On a budget and looking for free ATMs in South Korea - Any top banks?
Used my UK Starling card all through Jeju and Daejeon in February 2024. Found that Busan BankATMs had no ATM-side fee, and the conversion rate was solid. Limits varied - sometimes ₩300,000, sometimes ₩500,000.
Living in Seoul for 6 months now, and KB Kookmin Bank (KB국민은행) have ATMs with zero additional fees for most foreign cards. That said, some machines still charge depending on the time of day or location - the ones inside bank branches are the safest be. I recommend using cards like Charles Schwab or Wise, as they refund ATM fees globally - makes a big difference.
Nonghyup Bank ATM was free to withdraw cash with an overseas Visa card.
I discovered that if you’re using a Citibank card, you can withdraw cash fee-free at Lotte ATMs, which you will find in many 7-Eleven stores. Super convenient and easy to spot around the city.