Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The mid-market rate plus international brand fees (Visa/Master 1.0%, JCB 0%, Amex 1.4%, UnionPay 0.6%) plus your card issuer's markup (0.18–0.25%) is the total charge. Example: mid-market 1 USD = 1,380 KRW, charging 100 USD on a Visa credit card → not ₩138,000 but ≈ ₩139,725 (+1.25%). Accepting DCC adds another 5–8% on top.

Yes, almost always. The margin added by the overseas merchant or ATM when you accept KRW is typically 5–8%. This turns Visa/Master's ~1.25% effective fee into 8–9% — 7× more expensive. Whenever a terminal shows KRW/USD, always select "Local currency (USD)." Use the "Accept DCC" checkbox at the top of this calculator to see the loss instantly.

For major currencies (USD/EUR/JPY/GBP/AUD), all three charge 0% on purchases and ATM withdrawals — nearly identical. Differences: (1) Currency coverage — TravelLog supports 42 currencies (widest), (2) Network — TravelWallet is Visa, TravelLog/WON+ are Mastercard (no JCB), (3) ATM limit — TravelLog US$500/day, TravelWallet US$500/month, WON+ 3 free/month. For extended Southeast Asia travel or exotic currencies, TravelLog is the safest choice.

JCB charges 0% brand fee vs Visa/Master's 1.0%, saving exactly 1 percentage point. The issuer's markup (0.18–0.25%) still applies. On a ¥10,000 transaction: Visa ≈ ₩92,500 → JCB ≈ ₩91,500 — a ₩1,000 difference. Downside: JCB issuance in Korea is limited, and merchant acceptance outside Japan, Thailand, and Taiwan is lower.

Yes. Since launch in late 2022, Hana Bank absorbs the Mastercard brand fee — meaning you pay the mid-market rate directly from your loaded balance. As of 2026 guidance, 42 supported currencies (USD/EUR/JPY/GBP/AUD/CNY/THB, etc.) have 0% FX fee; a few minor currencies like VND carry ~1% cross-currency fee. Always verify current terms on Hana Bank's official announcements.

UnionPay has strong acceptance in China and parts of Southeast Asia, with a brand fee of only 0.6% — better than Visa/Master. However, acceptance in Europe, the US, and Japan is limited, making it unsuitable as your sole card. Recommended as a China-dedicated card or a Visa/Master supplement.

Using a regular credit card for overseas ATM cash advances incurs: (1) ATM operator fee US$3–5/transaction, (2) card issuer cash advance fee ~1.5–3%, (3) cash advance interest until payment (~15–20% APR) — adding up to 5–7% effective cost. TravelWallet, TravelLog, and WON+ prepaid cards often waive the ATM operator fee within your daily limit, letting you withdraw at the mid-market rate.

Possibly. A premium card offering 1.5–2% cashback or 1 USD = 2 miles on overseas purchases can offset the ~1.25% effective fee, bringing your effective rate slightly below the mid-market rate. Caveats: (1) Reward rates are based on the KRW amount charged. (2) If you accept DCC, rewards are calculated on the inflated DCC price — amplifying the loss. You can't get both 0% FX and rewards, so choose based on your travel style.

No. The tool uses a 2026-04 fee schedule snapshot. Card networks and issuers update fee structures 1–2 times per quarter, so for large transactions cross-check with your actual card issuer notice or the official Visa/Mastercard exchange rate calculator. The mid-market rate is also a 2026-04-19 snapshot and may differ from the current rate by ±0.5%.

Every input change (foreign amount, currency, DCC checkbox) is automatically saved to the URL in base64 encoding. Click "Copy Share URL" at the top and paste into KakaoTalk or a travel group chat — the recipient sees the same inputs and results instantly. Ideal for sharing budget breakdowns on family trips or helping fellow travelers choose a card.

Yes — use the 한국어 toggle in the top-right corner. The tool is also designed for Korean students studying abroad or Korean expats who want to know the effective cost of using their Korean-issued card for overseas payments.