Korea is one of the most card-friendly countries in the world, but a few gaps still catch first-time visitors off guard. Here’s what actually works in 2026.
International Cards
Visa, Mastercard, JCB, UnionPay, and American Express are widely accepted at stores, restaurants, and increasingly at transit kiosks — as of March 2026, 440 Seoul Metro kiosks across 273 stations now accept foreign cards directly for T-money and Climate Card Tourist Pass purchases, which used to be a common pain point.
Apple Pay
Apple Pay’s footprint in Korea is growing but still limited — it’s accepted at roughly 10% of merchants overall, though that includes most of the places tourists actually use: CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, Emart24, Storyway, Starbucks, Lotteria, most Lotte Mart and Homeplus checkout lanes, the major Hyundai and Lotte department stores, and Costco Korea. Coverage is expanding — Shinhan Card, KB Kookmin Card, and Toss Bank have all announced they’re joining the Apple Pay ecosystem in 2026, so check again if your bank wasn’t supported on your last trip.
Korean Mobile Wallets
Naver Pay, Kakao Pay, and Payco are everywhere locally, but they’re not really an option for short-term visitors — registration requires a Korean phone number and a Korean bank account, both of which take time to set up. Don’t plan around these unless you’re staying long-term.
Chinese Payment Apps
If you’re used to Alipay or WeChat Pay from travel in China, don’t assume the same coverage applies here — these aren’t standard payment options at most Korean merchants, so bring a card or cash as backup instead.
Cash
You’ll still want some cash on hand. Traditional markets, small street food stalls, and older transit top-up machines often require cash. A reasonable ratio is roughly 80% card, 20% cash for a typical trip.
Bottom Line
Bring at least one internationally-enabled Visa or Mastercard, carry some cash for markets and food stalls, and don’t count on Korean mobile wallets working for a short visit.
