If you’re planning a trip to Jeju Island, it’s worth considering how you’ll pay for things once you arrive – and whether your normal payment methods from home will work.
Jeju is one of South Korea’s most beautiful destinations. It’s got everything for volcanic landscapes, waterfalls, hiking trails and coastal drives. And while South Korea is very modern and utilises a heap of technology for everyday living, not every payment option works seamlessly for international visitors.
Based on our experience, here’s what we’d recommend for your visit.
1. Credit and Debit Cards
The good news is that most places in Jeju accept international cards.
You’ll be able to pay by card at:
- Hotels
- Restaurants
- Cafes
- Major attractions
- Rental car companies
There are a few smaller places, like local restaurants or rural shops, that may still prefer cash. Make sure you let your bank know that you’re travelling and where to, so you don’t experience any issues. Most banks will let you choose this within your online banking app, or you can make a call to set this up before you leave home.
2. Cash for Small Purchases
Even though South Korea is very digital, having some Korean won on hand is still helpful.
You might need cash for:
- Street food stalls
- Small local restaurants
- Parking machines
- Markets
ATMs are widely available around Jeju, especially in towns like Jeju City and Seogwipo. Most local banks offer ATM services in English (NH Bank is a good option with English translation).
3. Using a Travel-Friendly Card
A great option definitely worth considering is using a digital account, like Wise, when you’re travelling internationally.
With Wise you can:
- Pay with a debit card overseas (make sure you set up your account in time for your card to arrive)
- Withdraw local currency from ATMs
- Avoid many traditional foreign transaction fees
- Convert money at competitive exchange rates
For destinations like South Korea, this can make spending abroad far easier than relying on your home bank. And avoid having any transactions blocked or big currency conversion fees.
4. Digital Banks Like Revolut
Another option some travellers prefer is Revolut.
Revolut offers similar features to Wise including:
- International card payments
- Currency exchange within the app
- ATM withdrawals abroad
If you travel frequently, setting up an account with Wise or Revolut is definitely worthwhile to make your international trips much simpler.
5. Korean Payment Apps
For locals and expats in South Korea, you can use local apps such as:
- KakaoPay
- Naver Pay
But even for expats these can be hard to set up as it’s all in Korean and difficult to translate. They also usually require Korean bank accounts and phone numbers, so they aren’t practical for short-term visitors.
6. T-Money Travel Card
Another option is to purchase a T-Money Travel card from a local convenience store (a CU or a GS sells these cheaply). You can use these for travel to touch on and off when getting around Jeju on buses. And you can also top it up to make purchases in-store at many local shops.
Our Money Travel Tips for Jeju
Based on our experience, the easiest setup is:
- A travel debit card (Wise or similar)
- A regular credit card
- A small amount of Korean won
That combination works almost everywhere on the island and avoids unnecessary fees. Make sure you research the latest currency conversion rates to your home currency just before you leave, so you can work out how much you’re spending on your trip.
A handy rule of thumb we use when converting Korean won to US dollars is to think of ₩1,000 as roughly $1 USD.
In reality, ₩1,000 is actually closer to about $0.65–$0.70 USD (depending on fluctuation), but rounding up to $1 makes it much easier to calculate prices quickly in your head.
The bonus? Because the real exchange rate is lower, this method slightly overestimates the cost, which means you’ll often end up spending less than you expected when you check your bank account later.
It’s been a helpful trick for us when budgeting and working out conversion rates on the go!