Guide · Updated Nov 4, 2026
WOWPASS Card FAQ
WOWPASS is a prepaid card for foreign visitors with a built-in T-money transit function. Card price, the 16 cash currencies, the 1,000 KRW withdrawal fee and how to get T-money back, from the official site and terms.
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What is the WOWPASS card?
WOWPASS is a prepaid card issued by Orange Square, a Korean company, mainly for foreign visitors. It holds two separate balances: the WOWPASS balance pays by inserting the IC chip at any offline merchant in Korea that accepts local credit/debit cards, even stores that don't take international cards; the T-money balance pays for subways, buses and other public transport by tapping. Each balance is topped up separately.
Where do I get a WOWPASS and what does it cost?
You get it from a WOWPASS machine, found at subway stations, hotels, convenience stores and other locations. The official booking page lists the machine card at 6,000 KRW, or 5,500 KRW when pre-booked online (8% off). The voucher is valid for 6 months from purchase, one card per passport, new cards only. You must load cash (KRW or foreign currency) during issuance, then register the card in the app. The site also lists a WOWPASS + T-money + SIM package picked up at the airport SKT roaming center for 29,400 KRW.
Which currencies can I load at the machine?
The official site lists banknotes in 16 currencies that WOWPASS machines accept, converted to a KRW balance at the displayed rate. You can also top up in the app with overseas credit cards or e-wallets. Accepted notes by currency:
| Currency | Accepted notes |
|---|---|
| KRW | 50,000 / 10,000 |
| CNY | 100 |
| USD | 100 / 50 / 20 / 10 |
| JPY | 10,000 / 5,000 / 1,000 |
| TWD | 1,000 / 500 |
| HKD | 1,000 / 500 / 100 |
| EUR | 100 / 50 / 20 / 10 |
| SGD | 100 / 50 |
| AUD | 100 / 50 |
| GBP | 20 |
| CAD | 50 |
| THB | 1,000 |
| PHP | 1,000 |
| VND | 500,000 |
| MYR | 100 |
| IDR | 100,000 |
Are there fees to withdraw cash or top up in the app?
Withdrawing your WOWPASS balance as KRW cash at a machine costs 1,000 KRW per withdrawal, up to 100,000 KRW per transaction, as often as needed. App top-up fees depend on the payment method and, under the terms, are shown at the machine or in the app before you pay. App top-up limits: credit cards up to 1,000,000 KRW and 10 times per month; PayPal up to 500,000 KRW per month.
Does WOWPASS work as a T-money transit card?
Yes. The card has T-money built in, so you tap it on subway and bus readers without buying a separate transit card or single-journey tickets. The T-money balance is separate from the WOWPASS balance: top it up with KRW cash at subway stations or convenience stores, or move WOWPASS balance into T-money with the app's NFC feature. The terms cap the T-money balance at 500,000 KRW.
Does WOWPASS offer cashback or discounts?
Yes, but the offers change. The official site says cardholders get cashback and rewards from partner Korean brands and points users to the app for the current list. No fixed cashback rate is published on the site, so check the app before you travel.
How do I get my remaining balance back before leaving Korea?
The WOWPASS balance can only be taken out as KRW cash at a WOWPASS machine: 1,000 KRW fee per withdrawal, up to 100,000 KRW each time, and coins or amounts under 1,000 KRW can't be withdrawn. Money loaded via PayPal can't be withdrawn or transferred. You can also keep it for a later trip: the balance is valid for 6 years from the last top-up or reissuance. The T-money balance is refunded separately at designated places for a 500 KRW fee:
| T-money balance | Where to get a refund |
|---|---|
| Under 20,000 KRW | Convenience stores such as GS25, 7-Eleven |
| Under 30,000 KRW | Convenience stores such as CU, emart24 |
| Under 50,000 KRW | Info centers at Seoul subway stations |
| 50,000 KRW or more | Tmoney Town (Seoul Station Exit 10, 1F Tmoney HQ, weekdays 9am–6pm only) |
If I lose the card, is my money safe, and how much can it hold?
The WOWPASS balance is protected; the T-money balance is not. If the card is registered in the app you can pause it immediately and use the old balance on a reissued card, but under T-money policy a lost card's T-money balance can't be recovered. Under the terms, the top-up ceiling for foreign users is 1,000,000 KRW.
Checked 2026-11-04 on the official WOWPASS site (home, how-to guide, card booking page) and operator Orange Square's WOWPASS Card Terms and Mobile App Top-up Terms. Fees and offers shown on the machine and in the app take precedence.
Shopping guides
- Seoul sale calendar (late Oct – Mar) — Every big sale and brand sale in Seoul from late October to March. Announced dates are kept apart from expected ones (based on past years), every row is checked against a source, and each says whether tourists can use it and whether it's in stores or online.
- Seoul November 2026 sale calendar — Every big sale you can catch in Seoul in November 2026: Korea Grand Festival (Oct 29 – Nov 15), Olive Young Black Friday (Nov 1–7), 11st Singles Day (Nov 1–11), department store winter sales, MUSINSA Black Friday, US Black Friday on Nov 27 and the Korea Grand Sale from Dec 23. Each has this year's dates with sources, past editions and the latest verification date.
- Olive Young Black Friday 2026 (Nov 1–7) — Olive Young Black Friday 2026 runs Nov 1–7 in stores and online: daily deals by date, the Nov 4 Blackprize box drop, and what tourists can use.
- Korea Grand Sale & Sale Festa 2026 — The autumn Korea Grand Festival runs Oct 29–Nov 15, 2026 and is open to everyone. The winter Korea Grand Sale is for foreign visitors and runs Dec 23, 2026–Feb 13, 2027. This guide distinguishes the events and covers duty-free discounts up to 25% on Oct 29–Nov 15 and individual store conditions.
- Singles Day 11.11 in Korea 2026 — Korea's 11.11-related sales in 2026: 11st Grand 11 Day (Nov 1–11), G market Big Smile Day (Nov 2–13) and AliExpress 11.11 (Nov 1–18), mostly online and needing a Korean account. Offers and conditions, past dates, and the November sales you can use in Seoul stores.
- Korea Black Friday 2026 dates — Korea's Black Friday isn't one day: from late October through November there's the Korea Grand Festival, Shinsegae's SSG Day, and separate Black Friday sales from Olive Young, 29CM, MUSINSA and individual brands. This page lists the dates announced so far by brand and platform, gives last year's dates where nothing is announced, and says whether tourists can buy in store.
- Olive Young sale dates 2026 — Olive Young's big sale (올영세일) runs four times a year, one week each in March, June, September and December. In 2026 it ran Mar 1–7, May 31 – Jun 6 and Aug 30 – Sep 5; November Black Friday is set for Nov 1–7, and the December edition was not announced as of Oct 30, so last year's dates are shown for it. Also covers Olive Day (the 25th–27th of each month), the daily online deal, and how tourists buy and get a tax refund in store.
- Department store tourist coupons by store — Lotte Myeongdong, Shinsegae Main and Gangnam, The Hyundai Seoul in Yeouido, Hyundai Apgujeong and Trade Center, and Galleria Luxury Hall: what each gives tourists now, where to collect it, what to bring, plus address, subway exit, hours and November closing days (checked Nov 2).
- Outlets near Seoul — The main outlets around Seoul compared: which has the most luxury, which is best for sportswear, how to get there by bus, opening hours, tourist coupons and tax refunds, from the outlets' own sites.
- FAQ — The questions visitors ask most, answered using related guides: tax-refund minimums, how to get department-store tourist coupons, whether they stack with tax refunds, Alipay and WeChat Pay, outlets and sale dates. Each answer names its guide; the counter has the final word.
- Korea tax refund steps — How Korea's immediate and general shopping tax refunds differ: eligibility, KRW limits, refund slips, checked bags, and airport export confirmation.
- Korea Downtown Tax Refund and Airport Counters 2026 — You don't have to wait for the airport to get your Korean tax refund: purchases of up to ₩6,000,000 can be refunded in downtown Seoul first. Based on Korea Tourism Organization data, this page lists each airport's refund counter location, hours and payout currencies.
- Seoul QR Discounts: Check Wallet Eligibility First — Spotted an "up to 5% off" QR payment promo in Seoul? Check the designated wallet name in the full terms first. Using one official campaign's rules as an example, this guide covers what to verify before paying: wallet eligibility, participating stores, discount amount and usage limits.
- Musinsa Black Friday 2026 — Musinsa has not announced its 2026 winter Black Friday dates as of Nov 2, 2026. Last year it ran from 7 pm on Nov 16 to midnight on Nov 26, 2025, with about 4,500 brands and up to 80% off; 2024 dates for comparison.
- Olive Young FAQ — Whether tourists can join Olive Young membership, why prices differ between stores and online, the instant tax refund at the counter from ₩15,000 with a physical passport, the March/June/September/December Olive Young Sale, and which payment methods stores take.
- Foreign cards in Korea — Most Korean shops take Visa and Mastercard, but subway and bus gates don't accept foreign cards yet; since March 2026 Seoul's new subway machines sell tickets on foreign cards (about 3.7% fee). Pay in won, not your home currency.
- Kakao Pay for tourists — Short-term tourists generally can't open Kakao Pay, Naver Pay or Toss, but Alipay, AlipayHK, PayPay and other Alipay+ wallets pay at Kakao Pay merchants. Officially announced wallets, places and Naver Pay's tourist measures.
- Counterfeits and complaints — Selling fakes in Korea carries up to 7 years in prison or a ₩100 million fine; small personal-use quantities in a traveler's luggage are exempt from the customs IP ban, larger ones are not. Plus Myeongdong red flags, the 1666-6464 report line and the 1330 complaint channel.
- Korea Grand Sale benefits — Korea Grand Sale 2027 runs Dec 23, 2026 – Feb 13, 2027. What has been officially announced so far, where to pick up the coupon book, and which partners are confirmed.
- Free vs paid coupons — Lotte, Hyundai, Galleria and Shinsegae run foreigner programs you join at an in-store desk with your passport, and the official steps include no purchase. What each gives, what to bring, where to go, and how to tell what a platform voucher adds.
- Duty free vs tax refund — Duty-free prices already exclude VAT and individual consumption tax; department stores charge tax-inclusive prices and refund the tax before you leave (from ₩15,000). Downtown duty-free goods are collected only at the departure pickup counter. Plus Korea's official allowance and purchase-limit rules.
- Tax refund with discounts — Coupons and payment discounts lower the price the VAT refund is based on, and the refund you actually get is less than 10% because operator fees are deducted. Plus the 2026 instant-refund limits, the minimum purchase and refunds to Alipay, WeChat Pay or card.
- Department store hours — Weekday and weekend hours, restaurant floor hours and November 2026 closing days for Lotte Main, Shinsegae Main and Gangnam, The Hyundai Seoul, Hyundai Apgujeong and Galleria Luxury Hall, plus Lunar New Year and Chuseok closures and downtown duty-free hours.
- Tax refund & coming sales
Source: WOWPASS · Pay like a local in Korea (official site) ↗ · WOWPASS · How to Use (Where to use, Top up, Balance withdrawal, Tmoney top up/refund, Balance protection) ↗ · WOWPASS · Reserve Card (machine and airport package prices) ↗ · Orange Square · Terms and Conditions on WOWPASS Card Service (effective 2022-07-11) ↗ · Orange Square · WOWPASS Mobile App Top-up Terms (잔액 충전 규정) ↗
Checked Nov 4, 2026
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In progress
Olive Young December Sale — expected; dates TBA