KORLENS

Foreign card guide — where cards work, ATMs and backup plans

A foreign-issued card gets you through most of a Korea trip, but not all of it. Here's where cards are officially confirmed to work well, how to spot an ATM that takes yours, the new international-card subway machines, and a mobile backup for when a physical card isn't enough.

  • Where cards work

    Where cards are accepted

    Visa, Mastercard, American Express and other major cards are widely accepted at hotels, department stores and general shops across Korea, according to the official Korea Tourism Organization. Even so, KTO's own guidance is to check that a store takes cards before you buy, since some smaller places may not offer the service.

  • Finding an ATM

    Spot a foreign-card ATM

    Korean card networks mark the machines that accept internationally issued cards — look for a Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, JCB or Diners Club logo on the ATM itself, and carry a backup card since not every machine supports every network.

  • Finding an ATM

    Find one before you need it

    Visa runs an official Global ATM Locator (visa.com/atmlocator) you can set to Korea; Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus holders have Mastercard's own locator. Confirm the logo on the physical machine before inserting your card, since locator listings can lag behind what's actually installed.

  • Finding an ATM

    New: international cards on the Seoul subway

    Since March 17, 2026, 440 new ticket machines at 273 Seoul Metro stations (Lines 1–8) accept international Visa and Mastercard for Climate Card short-term passes and single-journey tickets, with roughly a 3.7% service fee.

  • Mobile alternative

    A mobile alternative: Apple Pay + T-money

    If you carry an eligible Mastercard in Apple Wallet, the official Mobile Tmoney app now lets international travelers link it, top up a digital T-money card, and tap an iPhone or Apple Watch at transit gates instead of relying on a physical card.

  • Backup plan

    Carry a backup

    Korea's own tourism authority advises checking that a shop takes cards before you commit to a purchase, since not every business offers card payment. A second card from a different network, plus a little cash, covers the moments the first one is refused.

Sources

Every fact above is checked against an official Korea Tourism Organization, Visa, BC Card, Seoul Metropolitan Government or Mastercard page (verified 2026-09-19). Fees and machine coverage can change — check the official page before you rely on a number here.

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