Cards of Korea: various technology cards

These are T Money cards. Everyone in Korea has them and they are how people get around. They can be used to get around all over Korea, on the bus and on the subway. They are like credit cards for public transportation.

This is me using my T Money card on the bus. With a swipe on the monitor, I can get a ride on the bus and my balance is displayed so I know whether or not to recharge soon. When I get off the bus, I just swipe once more and my card is charged, and my new balance displayed. If you forget to swipe your card, you are charged double next time you ride public transportation. 

This is a picture of me using my T Money card on the metro. Similarly to the bus, you just swipe your card and your balance is displayed  and you can pass through the gates into the metro. Once at your exit, you swipe the card again to be charged, and you can leave the gates out into Seoul. 

This is a (sideways) picture of me charging my T Money card. Honestly, this was a really futuristic experience. You just put the card in the little box and insert your money into the machine and with a loud beep, tada, your card has more money on it! I have only found these in the metro but they are probably also located other places.

This is a (sideways again) picture of my room card. It lets me into and out of our dorm building and lets me onto my floor and into my room. Thats all pretty standard for THE US but the coolest part is that this card also gives us our electricity. There are little card holders on the wall and when our room keys are inserted, the lights all turn on and when I leave for the day with my card, the lights go off.

This is my laundry card. It's like a T Money card but for laundry. To acquire one you must buy a blank card and insert it into a box like the T Money charger, insert your money and, boom, you can do laundry! Just swipe the card on the screen of the washers and dryers and they will turn on, but unfortunately they don't show your balance unless you stick them in their charging box. 

 Isabelle - Global Navigator