Traveling with an Amex - will I be able to use it widely in South Koreaor should I carry a backup Visa/Mastercard?
Tried using Amex in Jeonju and Daegu during my March trip - total nightmare. It got declined almost everywhere except the airport Duty Free. Couldn’t use it for subway recharges or buying SIM cards. I borrowed my friend’s Visa card more than once. Definitely not a solo traveler-friendly card in Korea. Bring something else if you don’t want to keep getting rejected every time you pay.
Living in Korea long-term, I can confirm Amex isn’t well-integrated in the local card system (BC Card, for example, is way more common). You’ll see it accepted at Hyatt or InterContinental and luxury stores in Gangnam, but forget using it at a jjimjilbang, corner market, or airport shuttle kiosk. Local credit cards dominate here. So unless you’re spending time in upper-tier places only, bring a Visa or Mastercard - preferably with low FX fees.
I used Amex occasionally while coworking in Seoul, especially at Starbucks and larger franchise restaurants. But yeah, acceptance isn’t anywhere near universal. Local eateries, metro kiosks, and ATMs sometimes reject it outright. I kept my Wise Mastercard as my daily driver. Also, some online bookings - like KTX trains or Jeju Air flights - wouldn’t process Amex. If you rely on just Amex, expect daily friction. Always have a backup Visa or MC for wide acceptance.
Used my Amex across Seoul and Busan in April 2024 and hit a wall pretty fast. Bigger department stores like Lotte or Shinsegae took it, but most cafes, restaurants, and even the KTX ticket kiosk at Seoul Station declined it outright. Even the GS25 near my hostel said “no Amex.” I switched to my Visa debit card and had no issues after that. Definitely carry a Visa or Mastercard - even mid-range hotels preferred them. Korea’s tech-savvy, but oddly conservative when it comes to card networks.