Payment Methods and Restrictions in South Korea: real experience from chats

Russian bank cards, especially UnionPay (even from banks like Rosselkhozbank - RSB), have limited acceptance, primarily for ATM withdrawals. Larger retailers like Lotte may decline standard Visa Gold but accept Visa Platinum. Smaller shops, cafes, and laundromats might accept the same cards without issue. Foreign cards typically have daily withdrawal limits (around 700,000 KRW) and transaction fees. For significant purchases, plan to split payments across days and locate compatible ATMs. Carrying local currency (KRW) is advisable, especially for markets and street food. For transportation, the T-money card is essential and can be topped up via the Wowpass app or convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7/11). The Wowpass tourist card is widely accepted but has reportedly failed in taxis on Jeju Island, making cash a safer bet there.

A subway-only pass is available for purchase at any subway station, but it is not valid for buses. The Tour Pass previously offered integrated subway and bus access, but may now have limitations for top-ups without foreign-issued cards. Travelers concerned about running out of funds on their transport card should ensure it is adequately topped up.

2. Samsung Pay/Apple Pay compatibility is limited; local Korean-firmware phones are often required for full Samsung Pay functionality. 3. Always carry some physical cash as a backup for markets and small shops.

2) When using the ATM, select 'Global' interface and choose Russian language if available. 3) Expect fees around 3,500 KRW per transaction. Alternatively, loading funds onto a Wowpass/Namane card via cash deposit machines can be more cost-effective.

However, it still does not allow online payments and is restricted to offline transactions.