Congratulations on your exciting new adventure! I think it is a good idea to put any cards on autopay for small regular bills if you don't want those ones to close.
I'd also recommend checking into acceptance levels for credit cards in different areas of South Korea. I know that obtaining credit cards is frowned upon to an extent in Japan by those who live there, as they think it is more responsible to pay with cash. That doesn't mean they are not accepted in tourist areas ( they are), but outside of certain areas, there is much less acceptance of credit cards in Japan. So I'd recommend checking into that for South Korea so you can fully understand where your credit cards will and will not be useable. I know there are towns outside the main area of Seoul where credit cards are not accepted because the towns are smaller, but not sure where your teaching assignment will be.
Also, smaller mom and pop grocery stores (even in Seoul) do not always accept credit cards, so it will be good to identify your main go-to places and determine if they accept credit cards. You can easily end up renting an apartment on a street where your closest grocery store will be a mom and pop store that does not accept credit cards, so it's good to look into this.
Public transportation and smaller restaurants will require cash.You might also want to check if there are any extra fees for credit card use at the places which do accept credit cards.
Bank of Korea offers BC Credit cards. I'd recommend making an appointment with a banker at Bank of Korea once you arrive to determine which, if any, products and services would be available to you as a non-citizen visa holder who is legally resident for a job.
Korean credit cards operate on the "pay in full each month" system, so you will want to factor that in as you consider options, too. This is often a big surprise to people who may be used to carrying balances! 
Perhaps others can offer additional help. Expat forums are also a nice place to check.
Enjoy this wonderful adventure!
@Anonymous wrote:Congratulations on your exciting new adventure! I think it is a good idea to put any cards on autopay for small regular bills if you don't want those ones to close.
I'd also recommend checking into acceptance levels for credit cards in South Korea. I know that obtaining credit cards is frowned upon to an extent in Japan by those who live there, as they think it is more responsible to pay with cash. That doesn't mean they are not accepted in tourist areas ( they are), but outside of the large metro areas, there is much less acceptance of credit cards in Japan. So I'd recommend checking into that for South Korea so you can fully understand where your credit cards will and will not be useable.
Bank of Korea offers BC Credit cards. I'd recommend making an appointment with a banker at Bank of Korea once you arrive to determine which, if any, products and services would be available to you as a non-citizen visa holder who is legally resident for a job.
Perhaps others can offer additional help.
Enjoy this wonderful adventure!
Definitely experienced this when I went to Japan a few weeks ago. Very little credit card acceptance in Hokkaido and also pretty low in areas outside of the large metro areas in Honshu. Went to Hong Kong and Macau as well and acceptability was just as low. Couldn't even buy or load my Octopus Card (Hong Kong's subway pass) with a credit card.
@Anonymous wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:Congratulations on your exciting new adventure! I think it is a good idea to put any cards on autopay for small regular bills if you don't want those ones to close.
I'd also recommend checking into acceptance levels for credit cards in South Korea. I know that obtaining credit cards is frowned upon to an extent in Japan by those who live there, as they think it is more responsible to pay with cash. That doesn't mean they are not accepted in tourist areas ( they are), but outside of the large metro areas, there is much less acceptance of credit cards in Japan. So I'd recommend checking into that for South Korea so you can fully understand where your credit cards will and will not be useable.
Bank of Korea offers BC Credit cards. I'd recommend making an appointment with a banker at Bank of Korea once you arrive to determine which, if any, products and services would be available to you as a non-citizen visa holder who is legally resident for a job.
Perhaps others can offer additional help.
Enjoy this wonderful adventure!
Definitely experienced this when I went to Japan a few weeks ago. Very little credit card acceptance in Hokkaido and also pretty low in areas outside of the large metro areas in Honshu. Went to Hong Kong and Macau as well and acceptability was just as low. Couldn't even buy or load my Octopus Card (Hong Kong's subway pass) with a credit card.
@humuhumunukunukuapua'a wrote:
Yes, exactly, Hokkaido (which is actually a pretty huge area, not small at all), Hakone, and other places as well. You could be on the train and realize you need to cash to keep going. You also need cash to buy food on some of the trains - we found that some accepted credit cards, and others did not.
Did you enjoy Japan? We were there in 2010 for three weeks and I very much miss it!
Wow congrats! Just watched the Anthony Bourdain show on Korea and it looks like a really cool place! Enjoy it!
