💳 Cards, Cash & ATMs

Carry some Korean won. To withdraw more, look for a Global ATM or your card-network logo; acceptance varies by machine.

Incheon Airport has 24-hour exchange counters. Regional airports such as Gimhae (Busan) and Cheongju open only in bank hours or around flight times, so a late arrival may leave you unable to exchange. In the city, use a bank or a money changer registered with Korea Customs.

First check whether the ATM declined the withdrawal, debited your account without cash, or kept the card. Keep the transaction details and contact the ATM operator and your issuer for the affected transaction.

Compare the issuer’s fees, the ATM’s charge and any currency-conversion offer separately. The airport location alone does not establish whether a withdrawal is good value.

Separate the two steps: exchange your cash into won, then use an accepted method to load your T-money card. Confirm the exact counter and top-up point before assuming one machine does both.

There is no official daily figure for meals and lodging, so add up your own bookings. For transport in Seoul you can use official prices: a Climate Card short-term pass costs ₩5,000 for 1 day up to ₩20,000 for 7 days, plus ₩3,000 for the card. Keep some won in cash as a backup.

Check overseas payments with your card issuer. Ask the shop whether your card is accepted, and use a backup card or Korean won if needed.

WOWPASS is a prepaid card for foreign visitors. Get it with your passport at about 446 self-service machines nationwide, including airports, hotels and subway stations. The payment balance and the transit (T-money) balance are topped up separately. If you lose it, suspend it in the app straight away.

A foreign card may work for one merchant but fail for another, especially when online identity or payment checks differ. Check overseas use with your issuer and keep a backup.

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

Apple Pay is supported in Korea, but acceptance depends on the merchant, terminal and your card. Look for the appropriate payment symbol and keep a physical card or cash as a backup.

Choose KRW to avoid the merchant’s home-currency conversion. If you were charged in another currency without a clear choice, keep the receipt and contact your card issuer.

Check your card network, overseas fees and withdrawal limits with your issuer, and carry an independent backup. For example, Monzo and Capital One 360 publish their overseas fees, but neither guarantees acceptance at every Korean ATM.

Use an ATM supporting your card’s network, and compare the total cost with exchanging euros at an authorized counter. Carry more than one way to pay because acceptance varies by card and merchant.