Want to avoid last-minute ATM runs. Do most hostels in South Korea take card payments at check-in
South Korea is one of the most card-friendly countries I’ve traveled. Hostels in Seoul, Busan, and even smaller cities like Gyeongju all accepted cards. In Seoul’s Hongdae district, my hostel swiped my Visa instantly. ATMs from KEB Hana and Shinhan are all over and take foreign cards. If avoiding last-minute ATM runs is your goal, South Korea is probably the easiest place - cash is almost unnecessary.
I booked a mix of hostels and hanoks in spring 2024, and nearly all the city ones accepted card. Even my hostel in Busan had a tap-enabled reader. But in smaller towns like Jinju or Gwangju, card acceptance dropped off. One place asked me to wire transfer the payment from a Korean bank account, which obviously wasn’t possible. I ended up using cash. If you're trying to avoid last-minute ATM runs, plan for both options.
Most hostels I stayed in (Seoul, Daejeon, Busan) had card machines, and some even encouraged card over cash. I paid with my Revolut Visa every time. That said, I did have to run to a nearby ATM once in Sokcho because their machine was “down for maintenance.” My advice? Always have one or two days' worth of cash just in case. Also, keep in mind that smaller family-run guesthouses tend to lean toward cash.
I stayed at hostels in Hongdae and Gyeongju this May and both took card at check-in, no fuss. They had small POS machines that worked fine with my Mastercard debit. But one place in Jeju had a “cash only” sign at the desk, which surprised me. Rule of thumb: check ahead via email or Booking.com messages. I’d say 80% of hostels take card, but it’s Korea - sometimes terminals break or staff prefer cash. I carried ₩100,000 in reserve just in case.