Apple announced that starting today, users in South Korea can add the widely used Tmoney transportation card to Apple Wallet. They can then easily take public transportation systems such as subways and buses, and even complete payments at most convenience stores, using their iPhone or Apple Watch, without having to carry physical cards with them.
This update is an important step for Apple to expand its Apple Pay and Apple Wallet services in the global transportation payment field. Users only need to click the "+" sign in the upper right corner of the Apple Wallet App, select "Transportation Card", and follow the instructions to add the Tmoney card to the Apple Wallet App and set up the stored value.
With the "Express Mode" function, users can complete payment by simply placing their iPhone or Apple Watch bound to a Tmoney transportation card close to the sensor, without having to unlock the device or launch any app, providing a convenient experience for fast entry and exit of station gates or quick payment. Even if the phone is out of power, the Express Mode can still operate for up to 5 hours, ensuring uninterrupted transportation.
In terms of top-up mechanism, Apple Wallet supports adding value to the bound Tmoney transportation card directly through the Apple Pay payment system, and can also be added through the Tmoney official app. For users who commute frequently, the system also provides an "auto-top-up function" that automatically replenishes the card balance when it is lower than the preset amount, ensuring that commuting is not interrupted by insufficient balance.
To add Tmoney transportation card to Apple Wallet, the following system and device conditions must be met:
• iPhone XS or later, and must be updated to iOS 17.2 or above
• Apple Watch Series 6 or later, with watchOS 10.2 or later
Tmoney transportation card is one of the most popular transportation payment tools in Korea. In addition to supporting subways and buses in Seoul and other major cities, it can also be used for small purchases at convenience stores including GS25, CU, 7-Eleven, etc. This cooperation with Apple not only symbolizes Apple's further expansion of localized services in the Korean market, but also allows users to more seamlessly integrate the digital wallet functions of iPhone and Apple Watch into their daily lives.
