What can I pay with, and where?
Choose the payment methods you are bringing and see, place by place, which ones work. Every answer links to the announcement or report it comes from. Where we could not find a source, the answer says so instead of guessing. Last checked Oct 26, 2026.
WorksPartlyNoNot confirmedNot applicable
| Place | Your methods | Foreign card | T-money | Alipay · WeChat Pay | Alipay+ wallets | Taiwan wallets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getting around | ||||||
| Subway gates (Seoul) | Works | No | Works | No | No | No |
| Subway ticket machines (Seoul lines 1–8) | Works | Works | Not applicable | Partly | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| City buses (Seoul) | Works | No | Works | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Taxis hailed on the street (Seoul) | Works | Not confirmed | Works | Not confirmed | Partly | Not confirmed |
| KTX train tickets | Partly | Partly | Not applicable | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Apps | ||||||
| k.ride (taxi app) | Works | Works | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Uber | Works | Works | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Baemin (food delivery app) | Works | Works | Not applicable | Works | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Shops and markets | ||||||
| Convenience stores (GS25, CU and others) | Works | Partly | Not confirmed | Works | Works | Partly |
| Olive Young | Works | Partly | Not confirmed | Works | Not confirmed | Not confirmed |
| Traditional markets and street stalls | Partly | Partly | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Partly | Partly |
Korean won in cash is still the safest backup at markets and small shops. It cannot be used at subway gates, on cash-free bus routes or for paying inside apps.
Details and sources
Subway gates (Seoul)
The gates only take transit cards: T-money, a Climate Card or WOWPASS. Foreign cards cannot be tapped at the gates yet, and the government expects direct card payment to start in 2027 at the earliest. On an iPhone, the Tmoney app's Foreigner button lets you add Apple Pay T-money and top it up with Mastercard, American Express, and UnionPay. Visa was not supported as of Mar 19, 2026.
- The Korea Times: Seoul's transit systems don't accept international payment cards · Mar 26, 2025
- Korea JoongAng Daily: visitors may be able to use overseas cards to tap into public transport · Dec 14, 2025
- Korea JoongAng Daily: Apple Pay Tmoney allows foreigners, tourists to ride using iPhones · Mar 19, 2026
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Subway ticket machines (Seoul lines 1–8)
Since Mar 17, 2026, 440 new ticket machines at 273 stations take overseas credit and debit cards, with an average service fee of 3.7%. They sell single-journey tickets and Climate Cards and recharge short-term Climate Card passes. They do not top up an ordinary T-money card with a foreign card. WeChat Pay was the most used e-wallet at these machines in the first month.
- Seoul Metropolitan Government (Korean): overseas cards at new subway ticket machines · Mar 16, 2026
- Dailian (Korean): overseas cards at Seoul subway ticket machines · Mar 18, 2026
- Herald Economy (Korean): first month of overseas card payments at subway machines · Apr 21, 2026
Checked Oct 26, 2026
City buses (Seoul)
Tap a transit card when you get on. Foreign cards cannot be tapped on buses yet. Some Seoul routes no longer take cash, so do not count on paying the driver in cash.
- Korea JoongAng Daily: visitors may be able to use overseas cards to tap into public transport · Dec 14, 2025
- Asia Economy (Korean): more cash-free bus routes in Seoul · Feb 27, 2023
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Taxis hailed on the street (Seoul)
The Seoul Tourism Organization says most taxis take cash, credit cards and T-money. It does not say whether that includes foreign cards, so that column says not confirmed and you should keep a backup. PayPay says every taxi in Seoul accepts PayPay. Other Alipay+ wallets are not confirmed.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
k.ride (taxi app)
Kakao Mobility's taxi app for visitors. You can sign up with a Google or Apple account instead of a Kakao account, and pay in the app with an overseas card. It only books the higher-priced taxi types, and paying the driver directly is not an option.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Uber
Uber works in Korea with the payment method already saved in your Uber account, and the app translates messages automatically.
- Uber Korea newsroom (Korean): Seollal promotion · Feb 11, 2026
Checked Oct 26, 2026
KTX train tickets
A check reported on Mar 26, 2025 found that only 2 of 20 ticket machines at Seoul Station took foreign cards. If a machine refuses your card, buy your ticket at a staffed counter.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Convenience stores (GS25, CU and others)
GS25 has published an analysis of foreign customers' Alipay and WeChat Pay payments, and it runs discounts for UnionPay payments. PayPay works wherever the Alipay+ mark is shown, including convenience stores. Taishin Pay+ launched in Korea with convenience stores among its first partners. UnionPay is the only card brand we could confirm, so the foreign card column says partly.
- Korea Economic Daily (Korean): GS25 payments by foreign customers · Jul 21, 2026
- PayPay (Japanese): using PayPay in Korea
- Taishin Bank (Chinese): Taishin Pay+ launches in Korea · Jul 21, 2025
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Olive Young
Olive Young has run in-store offers for customers paying with Alipay, WeChat Pay, UnionPay or WOWPASS. Other foreign cards such as Visa, and PayPay, are not confirmed from an official source.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Traditional markets and street stalls
Bring cash. In a survey at Gwangjang Market, half of the bedding shops checked charged about 10% more when paying by card. PayPay works at stalls showing the Zeropay or Alipay+ mark, and PXPay Plus works at Zeropay shops.
- Korea JoongAng Daily: cash payments at Gwangjang Market · Dec 27, 2025
- PayPay (Japanese): using PayPay in Korea
- Commercial Times (Chinese): Taiwanese e-wallets in Korea · Mar 5, 2026
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Baemin (food delivery app)
You can order without creating an account, verify with a foreign phone number, and pay with an overseas card or a Chinese e-wallet. Apple Pay with an overseas card has worked since Jun 2, 2026.
- Kyunghyang Shinmun (Korean): Seoul and Baemin delivery for foreign visitors · Jul 29, 2026
- Digital Daily (Korean): Baemin accepts overseas cards in Apple Pay · May 31, 2026
Checked Oct 26, 2026
What to bring
A transit card covers the subway and buses and also works in taxis. You can buy a T-money card at a convenience store, or buy a Climate Card at a new ticket machine in a Seoul subway station with an overseas card.
Bring at least one overseas card for shops, taxis and apps, and some cash for markets. If you already use PayPay, Alipay, WeChat Pay or a Taiwanese wallet at home, check the table: they work in many shops through partner networks, but not at subway gates.
Why a foreign card is sometimes refused
Korean subway gates and buses read Korean transit cards, so a foreign card cannot be tapped there yet. Some ticket machines also accept only cards issued in Korea.
With a foreign card, count on Apple Pay only where a service says it works, such as Apple Pay T-money or Baemin, and carry the physical card as well.
How we check this table
Each answer is based on an official announcement, a company page or a news report, listed under the place with its date. If we could not find a source, the cell says not confirmed rather than guessing.
Payment options in Korea change often. We re-check every place at least every 90 days and show the date of the last check.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use my Visa or Mastercard on the Seoul subway?
- Not at the gates. You need a transit card such as T-money or a Climate Card. You can use an overseas card at the new ticket machines on lines 1–8 to buy a single-journey ticket or a Climate Card, with an average service fee of 3.7%.
- Can I use Apple Pay in Korea with a foreign card?
- Only in some places. The Tmoney app lets visitors add Apple Pay T-money and top it up with Mastercard, American Express, and UnionPay, and Baemin has accepted Apple Pay with overseas cards since Jun 2, 2026. Elsewhere, carry the physical card.
- Does PayPay work in Korea?
- Yes, at shops and stalls showing the Alipay+ or Zeropay mark, and PayPay says every taxi in Seoul accepts it. PayPay adds an overseas service fee.
- Can I order food delivery without a Korean phone number?
- Yes, on Baemin. You can order without an account, verify with a foreign phone number and pay with an overseas card.