South Korea Travel Money Guide
South Korea is a digital powerhouse. Cards and mobile pay dominate — cash is rarely needed except at small markets.
Capital: Seoul · Currency: South Korean Won (KRW)
Paying by card
Foreign Visa/Mastercard work at most places. T-money cards (rechargeable) cover transit and convenience stores seamlessly.
Cash and ATMs
Use 'Global ATM' branded machines or Citibank/KEB Hana for foreign cards. Many domestic ATMs reject overseas cards.
Tipping
Tipping is not customary and can cause confusion. Don't tip.
Scams to avoid
Very low. Be polite when refusing 'free English lesson' approaches near tourist sites — usually a religious recruitment pitch.
What KRW amounts are worth
| KRW | USD | EUR | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 KRW | 0.74 | 0.65 | 0.56 |
| 5,000 KRW | 3.69 | 3.25 | 2.79 |
| 10,000 KRW | 7.39 | 6.51 | 5.58 |
| 50,000 KRW | 36.95 | 32.54 | 27.89 |
Rates are European Central Bank reference rates for 29 Sept 2026 (published each working day around 16:00 CET; the UAE dirham uses its official US-dollar peg of 3.6725). The live converter loads the latest rate when the page opens.
Over the 30 days of ECB data to 29 Sept 2026, one US dollar bought 1.54% fewer KRW and one euro 3.98% fewer.
Before you go
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in KRW; the conversion it offers usually includes a wide margin.
- Tell your bank you are travelling and carry two cards on different networks in case one is declined.
- Check your card's foreign transaction fee and put it in the budget converter's fee field.
Budget the trip with the travel budget converter, see all KRW rates, or browse more country guides.