How to Exchange Currency at a Bank in Korea
To exchange currency at a bank in Korea, walk up to the counter and say 환전하고 싶어요 (hwanjeonhago sipeoyo), "I'd like to exchange money." The teller asks which currency and how much, then hands you won — catching those two follow-up questions matters as much as the opening line.
- Open with 환전하고 싶어요 (hwanjeonhago sipeoyo), "I'd like to exchange money," as soon as you reach the counter.
- Name what you have: 달러 100불이요 (dalleo baek bul-iyo), "One hundred US dollars."
- Ask for smaller bills: 만 원짜리로 주세요 (man wonjjariro juseyo), "In ten-thousand-won bills, please."
- If the reply is too fast, say 천천히 말해 주세요 (cheoncheonhi malhae juseyo), "Please speak slowly."
How do you start the exchange at the counter?
Banks in Korea usually have a numbered ticket system near the entrance. Take a ticket, wait for your number on the screen, then approach the counter when called. The reusable pattern is purpose + 하고 싶어요 (hago sipeoyo), "I'd like to…"
You: 안녕하세요, 환전하고 싶어요. — annyeonghaseyo, hwanjeonhago sipeoyo. — "Hello, I'd like to exchange money."
Them: 어떤 돈을 바꾸시겠어요? — eotteon doneul bakkusigesseoyo? — "Which currency would you like to exchange?"
You: 달러 100불이요. — dalleo baek bul-iyo. — "One hundred US dollars."
| Situation | Say this |
|---|---|
| Start the exchange | 환전하고 싶어요 (hwanjeonhago sipeoyo) |
| Name your currency | 달러 100불이요 (dalleo baek bul-iyo) |
| Ask for smaller bills | 만 원짜리로 주세요 (man wonjjariro juseyo) |
| Need a receipt | 영수증 주세요 (yeongsujeung juseyo) |
| Ask about the rate | 환율이 어떻게 돼요? (hwan-yuri eotteoke dwaeyo?) |
Practice this out loud with SULSUL — the app says it, you repeat it →
What if you need an ATM instead of the counter?
Many travelers exchange at the airport or use an ATM after hours. For a cash machine, the pattern shifts to 어디 있어요? (eodi isseoyo?), "Where is…?"
You: 저기요, ATM 어디 있어요? — jeogiyo, ATM eodi isseoyo? — "Excuse me, where is the ATM?"
Them: 1층 로비에 있어요. — ilcheung robie isseoyo. — "It's in the lobby on the first floor."
You: 감사합니다. — gamsahamnida. — "Thank you."
A common mistake is saying 환전 (hwanjeon, currency exchange) at an ATM screen that only accepts cards. ATMs with a green 외환 (oehwan, foreign exchange) sign handle cash exchange; regular ATMs dispense won from your linked account. If the screen is in Korean only, look for 영어 (yeongeo, English) in a corner — most bank machines switch languages with one tap.
What usually goes wrong at the teller window?
The most frequent freeze point is the amount question. Travelers practice the opening line but stumble when the teller asks 얼마를 바꾸시겠어요? (eolmareul bakkusigesseoyo?), "How much would you like to exchange?" Answer with the foreign amount plus the currency name: 달러 50불이요 (dalleo osip bul-iyo), not just a number.
Bring your passport — banks require it for cash exchange. If you forgot, say 여권 가져올게요 (yeogwon gajyeolgeyo), "I'll go get my passport," rather than leaving the line without explaining. For card issues after exchange, the post on what to say if you lose your wallet in Korea covers the emergency phrases that pair with a bank visit.
Say it out loud, not just in your head
Reading 환전하고 싶어요 on this page is not the same as saying it while a teller is waiting behind the glass.
SULSUL is a speaking gym for exactly that moment: pick a survival pattern, say it out loud, get an instant fix from the AI pronunciation coach, then run the real situation as a mission. The 100-pattern PDF workbook comes along as a bonus.
