South Korea Travel Guide for Indians

South Korea at a glance

Currency

Korean Won (KRW). Cashless economy — carry a small ₩50,000–₩100,000 buffer for traditional markets and small restaurants.

Cards & ATMs

Visa and Mastercard accepted almost everywhere. KEB Hana, Shinhan, Woori, and Citibank ATMs reliably accept foreign cards. Skip airport ATMs.

Visa

K-ETA replaces the visa for short Indian passport-holder trips (90 days). Apply 3 days before travel — without it you will be turned away at the airline gate.

Transport

T-money IC card for all transit — bus, subway, taxi, even some convenience stores. Buy at any subway station vending machine or 7-Eleven.

Etiquette

Hand cards/cash with two hands. Shoes off in homes and traditional restaurants. No tipping. Pour drinks for elders first.

Common mistakes

Refuse the rupee option (DCC) at point-of-sale — always pay in KRW. Don't skip the K-ETA. Don't tip — staff find it confusing.

Cash vs card in South Korea Mostly cashless

Cash-heavyFully cashless

South Korea sits at about 85 on the cash-to-cashless spectrum. South Korea is one of the most card-friendly countries in Asia. Cash matters at older traditional markets and a handful of small restaurants, and almost nowhere else.

Money for your South Korea trip

How to carry money to South Korea, answered here. For live rates, conversion and buying, we hand you to the pages built for it.

CurrencyKorean Won (KRW)

Cash vs cardMostly cashless

Best combinationForex card plus a small cash float

Live rate

1 KRW = ——

The same live rate Matrix Forex shows across the site. Rates move through the day.

Buy Korean Won Open the converter →

What things cost in South Korea

Typical local prices in South Korea, for orientation only. These are local prices, not exchange rates.
Everyday item	Typical price
Coffee	₩5,000
Subway ride	₩1,500
Hotel (3-star)	₩150,000
Bibimbap meal	₩10,000

South Korea is technologically the easiest country in Asia for Indian travellers. T-money handles transit, your hotel will register your face for the door, and convenience stores stock everything you forgot.

The K-ETA replaces the visa for most short trips. Fill it three days before travel; without it you will be turned around at the airline gate.