system" using the EMV standard to improve public transportation convenience for foreign tourists. The open-loop system allows riders to pay transportation fares directly with their credit cards, without the need for a separate transportation card or ticket. The city plans to implement this system so that foreigners can use Seoul’s public transportation with just their overseas credit card, eliminating the need to purchase or recharge a separate transportation card.
Citizens are using the subway at Gwanghwamun Station on Seoul Subway Line 5. 2024.11.20 Photo by Jo Yongjun
The number of foreign tourists visiting Seoul is expected to exceed 20 million this year. However, these tourists have faced inconvenience as they must purchase transportation cards with cash and cannot pay using overseas credit cards.
Since 2023, the city has been in discussions with transportation operators, overseas card companies, and government ministries to introduce the open-loop payment system. The transition will be carried out in phases, taking into account factors such as the sunk costs of early replacement of domestic standard terminals and potential inconvenience to citizens due to changes in payment methods.
In the short term, by the end of this year, the Seoul Metro is working to improve its system so that new subway transportation card vending machines will allow the purchase and recharge of transportation cards with overseas credit cards. Since September 6, new kiosks have been available at 25 major Seoul subway stations, and a total of 440 units will be introduced sequentially by year-end.
Additionally, for foreigners using iPhones, the city will enable overseas card recharging via the T-money Apple Pay service within this year. This will allow foreigners to recharge their transportation cards without the need for currency exchange. For Android users, recharging with overseas cards is possible through the T-money "Korea Tour Card" app.
In the mid-to-long term, the city aims to fully transition to the EMV-based open-loop payment system by 2030. By next year, EMV-certified modules and payment servers will be installed in bus terminals, and by 2027, the payment systems on subway lines 1 through 8 will be replaced with EMV terminals. This means the open-loop system will be introduced to Seoul subways starting in 2027. From 2028 to 2030, the open-loop payment system will be expanded to village buses, privately operated railways, and integrated transfer agencies in the Seoul metropolitan area.
The city also plans to discuss ways to minimize the burden on transportation operators regarding the introduction of the open-loop payment system through consultations with overseas credit card acquirers and brand companies.
In addition, the city will coordinate with Gyeonggi Province, Incheon City, and 19 affiliated transportation agencies participating in the metropolitan area’s integrated transfer system, aiming to establish joint standards that take into account each agency’s terminal replacement cycle, settlement system structure, and network integration methods.
Yeo Jangkwon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Transportation Bureau, stated, "As Seoul is now a global tourist destination, its transportation payment environment must also meet international standards. Through the phased transition to an open-loop system, we will enhance transportation convenience for foreigners and strengthen Seoul’s status as a smart city."
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