Cards, Cash & ATMs
My foreign card was declined in a shop. What should I do?
Short answer
Check overseas payments with your card issuer.
At the counter, ask whether your card is accepted and use a backup card or Korean won if needed.
Practical next steps
- Ask whether the shop accepts your card network, then check the issuerโs overseas-payment settings and any declined-transaction notice.
- If you need to pay now, ask about another accepted card or cash. If the account shows a charge, confirm the payment status before paying again.
Korean message to show or send
์ด ํด์ธ ๋ฐ๊ธ ์นด๋๋ฅผ ์ฌ์ฉํ ์ ์๋์? ์ ๋๋ฉด ๋ค๋ฅธ ์นด๋๋ ํ๊ธ์ผ๋ก ๊ฒฐ์ ํ ์ ์๋์?
Fill in any blanks, show it, and check the reply you get.
Acceptance varies by shop, payment system and card. One decline does not mean your card will fail everywhere.
Was it an ATM withdrawal? Follow these steps โWhat to do
- Ask the shop whether it accepts your international card.
- Check overseas-payment settings in your issuerโs app, or contact your issuer about the decline.
- Use another accepted card or Korean won if you need to complete the purchase.
Important exceptions
- Card acceptance at a shop does not guarantee that your specific card or issuer will approve a transaction.
- Transport payment rules differ by operator and ticket type. The Korea Tourism Organization explicitly notes that international cards are not accepted for some city-bus payments.
- A transport card top-up, online booking, or unattended kiosk may have different payment options from an ordinary shop. Check the payment screen or operator before relying on it.
Official sources and related help
Last checked online: September 29, 2026. Check your issuer and the operator for your specific transaction.