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Can I use a UnionPay or JCB card in Korea?

Short answer

UnionPay works at most shops in Korea. JCB’s own Korea guide says JCB cards work at shops that take credit cards.

What to do
  1. Look for the UnionPay logo on the terminal or ATM; if there is none, ask the cashier.
  2. Bring the physical card; don’t rely on phone payment alone.
  3. For JCB, turn on overseas use with your card issuer before you leave.
Check before relying on this
  • Carry a Visa or Mastercard and some Korean won as a backup.
More details and examples Expand

Full steps

UnionPay says most shops in Korea accept its cards with a signature, and more than 3 million take UnionPay PIN payments. JCB’s 2025 Korea guide says JCB cards can be used at any shop that takes credit cards, and JCB members can get help at the JCB Plaza Lounge in Seoul. Carry a Visa or Mastercard as a backup. 1. UnionPay: look for the UnionPay logo on the card terminal or ATM. Some shops accept UnionPay without a sign, so ask the cashier. On a card with two networks, you can ask the cashier to process it as UnionPay. 2. Bring the physical card, not only a phone wallet. UnionPay advises that most places outside mainland China accept only physical cards, and a card also lets you withdraw cash. 3. JCB: turn on overseas use with your card issuer before you leave. If a terminal declines the card, ask the cashier to try again as a credit payment, or use your backup card. 4. For the Seoul subway, the new transit card vending machines at 273 stations on Lines 1–8 accept overseas credit and debit cards such as Visa and Mastercard for Climate Card passes and single-journey tickets, with an average fee of about 3.7%.

More to know

• Acceptance can differ by shop, terminal and card issuer. Carry a second card on a different network and some Korean won in cash. • These facts come from UnionPay’s Korea page, JCB’s 2025 Korea guide and Seoul’s March 2026 announcement. We did not confirm them shop by shop.

Sources and provider examples

External sources may use another language.

Sources last checked: . Rules, hours and services can change.