Planning a trip to South Korea and wondering whether to load up on Korean won or just tap your card everywhere? The short answer for 2026: bring both, but you'll mostly use a card. Korea is one of the most card-friendly countries on earth — yet there are a few specific spots where cash still saves the day.
Card is the default
In cities like Seoul and Busan, contactless and chip cards work almost everywhere: convenience stores, restaurants, department stores, cafes, pharmacies, and even small shops. Foreign Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted. For most of your trip, your card (or phone) is all you need.
Where cash (or a local card) still matters
The gaps are predictable, and they catch a lot of travelers off guard:
- Traditional markets and street food — many stalls are cash-only, and this is exactly where you'll want to spend.
- Small mom-and-pop eateries in older neighborhoods.
- Public transit — the subway and buses run on a T-money transit card. A foreign card won't tap you through the gate; you load a T-money card with cash (or top it up at convenience stores).
- Some taxis and rural areas outside the big cities.
The T-money and WOWPASS angle
Two tools smooth all of this over:
- T-money is the rechargeable transit card. Buy it at any convenience store, load it with cash, and tap for subways, buses, and even small store purchases.
- WOWPASS combines a prepaid card you load with foreign currency and a built-in T-money function — handy if you'd rather not carry much cash at all.
So, how much cash should you bring?
A practical rule: carry enough won for a few days of street food, market shopping, and transit top-ups — many travelers find a modest amount (think pocket money, not your whole budget) is plenty, withdrawing more from ATMs as needed. Korean ATMs that accept foreign cards are easy to find at convenience stores and banks. Don't bring a giant wad of cash; you simply won't use most of it.
The mistake to avoid
The number-one stumble is arriving at a subway gate, swiping a foreign credit card, and getting rejected with a line forming behind you. Grab a T-money card on day one and that problem disappears.
For the full 2026 breakdown — including how much cash by trip length, exactly where foreign cards fail, and a T-money vs. WOWPASS comparison — read the complete guide: Cash or Card in Korea? How Much Cash to Bring.
General travel information for 2026. Acceptance and fees vary by bank, card, and venue — check with your own card issuer about foreign transaction fees before you go.
