The currency is the Korean won (โฉ), and cards are accepted almost everywhere โ but keep some cash for traditional markets and street food. There's no tipping culture, so don't tip.
Korean won
Prices are in won (โฉ / KRW), with notes from โฉ1,000 to โฉ50,000 and coins for โฉ10 to โฉ500. A simple snack might run โฉ1,500โโฉ4,000.
Cards & contactless
Credit and contactless cards work almost everywhere, from convenience stores to taxis. A foreign card is fine in most shops, though the odd small vendor is cash-only.
Carry some cash
Traditional markets, street-food stalls and small family eateries often prefer cash, so keep a few notes on hand. ATMs marked "Global" or "Foreign Card" accept overseas cards.
No tipping
Tipping is not part of Korean culture and is not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels. The price you see is the price you pay.
Tax refund for tourists
Tourists can recover VAT on purchases at participating shops. Smaller buys are often refunded "immediately" at the till; for larger ones, keep the receipts and use the refund kiosks at the airport. A minimum spend applies and you'll need your passport.
Fares, prices and rules can change over time โ please check official sources before you travel.
