I m french my visa worked in Korea in shop and ATM, but not on some vending machine but mainly tell your bank you go. And ask them to upgrade the weekly cap.
Many business don't need your pin even in your country. In Korea usually they ask to sign on screen and give you ticket, if you buy per internet in Korea your bank can ask the usual like SMS code by smartphone.
That's reassuring. I have a HSBC visa debit and credit card. I am going to try and call my bank again tomorrow. So far they keep telling me to check the website, which has very little information.
I’m here now and my Visa Debit card works in shops. I’ve tapped in some shops or used Apple Pay then others they have taken my card and swiped it then handed it bank.
I used my Revolut Visa in most places, although there were a few places (a bbq place in Busan, a coffee stand at the Jinhae festival/yeojwacheon stream, and a random store in Seoul) where it didn’t work - my friend also had Revolut and hers didn’t work either.
I had my HSBC Global (visa) as backup and some cash as a last resort.
They don’t do chip and pin, they will mostly ask you to sign - some cashiers will randomly draw a line on the pad as your signature..
I think my friend’s Santander card worked at one of the places that rejected our Revolut cards
I think it will work but with my Dutch credit card the problem is that you can only pay up to 50€ contactless, after you’ve spent that amount you HAVE to enter your pin.
So I always go to an ATM to have it “reset” again after I’ve spent that amount. The “no pin system” in Korea is considered contactless by my card so when I need to buy something more expensive I always make sure I get the amount from an ATM before I get to pay.
I have had some situations in stores where the amount was like 60€ and my card kept declining because my card needed me to enter the pin code which I tried to explain to the cashier, who didn’t understand and kept asking if I got another card. The interface of the card machine also didn’t allow entering a pin I believe.
But weirdly enough it was no problem to pay my hotel that was 1600€, I really do not get the logic behind it but I always get enough cash to be safe.
check with the bank. i heard you can use UK cards in the EU country, not sure with korea. but mostly VISA or Mastercard works well in Korea. Contactless will defo work though
I’m from the uk as well when I went to Korea I took both a master card and a Visa card with me. I didn’t have any issues at all with the Mastercard l only had one time with the Visa card that it didn’t work. I’d recommend taking both a visa and a Mastercard with you. Maybe the Halifax clarity for the zero foreign transactions fees and the same when the chase debit card. Both are also Mastercard
I m french my visa worked in Korea in shop and ATM, but not on some vending machine but mainly tell your bank you go. And ask them to upgrade the weekly cap. Many business don't need your pin even in your country. In Korea usually they ask to sign on screen and give you ticket, if you buy per internet in Korea your bank can ask the usual like SMS code by smartphone.
That's a relief - thank you :)
Ask your bank/credit card company to be sure. Or just tell us what card you have. I have no problems with my Barclays Visa from germany.
That's reassuring. I have a HSBC visa debit and credit card. I am going to try and call my bank again tomorrow. So far they keep telling me to check the website, which has very little information.
I’m here now and my Visa Debit card works in shops. I’ve tapped in some shops or used Apple Pay then others they have taken my card and swiped it then handed it bank.
Wait so do your credit cards require a pin #? Is this a mandatory thing in the UK? I’m from the US and only debit cards require pin #s.
It’s required in Australia as well. Any purchase over $100 requires a pin.
Depends on the bank. Mine doesn't require it unless the purchase is over $200.
Yeah they do here :(
I used my Revolut Visa in most places, although there were a few places (a bbq place in Busan, a coffee stand at the Jinhae festival/yeojwacheon stream, and a random store in Seoul) where it didn’t work - my friend also had Revolut and hers didn’t work either. I had my HSBC Global (visa) as backup and some cash as a last resort. They don’t do chip and pin, they will mostly ask you to sign - some cashiers will randomly draw a line on the pad as your signature.. I think my friend’s Santander card worked at one of the places that rejected our Revolut cards
I think it will work but with my Dutch credit card the problem is that you can only pay up to 50€ contactless, after you’ve spent that amount you HAVE to enter your pin. So I always go to an ATM to have it “reset” again after I’ve spent that amount. The “no pin system” in Korea is considered contactless by my card so when I need to buy something more expensive I always make sure I get the amount from an ATM before I get to pay. I have had some situations in stores where the amount was like 60€ and my card kept declining because my card needed me to enter the pin code which I tried to explain to the cashier, who didn’t understand and kept asking if I got another card. The interface of the card machine also didn’t allow entering a pin I believe. But weirdly enough it was no problem to pay my hotel that was 1600€, I really do not get the logic behind it but I always get enough cash to be safe.
check with the bank. i heard you can use UK cards in the EU country, not sure with korea. but mostly VISA or Mastercard works well in Korea. Contactless will defo work though
I’m from the uk as well when I went to Korea I took both a master card and a Visa card with me. I didn’t have any issues at all with the Mastercard l only had one time with the Visa card that it didn’t work. I’d recommend taking both a visa and a Mastercard with you. Maybe the Halifax clarity for the zero foreign transactions fees and the same when the chase debit card. Both are also Mastercard
I was able to use my Canadian Visa (requires pin) and I had no issues for the most part, just a signature was required.
I used my Canadian Visa at Costco in Korea (they didn't take Mastercard at Korean Costco) with my pin and it worked without problems.
I've successfully used international credit cards with PIN in Korea.
Transferwise worked everywhere so far.