ATMs in Korea
 

I have a friend headed to S. Korea next week and she has heard from different sources that using an american ATM card is impossible there (something about a 5-digit PIN). Is this the case? Is it possible to use an American ATM card to get cash? Or are there certain rules for which ATMs have access to PLUS or STAR?

Thanks in advance.

I usually take my money out from the ATMs at ICN airport.
I have had the problem for past few months but now, it seems there are more "global" ATMs that take foreign cards. I have had similar problems in France as well.

I don't know anything about Korea, but your friend should probably call her bank and see if they've got a work-around that would enable her to use ATMs requiring a 5-digit pin.

Most Korean ATMs work only with local cards. "Global ATMs", though, work on all the usual international networks and can be found in airports, major cities, etc.

Thanks folks...
Is this as easy as looking for the word "Global" on the ATM?

Is the issue that her PIN is 5 digits or something else?

If her's is 5 digits and she plans to travel internationally, the conventional wisdom is to pick a 4 digit PIN. Sorry if I'm missing something obvious.

She and the American ATM card have a 4-digit PIN. The Korean ATMs sometimes (I guess) look for 5.

I think it is the other way around. Some us banks use 5 digits, but the overseas ATMs are 4.

In Seoul I have not had major problems, although not all banks have Global amts. Many that are global will say global on them, but some do not. Sometimes there will be a row of 4 machines and only one will be global. Usually you can tell that one is different. If traveling outside of a major city, get cash before you go. It can be difficult to find an ATM and the acceptance of CC may be limited.

IME, Japan has the same issues. I had a heck of a time finding an ATM at the Big Egg that would take my card. Fortunately there are seemingly dozens and finally I found one.