Apple Wallet Now Supports Tmoney: South Korea Commuters Tap to Pay with iPhone & Apple Watch

Apple has announced that, effective immediately, users in South Korea can add the widely used Tmoney transit card to their Apple Wallet. With this integration, commuters can effortlessly ride subways, buses, and other public transportation systems using their iPhone or Apple Watch—and even make purchases at most convenience stores—without the need to carry a physical card.

This update marks a significant milestone in Apple’s global expansion of its Apple Pay and Apple Wallet services within the realm of transportation payments. To add a Tmoney card, users simply tap the “+” icon in the top-right corner of the Apple Wallet app, select “Transit Card,” and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup and top-up process.

With the support of Express Mode, users can make payments by simply holding their iPhone or Apple Watch, linked to a Tmoney card, near a reader—without unlocking the device or opening any app. This provides a seamless experience for quickly passing through fare gates or making swift purchases. Even when the device’s battery is depleted, Express Mode continues to function for up to five hours, ensuring uninterrupted transit access.

For top-ups, Apple Wallet supports direct reloading of the linked Tmoney card using Apple Pay. Users can also add value via the official Tmoney app. For frequent commuters, an Auto Reload feature is available, automatically replenishing the card’s balance when it falls below a preset threshold—ensuring uninterrupted daily travel.

To add a Tmoney transit card to Apple Wallet, the following device and system requirements must be met:

• iPhone XS or later, running iOS 17.2 or above
• Apple Watch Series 6 or later, running watchOS 10.2 or above

Tmoney is one of South Korea’s most prevalent transit payment solutions. In addition to supporting subways and buses across Seoul and major cities, it can be used for small purchases at convenience stores such as GS25, CU, and 7-Eleven. This collaboration with Apple not only represents the company’s deepening localization efforts in the Korean market but also allows users to seamlessly integrate the digital wallet capabilities of iPhone and Apple Watch into their everyday routines.