You land in Seoul, pay for a coffee with your card, and then walk up to a Korean ATM that hands the same card straight back. VISITKOREA says most businesses in Korea accept credit cards,[9] so a rejection at the ATM can come as a surprise. In our reading, a Korean ATM may not accept your foreign card if it isn’t linked to a network that supports that card. This guide explains why, how to find a Global ATM that takes your card, and what to set up before you fly.
We checked the bank, card network and tourism pages listed below on October 27, 2026 (how we research).
Why a Korean ATM may not take your card
Korea’s banks connect their cash machines through a shared network run by the Korea Financial Telecommunications and Clearings Institute (KFTC). The KFTC describes it as a system that lets customers with a cash card or credit card use the cash machines of any member financial company, whichever one they bank with.[3]
Cards from abroad need a different link. The KFTC also runs ExK, a cross-border network that connects Korean and overseas payment networks.[3] Hana Bank says this service works through links with ATM network operators in a small number of partner countries, and includes cash withdrawals at Korean ATMs with cards from those countries.[1]
For the big international card networks, Hana Bank’s FAQ says foreign cards with the Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, Visa, PLUS, JCB or UnionPay logo can check balances at its Global ATMs, except cards from the Philippines and Malaysia. It adds that the country and card company may restrict this or charge a fee.[1]
In our reading, that’s the reason behind the rejection. A machine can serve your card only if it is connected to a network your card belongs to. A machine without that link may not accept your card, even if the same card works in the shop next door.
How many Korean ATMs have that link? None of the bank, card network or tourism pages we read gives a number, so we don’t give a share here.
How to spot a Global ATM that takes foreign cards
Visit Seoul, the city’s official tourism site, says ATMs that accept international cards are common and are marked with a “Global” sign or the logo of the international banks whose cards they accept.[4] Look for that sign before you put your card in.
Visit Seoul adds that ATMs typically operate until 11 p.m., although many are open 24 hours a day, and that ATMs in convenience stores often charge higher transaction fees.[4] Our convenience store guide covers what else you can do in those shops.
On the screen, look for the language button. Visit Seoul says most ATMs offer English, Chinese and Japanese.[4] Then look for a menu for foreign cards. On SC Bank Korea’s machines, for example, the English menu splits into “Overseas Card” and “Domestic Card”. The Overseas Card menu offers withdrawals from savings and checking accounts, balance checks and credit card cash advances, on weekdays, weekends and holidays.[2] Other banks may use different words for the same menu.
If you carry a Visa card, Visa’s Korean travel page suggests looking for ATMs with the PLUS mark, and it links to Visa’s online ATM locator.[7]
Why the screen may ask about your currency
Some ATMs offer to bill your withdrawal in your home currency instead of Korean won. This is called dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and Visa says the home-currency amount includes an exchange rate and additional fees.[5]
Visa requires machines that offer DCC to show the amount in both currencies, the exchange rate and any fees, and says they should let you accept or decline. If those details are missing or you feel pushed, Visa recommends declining and telling your card issuer. Declining doesn’t stop you from taking out cash.[5] Visa also says that, when making a purchase, choosing to pay in local currency can help keep your costs low.[6]
Fees are harder to pin down. The KFTC says fees on the shared network differ by bank, and each bank sets its own.[3] Visa notes that taking out cash abroad can mean paying both ATM fees and your card’s foreign exchange charges.[6] The Korean bank pages we read don’t publish fees or withdrawal limits for foreign cards, so we don’t give numbers. Check the fee the screen shows before you confirm, and ask your own bank what it charges.
If the machine rejects your card
- Take your card back. If the machine isn’t linked to your card’s network, another try at the same machine is unlikely to help.
- Find another machine with a “Global” sign or the logo of the international banks whose cards it accepts. A bank’s machine may cost less than one in a convenience store.[4]
- Choose English, then the menu for foreign or overseas cards if there is one.[2][4]
- If the screen offers to charge you in your home currency, you can decline and take Korean won.[5]
- Still declined at a Global machine? Contact your card issuer. Visa’s Korean travel page suggests telling your bank when and where you’re traveling, so that your card isn’t flagged for unusual activity.[7]
If you still can’t get cash, you can exchange money instead. Visit Seoul says most banks are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and that government-certified exchange booths carry a “Certified” sign and currency symbols. It advises visitors to avoid uncertified booths.[4] At Incheon International Airport, there are bank branches and money exchange counters. VISITKOREA says hours vary by bank, with standard exchange hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and some counters open 24 hours.[8]
Good to know
Three checks before you fly:
- Check your card for a network logo such as Visa or PLUS, Mastercard, Maestro or Cirrus, JCB or UnionPay, and ask your card issuer whether it supports ATM withdrawals in Korea.[1][7]
- Ask your bank whether the card works abroad, what its daily ATM withdrawal limit is, and what it charges for a withdrawal. Tell the bank when and where you’re traveling.[6][7]
- Make sure you know your card’s PIN.[7]
For related reading, see our Seoul transit card guide, our guide to tapping on and off Seoul buses and Everyday Seoul. To see how we’re paid, read how we’re funded.
