2026-09-18: $1 = ₩1,388. This is the European Central Bank reference rate — the number a bank or exchange counter will beat by a few percent in its own favour. Use it to know what “fair” looks like before you look at a rate board.
Converter
Korean bank rates — mid, buy and sell (2026-09-18)
Bank mid rate (매매기준율) is what Korean banks and the customs office use as the day’s base. You buy = the rate a bank charges when you buy foreign currency by wire (전신환 보내실 때); you sell = what it pays when you sell (받으실 때). Cash at a counter is worse than both — banks add a cash fee on top (about 1.75% on US dollars at major banks before any preferential rate, more on other currencies); the exact cash price is on the counter’s board, not here.
| Currency | Bank mid rate | You buy (wire) | You sell (wire) | ECB ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US dollar ($) | ₩1,380 | ₩1,394 | ₩1,366 | ₩1,388 |
| Japanese yen (100¥) | ₩885 | ₩894 | ₩876 | ₩879 |
| Chinese yuan (¥) | ₩205 | ₩208 | ₩203 | ₩207 |
| Euro (€) | ₩1,584 | ₩1,600 | ₩1,568 | ₩1,591 |
| British pound (£) | ₩1,844 | ₩1,863 | ₩1,826 | ₩1,852 |
| Hong Kong dollar (HK$) | ₩176 | ₩178 | ₩174 | ₩177 |
| Singapore dollar (S$) | ₩1,082 | ₩1,093 | ₩1,071 | ₩1,086 |
| Thai baht (฿) | ₩41 | ₩42 | ₩41 | ₩42 |
| Malaysian ringgit (RM) | ₩337 | ₩340 | ₩333 | ₩340 |
| Indonesian rupiah (1,000Rp) | ₩78 | ₩79 | ₩77 | ₩78 |
| Australian dollar (A$) | ₩982 | ₩991 | ₩972 | ₩988 |
| New Zealand dollar (NZ$) | ₩791 | ₩799 | ₩783 | ₩793 |
| Canadian dollar (C$) | ₩987 | ₩997 | ₩977 | ₩991 |
| Swiss franc (CHF) | ₩1,674 | ₩1,691 | ₩1,657 | ₩1,681 |
| Swedish krona (kr) | ₩141 | ₩142 | ₩139 | ₩141 |
| Norwegian krone (kr) | ₩147 | ₩148 | ₩145 | ₩147 |
| Danish krone (kr) | ₩212 | ₩214 | ₩210 | ₩213 |
Rate chart — pick a currency
All 30 currencies → Korean won (2026-09-18, ECB reference)
| Currency | Korean won | 7-day change |
|---|---|---|
| US dollar ($) | ₩1,388 | +3.4% |
| Japanese yen (100¥) | ₩879 | +0.9% |
| Chinese yuan (¥) | ₩207 | +3.5% |
| Euro (€) | ₩1,591 | +2.2% |
| British pound (£) | ₩1,852 | +2.1% |
| Hong Kong dollar (HK$) | ₩177 | +3.3% |
| Singapore dollar (S$) | ₩1,086 | +2.5% |
| Thai baht (฿) | ₩42 | +2.5% |
| Philippine peso (₱) | ₩22 | +3.1% |
| Malaysian ringgit (RM) | ₩340 | +3.1% |
| Indonesian rupiah (1,000Rp) | ₩78 | +2.1% |
| Indian rupee (₹) | ₩14 | +3.0% |
| Australian dollar (A$) | ₩988 | +2.6% |
| New Zealand dollar (NZ$) | ₩793 | +1.4% |
| Canadian dollar (C$) | ₩991 | +2.3% |
| Swiss franc (CHF) | ₩1,681 | +2.1% |
| Swedish krona (kr) | ₩141 | +1.7% |
| Norwegian krone (kr) | ₩147 | +1.9% |
| Danish krone (kr) | ₩213 | +2.2% |
| Polish złoty (zł) | ₩365 | +1.3% |
| Czech koruna (Kč) | ₩65 | +1.9% |
| Hungarian forint (100Ft) | ₩437 | +2.2% |
| Romanian leu (lei) | ₩302 | +2.0% |
| Icelandic króna (100kr) | ₩1,141 | +2.3% |
| Turkish lira (₺) | ₩28 | +3.0% |
| Israeli shekel (₪) | ₩457 | +3.6% |
| Mexican peso (MX$) | ₩81 | +2.2% |
| Brazilian real (R$) | ₩270 | +2.9% |
| South African rand (R) | ₩85 | +2.7% |
Where to exchange money in Korea
Pins mark the district (subway station or terminal), not a specific counter. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.
- Myeong-dong (Seoul) — Densest cluster of licensed money changers in Korea — around Myeongdong Station exits 5–8 and the main shopping street. Rate boards are posted outside; compare two or three.
- Dongdaemun (Seoul) — Around Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station and the wholesale malls; many counters open late.
- Itaewon (Seoul) — Along Itaewon-ro near Itaewon Station; handles a wider range of currencies than most districts.
- Hongdae (Seoul) — Near Hongik University Station exit 9; counters and prepaid travel-card kiosks around the station.
- Seoul Station — Bank branches and a few counters inside and around the station; AREX terminus from Incheon Airport.
- Incheon Airport T1 / T2 — Bank counters in arrivals. Convenient, but airport counters usually have the widest spread — change only what you need for the first day.
- Gimpo Airport — Bank counters in the international terminal arrivals hall.
- Nampo-dong (Busan) — Around Nampo Station and Gwangbok-ro; the main money-changing street in Busan.
Exchange tips that hold up
Change a little at the airport, the rest in the city
Airport counters are the most convenient and usually the most expensive. Change enough for transport and the first meal, then use a city district (Myeong-dong, Dongdaemun, Hongdae) or a bank branch.
Compare the posted board, not the promise
Licensed money changers post buy/sell boards outside. The number that matters is the KRW you receive per unit of your currency — compare two or three boards a few metres apart; they differ.
US dollars, yen and yuan get the best treatment
Counters handle USD, JPY and CNY constantly; other currencies (baht, pesos, rupiah, most European currencies) get a wider spread or are refused outside big districts. If you carry a rarer currency, Itaewon and Myeong-dong are the safest bets.
Cards work almost everywhere — cash for markets and small shops
Visa/Mastercard are accepted in most shops, cafés and taxis. Traditional markets, street food and some small restaurants are cash or Korean-card only. ATMs marked "Global" accept foreign cards; most others do not.
Prepaid travel cards and T-money
Prepaid travel cards sold at the airport and in the city can be loaded with foreign cash or by card and used for transit and shopping; T-money is the transit card and is sold at convenience stores. Check the issuer’s fee page before loading a large amount — fees change and this page does not track them.
Keep the receipt if you might change won back
Bank counters may ask for the original exchange receipt when you convert leftover won back to your currency, especially for larger amounts. Keep it; it makes the airport counter painless on the way out.
Money in Korea — our guides
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FAQ
How much is 100 US dollars in Korean won today?
₩138,810 at the ECB reference rate of 2026-09-18 (1 USD = ₩1,388). A bank or exchange counter will pay a little less for cash.
Which currency should I bring to Korea?
US dollars if you can choose — they get the tightest spread and every counter takes them. Japanese yen and Chinese yuan are the next best. Other currencies are exchangeable in Myeong-dong and Itaewon but at a wider spread.
Is it better to exchange money at home or in Korea?
For most travellers, in Korea: Korean city counters generally beat home-country banks for KRW. The exception is if your home bank offers a no-spread card — then paying by card is simplest.
Can I exchange Taiwan dollars or Vietnamese dong here?
The ECB does not publish TWD or VND reference rates, so this page cannot convert them. Large Myeong-dong counters do accept both; check the posted board.
How often is this page updated?
Every morning (Korea time) from the European Central Bank reference rate. The ECB publishes on European business days; on weekends and holidays the last business day’s rate is shown and labelled.
Data: 68 trading days of ECB reference rates (2026-06-17 to 2026-09-18) · Korean bank rates from Korea Eximbank, 2026-09-18. Source: European Central Bank reference rate via frankfurter.dev + Korea Eximbank exchange-rate API · page updated 2026-09-20. Exchange-district notes are general guidance, not a ranking; the page quotes no counter’s spread because it has not measured them.