Apple officially introduced the T-money transportation card service on Apple Pay on the 22nd. Now, users in Korea can add T-money to their iPhones and Apple Watches to conveniently use public transportation without a physical card. This is the first change in about two years since Apple Pay entered the domestic market in 2023.
Users can complete registration by pressing the 'Add' button in the Wallet app on their iPhone, selecting T-money from the transportation card tab, agreeing to the terms and conditions, and completing the Apple Pay authentication process. Registered T-money can be used for payments by simply holding the device close to the terminal without unlocking it when 'Express Mode' is activated on the iPhone and Apple Watch. In addition, 'Power Saving Mode' is applied, allowing T-money payments to be made for up to 5 hours with minimal power even when the iPhone is turned off.
The charging method is prepaid charging, and users can charge the amount in units of 10,000 won, 30,000 won, and 50,000 won. Only Hyundai Card registered with Apple Pay is supported as a charging method, and this is currently the only card company in Korea that supports Apple Pay. However, the mobile T-money iOS app allows charging through various credit card account transfers and T-money mileage.
Apple Pay T-money also supports an automatic recharge function. Users can set the automatic recharge function in the wallet app or T-money app, and when the balance falls below the set standard, the specified amount is automatically recharged. For example, you can set 30,000 won to be automatically recharged when the balance is below 5,000 won. This setting will be maintained even if you change to a new iPhone.
Enhanced features have also been applied in terms of security. T-money card information is encrypted and stored in a certified Secure Element chip, and Apple has stated that it does not collect or track users’ payment history or movement information. If the device is lost, the user can immediately lock the device using the ‘Find My’ app.
However, this service has some limitations. It does not support specific rate support policy cards such as the Climate Companion Card operated by each local government, and only Hyundai Card can be used with Apple Pay when recharging. iOS versions are also only supported on 17.2 and later.
With the introduction of Apple Pay T-money, the convenience of transportation for domestic Apple users is expected to greatly improve. While existing competing services such as Samsung Pay already provide transportation card functions, Apple Pay has also entered the market competition in earnest.
