Introduction

If you want to make your Seoul trip even more special, you should pay attention to "how to custom design a NAMANE card" instead of using a standard transportation card. The NAMANE card, which is as much a hot topic on Reddit and Google as the Climate Card, has become an essential souvenir among travelers because you can create a one-of-a-kind card using your own photos or images of your favorite idols. Specifically for the 2026 season, the newly released NAMANE card K-pop collaboration 2026 limited edition designs are further stimulating the desire of fans to collect them.

The overall flow of using a NAMANE card involves "Designing - Manufacturing - Registering on the app - Recharging - Using - and finally, Refunding." In this post, I will guide you through how to "recharge your card using a kiosk" so you can actually start using it. I will provide a simple yet detailed guide to make it easy for everyone.

(Easily recharging your physical NAMANE Card at a kiosk using a credit card for convenient travel in Seoul.)

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Table of Contents

1. The Concept of Recharging: Pay vs. Transit Balance
2. How to Recharge Your NAMANE Card at a Kiosk
3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you are curious about the previous steps, you can check the information you need below:

• [NAMANE Card #1: Introduction and How to Pre-design Your Card]
• [NAMANE Card #2: How to Find Kiosks and Manufacture a Physical Card / K-pop Collaboration News]
• [NAMANE Card #3: How to Sign Up for the NAMANE App and Register Your Card]

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1. The Concept of Recharging: Pay vs. Transit Balance

Think of the NAMANE card itself as a vessel for holding money. Therefore, the card cannot do anything on its own. You must put money into this vessel to use it for both general payments and as a transportation card.

This is where a concept arises that confuses many people: the part responsible for payment functions uses IC chip technology, while the part responsible for transportation functions uses NFC technology. Consequently, you must recharge the "Pay Balance" for payment functions and the "Transit Balance" for transportation functions.

2. How to Recharge Your NAMANE Card at a Kiosk

There are several ways to recharge a NAMANE card. If you have registered your card on the dedicated app, you can recharge it using a credit card within the app.

You can also recharge at CU convenience stores (though this is only possible with Korean Won cash) without having to hunt for a kiosk.

However, if you haven't registered your card on the app, you can recharge using a credit card or cash at a kiosk.

Today, I will guide you through the process of recharging at a kiosk, a method that can be used regardless of whether the card is registered on the app. You can recharge both the "Pay Balance" and the "Transit Balance" here.

First, use the dedicated app to find the nearest kiosk, visit it, and follow the instructions below.

[Step 1] Language Selection

Select your preferred language in the middle of the screen and tap “Start.”

(Setting the language and clicking the "Start" button on the NAMANE Card kiosk to begin recharging.)

[Step 2] Service Selection

Select “Recharge Card.”

(Selecting the "Recharge Card" option on the kiosk screen as indicated by the red box.)

[Step 3] NFC Tag

Place your NAMANE card on the NFC reader as shown on the screen.

(Placing your NAMANE Card into the specific blue slot for recognition on the kiosk.)

[Step 4] Select Balance to Recharge

Choose between "Pay Balance" and "Transit Balance."

(Choosing between Pay Balance or Transit Balance for your specific recharge needs.)

[Step 5] Select Payment Method

Choose your preferred payment method.

• Note: There is no service fee when recharging with Korean Won (KRW) cash.
• A 3.9% service fee applies when recharging with a credit card.
• Caution: Change is not returned when recharging with cash. You must insert the exact amount you wish to recharge.

(Selecting one of the 5 available payment methods on the NAMANE Card kiosk screen.)

[Step 6] Select Recharge Amount

Choose the amount you want to top up.

(Choosing the desired recharge amount from the list of options on the kiosk.)

[Step 7] Confirm Amount

Review your selected amount. Tap “Confirm” for cash or "Pay & Charge" for credit card payments.

(Reviewing the transaction details and clicking "Pay & Charge" to finalize the payment.)

[Step 8] Insert Payment

Insert your payment method as guided on the screen. (A photo is attached for credit card reference.)

• Insert the credit card into the machine with the IC chip facing inward.

(Following the NAMANE Card kiosk guide to insert your credit card into the designated slot for recharge.)

[Step 9] Retrieve Credit Card

Do not forget to pull out your credit card as instructed on the screen. Travelers often accidentally leave their credit cards behind!

(Removing the credit card from the NAMANE Card kiosk as instructed and waiting for the final processing.)

[Step 10] Wait

Wait a moment while the recharge is processed.

(Waiting for a moment while the NAMANE Card kiosk processes your recharge request.)

[Step 11] Recharge Complete

Once finished, retrieve your NAMANE card as instructed on the screen and tap "Confirm."

(Recharge successfully completed; make sure to retrieve your NAMANE Card from the kiosk.)

3. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Can I recharge my NAMANE card with a foreign credit card at a kiosk?

A. Yes, NAMANE kiosks support internationally issued credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and JCB. Note that a 3.9% service fee applies to credit card recharges.

Q. Is there a fee for recharging with cash at the kiosk?

A. No, there is no service fee when you recharge using Korean Won (KRW) cash at a kiosk. However, kiosks do not provide change, so you must insert the exact amount.

Q. Do I need the NAMANE mobile app to use the kiosk for recharging?

A. No, you can recharge your physical card at any kiosk without registering it on the app. This is a great option for travelers who want to start using their card immediately.

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If you are curious about the next steps, you can check the information in the following posts:

• [NAMANE Card #5: How to Recharge Your NAMANE Card via the App]
• [NAMANE Card #6: How to Recharge Your NAMANE Card at CU Convenience Stores]
• [NAMANE Card #7: How to Use the NAMANE Card / Converting Pay Balance to Transit Balance]
• [NAMANE Card #8: How to Refund and Withdraw Your NAMANE Card Balance]

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Image Source: NAMANE Official Website, waytoseoul team