Here's the short answer: in Korea, your foreign Visa or Mastercard will cover most of what you buy, from convenience-store snacks to hotel bills. You'll still want a little cash in won for markets and street food. And whenever a card machine asks which currency you want, pick KRW.
That's most of it. The rest of this guide covers the details that trip people up: which ATMs take foreign cards, where to change money, what WOWPASS actually does, and why a card that works in shops can still fail on a Korean website.
At a Glance
- Cards first: Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, JCB and UnionPay work in most Korean shops, even for small amounts.
- Keep some cash: traditional markets and street stalls may take cash only. Small bills help.
- Always pay in KRW: if a card machine or ATM offers your home currency, say no. That option usually costs more.
- Getting cash: look for ATMs with a "Global" sign, or change money at a bank or certified exchange booth.
- No tipping: it isn't a Korean custom, in restaurants or taxis.
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| Your payment options in Korea at a glance (tap to enlarge). Graphic: Korea Insight Now |
Which Foreign Cards Work in Korea?
All the big ones. Korea's tourism board says you can use Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express and UnionPay at most Korean stores, with no minimum purchase. Seoul's city government adds that cards work at most shops, restaurants, hotels and tourist sites across the country, whether the bill is small or large.
So you don't need to save your card for big purchases. Paying for a single bottle of water by card is completely normal here.
Two habits make cards much more reliable:
- Bring two cards on different networks, say a Visa and a Mastercard. If one terminal rejects one card, the other often works.
- Tell your bank you're traveling and check its foreign transaction fee before you go. That fee comes from your bank, not from Korea, so it varies from card to card.
Some shops also take overseas mobile wallets. The tourism board says Alipay, WeChat Pay and UnionPay work at ZeroPay (제로페이) member stores, Korea's shared QR payment network, and UnionPay QR works at stores that use BC Card's Paybooc QR.
Apple Pay and Tap-to-Pay: Where Things Stand
Don't count on tapping your phone everywhere. Apple Pay needs a contactless (NFC) reader, and the Korea JoongAng Daily reported in May 2026 that these readers are still uneven in Korea because of installation costs for shops. Where a reader exists, your phone or contactless card may work. Many smaller places only have a slot for inserting the card's chip.
Transit is the bright spot for iPhone users. Since a March 2026 update, the Mobile T-money (모바일티머니) app has a "Foreigner" button that lets you top up a T-money card in Apple Wallet with a card issued abroad. At launch it accepted Mastercard, American Express and UnionPay. Visa wasn't supported then, so check the app's current list before you rely on it.
Tapping your own bank card at the bus reader is coming but isn't here yet. T-money says it plans to let foreign contactless cards pay fares directly on Seoul city buses in 2027, followed by buses in Incheon and airport buses, with testing through the end of 2026.
Where You Still Need Cash
Korea is close to cashless, but not completely. The tourism board says some businesses, such as traditional markets and street shops, may accept cash only, and it suggests carrying a little cash before you visit them.
In practice, plan on cash for:
- Market food stalls, at places like Gwangjang Market (광장시장)
- Street food carts, like the tteokbokki (떡볶이) and fish-cake stands in our street snacks guide
- Topping up a T-money card at subway machines and convenience stores (more on this below)
Korean notes come in 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000 won. Small notes are the useful ones at a stall, so ask for some 1,000s and 5,000s when you get cash.
What about taxis? The tourism board says passengers can pay by cash, credit card or transportation card, so you rarely need cash for a cab. A taxi app like k.ride also lets you pay with a card registered in the app.
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| Gwangjang Market (광장시장) in Seoul. Market stalls are where a few small notes come in handy. Photo: Bgag / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 |
Gwangjang Market on Google Maps
Getting Cash: Global ATMs
You can take won out of an ATM with your own card, just not at every machine. Visit Seoul, the city's official travel site, says ATMs that take international cards are common and are marked with a "Global" sign or with the logos of the card networks they accept.
- Where: bank ATMs, plus many ATMs in convenience stores
- Language: most ATMs offer English, Chinese and Japanese menus
- Hours: many run until 11 p.m., and plenty are open 24 hours
- Fees: two layers. The ATM may charge its own fee, shown on screen, and your bank may add its own. Visit Seoul notes that convenience-store ATMs often charge more.
If your fees are charged per withdrawal, a few larger withdrawals cost less in fees than many small ones. And if the screen offers to bill you in your home currency, decline it. That's the same currency-conversion trap as at the shop counter, and Visa says it applies to ATMs too.
Money Exchange: Airport, Bank or Myeongdong?
If you'd rather bring cash from home, you have three places to change it. Whichever you choose, bring your passport: Seoul's city government says you need a passport or residence card to exchange money.
Airport counters
Easy, and right where you land. The trade-off is the rate. The Korea Federation of Banks says bank branches at Incheon Airport charge different exchange fees from regular branches because airport running costs, such as rent, are higher. So a common approach is to change just enough at the airport for your first day.
Banks in the city
Visit Seoul says banks usually offer the best exchange rates to travelers. The catch is timing: banks generally open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays, according to the tourism board, so they don't fit every schedule.
Certified private exchange booths
These open longer hours and gather where visitors go. Myeongdong (명동), Seoul's shopping district, has the best-known cluster. A News1 report in April 2026 described lines of foreign visitors at Myeongdong booths near Myeongdong Station, with the booths that day quoting dollar rates that beat the banks' cash rates.
Two rules keep it safe. First, Visit Seoul says to use government-certified booths, which display a "Certified" sign with currency symbols, and to avoid uncertified ones. Second, compare a few booths before you hand over cash, because rates differ from shop to shop. If you want to double-check a booth, the Korea Customs Service (관세청) publishes a monthly list of registered money changers.
Myeongdong money exchange booths on Google Maps
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| A bank's currency exchange sign at Incheon International Airport. Look for 환전 (hwanjeon), the Korean word for money exchange. Photo: Vuong Tri Binh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Prepaid Travel Cards: WOWPASS and NAMANE
A prepaid travel card is a card you load with money first and then spend like a debit card. Korea has a few made for visitors. Two of the best known:
WOWPASS (와우패스)
WOWPASS turns cash into a card. You feed foreign cash into a WOWPASS machine (it takes 16 currencies), and the card is loaded in won. According to WOWPASS's own FAQ:
- Fees: 6,000 won to issue the card (not refundable), 1,000 won per cash withdrawal. No charge for exchange, payments or an annual fee.
- Paying: insert the chip at any store that takes cards. It's for in-person payments only, so it won't work on delivery apps or websites.
- Topping up: cash at WOWPASS machines, or by overseas card or mobile wallet in the WOWPASS app (up to 200,000 won per top-up and 1,000,000 won a month in the app).
- Getting cash back out: up to 100,000 won at a time at WOW Exchange machines.
- At Incheon Airport: the machines in the CU convenience stores at the Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 stations take Korean won cash only, with no currency exchange. The Gimpo Airport machine offers every service.
One detail confuses many people. WOWPASS has two separate balances: the WOWPASS balance (insert the chip to pay in shops) and a T-money balance (tap for subway, bus and taxi). You can move money from WOWPASS to T-money in the app, but not back. Offline, the T-money side can only be topped up with won cash.
NAMANE (나마네)
NAMANE is a prepaid card you can design yourself, with your own photo or artwork. Its official site says it works for public transit across Korea through Rail+, a transit card service run by Korea Railroad Corporation, and at card-accepting shops, cafes and restaurants.
The main draw for card-only travelers: you can top up in the NAMANE app with a foreign credit card or an Alipay+ wallet. At its kiosks you can pay by credit card or won cash. The site lists kiosks at Incheon and Gimpo airports, Seoul Station, Myeongdong Station and Hongdae, and says you can withdraw won at CU convenience stores. Card prices depend on the design, so check at the kiosk or in the app.
Which one? If you're arriving with cash to change, WOWPASS fits well. If you want to load money straight from a foreign card, look at NAMANE. Either way, check the current fees in the app before you load a large amount.
T-money and the Climate Card: Paying for Transit
For the subway and buses, most visitors use a T-money (티머니) card, a rechargeable transit card you tap at the gate. Remember the rule from above: T-money top-ups at station machines and convenience stores take won cash.
Seoul's Climate Card (기후동행카드), an unlimited transit pass, has short versions for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days. Since March 17, 2026, Seoul says you can buy them and single-journey tickets with a foreign Visa, Mastercard or other overseas card at 440 new ticket machines in 273 stations on Lines 1 to 8. Expect an average 3.7% service fee on those foreign-card purchases.
How to buy, top up and choose between T-money and the Climate Card is all in our Seoul subway guide.
Fictional characters. Illustration by Korea Insight Now
Payment Methods Compared
| Method | Where it works | Fees to expect | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign credit/debit card | Most shops, restaurants, hotels, taxis | Your bank's foreign transaction fee. Extra cost if you accept home-currency billing | Everyday spending, big purchases |
| Cash (won) | Everywhere, and sometimes the only option at markets and street stalls | The exchange rate you got when changing money | Markets, street food, T-money top-ups |
| Global ATM | Bank ATMs and many convenience-store ATMs with a "Global" sign | ATM fee shown on screen plus your bank's fees. Convenience-store ATMs often cost more | Getting cash during the trip |
| Money exchange | Banks (weekdays), airport counters, certified private booths | Built into the rate. Airport bank branches use their own rates | Changing cash you brought from home |
| WOWPASS | Card-accepting stores (insert chip). T-money side for transit | 6,000 won to issue, 1,000 won per withdrawal. No exchange or payment fee (per WOWPASS) | Turning cash into a card |
| NAMANE | Card-accepting stores. Transit through Rail+ | Card price varies by design. Check app for top-up fees | Loading money from a foreign card |
| T-money / Climate Card | Subway and buses. T-money also in taxis and convenience stores | Foreign-card purchases at new Seoul machines: average 3.7% service fee | Getting around the city |
Fees as published by each provider or agency, checked October 5, 2026. Your own bank's fees are not included.
Common Problems (and Quick Fixes)
"Pay in KRW or in dollars/euros?"
This screen is called dynamic currency conversion, or DCC: the shop or ATM converts the price into your home currency for you. Visa explains that this home-currency option includes the provider's exchange rate and extra fees. Mastercard says that if you pay in the local currency, your own card issuer handles the conversion instead.
So choose KRW. Visa also says the shop or ATM must let you decide, and if it doesn't show the rate and fees or pressures you, you should decline and report it to your card issuer.
Your card works in shops but not online
This is the most common complaint, and it isn't your card's fault. The Korea JoongAng Daily reported in May 2026 that many Korean payment platforms require verification with a Korean phone number, and some bookings, like cinema tickets, can need a Korea-issued card or local bank account. Kakao Pay and Naver Pay, two of Korea's biggest payment apps, did not support foreign tourist accounts at the time.
The fix: book through English-language or international platforms when you can, pay in person, or use apps built for visitors. Our guide to travel apps that work with a foreign phone and card covers which ones accept overseas cards, and our essential Korea travel apps list has download links.
A terminal rejects your card
Try inserting the chip instead of tapping, then try your second card. If neither works, that's where your small cash reserve or a prepaid travel card pays off.
A restaurant kiosk wants a Korean phone number
Some popular restaurants and cafes use waitlist kiosks that ask for a local number, according to the same JoongAng Daily report. Ask the staff; they can often add you another way.
Tipping and Tax Refunds
Tipping: skip it. Visit Seoul says tipping is not a Korean custom and isn't expected. Many major hotels and upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill instead. Taxi drivers don't expect tips either, though letting them keep small change is appreciated.
Tax refunds: foreign visitors can claim back tax on purchases of 15,000 won or more at tax refund shops. At stores with immediate refunds, the tax comes off at the register when you show your passport, for purchases under 1 million won each and up to 5 million won in total per trip, according to the tourism board. Our tax refund guide walks through every step.
A Simple Money Plan for Your Trip
- Before you fly: tell your bank you're traveling, check its foreign fees, and make sure you know your card PIN. Pack two cards on different networks.
- At the airport: change a small amount, or use a Global ATM, for your first day. Buy or load your transit card.
- In the city: pay by card almost everywhere. Choose KRW every time.
- Need more cash? Use a Global ATM, a bank, or a certified booth in Myeongdong.
- For markets and street food: carry a few 1,000 and 5,000 won notes.
- Prefer one travel card? Load WOWPASS or NAMANE and use it like a debit card.
Landing at Incheon? Our Incheon Airport to Seoul guide covers your first ride into the city.
FAQ
Q. Can I use my credit card everywhere in Korea?
Almost. Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, JCB and UnionPay work at most shops, restaurants and hotels, even for small amounts. Traditional market stalls and street vendors are the main exception, so keep some cash.
Q. Does Apple Pay work in Korea with a foreign card?
Sometimes. It needs a contactless reader, and many Korean shops don't have one yet. For transit, iPhone users can top up a T-money card in Apple Wallet through the Mobile T-money app with some foreign cards. Visa wasn't supported at launch in March 2026.
Q. Should I pay in KRW or my home currency?
KRW. Choosing your home currency lets the shop or ATM set the exchange rate, which includes extra fees. Paying in won leaves the conversion to your own card issuer.
Q. Where is the best place to exchange money in Seoul?
Visit Seoul says banks usually offer the best rates, but they keep weekday office hours. Certified private booths, especially around Myeongdong, open longer and can be competitive, so compare a few. Airport counters are convenient for a small first-day amount.
Q. Which ATMs accept foreign cards in Korea?
Look for a "Global" sign or your card network's logo, at bank ATMs and many convenience-store ATMs. Check the fee on screen before confirming.
Q. Do I need to tip in Korea?
No. Tipping isn't a Korean custom. Some hotels and upscale restaurants add a service charge to the bill.
Q. Is WOWPASS worth it?
It's useful if you're bringing cash and want to spend it by card. It costs 6,000 won to issue and has no exchange or payment fee, according to WOWPASS. It won't work for online payments.
Also on Korea Insight Now
Also in Traditional Chinese: 「台灣人去韓國怎麼付最划算？2026」, the payment guide for travelers from Taiwan.
Sources
- VISITKOREA (Korea Tourism Organization): Shopping in Korea, payments and tax refunds (updated Oct 21, 2025); Korean Currency & Exchange Info; Taxi (updated Jan 22, 2026); Comprehensive Tax Refund Guide
- Visit Seoul (Seoul Tourism Organization): Money
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: Currency Exchange; Foreign cards at new subway ticket machines from March 17, 2026 (Korean)
- Korea Federation of Banks: Incheon Airport branch exchange fees (Korean)
- Korea Customs Service: Registered money changers, monthly list (Korean)
- Visa: Decoding Dynamic Currency Conversion; Mastercard: DCC Guide 2025 (PDF)
- WOWPASS: Official FAQ
- NAMANE: Official site
- Korea JoongAng Daily: Apple Pay Tmoney allows foreigners, tourists to ride using iPhones (Mar 19, 2026); Declined cards, reservation hassles (May 12, 2026)
- The Korea Herald: Foreign cards to work on Seoul buses from 2027 (Sept 18, 2026)
- News1 via Dong-A Ilbo: Foreign visitors crowd Myeongdong exchange booths (Apr 1, 2026, Korean)
- Photos: Wikimedia Commons (credits in each caption). Infographic and illustration: Korea Insight Now.
Checked on October 5, 2026. Fees, card acceptance and app features change often, so check with your bank and each provider before you travel.