Best places to buy South Korea Won in Canada in 2024
If you have an overseas trip or vacation coming up, planning your travel money in advance can save you time and money. This guide walks through the best available options to buy South Korea Won in Canada, whether you want cash in your wallet before you leave, or prefer to spend with a card.
We’ll look at how to pick the right method for you, what it might cost, and how to get the best available South Korea Won exchange rate.
Find the cheapest ways to get South Korea Won
Order your Wise card online with no fee, have it delivered to your door in just 14 business days. Enjoy mid-market rates and low transparent fees for spending in 150+ countries worldwide.
Select branches of major banks may offer on the spot currency exchange if you’re looking for a commonly traded currency. For some currencies you’ll need to order in advance online or by phone, to collect your travel money in a day or two
We do not compare all available providers in the market. Our results are sorted by default from the lowest CAD cost to you to the highest CAD cost to you and you may choose to sort results according to other criteria. We may receive a referral fee if you choose one of these providers, but that won’t affect the ranking of the provider, the exchange rates or any fees you are charged.
*Please see Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for most up to date information.
**Average margin versus the mid-market exchange rate of 129 individual quotes from 9 travel money providers, collected on 30/05/2024.
Best ways to buy South Korea Won
- Wise
Spend and withdraw cash in 150+ countries with the mid-market exchange rate and low fees - Banks & Currency Exchanges
Major Canadian banks offer currency exchange for their customers in a broad range of currencies, for some currencies you might need to order in advance
Where to exchange CAD to KRW
You’ve got a few different options if you need to buy KRW in Canada. Depending on what’s most convenient for you, you may choose to order online for delivery, or to pick-up in person at a branch. You may be able to buy your travel money from a bank, or from a currency exchange office or at the airport. For convenient travel without needing to carry a lot of cash with you, you could also get your KRW travel card before you leave, to spend and withdraw when you’re away.
Get a South Korea Won travel money card
Buy a travel money card from a provider like Wise, top up in Canadian Dollars, spend and make withdrawals conveniently on your trip. Your Wise card has no order fee, and can be used with mid-market rates and low, transparent fees, in 150+ countries.
- Secure way to manage your money abroad
- Use ATMs to get cash little and often
- Top up and manage your account and card with just your phone
Order South Korea Won online for delivery
Order your travel money online with a service like Canada Post, and have it delivered to your home conveniently. Currency conversion fees apply. You can pay using debit card or Interac with Canada Post (credit card payments not available).
- Get your foreign cash without leaving home
- No extra delivery charge from Canada post
- Have South Korea Won in your pocket before your trip
Buy South Korea Won in person
Get your travel money instantly in a branch or foreign exchange office, or order in advance for collection in person, with TD Bank. If you order online you may wait 5 - 7 days before you can collect your currency, but some branches hold stock on hand.
- Good range of currencies available
- TD Bank has major currencies in most branches, and specialist offices with a bigger range
- Avoid delivery fees
How to get South Korea Won in Canada
You’ve got lots of choices if you need to buy South Korea Won before leaving Canada. Shopping around can mean you get the very best available deal for your specific needs and preferences - this guide is here to help.
Use our comparison table to find the best solution to get KRW in Canada:
- Enter the amount you need into the comparison tool
- Review the available rates and fees
- Decide between getting a travel card, ordering online, or buying in person
- Choose a provider based on the available options and deals
Safe and convenient way to spend and withdraw in South Korea Won
Get a South Korea Won travel money card
You can order a travel money card like Wise in Canada, add money in CAD and use your balance to purchase South Korea Won within your multi-currency account.
You’ll then be free to spend your South Korea Won when you have enough balance with no extra fees once you arrive at your destination - you can also make ATM withdrawals whenever you need some cash. If you have travel money left after your vacation you can convert back to CAD instantly for use at home - or just leave your balance ready for your next trip.
- Secure, cheap, and easy to use
- Exchange instantly or let your card do it when you pay
- Use a digital card even before your physical card arrives
Travel money cards like the Wise card offer great rates, cheap fees, and flexibility to manage your money with your phone.
| Provider | Fees for spending | ATM cash withdrawals | Exchange rates | Delivery | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Wise card | No fee to spend a currency you hold enough balance | 2 withdrawals to 350 CAD/month free, then 1.5 CAD + 1.75% | Mid-market rate Currency conversion from 0.35% | 14 business days Virtual card available instantly |
How to buy South Korea Won with a travel money card
- Register an account with a provider like Wise
- Get verified and order your card
- Your physical card will be delivered by mail in 14 business days
- Top up your card online, for free
- Buy KRW in your account or let your card auto-convert with the mid-market rate
Sort out your South Korea Won without even needing to leave home
Order South Korea Won online for delivery
Some providers allow you to order South Korea Won online and have your cash delivered to your door. This can be a convenient service as long as someone will be available to sign for your delivery. It also removes the risk that you show up at an exchange office only to discover that the currency you need isn’t available. Providers offer a broad range of currencies for delivery, with varying fees and exchange rates.
- No need to visit a physical store to get your travel money
- Providers stock a broad range of currencies
- Some services can get your money to you in just a day or two
| Provider | Fees | Exchange rates | Delivery | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No conversion fee - fees may be added to the exchange rate instead | Exchange rates may include a markup | No additional delivery fee |
How to order South Korea Won online for delivery
1. Open the website and select the option to buy for delivery
2. Enter the amount or value of South Korea Won you want to buy
3. Pay using a card or select and alternative like bank transfer
4. Enter your shipping address to get a delivery quote
5. Someone must be present to sign for the delivery when it arrives
Order online, collect South Korea Won in branch, and sell back unwanted travel money after your break
Buy South Korea Won at the bank
Some banks allow you to exchange money in a branch location. The processes and eligibility rules here do vary quite a lot. Banks like TD Bank have major currencies available instantly in some branches, but for more exotic currencies instantly you’ll need to go to a specialist TD foreign exchange centre. Alternatively you can order online or by phone to collect a week or so later. Some banks support buy back services so you can sell your unused travel money back - but you might get a different exchange rate for this, which means you could get back less than you spent in the first place.
- Where banks offer travel money services they cover most global currencies
- You’ll often be able to order online for branch collection
- Buy back services may be available for leftover travel money
| Provider | Fees | Exchange rates | Locations | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Varying fees depending on the service required | Exchange rates may include a markup | Major currencies carried by most branches of TD Bank - call ahead to check availability |
How to buy South Korea Won in bank
- Log into your online banking service and navigate the the travel money section
- Enter the amount of foreign currency you need to buy
- Pay from your bank account or using a card
- You’ll be shown when your money can be collected
- Go to your preferred branch to collect your South Korea Won in person
Pay in cash and collect your South Korea Won instantly
Foreign currency exchange offices
Another option is to buy your South Korea Won in person at an exchange office. To do this all you’ll need to do is pick the exchange office that’s most convenient to you, and head in with some cash in Canadian Dollars. Some exchange offices also accept card payments. Currency exchange offices set their own exchange rates and fees, so shopping around is essential - but this method does have the advantage that it’s usually instant to get the travel money you need.
- Exchange rates are likely to include a markup - a fee
- Not all currencies are stocked by all exchange services
- You may lose out when you sell back unused travel money
Purchase South Korea Won on arrival, higher fees might apply
Buy South Korea Won at the airport
If you’ve left your planning a little late you still have the option to buy South Korea Won at the airport in many cases. Most major airports have one or more currency exchange desks catering to travelers - bear in mind though that you won’t have a huge range of choice here which can mean that the fees are higher than in a city center location.
- Exchange rates usually include a markup - which can be high
- Not all airports have currency exchange services available
- Little competition can mean the prices overall are pretty steep
How to get the best CAD to KRW exchange rate
There’s no single best provider when it comes to exchange rates. Different services set their own rates which may vary based on the currency, the amount you want to exchange, how you want to pay, and whether you’re exchanging money in a digital account or for physical cash.
To compare your options it helps to understand a bit about the mid-market exchange rate. That’s the rate you’ll see for CAD to KRW exchange if you use an online currency converter tool or a Google search. The mid-market rate is commonly used as a benchmark as it’s the one quoted on wholesale markets. However, banks and exchange services don’t usually pass this rate on directly. Instead they add an extra fee to the rate offered to retail customers - known as a markup.
This means that looking for a service which has transparent exchange rates which are the same as - or close to - the mid-market exchange rates is a good idea. You can compare a few live exchange rates for popular providers using the Exiap tools, to find the best South Korea Won exchange rate based on the specific transaction you want to make.
Here’s what to do to find the best CAD to KRW exchange rate:
- Enter the amount you need into the comparison tool
- Review the options available, looking at the exchange rate for Canadian Dollars to South Korea Won in particular
- Decide between getting a travel card, ordering online, or in person
- Choose a provider based on the available options and deals
| Provider | Exchange rate | Learn more |
|---|---|---|
| Wise | 1,003.8800 Mid-market rate %0 | Go to site |
Where can you use South Korea Won?
You’ll only be able to use your South Korea Won for spending in South Korea. Normally, South Korea Won won’t be accepted elsewhere, so if you have any left after your trip you might want to convert them back to Canadian Dollars to spend at home.
How much money do I need for South Korea?
Your budget for a trip to South Korea can vary enormously depending on what you’re planning to do, where you’ll stay and how long you’re going to be there. It’s worth setting yourself a budget in South Korea Won well in advance so you can plan around that. The most expensive costs of any trip are usually accommodation and activities, but do remember to also take into account costs of currency exchange, food and transport, as well as incidentals like tipping.
Average hotel costs in South Korea do vary a lot but can start from around $136. On top of that you’ll need to budget for food, at around $39 per meal. If you’re looking for an easy life you could also choose to take an organized tour which means there’s no need to plan all your activities individually. Or, set your budget to cover about $36 per day to make sure you can get the most from your trip.
| Spending | Costs in South Korea | Amount in Canadian Dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | ₩136,122 | $136 |
| Transportation | ₩22,453 | $22 |
| Meals | ₩39,293 | $39 |
| Entertainment | ₩36,486 | $36 |
Country costs provided by BudgetYourTrip. Correct as of 25 April 2024.
When is the best time to buy South Korea Won?
There’s no single best time to buy South Korea Won. Exchange rates change all the time, so keeping an eye on rates using a reputable currency converter tool or a site like ours can help you get a feel for the trends.
The exchange rate today is 1,003.88. Over the last week, the average exchange rate has been 995.02543.
Ultimately the best time to buy South Korea Won depends on a huge range of factors, including changes in the global markets, which can be difficult, or impossible, to predict. If you buy a currency when the rate is on a downward trend it may make sense to see if it falls further before you buy. If rates are going up you might want to buy now before any potential future increases.
Nothing is certain, though. With a travel money card you have the flexibility to either lock in an exchange rate when you spot a good one, or just leave your money in Canadian Dollars and switch over to South Korea Won using the live rate when you pay or withdraw. This gives you options and while there’s no guarantee you can save, it could give you the best of both worlds, depending on how you think rates are trending.
Buy South Korea Won FAQs
Is it better to get South Korea Won in Canada or South Korea?
You can buy South Korea Won before you travel, or on arrival if you’d prefer. Which works best will come down to the fees and exchange rates you can find both locally and when you get to your destination. One disadvantage of buying South Korea Won when you arrive is that you’ll waste time looking for exchange offices - while taking all your cash with you isn’t necessarily a smart choice for safety. As an alternative, getting a travel money card from a service like Wise could be a good bet for flexibility, security and cost.
Can I get South Korea Won at a bank?
Whether or not you can get South Korea Won from your bank will depend on several factors - including who you bank with. Some banks do allow account holders to purchase South Korea Won in person but you might need to order South Korea Won online in advance and wait for your order to be prepared before you can collect.
Because South Korea Won are a commonly traded currency you might find your bank has them in stock if they offer travel money services. Call in advance to ask if they have South Korea Won on hand to avoid a wasted trip.
Can I get South Korea Won at the airport?
Many major airports have currency exchange desks which stock major currencies for instant conversion. You may also be able to order money in advance for collection. However, it’s useful to know that a lack of local competition can mean that prices are high at the airport, with exchange rate markups adding to the overall cost significantly.
As South Korea Won are commonly needed by travelers, you may find you can get some instantly at the airport. However, it’s worth checking in advance to make sure you don’t end up stuck without travel money.
How long does it take to get South Korea Won?
How long it takes to sort out your travel money can depend a lot on the method you choose - here’s a quick summary:
- Travel cards can take 14 days to be delivered, but you may be able to start using a virtual card instantly for mobile payments
- Home delivery services could dispatch common currencies on the same day as order, for overnight delivery, but may take 4-5 days for some currencies and payment methods
- Bank currency exchange can involve placing an order in advance and waiting 5 - 7 days before you can collect it, particularly for uncommon currencies
- Foreign currency exchange offices in cities and at the airport can offer instant conversion if they have the currency you need in stock
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