💰 How to pay in Korea as a visitor
Korea is very card-friendly, and new options let visitors pay by app too. A card plus a little cash covers almost everything.
Paso a paso
- Credit and debit cardsMost businesses accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and others, but some stores don't, so check before you buy.
- Keep some won in cashUseful for T-money top-ups. Exchange at banks (usually 09:00–16:00 on weekdays) or authorized exchange offices.
- WOWPASSA prepaid card you top up with cash in 16 currencies or in the app with international cards. Card payments have no fee; cash withdrawals cost ₩1,000 (max ₩100,000 each).
- Naver Pay with your passportSince June 2026, visitors can verify with a foreign passport to book and pay through Naver Map, without a Korean phone number.
- Your home e-walletThrough Alipay+, wallets like Alipay, AlipayHK, Touch 'n Go, PayPay, MPay and GCash work at partner merchants in Korea, including taxis, food outlets and shops.
Muéstralo en coreano
Antes de ir
- Kakao Pay's 'Global Home' (Nov 2025) is designed for foreign residents, not short-term visitors.
- Climate Card passes can be bought with international cards.
- Bring your passport for tax-free shopping.
Revisado 26 sep · Fuentes: english.visitkorea.or.kr · www.wowpass.io · wowpass.oopy.io · www.koreatimes.co.kr · www.asiae.co.kr · www.koreatimes.co.kr · www.koreaherald.com · english.seoul.go.kr · english.visitkorea.or.kr
Todas las guías
🎂 Cafés de cumpleaños en Seúl: guía para STAY primerizas/osCómo funcionan los cafés de cumpleaños del K-pop: eventos hechos por fans, regalos con tu bebida, obsequios limitados y cómo ser un buen invitado en tu primera visita.
🗺️ Naver Map, KakaoMap o Google Maps en CoreaQué mapa funciona en Corea: Google Maps muestra el transporte pero sin guía a pie paso a paso; Naver Map y KakaoMap dan indicaciones completas a pie y en metro.
💳 T-money vs Climate Card vs WOWPASS: which to getTransit cards for a short Seoul trip: what T-money, the Climate Card tourist pass and WOWPASS cost, where to buy, how to top up, and how refunds work.
🃏 Photocard trading in Korea: etiquette and safetyTrading photocards with other fans in Seoul? How to meet safely, check cards before paying, avoid fakes and scams, and a few polite Korean phrases.