WOWPASS vs NAMANE prepaid travel cards for Korea

WOWPASS vs NAMANE Card: Which Prepaid Card for Korea? (2026)

BySeho Kim

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“Do I need cash in Korea? Will my credit card work?”

Most of the time, your Visa or Mastercard will work fine in Korea. But some small shops, kiosks, and market stalls turn foreign cards away, every foreign card purchase may carry a fee from your bank, and the subway and buses don’t accept your home bank card at all. That’s why so many visitors pick up a prepaid travel card: you load Korean won onto it and use it like a local debit card, and it doubles as a transit card.

The two best-known options are WOWPASS and NAMANE. Both work, but they suit different travelers. This guide compares them as of October 1, 2026, using each company’s official guides and notices.

1. Quick Comparison

WOWPASS vs NAMANE prepaid travel cards for Korea
WOWPASS NAMANE
Card price ₩6,000 at a machine (₩5,500 if booked in the app), since March 4, 2026 From about ₩6,000; custom full-image cards cost more
Passport needed? Yes, to issue the card No passport verification to get the card
Best feature Exchange foreign cash at its machines (16 currencies) Design your own card; move money between balances in the app
How to load it Foreign or Korean cash at machines; foreign cards or wallets in the app; card top-up at selected machines Cash or card at kiosks; foreign cards, Alipay+ wallets, or CU store cash via the app
Transit Built-in T-money (separate balance) Built-in Rail+ transit (separate balance)
Getting money back Withdraw won at a WOWPASS machine (₩1,000 per withdrawal) Refund via app or at MoneyBox in Myeongdong/Seoul Station (₩1,200 fee); rules apply
Where to get it Machines at Incheon and Gimpo airports, major subway stations, hotels Kiosks at Incheon/Gimpo airports, Seoul Station, Myeongdong, Hongdae and more

The short answer: if you’re bringing foreign cash to exchange, get WOWPASS. If you’d rather top up from your card in an app, want a fun souvenir card, or don’t want to scan your passport, NAMANE is a good fit.

2. WOWPASS: Exchange, Pay, and Ride with One Card

WOWPASS is run by Orange Square and says it has more than 2 million users. Its machines are the main draw: you feed in foreign banknotes and the won goes straight onto your card, no bank counter needed.

What you need to know

  • Price: As of March 4, 2026, the card costs ₩6,000 at a machine, or ₩5,500 if you buy a voucher in the WOWPASS app (re-issue: ₩4,000). Older guides still quote ₩5,000.
  • Issuing: You need your passport and some cash to load the card. The machine scans your passport, you top up, and the card comes out.
  • Top-up: At machines with cash in 16 currencies (USD, EUR, JPY, AUD, CAD, GBP, SGD and more), or in the app with a foreign card or mobile wallet. Some machines now accept cards too. Note that machines inside Incheon Airport accept only Korean won cash, according to WOWPASS’s guide, so check the app for machine details before you rely on one.
  • Paying: Insert the card’s chip anywhere that takes Korean cards, including places that don’t accept foreign cards. WOWPASS says it charges no fee for exchange, top-up, or payment.
  • Limits: Maximum balance ₩1,000,000. App top-ups are capped at ₩200,000 per transaction and ₩1,000,000 per month.
  • Lost card: Pause it in the app and re-issue at a machine to keep your payment balance. The T-money balance on a lost card can’t be recovered.

You can also buy the card voucher ahead of time and redeem it with a 6-digit code at a WOWPASS machine, or pick it up at the CU store at Incheon or Busan Gimhae airport.

👉 Pre-book a WOWPASS card voucher on Klook

The T-money catch

The payment balance and the T-money (transit) balance are separate. Money you exchange goes to the payment balance only. To ride the subway or bus, top up the T-money side:

  • with cash at subway station machines or convenience stores, or
  • in the Tmoney app, by tapping your WOWPASS card on your phone and paying from your WOWPASS balance (iPhone and supported Android phones with NFC).

Getting money back

Leftover payment balance can be withdrawn as won at a WOWPASS machine: up to ₩100,000 per withdrawal, ₩1,000 fee each time. Machines in the Incheon Airport AREX area don’t do withdrawals. T-money balance is refunded separately (₩500 fee) at convenience stores for small amounts, or at subway info centers and Tmoney Town for larger amounts.

3. NAMANE: Your Own Design, Managed in the App

NAMANE (“nah-mah-neh,” from the Korean for “my own”) lets you print an image of your choice on the card, which is why it’s popular with K-pop fans. It’s also the easier choice if you don’t want to scan your passport.

What you need to know

  • Price: NAMANE’s online store lists the standard card at ₩6,000 (sale price) and full-image cards at ₩9,000. Kiosk prices vary by design.
  • Getting one: Design your card in the NAMANE app, save the QR code (valid for two weeks), and scan it at a NAMANE kiosk to print and pay. NAMANE says no passport or identity verification is needed to get the card.
  • Top-up: Cash or card at kiosks; in the app with a foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB, or UnionPay card (minimum ₩10,000), Alipay+ wallets, or cash at CU convenience stores (₩1,000 to ₩200,000).
  • Two balances, easy switching: A Pay balance for shops and a Transit balance for subways and buses. You can convert between them in the app.
  • Transit: Works through the Rail+ transit card system on subways and buses across Korea.

Refunds: read this before loading a lot

NAMANE’s refund rules are stricter than most people expect:

  • A full refund is available within 7 days if you haven’t used the top-up.
  • After 7 days, you can generally only refund the remaining balance once you’ve spent more than 60% of it (NAMANE notes exceptions for card and easy-payment top-ups).
  • Foreigners can get an on-site refund at MoneyBox in Myeongdong or Seoul Station (bring your passport), with a ₩1,200 fee.
  • The Transit balance is handled by Rail+ and can’t be refunded if the card is lost or stolen.

Our advice: top up NAMANE in smaller amounts as you go.

4. Which One Should You Get?

Choose WOWPASS if you:

  • are bringing cash (USD, EUR, JPY and so on) and want to exchange it without a bank counter
  • want easy cash-back of leftover won at a machine before you leave
  • don’t mind scanning your passport

👉 Get WOWPASS on Klook before your trip

Choose NAMANE if you:

  • want to top up from your card or wallet in an app rather than carry cash
  • want a custom card as a souvenir
  • like being able to move money between your shopping and transit balances
  • prefer not to scan your passport

Or skip both

If your bank card has no foreign transaction fees and you’re only in Korea for a few days, you can get by with your card plus a plain T-money card for transit. Staying in Seoul and riding transit a lot? Compare the Seoul Climate Card tourist pass, which gives unlimited rides for a set number of days.

5. Tips That Apply to Both Cards

  • Keep some cash. Some market stalls and street food vendors are still cash only. Both apps also offer transfers to a Korean bank account, which some vendors accept.
  • Download the app and register your card right away. That’s how you check balances, pause a lost card, and get refunds.
  • Card fees aren’t refundable. Only the balance comes back, not the purchase price of the card.
  • Always pay in won. If any terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline. That conversion usually costs more.
  • Taxis: Both cards work like Korean cards at taxi terminals. For calling taxis with an app, see our Korea taxi app guide.
  • Getting around: Use Naver Map in English to find WOWPASS machines and NAMANE kiosks once you’re in Korea.

6. FAQ

How much does WOWPASS cost in 2026?

₩6,000 at a machine, or ₩5,500 with an app voucher, since March 4, 2026.

Do I need a passport for NAMANE?

Not to get the card. You’ll need your passport for an on-site refund at MoneyBox.

Can I use these cards on the subway?

Yes. WOWPASS has a T-money balance and NAMANE has a Rail+ transit balance. In both cases the transit balance is separate from the shopping balance, so make sure it’s topped up before you tap in.

Do they work in Busan and Jeju?

Yes. Both work as payment cards at stores that accept Korean cards nationwide, and their transit functions work on public transport across Korea.

Which has the better exchange rate?

Only WOWPASS exchanges foreign cash. Its rate is shown on the machine and in the app, so compare it with a money changer’s board before you exchange a large amount. NAMANE top-ups go through your card or wallet, so your bank’s exchange rate and any fees apply.

Last checked: October 1, 2026. Fees and features change, so confirm on the official apps before you go.

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