Let me be honest with you: most of the time, your foreign card will work fine in Korea. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at almost every hotel, department store, and major restaurant in Seoul. But "almost every" is not "every" — and when you hit a cash-only spot, you'll want to be prepared.
This post covers the real situation with cards and cash in Korea, how to exchange money at Incheon Airport (and whether you should), and the Korean phrases you'll actually need at the exchange counter.
💳 Can I Just Use My Card?
Short answer: yes, mostly. Here's the honest breakdown:
| Situation | Card? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels, department stores, large restaurants | ✅ Yes | Visa/Mastercard always accepted |
| Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) | ✅ Yes | Card + contactless both work |
| Traditional markets (재래시장), street food stalls | ❌ Cash only | Gwangjang Market, Namdaemun, etc. |
| Small local restaurants, pojangmacha | ⚠️ Sometimes | Always check before ordering |
| Subway / Bus | ⚠️ T-money only | Foreign cards don't work on transit |
💡 Rian's Tip
If your card has the contactless symbol (📶), it tends to work more reliably in Korea than chip-and-pin. Cards from Japan-based banks or Revolut/Wise also work well. The main thing to watch: foreign cards do not work on the subway or bus — you need T-money for that.
🚌 T-money Card — 티머니 카드
T-money is a prepaid transit card that works on all Seoul subway lines, buses, and even taxis. You can buy one at any convenience store inside the airport (CU, GS25) for about 3,000 won, then top it up with cash at the same store or at subway station machines.
| Korean | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| 티머니 카드 있어요? | Do you have T-money cards? | |
| 충전해 주세요 | Please top it up (charge it) | |
| 만 원 충전해 주세요 | Please charge 10,000 won |
💱 Where to Exchange Money at Incheon
If you need cash, here's the honest guide to where to exchange at Incheon Airport:
| Option | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airport exchange counters (1F arrivals) | Average | Convenient, open 24h, but rates not great |
| Myeongdong / Hongdae exchange shops | Best | Best rates in Korea, especially for USD/JPY/EUR |
| ATM (Woori, KEB Hana, Shinhan) | Good | Use a Wise/Revolut card for best rates + low fees |
💡 Rian's Tip
My recommendation: exchange just enough at the airport to cover your T-money card and one meal (around 30,000–50,000 won). Then get better rates in the city. If you have a Wise or Revolut card, just use the ATM — the exchange rate is usually the best you'll find anywhere.
🗣️ Korean at the Exchange Counter
The staff at airport exchange counters usually speak some English, but knowing these phrases will make things faster — and they'll appreciate the effort.
| Korean | Meaning | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| 환전하고 싶어요 | I'd like to exchange money | |
| 달러를 원으로 바꿔 주세요 | Please exchange dollars to won | |
| 만 원짜리로 주세요 | Please give me 10,000-won bills | |
| 만 원짜리 열 장 주세요 | Please give me ten 10,000-won bills (= 100,000 won) | |
| 오늘 환율이 얼마예요? | What's today's exchange rate? | |
| 수수료가 있어요? | Is there a fee? |
🔢 Counting Korean Bills
Korean uses native Korean numbers for counting physical objects like bills and sheets of paper. The counter word for flat things (bills, papers, tickets) is 장(張). Here's how to count:
| Number | Korean | Bills phrase | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 하나 | 한 장 | |
| 5 | 다섯 | 다섯 장 | |
| 10 | 열 | 열 장 | |
| 20 | 스물 | 스무 장 |
💡 Rian's Tip
Note that 하나 (one) becomes 한 before a counter word. Same with 둘→두, 셋→세, 넷→네, 스물→스무. This is a quirk of Korean native numbers — the form changes slightly when paired with a counter.
The most important thing to remember: Korea is not a cash-only country, but it's not fully cashless either. Carry 30,000–50,000 won in cash for street food, traditional markets, and small local spots — and you'll be fine for everything else with your card.
