✈️ Travel
Carrying Cash for Small Shops That Do Not Take Cards
Many Small-Town and Market Shops Still Take Cash Only
In cities, you can often get by without a wallet, but at small neighborhood restaurants, five-day markets, and long-running local eateries, it is common to find no card terminal at all or to hear a simple, “Cash only.” Of course, that place often turns out to be the best one. To avoid having to walk away because you have no cash, decide before you leave how much to withdraw and in what denominations.
| Section | Key summary |
|---|---|
| Many Small-Town and Market Shops Still Take Cash Only | Short key point |
| Cash Budget for a 2-Day, 1-Night Trip | Short key point |
| Cash Preparation Before Departure | Do not keep all your cash in one place |
| How to Save Cash Locally | Practical method in brief |
Cash Budget for a 2-Day, 1-Night Trip
| Use | Estimated amount | Recommended denominations |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and snack shops | 20,000~40,000 won | Mostly 10,000-won bills |
| Market snacks and treats | 10,000~20,000 won | Plenty of 1,000-won bills |
| Parking and admission fees | 5,000~10,000 won | 1,000-won bills + coins |
| Emergency cash | 20,000 won | one 5,000-won bill, one 10,000-won bill |
Altogether, about 60,000~90,000 won per person is appropriate for a 2-day, 1-night trip. The key is not the total amount but the small change. If you bring only 50,000-won bills, you may easily run into “We don’t have change.” In practice, mixing in enough 10,000-won and 1,000-won bills is far more useful.
Cash Preparation Before Departure
- Withdraw the amount you need from a bank or ATM, and change part of it into 1,000-won and 5,000-won bills at a bank counter or supermarket checkout.
- Do not keep all your cash in one place. Split it into three parts: 30,000 won for the day in your wallet, 20,000 won in an inner bag pocket as emergency cash, and 20,000 won as backup cash in your suitcase.
- Pack 1,000~2,000 won in coins separately in a small pouch. They are useful for parking payment machines, vending machines, and change at traditional markets.
- Mark 1~2 local ATM locations on your map in advance. In small villages, ATMs are often found only at township offices, post offices, or Hanaro Mart.
How to Save Cash Locally
- Use larger payments at restaurants and accommodations that accept cards, and save cash for small shops.
- Do not discard 1,000-won bills received as change; collect them and use them for your next snack purchase.
- Ask “How much is it?” first, then choose items that match the denominations you have to avoid problems with insufficient change.
💡
Note: In regional areas, ATMs often run out of cash or go offline for maintenance on Saturdays, Sundays, and late at night. On the afternoon of your arrival day, secure enough cash for the next day as well. If the only ATM around stops working at night, there is no easy fix.
📚 Sources