Paying online in Korea with a foreign card
Paying in shops is usually fine. Paying online on Korean sites is where foreign cards run into trouble. Here's what we know, site by site.
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Online payments are the tricky part
Travelers keep saying the same thing: paying in person in Korea mostly works, but paying online on Korean sites is much harder. Foreign cards get declined, and some sites don't even list Visa as an option.
- Make important online bookings early, so there's time to try another card if one fails.
- Bring more than one card if you can. One traveler found only one of their three cards worked on a Korean ticket site.
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Cards on NOL World
A third-party guide says NOL World takes the main card brands, as long as the card was issued outside Korea. UnionPay payments go through in won or US dollars. PayPal and Alipay aren't in its payment FAQ.
Card brands
- Visa Works
- Mastercard Works
- Amex Works
- JCB Works
- UnionPay Works
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Cards and sign-up on Melon Ticket
A third-party guide says Melon Ticket Global takes cards issued outside Korea. Visa and Mastercard must be credit cards, and Visa, Mastercard and JCB need 3D Secure. You sign up with email, no Korean number, and the name must match your passport. Passport checks depend on the show.
Card brands
- Visa Works
- Mastercard Works
- Amex Being verified
- JCB Works
- UnionPay Works
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Booking KTX on Korail's global site: cards and sign-up
A third-party guide says Korail's foreign-language site (korail.com/global) lets you book without an account, using just an email and a number password. Its payment screen has an option for cards issued overseas. The Korean-language site and app need a Korean identity check for non-members.
Card brands
- Visa Works
- Mastercard Works
- Amex Being verified
- JCB Works
- UnionPay Being verified
- Alipay and WeChat Pay don't work yet. A September 2026 report says they're in development.
- New ticket machines at 148 stations take foreign credit cards (citing a Korail press release from 29 Dec 2025).
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Express buses (kobus): foreign cards may not work
Sources disagree on whether kobus takes foreign cards. Plan for it not to work online, and have a backup.
Sources disagree. A Korea Herald report said non-members would be able to pay with foreign cards from August 2026. A travel blog quoting kobus notice no. 55 says that since 24 Feb 2026, non-members can only pay with Toss Pay or Naver Pay (checked in Sep 2026). We haven't confirmed which is true now.Card brands
- Visa Being verified
- Mastercard Being verified
- Amex Being verified
- JCB Being verified
- UnionPay Being verified
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Cards on Catchtable Global
Catchtable says you can pay deposits with a card issued outside Korea. We're still checking which brands go through, and whether PayPal or Alipay work.
Card brands
- Visa Being verified
- Mastercard Being verified
- Amex Being verified
- JCB Being verified
- UnionPay Being verified
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Cards and sign-up on Kakao T
Kakao Mobility says you can add Visa, Mastercard, Amex and JCB cards in Kakao T. UnionPay isn't on that list. You need a Kakao account, which asks for an SMS code when you sign up, and foreign SIMs sometimes don't receive it.
Card brands
- Visa Works
- Mastercard Works
- Amex Works
- JCB Works
- UnionPay Not on the official list
- Alipay users can call a Kakao T taxi from inside the Alipay app (since Oct 2023).
- Whether Kakao T accepts passport verification is still being verified.
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Paying in k.ride
k.ride says you can add credit and debit cards issued outside Korea, but it doesn't list which brands. It also takes Alipay+ wallets (such as Alipay, AlipayHK and Touch 'n Go), WeChat Pay, GrabPay and PayPal. PayPal was added in version 1.9.0 (25 Jun 2026).
Card brands
- Visa Being verified
- Mastercard Being verified
- Amex Being verified
- JCB Being verified
- UnionPay Being verified
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WOWPASS: payments and T-money on one card
WOWPASS is a prepaid card you can pay with, with T-money built in. You top it up with cash in 16 currencies or with a card. It only works in person: you can't use it for online shopping or delivery apps. The T-money part has its own balance.
- Top up the T-money part with won in cash at a subway ticket machine or convenience store.
- Or move money from your WOWPASS balance to T-money in the app (one way only).
- The card and its balance are valid for 6 years.
- Street stalls that only take cash won't accept it.
- On KTX trains, purchases over 50,000 won need your PIN.
Official links
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If you need a K-ETA: fee, timing and validity
The K-ETA fee is 10,000 won per person, plus an online payment fee of about 3%. It isn't refundable. The official site takes Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners, Discover, UnionPay and Alipay+.
- With a K-ETA, you don't need to submit the e-Arrival card.
- Apply only at www.k-eta.go.kr or in the official K-ETA app.
- Results usually come within 72 hours but can take longer. There's no express service.
- A K-ETA is valid for 3 years for multiple trips, or until your passport expires if that's sooner. It doesn't set how long you can stay. A new passport needs a new K-ETA.
Official links