Cash or card in Korea? How much cash to actually bring

Bring both, but plan to use a card most of the time. Korea is largely cashless and a Visa or Mastercard works smoothly at major stores, chains, restaurants and hotels. The catch is that foreign-issued cards still get refused at some small shops, traditional markets, street-food stalls and certain transit kiosks — so you carry a modest amount of cash as a safety net for exactly those moments. Think 'card by default, cash for the gaps,' not one or the other.

A widely suggested planning range is roughly ₩50,000–₩100,000 (about US$36–$72) on hand for a typical trip, topped up from ATMs as needed rather than carried all at once. Around ₩30,000–₩50,000 covers most ordinary days; lean toward the higher end on a day you'll spend at traditional markets or street-food alleys, where cash rules. You rarely need to carry large sums — cards cover the big stuff, and cash is mainly for small cash-only vendors and transit top-ups. Treat these as guidance, not a fixed rule.

Almost, but not quite. Cards are accepted at the vast majority of shops, chains, restaurants, cafes and hotels, and contactless is common. Where foreign cards can fail are smaller, older or cash-preferring places — traditional markets, some street-food stalls, tiny local eateries and a few transit machines. It also helps to carry two cards from different networks in case one is declined. So you can lean on a card heavily, just don't rely on it 100% of the time.

Public transit runs on a rechargeable transit card such as T-money, which you tap to ride buses and the subway and can top up at stations and convenience stores. The thing to know: while some newer subway kiosks now accept foreign cards (as of 2026), coverage is patchy, so you should keep some cash to top up your transit card and never get stuck at a gate. Tourist prepaid cards like WOWPASS can bundle T-money so you load money once and use it for both transit and shopping.

Most travellers do fine arriving with a small amount of won and then using ATMs (look for ones marked 'Global' that accept foreign cards) or tourist prepaid cards like WOWPASS to convert as they go, rather than exchanging a large sum up front. Fees and exchange rates vary by bank, card and machine and change over time, so we won't quote specific numbers — but the general approach is to avoid carrying lots of cash, keep a card as your main method, and top up cash in modest amounts when you need it.