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  • πŸ‡°πŸ‡· South Korea: bunq Community Travel Tips

✈️ Heading to South Korea? We've gathered some tips from the bunq community to make sure your trip is the smoothest it can be. 😎

Check them out below! 🌈 πŸ‘‡


Using your card

πŸ’³ Do I need cash in South Korea, or can I use my card everywhere?

You can use cards pretty much everywhere, but itΒ΄s a good idea to have some cash with you, just in case.

πŸ’° What currency do they use here?

The currency here is South Korean won. The symbol is β‚© or KRW.

🏧 Which ATM’s can I use for free?

The bunq community has reported free withdrawals at these ATMs.

  • Shinhan

πŸ’΅ If I want cash, how much should I take out of an ATM?

50 000 KRW should be enough for a few days, since you can use your card for nearly everything.

πŸ’³ Should I choose local currency or Euros when paying?

If you're asked to choose between local currency and Euros, always choose local currency.

That way bunq does the conversion for you, and you get to take advantage of the best rates with bunq ZeroFX.


Staying connected

πŸ“± Can I roam, or should I get a local SIM?

Most EU mobile plans will charge you for roaming.

Wifi is readily available, especially in coffee shops.

If you want to get a local SIM card, you can learn about your options here.


Useful things to know

πŸ’β€β™€οΈ How does tipping work?

Tip is often included in the bill so it's not necessary to tip additonally.

🍺 How much does a 0.5L beer cost?

€3,00

🍽 How much does an average meal cost?

€5,00

🚨 What’s the emergency number?

There are different numbers for the different services here.

  • πŸš“ Police: 112
  • πŸš‘ Ambulance: 119 or 911
  • πŸš’ Fire: 119 or 911

πŸ”Œ What type of plug do they use?

This one! It’s the standard European plug.

πŸš— What side of the road do they drive on?

They drive on the right side of the road here.

πŸ—Ί How do I navigate my way around?

Google Maps works well. It's also possible to download a local navigating app called 'KakaoMap', it also includes live timing for public transport.

Otherwise, we recommend Rome2Rio as the best way to find out how to get anywhere. It even tells you the cost of each option. πŸ™Œ

πŸ‘€ Any other good tips?

You donΒ΄t want to miss the Trick Eye Museum. Step into the paintings!


Travel Perks

🎒 Visit famous attractions with 10% off

We've partnered with Tiqets to bring you discounts on attraction tickets in South Korea πŸ‡°πŸ‡·. To get your discount, simply follow the link here and use our coupon code BUNQTIQETS10 at checkout. That's it! 🎊

Travel hands-free with a 20% discount on Stasher

Our partnership with Stasher will allow you to enjoy your destination to the fullest without having to worry about your luggage. You’ll be able to drop off your bags at trusted shops and hotels in South Korea with a 20% discount through this link πŸ‘ŒπŸ».


If you've been to South Korea πŸ‡°πŸ‡· share your experience! The following would be really useful for other bunqers to know:

  • Which ATMs are free to use?
  • What card should I use and where?
  • Any other info you think may be useful.

Share your experience with us in the comments below! 🌈 πŸ‘‡

    2 months later

    I just tried KB star (listed as free withdraw bank) both as cash advance and current account. In both cases there is a 3500 won fee.


    Thanks for the comment in this topic! We'll use the feedback to improve our Travel Tips. I will hide your comment in this topic to keep it clean and clear, this is in accordance with our community guidelines

    πŸ•΅οΈπŸ»β€β™‚οΈ Tim

      8 months later

      Google Maps doesn't really work at all in South Korea. It's just an image of a map, you can't actually tap anything, or use it to navigate except for public transport

        I found Naver Maps to be far more useful. And it's easy enough to use in English, too.

          7 months later

          Ich liebe meine Bunq Karte! Ich konnte mit meiner goldenen Mastercard nichts bezahlen . Mit deren bunq Karte lief alles ohne Probleme ! :)

            3 years later

            Is there any way to add T-Money function for nfc payment with public transportation, i.e. bus, metro etc.

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