Paying for K-ETA in South Korea: real experience from chats
Short answer
Pay for K-ETA using foreign bank cards or specific UnionPay cards, as Russian cards are not supported. If the payment gateway fails, resolve issues by using a VPN, switching browsers, or enabling pop-ups, and avoid including country codes in phone number fields.
From real experience
For K-ETA payment and use in South Korea, UnionPay cards are recommended.
Opening a UnionPay card in CNY (e.g., from RSHB or ATB banks in Russia) is advisable for broader acceptance, including K-ETA payments (which may require a VPN workaround) and online Chinese platforms. For South Korea, ATB Bank's UnionPay cards are noted for better international acceptance compared to RSHB. It's crucial to carry USD or EUR cash for exchange into KRW upon arrival, as UnionPay cards can have variable acceptance for online transactions and cash withdrawals. K-ETA payments cannot be made with cards like Sberbank or Tinkoff.
✓ 1 report from chats
For Russian citizens facing payment difficulties for Korean services like K-ETA or Discover Seoul Pass: 1. UnionPay cards from Rosselkhozbank (RUB or CNY denominated) may work, especially when using a VPN (e.g., Swedish server).
USD-denominated UnionPay cards from the same bank are reportedly not accepted. 2. Kazakh bank cards may also encounter issues when attempting to pay for the Discover Seoul Pass. 3. Non-personalized cards might sometimes present payment challenges.
✓ 1 report from chats
Users are experiencing issues with the K-ETA payment process, where the payment window does not open on both desktop and mobile devices, even with a foreign bank card and pop-up blocker disabled.
Suggested solutions include using Yandex Browser or a mobile device. Additionally, issues with updating K-ETA details, such as hotel addresses, have been reported, with the language selection buttons sometimes being unresponsive.
✓ 1 report from chats
When encountering payment issues during the K-ETA application process in South Korea, try using a VPN or an alternative web browser like Microsoft Edge.
These methods have been reported to resolve issues where the payment gateway fails to function. For persistent problems, seeking assistance from authorized K-ETA service providers is recommended.
✓ 1 report from chats
When paying for K-ETA with a foreign UnionPay card, do not include the country code (e.g., +7) in the phone number field if the country code is already pre-selected in the UI.
If the payment page fails to load, use a VPN, but consider disabling it during the card details entry to avoid processing errors.
✓ 1 report from chats
Technical difficulties during K-ETA payment can occur.
Solutions include using a VPN, disabling pop-up blockers, trying different browsers, or switching VPN services. Ensure a reliable email address is used for confirmations.
✓ 1 report from chats
If the K-ETA website fails to load the payment page, users should enable pop-ups in their browser settings or switch to the Safari browser on iOS.
Using a foreign bank card is mandatory for payment as Russian cards are not supported.
✓ 1 report from chats
UnionPay cards, including those issued by Rosselkhozbank (РСХБ), have been reported to work in South Korea for transactions, including K-ETA payments and potentially ATM withdrawals.
However, acceptance can be inconsistent, and it's advisable to have alternative payment methods available.
✓ 1 report from chats
When facing payment issues with K-ETA from Russia, try using a VPN or have a friend abroad attempt the payment using their device and a non-Russian IP address.
Different browsers and devices may also resolve the issue. Successful payments have been reported using foreign cards when processed outside of Russia.
✓ 1 report from chats
K-ETA cannot be paid for using cards issued by Russian banks such as Tinkoff or Sberbank.
Only specific UnionPay cards (often requiring VPN) are viable options.