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Cash, Cards and Mobile Payments in Korea (2026)

Checked against official sources on October 20, 2026

Tray of fried tteok and potato snacks at a Korean street food stall

Summary

Foreign Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards work at most Korean shops, restaurants and taxis, but keep some won in small notes for T-money top-ups and small vendors. Withdraw cash at ATMs marked Global, and always pay in won, not your home currency. As of October 2026, Alipay+ wallets work at many shops, and you cannot yet tap a foreign card at subway gates.

At a glance

Cards
Visa, Mastercard, American Express
Cash for
T-money top-ups, small vendors
ATMs
Marked Global
Pay in
Won, not home currency
Subway gates
No foreign card tap (Oct 2026)
Tipping
Not expected

Korean for this

  • 카드 돼요?

    kadeu dwaeyo?

    Can I pay by card?

  • 현금인출기 어디 있어요?

    hyeongeuminchulgi eodi isseoyo?

    Where is an ATM?

  • 카드로 할게요

    kadeuro halgeyo

    I'll pay by card

  • 현금으로 할게요

    hyeongeumeuro halgeyo

    I'll pay in cash

All Korean phrases

Details

Korea is easy to pay in by card, but not completely cashless. Below is where your card works, where cash still matters, and what to expect from phone wallets, as of October 2026.

Before you start

  • Turn on overseas use for your cards in your bank app, and check the foreign transaction fee and ATM fee.
  • Carry two cards on different networks if you can, in case one is declined.
  • Learn the notes. Korea uses ₩1,000, ₩5,000, ₩10,000 and ₩50,000 notes and ₩10, ₩50, ₩100 and ₩500 coins. Visit Seoul notes that ₩1 and ₩5 coins are not widely circulated.
  • Keep your passport handy. You need it for tax-free shopping and for changing money.

Step by step

Step 1 — Know where cards work and where cash helps

VisitKorea says Visa, Mastercard, American Express and other credit cards can be used at most businesses. Taxis take cash, credit cards and transit cards.

Cash still helps in a few places:

  • T-money top-ups. T-money says top-ups at machines and convenience stores are in Korean won cash.
  • Small vendors. Some street stalls and small market stands may not take foreign cards. Carry small notes, or ask first: 카드 돼요?kadeu dwaeyo?Do you take cards?

Step 2 — Get won from a Global ATM

Visit Seoul says ATMs that accept international cards are "marked with a 'Global' sign or the logo of the international banks they accept cards from". Most offer English, Chinese and Japanese screens.

  • Choose 출금chulgeumWithdrawal, insert your card and enter your PIN.
  • Visit Seoul says ATMs typically run until 23:00, and many are open 24 hours.
  • ATMs in convenience stores often charge higher fees, according to Visit Seoul.
  • Keep the receipt. Won withdrawn with a foreign card counts towards the amount you can change back into foreign currency when you leave (see Currency exchange).

Your home bank sets its own withdrawal limits and fees on top of anything the ATM shows.

Step 3 — Pay by card, and pay in won

Some terminals offer to charge you in your home currency instead of won. This is dynamic currency conversion (DCC). Korea's Financial Supervisory Service warns Korean travelers that DCC adds extra fees abroad, and the same logic applies to you in Korea. Choose 원화wonhwaKorean won (KRW) every time. If staff ask, say 원화로 결제해 주세요wonhwaro gyeoljehae juseyoPlease charge me in won.

If staff ask whether you want instalments (할부halbuInstalments), answer 일시불ilsibulPay in full.

Step 4 — Use a phone wallet where it works

  • Alipay+. Ant International said in December 2025 that Alipay+ links 21 overseas wallets and bank apps, including Alipay, AlipayHK, Touch 'n Go, PayPay, MPay and GCash, to over 2 million merchants in Korea. Look for the Alipay+ sign at the till.
  • WeChat Pay and UnionPay QR. In October 2025, Korean media reported that both were linked to Seoul Pay, usable at about 520,000 shops in Seoul.
  • Apple Pay. Apple Pay launched in Korea in March 2023 with Hyundai Card only, and Korean media reported in July 2026 that Hyundai Card was still the only Korean issuer. Phone payments with a foreign card need a contactless (NFC) terminal, and not every shop has one. In December 2025, Naver Pay and the Korea Tourism Organization agreed to show which tourist spots accept NFC payments.
  • Google Wallet. Google's list of supported countries for Google Wallet does not include Korea.
  • Korean apps. Since 4 June 2026, Naver has let foreigners verify their identity with a passport, without a Korean phone number, for its booking, ordering and payment services.

Step 5 — Plan transit and taxis

  • Subway and bus. As of October 2026 you cannot tap a foreign bank card at gates or on buses. Use a T-money card or WOWPASS. Since 17 March 2026, 440 new machines at 273 stations on Seoul Lines 1–8 sell Climate Card short-term passes and single-journey tickets by international card, with a fee of about 3.7%.
  • Coming next. Seoul city's roadmap (October 2025) puts card readers for foreign cards on buses first and on Lines 1–8 from 2027. Hana Card has announced foreign-card bus payments in Seoul from January 2027.
  • Taxis. Cards are accepted. VisitKorea says the k.ride taxi app accepts overseas credit cards.

See How to use a T-money card and WOWPASS and travel cards.

What to use where

Situation Foreign card Cash Notes
Chain stores, convenience stores, restaurants Usually accepted Rarely needed Choose KRW if asked
Street stalls, small market stands Not always Bring small notes Ask before you order
T-money top-up No Won only New Seoul machines take cards for Climate Card passes and single tickets
Taxis Yes Yes k.ride app accepts overseas cards
Subway gates, buses No (as of October 2026) — Use a transit card
ATMs Global ATMs — Convenience-store ATMs often cost more

Tipping. Not expected. Visit Seoul says "tipping is not a Korean custom", though many major hotels and upscale restaurants add a 10% service charge.

Common problems

  • Card declined. Check that overseas use is on, try a card on another network, or call your bank. A prepaid travel card such as WOWPASS is a backup.
  • Statement higher than the receipt. Check whether you accepted DCC. Your bank's exchange rate and fees also apply.
  • ATM refuses your card. Look for the Global sign or your card network's logo, or try another bank's machine.
  • App asks for a Korean phone number. Some Korean apps need one. Naver's passport verification is an exception since June 2026.
  • Only large notes. Ask for small notes when you exchange money, or get change at a convenience store before heading to a market.

Questions and answers

Can I use my credit card everywhere in Korea?

Almost everywhere in shops, restaurants and taxis. Carry some cash for T-money top-ups and small vendors.

Does Apple Pay work in Korea with a foreign card?

Only at terminals that take contactless payments, and not every shop has one. Inside Korea, Apple Pay is officially offered by Hyundai Card only.

Can I use Alipay or WeChat Pay in Korea?

Yes, at shops that show Alipay+ or accept WeChat Pay. Alipay+ covered over 2 million merchants in Korea in late 2025.

How much cash should I carry?

No official guide gives a figure. Plan for transit-card top-ups and any small-vendor food, in ₩1,000, ₩5,000 and ₩10,000 notes.

Do I need to tip in Korea?

No. Tipping is not a Korean custom.

Official sources (17)

Last checked October 20, 2026Next check due January 18, 2027

Rules can change. Confirm on the official site before you travel.

Next stepCurrency Exchange in Korea: Where and How to Change Money (2026)

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