Check what your exchange rate really costs, then pick a SIM or eSIM for Korea.
How much does your exchange really cost?
The market rate loads automatically from a free public rate service (open.er-api.com), which can see your IP address when it loads. It is a reference rate, not what a counter pays. You can overwrite it.
Exchange tips
Most Korean exchange counters have no separate fee: the cost is hidden in the rate. Compare the rate, not the "no commission" sign. Separate fees mostly come from ATMs and your own bank or card, and show on the ATM screen or your statement.
Licensed exchange counters in busy districts such as Myeongdong often give better rates than airport counters, but rates vary by shop and by day. Walk past two or three and compare.
Bring clean, undamaged notes of major currencies (USD, JPY, EUR). Old or marked notes may be refused or get worse rates. Bring your passport.
If a card terminal asks to charge you in your own currency, choose Korean won. The terminal rate is usually worse (dynamic currency conversion).
Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Seoul, including many street food stalls, but keep a little cash for small markets and some taxis. Overseas-card ATMs are common in convenience stores and subway stations; look for a "Global ATM" label.
Prepaid foreigner cards such as WOWPASS combine exchange with a transit and payment card. Check the fee and refund rules before using one.
ATMs, cards and mobile payments
Use ATMs marked "Global ATM" or showing the Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay or JCB logo. Bank ATMs and convenience store ATMs (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, emart24) usually work, and you may have to try another machine.
Reported costs: the ATM charges about 3,000 to 4,000 won per withdrawal, and your own bank may add 1 to 3 percent. A debit card is much cheaper than a credit card (a credit card withdrawal is a cash advance with interest). Take out larger amounts less often.
Reported limits: about 1,000,000 won per withdrawal at bank ATMs and about 300,000 won at convenience store ATMs. Your bank's own overseas limit may be lower. Check that overseas withdrawals are switched on in your bank app, and do not enter a wrong PIN repeatedly.
If a terminal asks to charge you in your home currency, choose Korean won.
If a card is declined: ask the staff to insert the chip instead of tapping, pay at a staffed counter instead of a kiosk, check that overseas payments and 3D Secure are on, and keep a second card on another network (Visa and Mastercard) plus 50,000 to 100,000 won in cash. Online checkout on Korean sites often rejects foreign cards.
Apple Pay works at shops with NFC terminals (convenience stores, Starbucks, big chains), but only a minority of small shops have them. Google Pay is not officially available in Korea. T-money can be added to Apple Wallet. Foreign-card top-up support is limited: reports say a foreign Mastercard works through the mobile T-money app since April 2026 and Visa does not, so keep a physical T-money card as a backup.
Fees, limits and card support change often. These are from a Korean guide site (July and August 2026), not an official source.
SIM card or eSIM: where to buy and what it costs
Physical tourist SIM at the airport (prices reported by a SIM seller, so check the booth): KT 1 day 6,600 won, 3 days 18,000, 5 days 24,700; SK Telecom 3 days 18,000, 5 days 27,500, 7 days 35,000, 10 days 38,500; LG U+ 3 days 18,000, 5 days 25,000, 7 days 32,000, 10 days 35,000. KT is capped at about 3 GB a day and then slowed; SK Telecom lists no volume cap. Longer plans (up to 30 days or more) exist.
eSIM, from about US$5 (1 GB, 7 days) and US$11 (3 GB, 30 days) up to about US$19 (unlimited, 5 days) and US$34 (unlimited, 10 days), depending on the seller.
Where to buy a SIM: carrier booths at Incheon Terminal 1 (1F arrivals, near exit 2 on the east side and exit 13 on the west side) and Terminal 2 (1F, near exits 5 and 6); KT, SK Telecom and LG U+ all have counters, and some run 24 hours, most open about 06:00 to 22:00; online pre-order (Klook, KKday) and pick-up at the airport counter; limited prepaid SIMs at CU and GS25 convenience stores.
Where to buy an eSIM: online or in the seller's app, before you fly. You need internet to install it, so do it at home or on airport Wi-Fi.
Passport: bring it. Korean law requires ID to register a physical SIM, including pre-ordered ones.
Is your phone eSIM-ready? Usually iPhone XS or newer, Galaxy S20 or newer, Pixel 3 or newer, and it must be carrier-unlocked.
Prices come from one public comparison article (updated June 2026), in US dollars, and vary by seller and promotion. Not official. Compare the airport booth price with an online pre-order before you decide.
Money and SIM basics for Korea
Cards work almost everywhere in Korea, but a little cash and a data connection make your first day much easier. The calculator above shows the hidden cost in the rate you are offered, and the SIM section compares physical SIMs and eSIMs.
FAQ
Where is the best place to exchange money in Seoul? Licensed counters in busy districts such as Myeongdong are often better than airport counters, but compare two or three before exchanging.
Is there a fixed exchange fee? Most Korean counters build the cost into the rate and charge no separate fee. ATMs and your own bank or card may charge fees.
Should I get a SIM or an eSIM? An eSIM is easiest if your phone supports it and is unlocked. A physical SIM at the airport is a good backup, and you need your passport.
Are prices current? They come from public sources checked on 25 Oct 2026 and can change.