Seoul Subway Payment With Overseas Cards Reaches 9,158 Daily Users

Seoul Subway Payment support for overseas-issued cards and mobile wallets recorded an average of 9,158 users per day in its first month of operation, according to figures covering March 17 to April 17, 2026. The payment function applies to new transportation card kiosks on Seoul Subway Lines 1 through 8, where eligible passengers can buy or recharge selected subway products without relying only on Korean cash.

The average daily payment amount was about 70 million won during the first month. Usage was concentrated at Seoul Station, Hongik University Station, and Myeong-dong Station, three stops where visitor demand is especially visible. Among overseas cards, Visa accounted for the largest share. Among simple payment services, WeChat Pay had the highest share.

Seoul Subway Payment Rollout Covers Lines 1 Through 8

The service began on March 17, 2026, at 440 new transportation card vending machines across 273 stations on Seoul Subway Lines 1 through 8. The rollout allows payments with overseas-issued credit and debit cards, including card brands such as Visa and MasterCard. It also supports selected simple payment services, including Kakao Pay and Naver Pay.

The current system is limited to specific transactions at the new kiosks. Overseas-issued card payments can be used for one-time subway tickets, Climate Card purchases, and short-term pass recharges. This means the service is not yet a full open-loop fare system in which a passenger taps an overseas bank card directly at the subway gate.

That distinction matters for travelers. The confirmed change is at the ticket machine: a passenger can use an eligible overseas card or supported mobile payment service to obtain or recharge a subway product before entering the fare system. The available information does not state that overseas cards can be used directly at every gate for standard subway entry.

What Changed for Foreign Passengers

Before the March 2026 rollout, foreign passengers could face payment problems at new subway kiosks when overseas credit cards were not accepted. Some travelers had to look for an ATM or a currency exchange option before they could buy or recharge a transportation product. The new payment function was introduced to reduce that inconvenience.

The first-month usage data indicates that the function is being used at a measurable scale. An average of 9,158 daily users and about 70 million won in daily payment volume show that overseas card and simple payment support is not a marginal feature. It is already part of how many passengers are using the new machines.

The station pattern also fits the purpose of the rollout. Seoul Station, Hongik University Station, and Myeong-dong Station drew concentrated use. The available figures identify these stations as key points of demand, but they do not provide a full station-by-station ranking or exact payment totals for each location.

Short-term Climate Card recharging also increased compared with the same period a year earlier. The available information does not provide the exact size of that increase, so the confirmed point is limited to direction: short-term recharging demand was higher after the new overseas card and simple payment options became available.

Seoul Subway Payment and the Longer Open-Loop Plan

Seoul has also outlined a longer-term plan to move toward an EMV-standard open-loop transit payment system. Under that approach, foreign visitors would eventually be able to use overseas credit cards on buses and subways without separately buying or recharging a transportation card.

The city has described the kiosk upgrade as a short-term step and the open-loop conversion as a longer-term project. The target stated for that broader transition is 2030. The phased approach reflects the need to consider fare gate equipment across the metropolitan area and the systems required for settlement and processing.

For now, the confirmed change is narrower but still important. Overseas-issued cards and supported mobile wallets can be used at new transportation card machines on Lines 1 through 8 for eligible ticket, Climate Card, and short-term pass transactions. The first month of use shows steady demand, particularly at major stations used by visitors.

The first-month figures give a clear picture of the rollout’s immediate effect. Seoul Subway Payment options have expanded at new kiosks across 273 stations, with 440 machines supporting overseas cards and selected mobile payment services. The service does not eliminate every payment step for foreign passengers, but it reduces the need to find cash before using the subway. Based on the available data from March 17 to April 17, 2026, the change is already being used by thousands of passengers each day.