Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Squid]

I recently started to use the bus for my commute and noticed a lot of folks using T-money cards. I use a regular credit card, which supposedly gives me the discount fare of W800.

These folks with the T-money cards seem only to be paying W400... anybody using one mind explaining the system? - I'll get one if it's gonna cut my fare in two.

[Milwaukiedave]

I believe that the fare depends on how far you are going. When you get on the bus you swip your card and then again before you get off. The fare is figured out by the amount of milage traveled.

Some of the small local buses are as cheap as 500 won, but the bigger buses I believe start at 800 won.

The card is pretty conveinent for traveling on the subway and buses.

[mole]

I really don't mean to push the obvious, but some may be getting the student rate?

I also have questions here. I got one T-Money card that works on the subway, but not for most buses.
I got frustrated and bought another, more like a cell-phone ornament, that seems to work everywhere.
Both are T-Money! AND they supposedly work for coffee vending machines.
I just have a card with like 2 months' salary on it because I thought I did something wrong,
when there are different versions of the same thing that no one explained to me.

[europe2seoul]

[mindmetoo]

Anyone notice those Tmoney cards are not very robust? My first one, the plastic cracked. The second one started giving me a lot of errors on some readers and it grew increasingly worse. I bought a third card and after about 3 months its started to give me a few errors.

[Milwaukiedave]

Minemetoo,

Yes, that is true they are flimsy at best. But the other thing is it was cheap.

In Daegu I bought one and it costs me 20,000 won. So when I moved up here I put off buying one (ok so I'm cheap)). When I Found out how cheap they were I bought one.

I still have the one from Daegu if anyone wants it. It's worthless to me.

[discostar23]

Does anyone know where I can get a T money card in Bundang. You need to get one of those special cards that work on the buses. I have checked at sunae n jeoungja stations but can't find one.

My old one was one of the orginal ones (given to me by someone) and it lasted a long time but it finally broke...

any help?

[ajgeddes]

I have had my card for almost 2 years and I have never had a problem. Mine is just T-Money but still works on all the Gyeonggi express buses. However, I know people who have bought cards and they are really sketchy on express buses and just work sometimes. Another good question would be, why do Gyeonggi and Seoul have different cards when their transportation systems are so intertwined? (Obviously to make they own money, but still )

[Milwaukiedave]

[Qinella]

You can use your T-Money card at most convenience stores if you're short on cash.

[magicwolfman]

[mole]

[Squid]

I've figured you pay more for longer distances like anywhere.

I appreciate the student angle, didn't cross my mind.

I thought the base fare was W800 (Gyeonggi)?

I'll look at the website and thanks for the feedback.

[rickhorton44]

I've figured out that I don't get the discount when going from eB to t-money and vice versa.

I take the seoul transit system, then transfer to a gyeonggi bus. (or vice versa) But when getting on the bus it's 800, then another 800 when I get on the subway. The systems are totally separated and don't give you a discount between them.

But just using the card gives you a discount over using cash. Plus convenience.

[europe2seoul]