Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shostahoosier]

I need to access some emergency money and dont have a bank account yet.

Is is possible to use an American Debit Card in the ATM here?

Is there a specific/special place I should go?

I tried using the ATM at the bank in my village and it wouldnt work.

[lifeinkorea]

Some places it won't work. If you have a credit card, you can transfer funds online. I found this method easier.

If you go to a grocery store, depending on your bank, you should be able use it. I did, and it wasn't E-Mart or a well known place.

Another idea is to try an ATM machine outside a convenience store. I haven't done this, but a friend did and that worked also. Just make sure you put the right numbers in, lol

[waseige1]

When I got here seven months ago. It took me six or eight tries to find an ATM where it worked. Finally found one. Sorry I don't remember the branch name. It had a big Western Union sign on the side of the building so I figured that upped my chances. It is near Busan Station.

[climber159]

You need to go to a branch that has an "International ATM" or Global ATM. You likely won't find these in the smaller communities. You will find them at international airports, bank branches in central Seoul, some bank branches near the economic centers of other larger cities around Korea (Busan, Daejeon, etc.). If you go somewhere that doesn't have one, ask. They'll understand "International ATM".

[steveinincheon]

I personally have never had a problem using my US debit card in Korea, but I do know that they cannot be used universally here. Try it out in at least a few different ATMs, and if that doesn't work contact your bank. I don't know if you notified your bank that you were going to be in Korea but some banks block cards from working outside the country unless you notify them first.

[furtakk]

and on another note some banks will only have one atm that works with foreign cards. make sure you try every machine. look for a machine that says 'foreign card.' the one bank near my apartment that allows foreign cards only has one atm that does so and i think it's pretty common with other atms as well.

[OiGirl]

Some places to try the ATMs:

Korea Exchange Bank (try every one in the lobby)
Convenience stores
Subway stations

[Psy]

Every major bank branch should have one ATM marked with the words "Global ATM" where you can withdraw with any major international debit or credit card. I don't know about outside of Seoul, though. In the worse case, you could try a casino ATM, those have never failed to work for me.

[Carla]

[lostintranslation100]

I tried it my debit card at an atm inside 7-11 and it worked fine. Then I tried the same 7-11 about a week later and it wouldn't work. Went back a few days later, and it worked again. I still don't understand how that happened.

[OiGirl]

KEB also sometimes changes which one is the Global ATM, so try them all!

[i]

One night I was in 7-11 a block from my house and just thought I'd check and it worked. 200,000 won. Quick and easy.

[iammac2002]

CitiBank? I would just try any old ATM with an English option.

[seonsengnimble]

The atms that accept foreign cards are pretty random. I've gone to huge banks and been unsuccessful and then gone to the buy the way next door and had luck. There's also Woori which seems to only accept domestic and philippino/a cards.

Another odd thing I've noticed is that many atms will tell you random account balances. I've withdrawn from my home account which had around $6,000, and after withdrawing 60,000 won, it told me that my balance was 48,000won. I immediately went home and checked my balance only to find that I actually had around $6000 minus whatever the withdrawal came out to be based on the exchange rate of the time.

As the others have suggested, just go to an area with lots of atms and try them all.