How to Use WOWPASS in Korea: T-Money & Currency Exchange

The WOWPASS card, considered an essential travel item in South Korea, can be used for automated foreign currency exchange, transportation, and store payment. It is like a T-Money and debit card in one, and I found that it worked well in the subway, convenience stores, and cafes. Get a WOWPASS for your trip with a 16% discount here and redeem it at a machine in Incheon Airport, Hongdae, Seoul Station, and more locations nationwide.

In a nutshell

• What is WOWPASS? Used by millions of travelers, WOWPASS in Korea is a convenient way to exchange your home currency for Korean Won. The exchanged amount will be stored in a WOWPASS card, which you can use in two ways: like a debit card to pay for your purchases and like a transportation card to pay for your subway and taxi fares.
• Why use it? WOWPASS Card machines in South Korea provide the best currency exchange rate, so you can get more money for your trip.
• How much is WOWPASS? The WOWPASS Card for redemption in Seoul costs $4, while cards for pick-up in Incheon Airport costs $4.8. To see the discounted offers online, click here.
• Where are WOWPASS machines located? You can find one at Incheon Airport, Gimpo Airport, Hongdae, Myeongdong, Seoul Station, Jeju, Busan, and more.

Quick Book

What is WOWPASS?

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, this is an automated foreign exchange service that offers better conversion rates. It also provides travelers with a WOWPASS Card that has transportation and payment functions.

How did I find my experience with WOWPASS? 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 easily.

Below we have more details on WOWPASS, but you may want to check first whether the card is available on your travel dates:

Who is WOWPASS for?

WOWPASS is both a foreign exchange (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 Card in Korea Works

After booking your WOWPASS card voucher online on Klook, all you need to do is insert your bills into the kiosk machine, receive your WOWPASS card, and link it to the WOWPASS app. Below is a detailed walkthrough:

1. Book a WOWPASS Card online

First, you will need to purchase a WOWPASS card online. You can book one here for just around $3.5. (You can also buy one directly through a WOWPASS kiosk machine, but it will cost you the full price of $4.8.)

After booking, you will receive a voucher code instantly. Once you have arrived in Korea, proceed to a WOWPASS kiosk machine at the airport (or in downtown Seoul, Busan, Jeju, etc.) and enter your voucher code to get your card with no extra fees.

2. Convert your money to Korean Won via the WOWPASS Machine

Take out the bills that you would like to exchange for Korean Won and insert them into the WOWPASS machine. The e-kiosk will convert your money into Korean Won instantly with 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. Receive your WOWPASS Card (with T-Money)

Once the machine converts your home currency, it will automatically add the amount to your WOWPASS Card. 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 need to top up your T-Money balance first. Note that your card has two balances or virtual wallets: 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.)

ALSO READ: How to Use Namane Card in South Korea: Price, Features, & Reviews

Book a WOWPASS Prepaid Card: Deals

• PRICE: Book here starting at only $3.45 (vs. regular price of $4)
• INCLUSION: One (1) WOWPASS card
• 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.”

Using the WOWPASS Card as a T-Money Card and Prepaid Card

1. As a T-Money Card (Transportation)

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 tried using my WOWPASS card as a method of payment in convenience stores like CU, GS25, Emart24, 7-Eleven, Ministop, and more, and it worked well. The card is also available for use in the following:

• Restaurants
• Cafes
• Cosmetics shops
• Apparel stores
• Internet cafes
• Arcades
• Cinemas
• Grocery marts and convenience stores

As a rule of thumb, WOWPASS is accepted as a method of payment in all stores where cards are accepted (restrictions may apply in hotels or stores that use a mobile POS).

Deals & Cashback Offers

Aside from all the benefits I mentioned above, know that 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 100k+ travelers who booked and an outstanding 4.6 out of 5-star rating, the WOWPASS Card is definitely a must-have item to book for your Korea trip. Here is a review from a satisfied user:

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 [traveled] by bus).”

WOWPASS vs. Namane Card

What’s the difference between WOWPASS and Namane Card? While both have the same core function as an integrated transportation and prepaid card in South Korea, there are some slight differences. The main advantage of WOWPASS is that you can do an automated currency exchange, while Namane is all about getting a customized or personalizable 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 local bank account from Hana, overseas bank account, convenience stores, and even mobile payment. However, if I were 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.

WOWPASS Machine Locations

You can find a WOWPASS 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 Ambassador Incheon Airport, Jeju Shinhwa World Marriott Resort, Fairfield by Marriott Busan, & more
• Malls: Lotte Mart Gimpo Airport Branch, Emart Jeju Branch, & more
• Stores: M Playground Hongdae, CU Myeongdong, & more

See more locations here.

FAQ

1. Which is better: WOWPASS or T-Money Card?

WOWPASS is actually a T-Money card but with enhanced features for store payment and foreign currency exchange. If you are interested in these features, I would personally recommend WOWPASS. It’s almost the same price of a standard T-Money card.

By the way, there are other tourist cards in South Korea with a T-Money function like this money-saving attraction pass. However, only WOWPASS provides an automated foreign currency exchange service that loads the converted money directly into a prepaid card.

2. Is WOWPASS available to all foreigners?

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.

3. Do I need to make a separate top-up to use my WOWPASS Card’s T-Money function?

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.

Got a question?

Ask away in our comments section! You can also share your experience in using WOWPASS in Korea.

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