Best Credit Cards in South Korea 2026

Looking for a credit card in South Korea in 2026? We hold verified data on 29 credit cards in South Korea and show the top 15 here. Every figure below is printed from the record Buzdy holds for that product, taken from the issuer's own published material — where a bank does not publish a number, this guide says Not published rather than guessing. We link the exact issuer page under Sources for every product where we have recorded it; for the rest we hold the figure but not the page, and say so.

How this list is ordered. Ranked on the data we actually hold: cards with no annual fee first, then by how many benefits we can verify from the issuer's own product page, then by the lowest published interest rate, then by the lowest published minimum income. We then rotate one card per bank so a single issuer cannot fill the list.

This is not a complete list of every credit card sold in South Korea. It is the set Buzdy has verified data for, from 9 issuers, as of August 2, 2026.

Quick Comparison: 15 Credit Cards in South Korea

Side by side, in the order explained above. Tap any name for the full product page.

The 15 Credit Cards in Detail

1. Hyundai Card X Edition2

Bank: Hyundai Card

• Annual fee: KRW 100,000 (100,000 KRW)
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Airport lounge, Cashback, Travel benefits, Digital wallet, Entertainment, Supplementary cards

Premium metal credit card offering 1% unlimited cashback on all purchases with no merchant restrictions, capped at 100,000 KRW per year. Includes up to 12 free airport lounge visits annually, customizable metal card design, and exclusive access to Hyundai Card cultural events and exhibitions.

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2. CLUB Premier Travel Card

Bank: Hana Card

• Annual fee: KRW 50,000 (50,000 KRW)
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Airport lounge, Rewards points, Travel benefits, Digital wallet, Hotel offers

Premium travel rewards card earning 1% Hana Money on domestic and 1.5% on overseas purchases. Includes complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge access, 5% discount on domestic airline tickets and 7% on international flights, plus overseas travel insurance and emergency assistance.

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3. LOCA LIKIT 1.2

Bank: Lotte Card

• Annual fee: KRW 15,000 (15,000 KRW (waived with 5M KRW annual spend))
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Cashback, Rewards points, Digital wallet, Shopping offers, Supplementary cards

Lotte Card's premium unlimited cashback card offering 1.2-1.5% cashback on all purchases with no category restrictions. Earn L.Point rewards at every Lotte Group merchant, enjoy 3-month interest-free installments on purchases over 50,000 KRW, and benefit from zero annual fee with qualifying spend.

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4. Samsung Card iD Platinum

Bank: Samsung Card

• Annual fee: Not published
• Interest rate: 18% per month
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Airport lounge, Travel benefits, Digital wallet, Shopping offers, Supplementary cards

Premium card with airport lounge access, travel insurance, and enhanced rewards for international spending.

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5. Shinhan Card Mr.Life

Bank: Shinhan Card

• Annual fee: Not published
• Interest rate: 18% per month
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Cashback, Dining offers, Digital wallet, Shopping offers, Supplementary cards

Lifestyle card with discounts on public transit, dining, and shopping at major Korean retailers.

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6. KB Kookmin Platinum

Bank: KB Kookmin Card

• Annual fee: Not published
• Interest rate: Not published
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Airport lounge, Rewards points, Digital wallet, Shopping offers, Entertainment

The KB Kookmin Platinum is a premium credit card offering exclusive VIP lounge access, platinum-tier concierge services, and enhanced Pointree reward points accumulation. Cardholders enjoy premium coupon services including waterpark passes, shopping vouchers, and dining benefits, along with dedicated platinum custom...

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7. BC &POP Card

Bank: BC Card

• Annual fee: KRW 10,000 (10,000 KRW)
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Rewards points, Digital wallet, Shopping offers, Supplementary cards

BC Card's popular everyday rewards card earning 0.7% GS&Point rewards on all purchases. Redeemable at GS25 convenience stores, GS Supermarket, and GS Caltex gas stations. Features interest-free installments, Paybooc mobile payments, and cross-border QR payment support.

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8. Card Standard EVERY 1

Bank: Woori Card

• Annual fee: KRW 12,000 (12,000 KRW)
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Cashback, Dining offers, Digital wallet, Shopping offers

Versatile everyday cashback card with broad category coverage. Earn cashback on dining, convenience stores, online shopping, public transport, and major telecom providers. Statement credits applied directly to your bill with minimum 10,000 KRW per qualifying transaction.

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9. IBK Daily With Card

Bank: Industrial Bank of Korea

• Annual fee: KRW 10,000 (10,000 KRW (domestic) / 13,000 KRW (international))
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Cashback, Rewards points, Digital wallet, Shopping offers

Everyday cashback card with 1% back at hospitals, medical clinics, and dental clinics, plus 1% on online purchases at Coupang, 11STREET, GMarket, and Wemakeprice. Features interest-free installments at all merchants and IBK Points redeemable for statement credits and gift cards.

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10. Hyundai Card M BOOST

Bank: Hyundai Card

• Annual fee: KRW 15,000 (15,000 KRW (domestic) / 18,000 KRW (international))
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Rewards points, Travel benefits, Dining offers, Digital wallet, Entertainment

Enhanced rewards card with boosted M Points on everyday spending categories. Earn 3-4.5% at Starbucks, coffee shops, CGV and Lotte Cinema, 2-3% on public transport and bakeries, plus 60 KRW/L at GS Caltex gas stations. Perfect for daily lifestyle spending in Korea.

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11. 1Q Card Daily

Bank: Hana Card

• Annual fee: KRW 12,000 (12,000 KRW)
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Rewards points, Dining offers, Digital wallet, Shopping offers

Everyday spending rewards card with 0.5% Hana Money on all domestic purchases and enhanced 5% rewards at Starbucks and The Coffee Bean. Offers up to 5% discounts on public transportation, convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and apartment maintenance fees.

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12. LIKIT FUN Card

Bank: Lotte Card

• Annual fee: KRW 12,000 (12,000 KRW)
• Interest rate: 15% per year
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Rewards points, Dining offers, Digital wallet, Shopping offers

Lifestyle rewards card with up to 50% discounts at Starbucks and Angelinus on payment day, 30% off at all coffee shops, 20% discount on public transportation, and 10% off major telecom bills (SKT, KT, LG U+). Includes L.Point rewards on all Lotte Group purchases.

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13. Samsung Card taptap O

Bank: Samsung Card

• Annual fee: Not published
• Interest rate: 18% per month
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Cashback, Digital wallet, Shopping offers, Supplementary cards

Digital-first card with cashback on CU convenience stores, Coupang delivery, and streaming services via the taptap app.

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14. Shinhan Card The Classic Platinum

Bank: Shinhan Card

• Annual fee: Not published
• Interest rate: 18% per month
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Airport lounge, Travel benefits, Digital wallet, Shopping offers, Supplementary cards

Premium platinum card with airport lounge access, golf privileges, travel insurance, and enhanced reward points.

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15. KB Kookmin Card Nori

Bank: KB Kookmin Card

• Annual fee: Not published
• Interest rate: Not published
• Minimum income: Not published
• Verified benefits: Rewards points, Digital wallet, Shopping offers, Entertainment

The KB Kookmin Card Nori is a lifestyle-oriented credit card from KB Kookmin Card in South Korea, offering reward points through the Point-Ri (Pointree) program redeemable at Star Shop partner merchants and online. Cardholders enjoy various shopping discounts, entertainment benefits, and digital payment capabilities...

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7 Smart Tips Before You Apply

What banks won't put in their marketing — but every smart applicant should know.

1. Compare APR, not just headline rates. The advertised "low interest" is usually a promo. The real cost is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) after fees, balance transfer charges, and FX markups. A 1.5% monthly rate is actually ~19.6% APR.
2. Read the small print on rewards. Banks advertise "5% cashback" but cap it at $20/month. After the cap, you earn 0.5%. Always check the monthly cap, eligible merchants, and minimum spend requirements.
3. Know your credit profile before applying. Each rejected application damages your credit score. Use the bank's pre-qualification check (soft pull) before submitting a formal application (hard pull).
4. Avoid cash advances at all costs. Cash advance APR is usually 5-10% higher than purchase APR, with no grace period and an upfront fee of 2-5% of the amount. Use only in emergencies.
5. Set up direct debit for the full balance. Paying only the minimum (often 5% of balance) means interest accrues on the rest. A balance of $1,000 paid at minimum costs ~$1,400 in interest over 5 years.
6. Use foreign-fee-free cards abroad. Standard cards charge 2-3% on every foreign transaction plus FX markup. Travel cards charge 0%. On a $3,000 holiday, that's $90 saved.
7. Watch the annual fee waiver conditions. Many premium cards waive fees in year 1 only or require a minimum annual spend (e.g. $5,000) to keep the waiver. Set a reminder before renewal.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The five most expensive errors people make with credit cards:

1. Applying for too many cards at once. Each application is a hard credit pull. 3+ pulls in 6 months drops your score 30-50 points. Space out applications by at least 90 days.
2. Only paying the minimum. If you have $5,000 balance at 24% APR and pay only the minimum (5%), you'll pay $1,500+ in interest before clearing the debt. Always pay in full when possible.
3. Ignoring the fine print on welcome bonuses. "Get $200 cashback!" usually requires spending $3,000 in 90 days. Read the qualifying spend, the eligible categories, and the payout timeline.
4. Not using benefits you've already paid for. If you pay a $400 annual fee for a card with airport lounge access, lost-baggage insurance, and concierge — use them. Most users don't claim 80% of what they paid for.
5. Treating credit cards as free money. They're high-cost short-term loans. The minimum payment cycle is designed to keep you indebted for 7-10 years on average.

How to Choose the Right Credit card in South Korea

• Annual fees — compare across banks, some offer zero fee for the first year
• Interest rates — lower rates save money if you carry a balance
• Rewards and benefits — match to your spending habits
• Eligibility — salary and documentation requirements vary by bank
• Digital access — mobile app, internet banking, contactless payments
• Customer support — 24/7 helpline, branch network, dispute resolution time
• Regulation — check the issuer's licence on the Financial Services Commission public register before you apply

Frequently Asked Questions: Credit cards in South Korea

What is the best credit card in South Korea for 2026?

The best credit card depends on your priorities — income level, spending habits, and eligibility. Use the comparison table above to filter by rate, benefits, and bank. For premium benefits with worldwide acceptance, look at Platinum tier cards. For low income requirements, classic tier cards offer easier eligibility. Compare the 15 products in this guide above.

What credit score do I need for a credit card in South Korea?

Buzdy does not hold credit-score or credit-bureau data, and each bank sets its own threshold. None of the 15 products in this guide publish a minimum income requirement on their product page, so ask the bank directly before applying.

Can I apply online for a credit card in South Korea?

Yes, most major banks in South Korea now offer fully online applications. Tap "View" on any credit card above to start the application process directly with the bank.

What documents do I need?

Standard documents: valid government ID, tax identification number, proof of address (utility bill or rental agreement), latest 3 months of payslips (for salaried applicants) or 6 months of bank statements (self-employed), and a recent passport-size photograph. Exact requirements vary by bank.

Are these credit cards regulated and safe?

Retail banking in South Korea is supervised by Financial Services Commission. Buzdy has not individually verified the licence status of each issuer on this page, so check the regulator’s own public register before you apply — and escalate an unresolved dispute there.

What annual fee do credit cards in South Korea charge?

Of the 29 credit cards Buzdy lists for South Korea, 20 publish an annual fee amount, from KRW 10,000 to KRW 100,000 with a median of KRW 15,000. 0 are published as free and 9 do not publish a figure at all. Fees differ by bank and tier and change over time, so check the product page for its exact schedule.

Can I get a credit card if I am self-employed in South Korea?

Yes. Self-employed applicants typically need: business registration, latest tax returns, 6 months of bank statements, and audited financials (for higher tiers). Approval rates are lower than for salaried applicants but several banks specifically cater to small business owners.

What happens if I default on payments?

Missed payments trigger late fees, a credit-score drop, and a higher interest rate going forward. After 90 days of non-payment, the account goes to collections and is reported to credit bureaus. Contact your bank BEFORE missing a payment if you have trouble — most banks offer hardship plans.

Related Guides for South Korea

• All banks in South Korea
• Bank branches across South Korea
• Credit Cards In South Korea 2026
• Personal Loans In South Korea 2026
• Savings Accounts In South Korea 2026
• South Korea EMI calculator
• South Korea savings calculator

How We Compare

Our editorial team reviews each product based on annual fees, interest rates, rewards programs, eligibility requirements, and verified bank disclosures. We update this comparison regularly to reflect the latest offers. Data is sourced from official bank websites and verified where regulatory filings are publicly available.

Buzdy compares products from 555 banks across 51 countries. We are not affiliated with any single bank — our rankings are based on objective criteria outlined in our methodology.

Disclosure: Buzdy may earn a referral commission when you apply through links on our site. Commissions never influence rankings. Read our full editorial standards.