Whatever currency you're carrying, it comes down to how you exchange or withdraw it — let's compare your options below.
Everything worth knowing before your foreign card keeps getting declined at the ATM, or every exchange booth's different rate leaves you confused.
Last checked September 17, 2026 — exchange rates and fee policies can change anytime by bank or card issuer.
Whatever currency you're carrying, it comes down to how you exchange or withdraw it — let's compare your options below.
Ever had your foreign card get declined over and over at an ATM on your first day in Busan?
Or been stuck figuring out where to exchange money because every booth quotes a different rate?
There are four main ways to get cash — airport exchange, in-town exchange, ATM withdrawal, and travel cards. Which one works best depends on your situation, so let's go through them one by one.
| Method | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport exchange | Available the moment you land | Rate is relatively unfavorable | When you need a small amount urgently |
| In-town exchange | Better rate than the airport | You have to go find one | When you need a fair amount of cash |
| ATM withdrawal (foreign card) | Convenient anytime | Limits and fees vary by bank/card | Travelers who mostly rely on cards |
| Travel card | Real-time rate, low fees | Needs setting up before you leave | Travelers who plan ahead |
By "travel card" here we mean a multi-currency travel card you set up in your own country before you leave (like Wise or Revolut) — not a Korea-only service like Travel Wallet (트래블월렛) or Travel Log (트래블로그).
Just because you see a Visa or Mastercard logo doesn't mean it'll automatically work.
Your own bank or card issuer — the one that actually issued your card — needs to have international withdrawals enabled, and the ATM in Korea also needs to support that card network for the withdrawal to actually go through.
Since both conditions have to line up, seeing a familiar logo alone isn't a guarantee.
It's worth checking with your card issuer before you leave whether international ATM withdrawals are enabled on your card.
These are the banks whose ATMs tend to actually recognize foreign cards well.
When you're at an ATM, first check whether the screen or the machine itself shows a "Global ATM" label, or Visa/Mastercard/UnionPay logos.
If there's no such marking, it's likely a Korea-only machine.
When you insert a card at an overseas ATM, you'll usually see options like "Withdrawal," "Savings Account," "Checking Account," or "Cash Advance."
With a debit card, tapping "Withdrawal" or "Savings/Checking Account" pulls the money straight from your bank account.
But a credit card is different. Taking out cash on a credit card at a foreign ATM isn't a bank withdrawal — it's treated as a short-term loan from your card issuer.
So you need to select "Cash Advance" from the menu for it to actually go through.
This isn't a Korea-specific rule — it's how international card networks like Visa and Mastercard handle credit card cash withdrawals everywhere. The same rule applies at ATMs in any country.
If you keep tapping "Withdrawal" or "Savings," it may just get declined — so if you're using a credit card, look for "Cash Advance" from the start.
A few other things worth checking.
The card networks themselves also run ATM locator tools, so you can look up nearby machines ahead of time.
From the left-hand menu, choose CD/ATM, then GLOBAL ATM, and search Busan to see locations.
Select the Global ATM tab, choose Busan from the region list, pick a district (e.g. Haeundae-gu), then hit Search.
Most other banks don't have an English-language page for this — that's where Naver Map comes in handy.
It's the map app Koreans themselves use most, so you'll keep reaching for it later too — for restaurants and currency exchange booths, not just ATMs. If you don't have it yet, install it first.
Once it's installed, try searching "ATM". Nearby machines pop up instantly with their names and locations — you don't even need to know the bank's name, this one search term is enough.
Busan has a lot of private currency exchange booths — they're scattered all over the city.
In the Naver Map app, search "Currency Exchange" and nearby booths pop right up. No need to hunt down individual shops — this one search term does it.
Applying for currency exchange in advance through a bank app and picking it up at the airport or a branch can also be an option.
Please double-check exchange booth details and hours before visiting — operating details can change without notice.