Buying transit tickets with international cards in Seoul

What visitors and new residents should know about international card payments for transit tickets.

Seoul has been expanding payment convenience for visitors, including options related to international credit cards for certain transit tickets. This can help people who arrive before setting up a Korean card or transportation card. Before relying on an overseas card, check where it is accepted, which ticket types it supports, and whether foreign transaction fees apply. A payment card that works at a shop may not work in every transport machine. For daily life, a local transportation card is still useful. Keep more than one payment option during your first weeks in Korea, especially when traveling late at night or outside central Seoul.