Is American Express (Amex) accepted in South Korea?

I tried using my Amex during my trip to Seoul and Busan, and honestly, it worked only at big chain hotels and the airport duty-free shops. When I headed into local markets like Gwangjang or for street eats such as tteokbokki and hotteok, cash was the only option. Even some trendy cafés turned me down when I offered Amex. Visa and Mastercard gave me no issues at ATMs, especially Woori Bank and KEB Hana machines. My tip: bring Amex for larger purchases, but rely on another card plus cash for daily travel expenses in South Korea.

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.