The short version: Korea department store memberships for tourists are not interchangeable. LOTTE, Hyundai, and Shinsegae each offer different benefits and signup rules. LOTTE is the most travel-oriented because its tourist membership adds a pay-as-you-go transit-card function to shopping and attraction benefits. Hyundai focuses more on H.Point Global and foreigner promotions. Shinsegae offers foreign-customer membership support plus its wider rewards ecosystem. If you already have T-money or a Climate Card, choose based on where you will actually shop rather than collecting all three.

LOTTE vs. Hyundai vs. Shinsegae: Which Membership Fits Your Trip?

Korea’s three major department-store groups all offer membership or foreign-customer benefits, but they are not equivalent products.

Hyundai Department Store: H.Point Global

Hyundai Department Store operates H.Point Global membership for foreign customers. Its Global Lounge pages specifically list H.Point Global services for international visitors, and current 2026 promotions require H.Point registration and point accumulation to receive certain foreigner-only benefits.
The main difference from LOTTE is that H.Point Global is primarily a shopping and points ecosystem. Current official Hyundai information does not show a built-in public-transportation function comparable to the LOTTE Tourist Membership Card.
That makes Hyundai more interesting when The Hyundai Seoul or another Hyundai Department Store is already a major shopping destination, rather than as a card you need to collect immediately after arriving in Korea.

Shinsegae Department Store: Foreign Customer Membership and Shinsegae Membership

Shinsegae also offers foreign-customer membership services. For example, its Times Square branch officially lists foreign-customer membership registration, tax refund, luggage storage, and multilingual shopping information at its Foreign Customer Service Center.
Separately, Shinsegae operates its broader Shinbaek Members / Shinsegae Point / Shinsegae App ecosystem, which includes rewards and coupons. These are useful for repeat or heavier Shinsegae shoppers, but they are not presented as the same kind of tourist transit-and-shopping card as LOTTE’s product.
Current official Shinsegae information does not show a built-in transit-card function for its foreign-customer membership.

Which Membership Fits Your Trip?

For a typical short-term visitor, LOTTE is the most practical first option—but only if the card is easy to collect on your existing route.
The reason is practical, not because LOTTE is automatically the “best department store.” The LOTTE card solves two travel tasks at once:

• a normal pay-as-you-go transit-card function
• tourist shopping / attraction membership benefits

Hyundai and Shinsegae can both be useful for shoppers, but their visitor programs are more strongly centered on points, coupons, customer service, and store-specific promotions. They do not currently offer the same confirmed transit-card layer.
So the decision is:

• No transit card yet + visiting Myeongdong/Jamsil early: LOTTE is the most useful first signup.
• The Hyundai Seoul is one of your main shopping stops: join H.Point Global and check the current foreigner promotion there.
• You are shopping mainly at Shinsegae: use the Foreign Customer Service Center and Shinsegae membership benefits rather than making a special trip for LOTTE.
• You already have T-money or a Climate Card: choose among the three based on where you will actually shop; the LOTTE transport advantage matters much less.

A useful rule: Don’t collect department-store memberships just because they are free. Join the one connected to a place you are already visiting. LOTTE gets the edge for many first-time visitors only because its transit function can remove one extra purchase early in the trip.

Why the LOTTE Card Is Different

LOTTE launched its Tourist Membership Card for foreign visitors as a combined shopping-membership and pay-as-you-go transit card. However, LOTTE’s current English offer page is marked “Event Ended”. Treat card availability, issuance counters, and benefits as subject to confirmation at the store before making a special trip. When it is available, the card combines:

• a public transportation card function for subways and buses
• tourist-only shopping, duty-free and attraction discounts across major Lotte businesses

If Myeongdong, Jamsil, Lotte World, Lotte Mart or Lotte Duty Free is already on your itinerary, it makes sense to pick the card up early rather than discover it halfway through your trip.

Do You Still Need T-money or a Climate Card?

For most travelers, you do not need both a regular physical T-money card and the LOTTE Tourist Membership Card. They overlap for the basic job of paying per ride on public transportation.

The practical difference: the LOTTE card can replace the physical card purchase you would otherwise make for standard pay-as-you-go transit. It does not replace an unlimited Climate Card pass when that pass is cheaper for your itinerary.
So your easiest plan is:

1. If you need transit immediately after landing, use the card or ticket that fits your airport route.
2. If you will be near Myeongdong or Jamsil early in the trip, collect the free LOTTE card before buying a separate T-money card.
3. Load transit value before your first ride.
4. If you expect many rides inside Seoul, compare the short-term Climate Card separately.

Practical tip: Don’t buy three cards “just in case.” Pick one pay-as-you-go card for normal transit, then add a Climate Card only if your Seoul ride pattern actually makes the unlimited pass worthwhile.

What You Need to Bring for the LOTTE Card

The signup process is fairly simple.
Bring:

• your physical passport
• an email address you can open immediately
• your phone with Wi-Fi or mobile data
• a few minutes for registration and email verification

A Korean bank account is not required for the tourist membership itself.
At the counter, your passport is scanned, you verify your email, and the physical card is issued on-site.

If Verification or Card Issuance Fails

If the verification email does not arrive, check spam and confirm the address with the counter before starting another registration. Ask the staff to correct or resend it and to confirm whether an account was already created. At Hyundai Department Store, the official Global Lounge page says the lounge assists foreign customers with H.Point Global membership. For LOTTE, check the current official card page before making a special trip: it currently displays “Event Ended,” so the physical tourist card may not be available even when older instructions still appear elsewhere.

If the counter cannot issue a tourist card, continue shopping without it and ask whether a current store promotion or tax-refund process applies separately. The L.POINT foreigner page says a mobile L.POINT card can be issued online after entering passport details, but that is not the same as the physical tourist card with a transit function. For transportation, use a regular T-money or Cashbee card, or a Climate Card when its coverage fits your trip; the Seoul Metropolitan Government transport guide lists these as separate public-transportation options.

Where You Can Get the LOTTE Tourist Membership Card

As of September 2026, the main confirmed issuance locations are:

Myeongdong — Lotte Department Store Main Store

Lotte Department Store Main Store
Common issuance points:

• 1F, near Gucci / Tax Refund area
• B1F, near Lotteria / Foreign Customer Service area

This is the easiest option if you’re staying around Myeongdong, Euljiro, City Hall or central Seoul.

Jamsil — Lotte Department Store & Lotte World Mall

Jamsil Main Building

• 1F, around the Tax Refund area near Alo Yoga

Lotte World Mall

• B1F, around the foreign-customer / tax-refund service area opposite Weeny Beeny

Jamsil is especially convenient if you’re visiting Lotte World Adventure, Seoul Sky or Lotte World Aquarium on the same day.

Busan — Lotte Department Store Busan Main

Lotte Department Store Busan Main

• 1F, around the Tax Refund counter near Saint Laurent

Counter locations can move. Once you enter the store, ask for “LOTTE Tourist Membership” or follow signs for Tax Refund / Foreign Customer Service.

Can You Apply for the LOTTE Card Online Before Your Trip?

As of September 2026, the physical LOTTE Tourist Membership Card is still issued in person at participating Tax Refund / Foreign Customer Service counters. Lotte’s original launch materials describe it as an offline membership, and current 2026 partner instructions still direct travelers to the counter for card issuance.
There is one thing that is easy to mix up: L.POINT’s foreigner mobile membership is a separate digital membership option. L.POINT’s foreigner page says a mobile L.POINT card can be issued after entering customer information such as passport details on its website or mobile site. That does not mean the physical LOTTE Tourist Membership Card — the one discussed in this guide, with the transit-card function — can be mailed or issued online before your trip.
If you want the physical card with the transit function, plan to:

1. Go to a participating Lotte Department Store.
2. Bring your passport.
3. Register your passport information.
4. Verify your email.
5. Receive the physical card on-site.

Official information page: LOTTE Tourist Membership Card — Lotte Department Store
Because promotions and counters can change, use that page to re-check current details before your trip.

What Benefits Does the LOTTE Tourist Membership Offer?

Benefit packages and eligibility can change. Recent program materials have listed the following offers, but confirm the current terms when the card is issued:

Lotte Department Store

Around 5% off eligible purchases at participating locations.
Some brands and product categories may be excluded, especially luxury brands, electronics, furniture, food and special-event corners.
During certain promotions, the benefit may be issued as a limited number of 5% coupons rather than an unlimited automatic discount.
So don’t assume every item is automatically 5% off. Ask before paying.

Lotte Mart

The standard tourist membership package has included around 7% off at participating Lotte Mart locations.
This can be useful if you’re doing a big snack, instant noodle, skincare or souvenir run.

Lotte Duty Free

The membership package has included around 10% off at Lotte Duty Free, depending on brand and promotion conditions.

Lotte World, Seoul Sky & Lotte World Aquarium

One of the most useful benefits is the standing discount at major Jamsil attractions.
Recent program materials have listed discounts of up to 20% at:

• Lotte World Adventure
• Seoul Sky
• Lotte World Aquarium

Limited-time promotions can sometimes go higher, but those change throughout the year.

L.POINT

The physical LOTTE Tourist Membership Card is built on Lotte’s L.POINT membership system, and cardholders can earn and redeem L.POINT at participating L.POINT merchants.
Separately, Lotte also runs L.POINT Global Membership, a mobile membership that foreign travelers can join online before arrival. The two are related within the same L.POINT ecosystem, but the online mobile membership should not be confused with the physical tourist card that includes the transit function.

What About 7-Eleven?

Lotte’s 2026 tourist-membership materials have also listed a 10% discount at 7-Eleven. Because store-level exclusions and promotion terms can change, check the current condition when your card is issued before assuming every 7-Eleven purchase will qualify.

How the Transit Function Works

Think of the card as having two separate jobs:
Transit balance
Money you load onto the card for public transportation.
Tourist membership
L.POINT, coupons, and Lotte-related benefits.
Getting the card does not mean your transportation is free or unlimited. You need stored transit value before using the pay-as-you-go function.
LOTTE and its launch coverage clearly confirm that the card has a transportation-card function. Traveler-facing guides also report using it like a regular T-money-style transit card on subways and buses. However, LOTTE’s public English information does not clearly label the underlying transit function as the T-money brand itself, so it is safer not to describe the physical LOTTE card as an officially branded T-money card unless LOTTE states that directly.
For top-up, keep some Korean won available. Korea Tourism Organization’s 2026 transportation guidance still advises that ordinary prepaid T-money purchase/top-up may require cash, although newer ticket machines are expanding foreign-card support for selected services.
At a convenience store, you can show the card and say:
“충전해 주세요” — chung-jeon-hae ju-se-yo
“Please top this up.”

If a top-up machine does not recognize the card: try a staffed convenience store or station service desk instead of assuming the card is defective. This is the kind of small compatibility issue that is easier to solve with a person than by testing multiple machines.

LOTTE Tourist Card vs. Seoul Climate Card

These are not substitutes for the same travel pattern.
The LOTTE Tourist Membership Card is pay-as-you-go: load transit value and each ride is deducted from the balance. Its extra value is the Lotte membership layer.
The Seoul Climate Card is a separate unlimited-use pass for eligible Seoul public transportation. Short-term passes remain available in 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, and 7-day versions. Seoul is also changing the longer-term Climate Card system in 2026; according to Seoul Metropolitan Government, the old 30-day prepaid recharge ended on August 31, 2026, while short-term visitor passes remain available.
The key question is not “Which card has more features?” It is how many eligible Seoul rides you expect to take.

• Mostly Seoul + many rides each day: compare the Climate Card first.
• Seoul plus Busan, Jeju, or other cities: a normal pay-as-you-go transit card is usually simpler, so the LOTTE card can cover that role if you collect it early.
• You already bought T-money: do not get the LOTTE card just to duplicate the transit function. Get it only if the membership discounts or L.POINT benefits are useful to you.
• You already bought a Climate Card: you may still collect the LOTTE card for shopping/attraction benefits, but you do not need to load and use both for the same Seoul rides.

Important for late-2026 trips: Seoul ended 30-day prepaid Climate Card recharging in 2026, but the tourist short-term passes (1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days) continue. From October 1, postpaid Climate Cards become regular transport cards without the former pass benefits; they are not simply restricted to Seoul. Check the current Seoul Metropolitan Government service map before traveling into Gyeonggi-do or toward the airport.

Can You Use the Membership Discount and Tax Refund Together?

They are separate systems. A membership coupon changes the purchase price only when its terms apply, while a tourist tax refund depends on the store, product, final eligible amount, and Korea’s current refund rules.

Before paying, show your passport and membership card and ask whether the coupon applies to the brand, whether it has a minimum spend or discount cap, whether it can be combined with another promotion, and whether the final purchase is eligible for an immediate tax refund. For the full procedure, see the Korea Tax Refund Guide 2026.

Is the LOTTE Card Worth Getting If You Don’t Shop Much?

It can be, but only if it saves you a separate step.
It is useful when:

• the card is still free at your issuance location
• you have not bought a separate pay-as-you-go transit card yet
• Myeongdong, Jamsil, or Busan Main is already on your route
• you will use at least one Lotte attraction, shopping, or L.POINT benefit

It is less useful when:

• you already have a working T-money card
• your Seoul itinerary is better suited to a Climate Card
• you have no Lotte shopping or attraction plans
• getting the card requires a special detour

The mother-of-pearl-style design is a nice souvenir, but the practical question is simpler: does this card remove another purchase or save money somewhere you were already going? If not, you can skip it.

The Easiest First-Timer Plan

If you are staying in Seoul and this is your first trip, keep the decision simple:
Landing day
If you need a transit card immediately, do not delay your airport transfer just to collect the LOTTE card.
Myeongdong or Jamsil early in the trip
If you have not bought T-money yet, collect the LOTTE Tourist Membership Card first and use its transit function for normal pay-as-you-go rides.
Heavy Seoul sightseeing days
Before loading a lot of pay-as-you-go credit, compare a 1-, 2-, 3-, 5-, or 7-day Climate Card. The unlimited pass may make more sense if you are repeatedly using eligible Seoul buses and subways.
Lotte attraction or shopping day
Show the membership before payment and confirm the current coupon, minimum spend, exclusions, and tax-refund eligibility.
That is the useful role of this card: not another card to collect, but one less thing to buy if it already fits your route.

Before You Go: Quick Checklist

• Bring your physical passport
• Use an email account you can open immediately
• Keep your phone connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data
• If you plan to get this card early, do not automatically buy a separate physical T-money card first
• Remember that the transit function is pay-as-you-go, not an unlimited pass
• Compare a short-term Climate Card separately if you will ride frequently inside Seoul
• Keep some Korean won available in case your preferred top-up point does not accept a foreign card
• Ask about brand exclusions before shopping
• Show the membership card before payment
• Ask whether your purchase also qualifies for tax refund
• Check coupon expiration dates and minimum-spend rules
• Re-check the issuance counter before visiting

Which Membership Should You Choose?

Choose the membership connected to stores already on your itinerary. LOTTE can be practical if availability is confirmed, you can collect the card without a detour, and you still need a pay-as-you-go transit card. Hyundai and Shinsegae make more sense when most of your shopping is with those groups.

If you already have T-money or a Climate Card, compare the shopping benefits instead of collecting another card for transit alone.

Related Travel Guides

• Korea transit card comparison
• Korea Tax Refund Guide 2026
• Korea Duty-Free Shopping 2026
• Seoul Shopping Neighborhoods 2026

Official Sources

• LOTTE Department Store — Tourist Membership Card
• L.POINT — Foreigner Membership FAQ
• Hyundai Department Store — Global Lounge / H.Point Global
• Shinsegae Department Store — Shinbaek Members
• Seoul Metropolitan Government — Climate Card

Last checked: September 21, 2026. LOTTE’s English card page currently displays “Event Ended.” Membership availability, benefits, coupon limits, participating stores, issuance counters, and transit rules can change, so confirm at the relevant store before making a special trip.

Photo Credits

The Myeongdong image is “Lotte Department Main Store” by Abasaa, released into the public domain. The Jamsil image is “Lotte Department in Jamsil” by Seonjong Park (uploaded by Nichetas), used under CC BY-SA 3.0 and resized for web display.