Card or cash?
Plan to use both. Pay by card where it is accepted, and carry some won for what a card cannot do. T-money transport cards, for example, are usually topped up with cash at convenience stores. Small market stalls may prefer cash too.
Bring a second card on a different network if you can, in case a terminal or an ATM refuses the first. Before you travel, tell your bank you are going abroad and check its foreign transaction and cash withdrawal fees.
What do Korean notes look like?
| Note | Main colour |
|---|---|
| ₩1,000 | Blue |
| ₩5,000 | Red and yellow |
| ₩10,000 | Green |
| ₩50,000 | Yellow |
The ₩50,000 and ₩5,000 notes are both yellowish: check the number before you hand one over. Ask for some ₩10,000 and ₩1,000 notes when you exchange; small amounts are easier to pay with.
Where can I get won when I land?
Incheon Airport lists bank exchange counters and ATMs in both terminals. In Terminal 1, some bank exchange counters on the arrivals floor are open 24 hours; others open from 06:00 to 22:00.
Exchange only what you need for the first day or two at the airport, then compare rates in the city. Banks and registered money changers exchange major currencies; bring your passport and keep the receipt.
How do I use an ATM?
Not every Korean ATM accepts cards issued abroad. Look for a machine that shows your card’s network logo or a sign for foreign or global cards, and choose English on the screen.
If the machine offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and choose Korean won. Your own bank then converts the amount. Fees are set by the ATM operator and by your bank, so check both before you withdraw.
Paying by card in shops and restaurants
Hand over the card or tap it on the reader, as you would at home. If the terminal asks whether to pay in won or in your home currency, choose won (KRW) for the same reason as at an ATM.
Since 17 March 2026, newer ticket machines at 273 stations on Seoul Subway Lines 1–8 accept overseas Visa and Mastercard cards for single-journey tickets and Climate Card passes. The announcement does not include ordinary T-money top-ups, so keep cash for those.
Do I need to declare cash?
If you enter Korea carrying more than USD 10,000 in cash, in any currency, you must declare it to customs on arrival. Most visitors bring far less and do not need to declare anything.