How Much Do You Know About Korea? (Take This 20-Point Quiz!)

A single transportation card can take you almost anywhere in Korea — subways, buses, and even some taxis. Learn how to buy it, recharge it, and use the transfer system so you don’t overpay during your trip.

한국 여행에서 교통카드는 필수 아이템이에요. 공항·편의점·지하철역에서 쉽게 사고, 환승 할인으로 교통비도 아낄 수 있어요.

🎯 Learning Goal

• Know how to purchase and recharge transportation cards at airports and convenience stores
• Understand Korea’s transfer system and save money while traveling
• Learn average transportation costs for subways and buses
• Gain useful Korean phrases for buying and using transportation cards

Planning to explore Korea and worried about transportation?
A single transportation card can be used on buses, subways, and even some taxis across the country. Let’s see how to get one, recharge it, and use Korea’s convenient transfer system to save money during your trip.

📑 Table of Contents

• 1. Key Expressions
• 2. Reading Passage & Vocabulary
• 3. Grammar Tip (~(으)면)
• 4. Say What? (환승 할인)
• 5. Teacher’s Tip
• 6. Practical Info: Cards, Transfers & Costs
• 7. One-Time Transportation Card
• 8. Practice Dialogue
• 9. Pop Quiz
• 10. Did You Know?
• 11. It’s Your Turn
• 12. Final Thoughts & italki Practice

✨ Key Expressions

• 교통카드 (gyo-tong-ka-deu) – transportation card
• 환승 (hwan-seung) – transfer
• 충전하다 (chung-jeon-ha-da) – to recharge
• 편의점 (pyeon-ui-jeom) – convenience store
• 지하철 (ji-ha-cheol) – subway

📖 Reading Passage & Vocabulary

한국에서 여행할 때 교통카드는 필수입니다. 공항, 편의점, 지하철역에서 쉽게 살 수 있고 충전도 편리합니다. 환승 시스템을 이용하면 버스와 지하철을 갈아탈 때 추가 요금을 내지 않아도 됩니다.

When traveling in Korea, a transportation card is essential. You can easily buy it at airports, convenience stores, or subway stations and recharge it conveniently. With the transfer system, you don’t pay extra when switching between buses and subways (within the time limit).

📘 Grammar Tip – ~(으)면 (“if / when”)

~(으)면 is used to express “if” or “when” something happens.

예) 환승하면 돈을 아낄 수 있어요.
If you transfer (with a card), you can save money.

예) 교통카드를 쓰면 환승 할인을 받을 수 있어요.
If you use a transportation card, you can get a transfer discount.

💬 Say What? – 환승 할인

한국에서 “환승 할인”은 교통카드를 사용할 때만 적용되는 혜택이에요. 버스와 지하철을 갈아탈 때 추가 비용이 없거나 적게 나옵니다.

In Korea, the transfer discount (환승 할인) applies only when you use a transportation card. You pay little or no extra fee when transferring between buses and subways.

👩‍🏫 Teacher’s Tip

여행자들이 자주 잊는 것 중 하나는 카드 잔액 확인이에요. 공항에서 산 카드라도 충전이 안 되어 있으면 사용할 수 없습니다. 항상 충전 금액을 확인하세요.

One thing travelers often forget is checking the card balance. Even if you buy a card at the airport, you cannot use it unless it’s charged. Always check and recharge before using it.

🚌 Practical Info: Cards, Transfers & Costs

• Types of Cards (카드 종류): T-money, Cashbee
  한국어: 티머니, 캐시비 카드는 버스·지하철·일부 택시 및 편의점에서 사용 가능합니다.
  Official T-money Guide | Cashbee Official Site
• Where to Buy (구매처): CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, subway stations, airports
  한국어: 편의점, 지하철역, 공항 인포메이션에서 쉽게 구매할 수 있습니다.
  Visit Korea – Transportation Card Info
• Price (카드 가격): Card ~2,500–4,000 KRW; recharge in 1,000 KRW units
  한국어: 카드 가격은 약 2,500원~4,000원이며 1,000원 단위로 충전할 수 있습니다.
  Seoul Subway Fare Info
• Average Fare (평균 교통비): Subway ~1,400–1,500 KRW / Bus ~1,200–1,400 KRW
  한국어: 지하철 기본요금은 약 1,400원~1,500원, 버스는 약 1,200원~1,400원입니다.
  Seoul City – Transportation Overview
• Transfer Discount (환승 할인): Free/discounted transfer within a set time (e.g. 30 mins; longer at night)
  한국어: 일정 시간(예: 30분, 야간 1시간) 이내 환승 시 추가 요금이 없거나 적게 나옵니다.
  Visit Korea – Transfer System Info

🚉 One-Time Transportation Card (Single-Use)

How to Purchase & Use:

• Use the one-time card vending machine at subway stations.
• Select your destination station alphabetically or by subway map on the screen.
• Insert the fare plus a refundable deposit of 500 KRW to issue the card.
• Tap the card at the T-money gate reader when entering and exiting.
• After your trip, insert the card into the deposit refund machine at your destination to get the 500 KRW back.

Important Notes:

• Valid only for subways, commuter trains, and the Airport Railroad (AREX) — not usable on buses.
• No deposit refund for lost or damaged cards.
• Unused cards can often be refunded within a limited period (if the card is readable).
• Discount/free-ride cards require ID verification at the issuing station on the day of purchase.
• Unauthorized use of discount cards may result in a fine equal to the standard fare plus a penalty.

For more details and updates, visit the official site:
https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/main/index.do

🗣 Practice Dialogue

A: 교통카드를 어디에서 살 수 있어요?
A (EN): Where can I buy a transportation card?

B: 공항 편의점이나 지하철역에서 살 수 있어요.
B (EN): You can buy it at an airport convenience store or subway station.

A: 환승은 어떻게 해요?
A (EN): How do I transfer?

B: 교통카드를 찍으면 돼요. 30분 안에 갈아타면 추가 요금이 없어요.
B (EN): Just tap the card. If you transfer within 30 minutes, there’s no extra charge.

📝 Pop Quiz

1. Translate: “I need to recharge my transportation card.”

Answer

교통카드를 충전해야 해요.

2. Translate: “You can buy it at the convenience store.”

Answer

편의점에서 살 수 있어요.

3. True or False: You can get a transfer discount only when using cash.

Answer

False. (You only get a transfer discount when using a transportation card.)

💡 Did You Know?

According to local tourism surveys, the vast majority of foreign travelers in Seoul purchase a transportation card within their first 24 hours in Korea. It’s considered one of the easiest and most cost-effective travel hacks in the country.

✍️ It’s Your Turn

Check where you can buy a transportation card at the airport or near your accommodation. Then write two Korean sentences about how to buy and recharge it.

예) 교통카드를 어디에서 살 수 있어요? / 편의점에서 교통카드를 충전했어요.
Share your sentences in the comments to get feedback!

🧾 Final Thoughts

Using a transportation card in Korea will make your travel smoother and more affordable. Get one at the airport, recharge easily at convenience stores or stations, and enjoy exploring Korea with fewer worries about fares.

Practice on italki: Book a lesson to practice travel Korean and transportation phrases with a native teacher.

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