Korea is largely cashless, but a few small places still want won. Here's how to pay cleanly, avoid bad exchange rates, and ballpark your daily budget — with a converter to make won feel real.
- 1
Bring Visa or Mastercard; leave Discover home
Visa, Mastercard, and Amex are widely accepted. Discover is generally not. Tell your bank you're traveling so a Seoul charge doesn't trip a fraud lock.
- 2
Open a low-FX card to save 2–4%
A multi-currency card like Wise or Revolut cuts conversion fees versus a typical bank card, and the physical card is handy for ATM withdrawals.
- 3
Carry about ₩100,000 cash as backup
Small cafés, traditional markets, and some taxis prefer cash. Withdraw won from an airport ATM with your foreign card rather than exchanging at a poor rate at home.
- 4
Size your budget in won
Use the converter below to translate home-currency amounts into won so prices stop feeling abstract. Rates shown are a dated reference, not live — verify before relying on them.
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₩68,000
Reference rates as of 2026-06-01 — not live, and not financial advice. Real rates move daily; check your card provider or a live converter before relying on these for spending decisions.
Common questions
Can I survive on cards alone?+
Where do I get the best exchange rate?+
Sources & official links
- Korea Tourism Organization ↗checked 2026-06-01
Fares, schedules, and app details change. Always confirm on the official site before you rely on anything time- or money-critical.