Korea App Desk › Foreign cards
Paying
When your foreign card gets declined
In shops, foreign cards mostly work. Online and in apps, they often don't: the payment pages were built for Korean-issued cards. Here's where foreign cards are confirmed to work, and what to carry for the rest.
Online and in apps
- Reported, not in an official notice yetAccording to a Bank of Korea report, only about 3–4% of Korean online sellers accept Visa or Mastercard cards issued abroad.Source: Korea JoongAng Daily via Daum, Jul 29, 2025 — Bank of Korea report on foreigners and online payments · checked Oct 20, 2026
- KORAIL (foreign-language site): payment is by credit card, and its FAQ explains refunds to overseas cards take 2 weeks to a month. Accepted card brands aren't listed.Source: KORAIL — ticket FAQ · checked Oct 20, 2026
- SRT: overseas credit cards have been accepted on the SR booking site and SRT app since June 23, 2023, with an extra SMS or email check.Source: SR notice (Korean), Jun 23, 2023 — foreign credit cards for SRT · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Reported, not in an official notice yetBaemin (food delivery): foreign credit cards and global wallets such as Alipay+ and WeChat Pay are supported; from June 2, 2026 foreign Visa, Mastercard, JCB and Amex also work through Apple Pay.Source: Byline Network (Korean), Feb 4, 2026 — Baemin adds English, Chinese, Japanese · Digital Daily (Korean), May 31, 2026 — Baemin accepts foreign cards via Apple Pay · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedCoupang: we couldn't find an official statement on foreign cards. See Coupang.checked Oct 20, 2026
Subway and transit
- Since March 17, 2026, 440 new ticket machines at 273 stations on Seoul subway lines 1–8 accept foreign-issued credit and debit cards. They sell the Climate Card, top up its short-term passes (1, 2, 3, 5, 7 days) and sell single-journey tickets. Foreign cards pay a service fee averaging 3.7%.Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government (Korean) — foreign cards at subway ticket machines · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Topping up a regular T-money card's balance is most reliable with cash; some machines take cash only.Source: T-money official blog — transit card guide (Aug 2026, updated Sep 14) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- T-money in Apple Wallet needs a South Korea-issued credit or debit card to add money.Source: Apple Support — T-money in Apple Wallet · checked Oct 20, 2026
Wallet apps from home
- KakaoPay's merchant app tells shop owners they can accept payments from foreign customers through Alipay+.Source: App Store — KakaoPay merchant app listing (Alipay+ for foreign customers) · checked Oct 20, 2026
- NAVER Pay and the Korea Tourism Organization are adding payment terminals (cash, card, QR, contactless) at tourist spots, with the shops marked on Naver Map.Source: NAVER press release, Dec 1, 2025 — Npay Connect terminals with the Korea Tourism Organization · checked Oct 20, 2026
- Not confirmedWhether Naver Pay or Toss Pay merchants in Korea accept Alipay+ or WeChat Pay in general: not confirmed in an official notice.checked Oct 20, 2026
Fallbacks that don't need a Korean card
Carry some cash in won as well: airport limousine buses, some ticket machines and many market stalls still need it.
- T-money sells a TMONEY TRAVEL CARD (4,000 won) at convenience stores and Incheon Airport bus ticket offices, and a TMONEY TRAVEL CARD + (6,000 won) with WOWPASS payment built in.Source: T-money — for foreign travelers · checked Oct 20, 2026
- WOWPASS says its card can be loaded with cash in 16 currencies at its kiosks, or by Mastercard, JCB or Visa (via PayPal) in the app. We haven't confirmed its fees.Source: WOWPASS — product site · checked Oct 20, 2026
Did this get you unstuck?
Related
- T-money & Climate CardKorea Tour Card is discontinued. Which T-money cards visitors can buy, the Climate Card 1–7 day passes and prices, which ticket machines take foreign cards, and the iPhone catch — from T-money and Seoul city pages.
- KTX & SRTKTX and SRT booking moved to KORAIL+ and korail.com in 2026. How visitors book without a Korean ID, pay with a foreign card, and what KORAIL PASS costs — from KORAIL and SR's own pages.
- Food deliveryBaemin added English, Chinese and Japanese in 2026 and lets visitors order as a non-member with an overseas number and a foreign card. What's reported, what's official, and what's still unknown for Coupang Eats and Yogiyo.