Money at Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Seoul, South Korea.
Seoul uses the KRW (₩). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly ₩4,450–₩18,000. T-money or card for taxis; cash rarely needed.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)?
South Korea uses the KRW (₩). Airport ATMs dispense KRW directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from ICN to the city cost?
Expected fare on the ICN → Seoul route is roughly ₩4,450–₩18,000. Around ₩90,000+ taxi is already high, and ₩120,000+ Deluxe (intl) is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at ICN?
Never tip. Drivers in South Korea don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at ICN?
T-money or card for taxis; cash rarely needed. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of KRW notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at ICN?
Only if you need $10–20 of KRW to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.