Last updated: June 23, 2026 · Credit cards compared: 15 · Data source: Official bank product pages
Reviewed by Zia Shahid, Buzdy Banking Editor · Our methodology
? In this guide
Looking for the best credit card in South Korea in 2026? We compared 15 credit cards from top banks in South Korea to help you find the right one for your needs, income, and lifestyle.
This guide covers fees, interest rates, eligibility, rewards, and key benefits for every option. All data is sourced from official bank product pages and updated as of June 23, 2026. Every option is from a bank regulated by Financial Services Commission.
Quick Comparison: All 15 Credit cards in South Korea
Side-by-side comparison of every credit card option in South Korea as of June 23, 2026. Tap any name for full details.
| Credit card | Bank | Rate / Eligibility | Top Features | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. BC &POP Card | BC Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 2. BC Bujadwaseyo Card | BC Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 3. BC K-First Card | BC Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 4. 1Q Card Daily | Hana Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 5. CLUB Premier Travel Card | Hana Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 6. CLUB Signature SKYPASS Card | Hana Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 7. Hana 1Q Card | Hana Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 8. Hyundai Card M BOOST | Hyundai Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 9. Hyundai Card M Edition3 | Hyundai Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 10. Hyundai Card X Edition2 | Hyundai Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 11. Korean Air Card Edition2 | Hyundai Card | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 12. IBK Daily With Card | Industrial Bank of K… | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 13. IBK Mile & Joy SKYPASS Card | Industrial Bank of K… | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 14. IBK TMON Card | Industrial Bank of K… | 15.0% - 19.9% p.a. | — | View → |
| 15. KB Kookmin Card Nori | KB Kookmin Card | — | Shopping Discounts, Entertainment Benefits, Internet… | View → |
Top 15 Credit Cards in South Korea (2026)
1. BC &POP Card
Bank: BC Card
- Annual Fee: 10,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 0.7% GS&Point on all purchases
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
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 instal
2. BC Bujadwaseyo Card
Bank: BC Card
- Annual Fee: 10,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
BC Card's value-oriented cashback credit card designed for everyday savings. Offers broad cashback on supermarkets, convenience stores, online shopping and public transport. Includes 2-3 month interes
3. BC K-First Card
Bank: BC Card
- Annual Fee: 15,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 0.5% TOP Points on all domestic purchases incl. weekends
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
Premium BC Card offering enhanced rewards on Korean lifestyle spending with cashback on dining, shopping, entertainment, and transportation. Features 0.5% TOP Point rewards on all domestic purchases i
4. 1Q Card Daily
Bank: Hana Card
- Annual Fee: 12,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 0.5% all purchases, 5% at Starbucks & The Coffee Bean
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
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
5. CLUB Premier Travel Card
Bank: Hana Card
- Annual Fee: 50,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 1% domestic, 1.5% overseas Hana Money rewards
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
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%
6. CLUB Signature SKYPASS Card
Bank: Hana Card
- Annual Fee: 100,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 1 mile per 1,500 KRW domestic, 2 miles overseas
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
Premium co-branded Korean Air mileage card earning 1 SKYPASS mile per 1,500 KRW on all purchases and 2 miles on overseas spend. Features complimentary airport lounge access, 1.5x miles at country club
7. Hana 1Q Card
Bank: Hana Card
- Annual Fee: 15,000 KRW (domestic) / 18,000 KRW (international)
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 0.8% domestic, 1.8% overseas, +1% via 1Q Pay
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
Hana Card's flagship rewards card earning 0.8% Hana Money on all domestic purchases and 1.8% on overseas purchases. Additional 1% bonus when using Hana 1Q Pay mobile payments. Hana Money points valid
8. Hyundai Card M BOOST
Bank: Hyundai Card
- Annual Fee: 15,000 KRW (domestic) / 18,000 KRW (international)
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 3-4.5% at coffee/cinema, 2-3% transport/bakeries, 1.5% Hyundai/KIA cars
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
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 Ca
9. Hyundai Card M Edition3
Bank: Hyundai Card
- Annual Fee: 15,000 KRW (domestic) / 18,000 KRW (international)
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 0.7% - 1.05% M Points on all purchases
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
Korea's most popular rewards credit card earning M Points on every purchase. Earn 0.7-1.05% M Points at restaurants, supermarkets and online shopping with enhanced rates when monthly spend exceeds 500
10. Hyundai Card X Edition2
Bank: Hyundai Card
- Annual Fee: 100,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
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, customiz
11. Korean Air Card Edition2
Bank: Hyundai Card
- Annual Fee: 30,000 KRW - 100,000 KRW (varies by tier)
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 1 SKYPASS mile per 1,000 KRW spent on all purchases
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
Co-branded Korean Air SKYPASS mileage card earning 1 mile per 1,000 KRW on all purchases. Includes KRW 50,000 Korean Air booking discount four times yearly, free airport lounge access worldwide, compl
12. IBK Daily With Card
Bank: Industrial Bank of Korea
- Annual Fee: 10,000 KRW (domestic) / 13,000 KRW (international)
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
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 a
13. IBK Mile & Joy SKYPASS Card
Bank: Industrial Bank of Korea
- Annual Fee: 20,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: SKYPASS miles on all purchases with enhanced overseas earning
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
Co-branded Korean Air mileage card earning SKYPASS miles on every purchase. Features complimentary airport lounge access, airline ticket discounts, and annual bonus miles for loyal cardholders. Ideal
14. IBK TMON Card
Bank: Industrial Bank of Korea
- Annual Fee: 10,000 KRW
- Interest Rate: 15.0% - 19.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Interest Free Days: Up to 50 days
High-reward cashback card offering 5% back on mobile phone bills from SKT, KT, and LG U+, plus 20% cashback at convenience stores including GS25, CU, Seven Eleven, Olive Young, and Watsons. Ideal for
15. KB Kookmin Card Nori
Bank: KB Kookmin Card
- Rewards: Pointree (Point-Ri) rewards
- Benefits: Shopping Discounts, Entertainment Benefits, Internet Banking
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 merchan
7 Smart Tips Before You Apply
What banks won't put in their marketing — but every smart applicant should know.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 — all products listed are from banks regulated by Financial Services Commission
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 all 15 options on this page.
What credit score do I need for a credit card in South Korea?
Most banks in South Korea require a clean credit history with no defaults in the last 5 years. Premium products typically require higher monthly income. Each bank publishes its own minimum on the product page.
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?
Yes — all 15 options listed are from banks regulated by Financial Services Commission. Consumer disputes can be escalated to the regulator if a bank does not resolve the issue.
What are the typical fees in South Korea?
Fees vary by tier and bank: classic cards typically ₩ 0–1,500/year, gold ₩ 1,500–3,000, platinum ₩ 3,000–10,000. Many banks waive the first year. Always check the product page for the exact fee 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 (typically ₩ 500–2,000), 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.
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