In Korea, most locals barely carry wallets anymore. Credit cards and mobile payments dominate everyday purchases across the country. Yet, despite this digital convenience, foreign visitors often face card payment struggles during their trips.
While long-term residents using Korean bank cards rarely experience issues, short-term tourists often do. These issues appear most commonly at transportation kiosks, small stores, and even online platforms.
Several travelers report failed transactions when using foreign-issued cards. Stores might claim broad card acceptance, but technical errors still block many international payments. Therefore, some tourists now carry multiple cards just in case.
However, Korea’s transportation system presents the biggest challenge. Despite its tech-savvy image, public transport often rejects foreign cards. NFC-based terminals on buses and subways do not support most international payment methods.
Korea’s domestic PayOn system is the main reason for this issue. The system only supports cards from local banks. As a result, visitors must buy separate cards like T-money. Yet, topping up T-money requires Korean cash, which adds another barrier.
Online payments don’t offer much relief either. Many apps and websites reject international cards, especially those requiring ID verification. This limits tourists’ access to popular local services like food delivery.
Even foreign residents feel the effects of Korea’s limited payment flexibility. Without a local bank account or visa, many struggle with simple online purchases. Some even rely on friends to complete basic transactions.
Signs at subway ticket kiosks often warn that only domestic cards work. In one example, only two machines accepted foreign cards, and one was broken.
Meanwhile, Apple Pay also faces slow adoption in Korea. Samsung Pay remains dominant but uses different technology incompatible with many global systems. Thus, even large platforms see limited use by tourists.
Businesses often hesitate to upgrade their systems. Higher fees and slower processing times for foreign cards discourage many from expanding acceptance. Online merchants also prefer cheaper, domestic-only gateways.
Experts warn that Korea must address these card payment struggles. The country plans to attract 20 million tourists annually. Without better payment support, that goal may become harder to reach.
Many officials argue that convenient local systems now hide deeper problems. Korea’s rapid progress made things easy for locals, but difficult for visitors. Fixing these gaps now seems critical for tourism growth.
Improving every service detail, from transport to online stores, can help visitors enjoy smoother experiences. Until then, card payment struggles in Korea will likely continue frustrating travelers.
