Paying in Korea: What should I do about credit cards, T-money, and currency exchange?
Korea is a card-friendly society, and even small shops often accept cards. T-money is convenient for getting around.
支払い方法
- 買い物
- おすすめ
- クレジットカード
- メモ
- ほとんどの店で使える
- 地下鉄・バス
- おすすめ
- T-money
- メモ
- コンビニでチャージ
- 屋台・市場
- おすすめ
- 現金も少し
- メモ
- 小銭があると安心
- 免税
- おすすめ
- パスポート
- メモ
- 店頭即時還付の対象か確認
| 用途 | おすすめ | メモ |
|---|---|---|
| 買い物 | クレジットカード | ほとんどの店で使える |
| 地下鉄・バス | T-money | コンビニでチャージ |
| 屋台・市場 | 現金も少し | 小銭があると安心 |
| 免税 | パスポート | 店頭即時還付の対象か確認 |
支払いで使う韓国語
- 카드 돼요?kadeu dwaeyo?
Can I pay by card?
- 영수증 주세요yeongsujeung juseyo
Please give me a receipt.
0
In general, you’ll be fine with “credit card for shopping, T-money for transportation, and a little cash as a backup.” Many places accept Visa and Mastercard, but cards issued overseas may sometimes be declined due to terminal compatibility or identity verification. It’s a good idea to keep one backup card in a separate place. Cash can also come in handy at small shops in street markets or traditional markets.
T-money is convenient for transferring between subways and buses, but many places still only accept cash for top-ups. Having a little Korean won ready as soon as you arrive will make things easier. You can exchange only what you need at the airport, then compare rates and fees and exchange more in the city. If you withdraw cash from an ATM using a foreign card, check the fees charged by both your card issuer and the ATM.
To ask if they accept cards, say “카드 돼요? (Can I pay by card?)”; to top up T-money, say “티머니 충전해 주세요 (Please top up my T-money).” If the payment screen lets you choose to pay in won, paying in won is often better than paying in yen.