Tipping in South Korea: 2026 Guide for Travelers

Restaurants, Korean BBQ, and Cafés

At most Korean restaurants you pay at the counter near the exit, often after picking up a bill the server left at your table. There’s no tip line on the card terminal and no expectation of leaving cash. Free refills of banchan (side dishes) and water are part of the service, not something extra to reward.

At Korean BBQ, staff often cook or cut the meat for you. That’s standard service too. Tipping is also not expected in bars, pojangmacha (street tents), or chicken-and-beer spots.

Card is accepted almost everywhere, even for small amounts, and many places now prefer it. You can get by in Seoul with very little cash.

Hotels

International and luxury hotels in Korea usually add a 10% service charge to room rates and to food and drink in their restaurants. Rates are often quoted with the service charge and tax shown separately, so read the fine print when comparing prices.

Because of that charge, porters and housekeeping don’t expect tips. Some guests at Western-brand hotels hand a porter ₩1,000–₩2,000 per bag out of habit; it will be accepted but isn’t needed. At guesthouses, hanok stays, and business hotels, tip no one. For comparison with home, see our hotel tipping guide.

Taxis and Getting Around

Pay the meter. Taxi drivers in Korea don’t expect tips and will give exact change, including coins. Ride-hailing through Kakao T works the same way — the fare is the fare. Late-night surcharges apply in Seoul, so a higher fare than you expected at night is usually a surcharge, not a hint.

Tour Guides and the Few Exceptions

Group tours to places like the DMZ don’t come with a tipping expectation. A private guide who spent a full day with your family is the one case where a tip is common among foreign visitors: ₩10,000–₩30,000, or a small gift from home, is appreciated. Many guides will say it isn’t necessary. Read more about guide etiquette in our tour guide tipping guide.

• Hair salons and nail salons: no tip, even for long appointments.
• Jjimjilbang (bathhouse) and body scrubs: no tip — the scrub is priced separately.
• Food delivery: a delivery fee is charged in the app; no tip.

How to Show Appreciation

One habit to drop: leaving cash on the table as you go. Staff will usually assume you forgot it and come after you with it, and it can cause confusion about whether the bill was settled. Pay the amount shown and leave it at that.

Say “gamsahamnida” (thank you) as you leave, or “jal meogeosseumnida” (I ate well) to the staff at a restaurant — it lands better than cash. Hand money and cards over with both hands, or with your right hand while your left touches your forearm, which is a polite gesture Koreans notice. Prices are easier to judge if you know the rate: ₩10,000 is roughly $7.