The WOWPASS card, considered an essential travel item in South Korea, can be used for automated foreign currency exchange, transportation, and payment. It is exactly like a T-Money and prepaid card in one, and I found that it worked well in the subway, convenience stores, and cafes during my trip. If you also want to book a WOWPASS card, you can do so at a cheaper price here.
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What is WOWPASS in Korea?
If you are going on a trip to Korea, I bet you are planning to exchange your money for Korean won and get a T-Money card as soon as you arrive. I used to do this a lot on my previous trips: go to a foreign exchange booth at Incheon Airport and redeem the T-Money that I booked on Klook. However, on my recent travels, I decided to try WOWPASS instead. Essentially, it is an automated foreign exchange service that offers better conversion rates. It also provides travelers with a card that has transportation and payment functions.
How did I find WOWPASS, you ask? Well, the reviews I read were right — not only did I get higher exchange rates for my local currency (I got slightly more money for my trip!), I was also able to use the WOWPASS card in the subway, buses, convenience stores, restaurants, and cafes.
Below we have more details on WOWPASS, but you may want to check here first whether the card is available on your travel dates:
Who is WOWPASS for?
WOWPASS is both a FOREX service for foreigners and a travel card. You will enjoy using it if you fall into any of the following scenarios:
- You are a tourist who needs to exchange one of the following currencies for Korean Won (KRW): AUD, CAD, CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, IDR, JPY, MYR, PHP, SGD, THD, TWD, USD, & VND
- You will need access to a FOREX service anytime (especially late at night or early in the morning).
- You want to get better exchange rates, if not the highest.
- You plan to buy a T-Money card to pay reduced transportation fares.
- You want a prepaid card (or debit card) since most stores and commercial establishments in South Korea do not accept cash anymore.
- You want to enjoy cashback or discount perks from various stores.
If any of the scenarios above describe you or seem curious to you, continue reading to see how WOWPASS works.
How WOWPASS in Korea Works
All you need to do is get a WOWPASS card voucher on Klook here or on KKDay here, insert your bills into the kiosk machine, receive your card, and link it to the WOWPASS app. Here is the detailed walkthrough:
1. Book a WOWPASS Card online
First, you will need to purchase a WOWPASS card. You can book one here for just around $3.9. (You can also buy one directly through a WOWPASS kiosk machine, but it will cost you the full price of $4.6.)
After booking online, you will receive a voucher code instantly. Once you have arrived in Korea, find a WOWPASS kiosk machine (find the link to locations here) and enter your code to get your card with no extra fees.
2. Convert your money to Korean Won
Take out the bills that you would like to exchange for Korean Won and insert them into the WOWPASS kiosk machine. The machine will convert the money into Korean Won instantly, applying no transaction fees This means you can generally receive a higher conversion compared to what money exchange booths like this one can provide.
Note that the following bills are accepted on WOWPASS:
- US Dollar: $20, $50, and $100
- Philippine Peso: ₱1000
- Euro: €20, €50, and €100
- Singaporean Dollar: S$50 and S$100
- Taiwanese Dollar: NT$500 and NT$1,000
- Hong Kong Dollar: HK$500 and HK$1,000
- Australian Dollar: A$50 and A$100
- Canadian Dollar: CA$50
- British Pound: £20
- Thai Baht: ฿1,000
- Vietnamese Dong: ₫500,000
- Malaysian Ringgit: MYR100
- Japanese Yen: ¥5,000 and ¥10,000
- Chinese Yen: ¥100
- Korean Won: ₩5,000, ₩10,000, and ₩50,000 (no applicable conversion)
3. Get your WOWPASS Card with T-Money
Once the machine converts your home currency, it will automatically add the amount to your WOWPASS balance. You will be able to use the card to pay in convenience stores and restaurants right away.
4. Top-up your T-Money wallet
If you plan to use your card to take the train, subway, or bus, you will first need to top up your T-Money balance. Note that your card has two balances: WOWPASS and T-Money. All of the exchanged currency goes straight to the WOWPASS balance, so you will need to add money to your T-Money balance separately.
To do this, withdraw the amount that you will use for transportation. When I topped up my T-Money balance on my WOWPASS, I allotted ₩6,000 or $4.6 a day. That totaled to ₩60,000 for my 10-day trip. (For reference, base fares for one-way trips cost ₩1,500 for buses and ₩1,400 for the subway.)
After withdrawing money in Korean Won, top up your WOWPASS card easily at a convenience store or by using a card reloading machine (located at the airport’s Transportation Center or subway station).
5. Link your WOWPASS Card to the official app
To keep track of your balance, view transactions, or request suspension of your card should you lose it, download the WOWPASS app and link your card. Here are the links: App Store and Play Store.
As of writing time, topping up your T-Money balance on the WOWPASS app is not yet available. When this feature comes out, you can automatically transfer money from your WOWPASS balance to your T-Money balance with your NFC-enabled smartphone. (Note that this feature is already available on NAMANE card, which is another alternative to T-Money.)
Book a WOWPASS Prepaid Card on Klook and KKDay
Klook and KKDay, two of the leading travel booking platforms for South Korea, offer WOWPASS cards at a discounted price with no invitation code required. Between the two, I booked on Klook here since they offered slightly cheaper rates.
1. For Klook users
- PRICE: Book here for only $3.9 (vs. regular price of $4.6)
- INCLUSION: One (1) WOWPASS card voucher
- BEST REVIEW: “Very helpful! We can change our dollars to [Won] instantly. It’s widely accepted in [Seoul]. Even in small shops. No need to worry at night because…machines can be found [in] nearby locations. Made our trip extra light.”
2. For KKDAY Users
- PRICE: Book here for only $3.9 (vs. regular price of $4.6)
- INCLUSIONS: One (1) WOWPASS voucher
- BEST REVIEW: “Much better exchange rate…at [WOWPASS] machine than any money exchange shops,” reads a review on KKDay by a satisfied traveler.
How to Use the WOWPASS Card as a T-Money Card and Prepaid Card
1. As a T-Money Card
WOWPASS cards show the T-Money logo, which means that you can use it as a transportation card. It works exactly like any transit card; just tap your card at the subway turnstile or on the card readers on the buses and cabs.
2. As a Prepaid or Debit Card
I enjoyed using WOWPASS as my method of payment in convenience stores like CU, GS25, Emart24, 7-Eleven, Ministop, and more. You can also use it to pay for your transactions or purchases in the following:
- Restaurants
- Cafes
- Cosmetics shops
- Apparel stores
- Internet cafes
- Arcades
- Cinemas
- Grocery marts and convenience stores
Deals & Cashback Offers for WOWPASS Cardholders
Aside from all the benefits I mentioned above, your WOWPASS card also offers up to 20% cashback offers from participating Korean stores and establishments. Some of these offers include the following:
- 10% off on Starbucks (select stores)
- ₩1,000 discount coupon on Olive Young
- 30% discount on Caribbean Bay
- 10% discount on N Seoul Tower
Is WOWPASS worth it? Here are more reviews!
With over 30k+ travelers booked and an outstanding 4.5 out of 5-star rating, the WOWPASS Prepaid Card is definitely a must-have item to book for your Korea trip. A traveler who booked WOWPASS here wrote the following review:
Very helpful! We can change our dollars to won instantly. It’s widely accepted in seoul. Even in small shops. No need to worry at night because vendo machines can be found on nearby locations. Made our trip extra light.
Another satisfied customer said: “Highly recommended! We used this card for purchasing items in the stores and transportation (we mostly travelled by bus).”
WOWPASS vs. Namane Card
What’s the difference between WOWPASS and Namane Card? Both actually work as an integrated transportation and prepaid card in South Korea, but there are some slight differences. While the main advantage of WOWPASS is that you can do an automated currency exchange, Namane is all about getting a customized IC or transit card. The Namane card can be designed according to your preferences. Furthermore, it is also powered by Rail+ and not T-Money.
I personally use a Namane Card as a foreign resident in South Korea. I like it because it allows me to top up the card through my bank account in Korea, overseas bank account, convenience stores, and even mobile payment. However, if I am a tourist who does not mind the standard design of WOWPASS, I’ll definitely purchase WOWPASS since I can directly deposit my converted foreign currency into the card and even withdraw any remaining balance.
Kiosk Machine Locations
You can find a WOWPASS kiosk machine at the following:
- Airports: Incheon International Airport (Terminals 1 & 2) and Gimpo International Airport
- Subway stations: Seoul Station, Myeongdong Station, Hongik Univ. Station (Hongdae), Jamsil Station, Gangnam Station, DDP Station, Gwanghwamun Station, Yeouido Station, & more
- Hotels: L7 Hongdae, La Casa Hotel Seoul, Travelodge Dongdaemun, Ibis Styles Ambasador Incheon Airport, Jeju Shinhwa World Marriott Resort, Fairfiled by Marriott Busan, & more
- Malls: Lotte Mart Gimpo Airport Branch, Emart Jeju Branch, & more
- Stores: M Playground Hongdae, CU Myeongdong, & more
FAQ: WOWPASS Card in Korea
WOWPASS has the T-Money function, which means that you can use your card to ride the subway, buses, and taxis in Korea. There are other tourist cards in South Korea with T-Money (like this money-saving attraction pass), but only WOWPASS provides automated foreign currency exchange service that loads the converted money directly into a prepaid card.
Yes, and it does not matter if you’re a traveler or a foreigner living in Korea. However, please note that only select currencies are accepted by the machine. These include AUD, CAD, CNY, EUR, GBP, HKD, IDR, JPY, MYR, PHP, SGD, THD, TWD, USD, & VND.
Yes, the foreign currency that you’ll exchange goes directly to your WOWPASS wallet. You will need to make a separate top-up of your card’s T-Money wallet easily by visiting a convenience store or subway station.
