The Won, decoded. Every coffee, every taxi, every transfer home starts with knowing the rate.
Whether you just landed at Incheon, you're spending a year in Korea on a working holiday, or you're posting up in a Seoul café on remote work — the Korean Won is part of every decision. Live rates, the charts that matter, and the local know-how no airport kiosk will tell you.
Major Charts
01 / Key FX PairsAll Rates
02 / Live Currency BoardBefore You Exchange
03 / Field NotesSkip the airport counters
Spreads at Incheon Airport run roughly 3–5% wider than what you'll find downtown. Licensed money changers in Myeongdong, Itaewon and Dongdaemun — or any major commercial bank's flagship branch — consistently quote the best rates in Seoul.
Card or cash
Visa and Mastercard are accepted in over 99% of Korean retail. Keep cash on hand for traditional markets, late-night street food, and the occasional taxi. Most ATMs cap single withdrawals at ₩1,000,000 (roughly USD 730).
Staying a while?
If you're on a working holiday or settling in as a remote worker, a multi-currency card like Wise or Revolut usually beats both your home bank and Korean ATMs. Opening a local KRW account is possible once you have your Alien Registration Card (ARC) — Woori, KB and Hana have English-language services for foreigners.
Source
Mid-market reference rates from the European Central Bank (ECB), delivered via the open Frankfurter.dev API. ECB publishes consolidated daily rates against 30+ currencies including KRW. All values shown are quoted in KRW.
Update frequency
ECB publishes reference rates once per business day, around 16:00 CET (approximately 00:00 KST the next day). Weekends and ECB holidays carry the previous business day's close. The page fetches live data on each visit.
Indicative rates only
Figures shown are mid-market reference rates for informational purposes. The rate you actually receive from a bank, ATM, or money changer will include their spread and may differ noticeably — typically 1–5% wider, depending on the venue and currency.
No liability
Currency Korea is not a licensed financial advisor and provides no guarantee of accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Always verify the rate with your bank or money changer before transacting. Currency Korea accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.