How to Pay in Jeju : What Foreign Tourists Actually Need to Know
"How much cash should I bring in won?"
That's one of the questions I get asked most before people visit Jeju. Honestly? Way less than you'd think.
Korea's already close to a cashless society, and Jeju's no exception. Cards, mobile pay, and tap-to-pay are just how people pay here, so cash barely comes out of anyone's wallet.
I actually carry a single 10,000-won bill in my wallet as backup, and I haven't needed to touch it in months.
If anything, Jeju's buses went cashless a while ago. I've seen it happen more than once: foreign tourists just landed at the airport, trying to pay cash for the airport bus, only to realize mid-panic that it's not an option.
Picture this. You've already loaded your suitcase into the luggage compartment and boarded, and it turns out you don't have a transit card, your credit card doesn't have transit payment built in, and you haven't set up mobile pay either. Now you've got to pull your luggage back out and get off. Not fun.
I actually watched this happen to someone once. An ajumma sitting up front ended up paying the fare for them, just out of kindness. The driver, for what it's worth, looked like he'd seen this exact scene plenty of times before.
If you're coming from Greater China, though, you're actually in good shape here. Alipay works.
Jeju Province and the Jeju Tourism Organization introduced Korea's first QR-code bus payment system back in August 2024, and it now covers every bus on the island.
Here's how it works. You scan the Zero Pay QR code posted inside the bus and enter the fare amount. Zero Pay is linked with a range of overseas payment apps, including Alipay and WeChat Pay, so tourists can pay with whatever they already use back home.
And this isn't limited to the airport bus. It covers every city bus route across both Jeju City and Seogwipo, making it the first case of its kind in Korea.
Korea Is Already a Cashless Society
Cards and mobile pay are the default just about everywhere in Korea. Convenience stores, cafés, restaurants, taxis, grocery stores: card or mobile pay is just how you pay, no matter where you are.
Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay are all widely accepted, and Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, and Google Pay work at most places too.
POS terminals are pretty standardized here too, so mobile pay just works everywhere without a hitch. Even the "Yakult ladies" who push little carts of drinks around neighborhoods carry card readers, and most market vendors have one too.
Cash situations come up way less often than you'd expect.
Taxi drivers and shop owners actually prefer card over cash, if that surprises you. No change to deal with, no cash to manage. Even street food carts that don't take cards will usually take a bank transfer instead, simply because nobody's carrying cash around anymore.
When friends split a bill here, we usually just tap our own cards separately. Some restaurants' tableside kiosk systems even have a built-in bill-splitting feature at checkout.
⚠️ Buses Don't Take Cash. Plan Ahead
Jeju's buses have gone fully cashless. You genuinely cannot pay in cash on board, and I've seen plenty of confused tourists find that out the hard way, cash already in hand.
There are four ways to pay for the bus:
1. Tap your foreign-issued Visa card (since August 2025)
Any Visa credit, debit, or prepaid card issued outside Korea works with a simple tap, no setup needed. Smartphones and smartwatches work too. This is Korea's first open-loop payment system.
2. Zero Pay QR code (Alipay, WeChat Pay, and more)
Scan the QR code posted inside the bus and enter your fare. It's linked to overseas payment apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay, which makes it especially convenient if you're visiting from Greater China.
3. T-money card
If you don't have a Visa card, or you're carrying Mastercard or another brand, grab a T-money card instead. You can buy one at any CU or GS25 convenience store (around 2,500–4,000 won) and top it up with cash. Note that top-ups only take Korean won cash, not card.
4. A Korean bank card with transit functionality
If you're a longer-term resident in Korea visiting Jeju, your Korean-issued transit card works exactly the same way it always has.
The same rules apply to the airport bus. I covered that in more detail in my Jeju airport post.
→ [Internal link: Jeju International Airport post]
Taxis Are Easy with a Card
Jeju doesn't have a subway, and buses don't run all that frequently, so you'll end up taking a fair number of taxis. Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay all work fine here.
Most drivers actually prefer card over cash. Cash means keeping change on hand, and it slows things down when you're getting out. Install the Kakao T app ahead of time if you can. It makes getting a taxi easier, and you can even type your destination in English.
Markets and Street Stalls
Most shops in traditional markets take cards. The exceptions are things like grandmothers selling out of a handcart or a makeshift stall. For those, a bit of cash on hand is enough, since you're never buying anything expensive there anyway.
If an actual storefront insists on cash instead of card or mobile pay, I'd just walk away. Korean customers basically never get asked to pay cash-only these days, so if a place is only asking foreigners for cash, there's no real reason to give them your business.
There's one real exception, though: the five-day markets (오일장, ojang), which run on a rotating schedule rather than daily. Every region in Jeju has one, Seogwipo included, and a lot of the sellers are farmers bringing in produce they grew themselves, not registered storefronts.
Legally, businesses making under about 24 million won a year aren't required to own a card terminal at all. So no, it's not illegal for them to stay cash-only. You can basically assume the five-day market runs on cash. If visiting one isn't on your itinerary, this isn't something you need to worry about.
So How Much Cash Do You Actually Need?
About 100,000 won should cover you.
- Buying and topping up a T-money card (cash only)
- Market stalls and street food
- Just-in-case situations
Exchanging Money at Jeju Airport
Jeju Airport has two exchange counters: Shinhan Bank and Jeju Bank. Weekday daytime hours are usually fine, but if you're arriving on a weekend or at night, the counters might already be closed. Unlike Incheon, this airport doesn't run 24 hours, so it's worth planning around that. Fees also tend to run higher than in the city, simply because it's an airport. I'd only change enough for transportation and your first meal here, then exchange the rest downtown.
Exchanging Money at a Regular Bank
City banks let you exchange currency on the spot with just your passport. No appointment needed. Some branches will ask to see your passport even for small amounts, so it's safer to just bring it along regardless of how much you're exchanging. You don't need an account there either. The catch is that they only run on weekday banking hours (usually 9:00 AM–4:00 PM) and close on weekends and holidays, so they're less convenient than the airport. The fees, though, are generally lower.
Can Foreigners Get a Preferential Exchange Rate Too?
Technically, yes. But there are some real limits. Korea's major banks (KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Jeju Bank, Citibank, and others) offer preferential rates of up to 90% off, but that's mostly reserved for exchange requests made in advance through online or mobile banking, and those channels almost always exclude foreigners and non-residents. So regardless of whether you live in Korea or not, foreigners generally can't access that top-tier discount and need to exchange in person at a branch instead.
Exchange in person, and the standard fee usually applies (typically around 1%) with no discount, so the rate ends up a bit less favorable than applying through the app ahead of time. That said, some banks and branches do offer a partial discount to walk-in customers, so it's worth just asking, "Can I get a preferential rate?" before you exchange. If you're changing a large amount, comparing the posted rates at a few different banks beforehand can also make a real difference.
Jeju Airport Exchange vs. In-Person Bank Exchange
| Category | Jeju Airport Exchange | In-Person Bank Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Shinhan Bank / Jeju Bank counters (international arrivals area, etc.) | Any bank branch that handles foreign exchange, nationwide |
| Hours | Varies by day. Weekdays are generally fine, but counters may be closed outside set hours on weekends/nights | Standard bank hours (weekdays 9:00 AM–4:00 PM), closed weekends and holidays |
| Reservation | Not required, though hours aren't guaranteed if you arrive at night or on a weekend | Not required. Walk in with your passport |
| ID (passport) | Under 1,000,000 won: no ID needed. Over 1,000,000 won: passport required | Same (same 1,000,000-won threshold applies) |
| Rate & fees | Fees tend to be the highest here, simply because it's an airport | Relatively lower, with bank-specific preferential rates available |
| Currencies available | Mainly major currencies (USD, JPY, CNY); rarer currencies may not be available | Varies by branch size; large-city exchange centers carry a wider range |
| Pros | Cash in hand the moment you land. Unbeatable convenience | Lower fees, access to preferential rates |
| Cons | Higher fees, hours not guaranteed on nights/weekends | Inconvenient if you have no cash to get from the airport into town |
| Best for | When you just need a small amount fast: transportation, your first meal | When you're staying longer or exchanging a larger amount |
Bottom line: the most cost-effective approach is a two-step one. Exchange a small amount quickly at the airport, then handle any larger amount at a bank in town. Jeju's card and QR payment infrastructure (open-loop, Alipay, WeChat Pay) is solid enough that you won't need much cash to begin with.
Cutting Down on Fees with Wise or Revolut
Paying with a foreign card sometimes comes with extra fees tacked on. Getting a travel card like Wise or Revolut set up beforehand can save you a good chunk of that. Just apply 2–3 weeks before your trip, since it takes a bit for the card to arrive.
What Foreigners Can't Use
Tamnaneun-jeon
This is Jeju's local currency, good for a 5–10% discount at participating shops. Signing up requires Korean phone verification though, so it's off-limits for foreign visitors. There is a paper voucher version you could technically buy and use, but tracking the remaining balance is a hassle, so it's not really practical.
KakaoPay / Naver Pay
Both require a Korean bank account and a Korean phone number, so they're not an option for short-term visitors.
No Tipping, No Extra Charges
There's no tipping culture in Korea. At restaurants, cafés, taxis, you just pay what's on the bill. Service charges or cover fees are rare too. If somewhere tries to add one on, I'd just walk away from the purchase.
A Quick Trick for Currency Conversion
The calculator app already on your phone has a built-in currency conversion feature. It'll give you a converted amount instantly, and it covers currencies from all over the world, not just USD. About as easy as it gets.
Wrap-Up / Summary
- Korea is already a cashless society, and Jeju's no different
- Cards (Visa / Mastercard / UnionPay) and mobile pay (Apple Pay, etc.) work just about everywhere
- ⚠️ Buses don't take cash. Tap a Visa card, use Zero Pay QR, or get a T-money card
- Taxis: cards work fine, and drivers prefer them anyway
- Markets: mostly card-friendly, cash only needed for informal stalls
- About ₩100,000 in cash is plenty
- Tamnaneun-jeon, KakaoPay, and Naver Pay aren't usable for foreigners
Korea runs on fixed pricing at this point, and haggling has pretty much died out. Every checkout counter has a POS system and a card reader. Ripping off tourists is also something that gets people genuinely called out these days. Word gets around fast, and a shop or area with that reputation loses customers just as fast.
So don't overthink it. Enjoy traveling light, wallet included.
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