Korean Job Discussion Forums

[honeybunch]

I want to be able to use my credit card, specifically AmEx, but I read a lot about how a lot of establishments in korea don't accept international cards...

[jvalmer]

Most places that takes credit cards will accept Visa and MC, even in the smallest towns. AmEx can be a little difficult to use, but major stores take them. Even many mom&pop and hole in the wall restaurants will accept credit cards, but they might want a large purchase.

[honeybunch]

I see...

I'm wondering about the minimum amount that you can use credit cards...

[orosee]

I agree that AmEx is probably harder to use than VISA. For the latter, I have used it for purchases as small as 4-5 dollars. CC and EC usage is very common in Korea, oddly nobody seems to care whether you sign your name, make 3 X's or draw a heart with an arrow through it. All accepted

(The heart & arrow thing is nice if you want to get a cute cashier's attention)

(Loosely related, slightly amusing and unoffensive anecdote: If you have a Thai bank issued credit card you may run into trouble if the valid date is given in B.E. (Buddhist Era) rather than Gregorian calendar - a friend of mine once got into trouble because of that (B.E. is 543 years ahead))