First of all, money might be a problem in converting ATM or American Express to cash. For example, out in the country where I am now I have found that my ATM and American Express didn't work at local bank ATMs over the weekend. HOwever, I was able to get about 100 dollars converted at a local 7-11 kind of convenience store with a stand alone ATM machine. However, that cost about $3.65 for only 100 dollars. I likely can do that about once a day if I want to pay that much for each transaction. However, I was able to convert about 800 dollars to cash in a downtown Seoul, Korea walk in Bank. So, maybe the best way is to carry cash so you don't have this problem. Also, language might be a problem too when dealing with banks and other things you need to deal with.
Planning ahead is important so you don't run into problems regarding money while you are here. Likely coming in a prepaid tour might be best so you aren't all alone out on a limb.
Luckily, my friend's wife is South Korean so she was able to translate at the bank for both of us.
However, if you are buying airline tickets here online or possibly hotel accommodations online then an ATM or American Express card might work okay even here in Korea. Just remember you also have to convert your computer language to English here first. And if you can't do that then you are in trouble in that way too. Around the airports you can find people who will speak English with you. But as soon as you move away from the airport there might be no one who speaks English or who will speak English with you. Just be sure to either bring enough dollars to convert or have someone to translate from Korean to your native language and back so you don't run into difficulties. I'm okay because I'm staying with friends who live here but if you are traveling all alone be prepared for some of these things so you are ready for everything.
We have a friend from Berlin who is a famous actress there in Germany who brought only a VISA card to the U.S. and it got demagnetized. My wife's father lent her about 10,000 dollars which she paid back when she returned to Germany but she was really scared when her only source of money stopped working so we were only glad to help her be okay. Don't let this happen to you.
I have learned to travel with Cash, an ATM and an American Express. Most places won't cash Traveler's checks anymore so that really isn't an option anymore in world travel.
Also, if you go to Seoul leave your rental car at the Airport or nearby because it might cost you 25 dollars an hour to park it in Seoul, Korea. But, I guess if you are rich this might be okay for you too.
The way we did it was to park at the train station (which was about 4 dollars for all day to park there) and then rode two trains into the City (about 40 minutes ride). The train cars are very clean and there are no doors in between the train cars. Part of it is above ground with great views of waters, bridges etc. And part of it is a subway beneath Seoul, Korea. But, try not to get lost below ground in the Subways because all sorts of different ways are possible. Also, you have to buy a card at a 7-11 kind of place to put enough money on it to touch the technology to tell it to open a gate for you to find your way to the right train. Usually there are English and Korean letters telling you the phonetic way of saying the different places if you don't read Hongol Korean.
The Emperor's palace is worth going to an seeing downtown but be prepared to pay to go see it. Also, within about a mile or so (walking distance) of the Emperor's palace is a Mexican restaurant called Julio's which has great food if you like Mexican food. It is prepared very different than Mexican food in the U.S but I really liked it. If you find the river and follow it downstream there you eventually will come to Julios Mexican restaurant.
The river has been converted so it runs through cement waterfalls downstream so the street level is about 10 to 15 feet above the river. So, cars and trucks are driving all around and you are standing there looking at a waterfall below you with a river running through the middle of the city about 10 feet wide or more which I found to be an interesting experience. Then, they had hundreds of green umbrellas hanging over the water of the river open and blowing in the wind as they were suspended by the tops of the umbrellas to represent all the children and adults who died in the capsized ferry. The trauma of this event for South Korea is apparently as severe as 9-11 was for the U.S.
And people stand around holding signs in demonstrating how upset they are about what happened in the center of Seoul, Korea.
Also, the American Embassy is nearby the Emperor's palace too so if you see a big American flag that is the American Embassy which is the big building behind the American Flag.
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