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Find the best way to send money to South Korea

Learn how to send money to South Korea from Canada in our step-by-step guide.

Looking for the best way to send money from Canada to family, friends or businesses in South Korea (or even to your own overseas bank account)?

Unfortunately, Finder doesn't have any providers that can help you send money to South Korea from Canada. Transferring money to countries like South Korea is challenging but potentially services such as Western Union and WorldRemit are worth exploring.

Best ways to send money to South Korea from Canada

The best way to send money to South Korea depends on your payment method, how you want your money to be received and how fast you need it to arrive.
  • Online money transfer provider. When buying Canadian dollars or South Korean wons money transfer specialists typically offer better rates and cheaper fees than a local bank.

Compare other Canada money transfer companies

Although we don't have any options for you to transfer money to South Korea, here are some other money transfer companies that send from Canada you can check out in the meantime.

Cheapest way to send money to South Korea

When you're hunting down the cheapest ways to send money to South Korea, it's more important to look at the overall cost of your transfer. This has a couple of elements:

  • Transfer fees. While still cheaper than your Canadian bank, some money transfer services charge either a fixed or percentage-based fee for making your transfer.
  • Exchange rates. Another way money transfer providers make money is to add a margin to the mid-market CAD/KRW exchange rate.

Some providers may charge the mid-market rate but add fees on top. Others may have very low fees but apply a markup on the exchange rate. This means it is important to compare exactly how many South Korean wons your recipient will end up with.

Safest way to send money to South Korea

The safest way to get your money to South Korea is to use a provider registered with Canada's industry regulator, the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada. All of the companies we've compared in our table are overseen by a local regulator and comply with the relevant laws and regulations in both Canada and South Korea.

A great way to dive deeper is by reading our extended reviews of each transfer service and researching first-hand customer feedback on Trustpilot and similar platforms.

Large money transfers to South Korea

If you need to make a sizable money transfer to South Korea, consider using a provider such as to benefit from its expertise in handling larger transfer amounts.

Using a large transfer specialist can have the following advantages:
  • Tax guidance. Large transfers to South Korea may have tax implications for you or your recipient. A transfer specialist can help get you up to speed on CRA's latest advice.
  • Foreign exchange (forex) tools. Advanced tools such as forward contracts, limit orders and stop-loss orders can help you lock in the KRW exchange rate you want.
  • Account manager. Some money transfer providers assign a personal account manager who can help and advise you on your transfer needs.
  • Phone service. If you want to talk your transfer through with someone, some providers can give you support over the phone.

How to send money to South Korea from Canada

To send money to South Korea, you'll need the necessary documentation, your recipient's details and a way to pay.
  1. Compare your options.
    Use our table to find a money transfer provider that sends funds to South Korea. One may be better for cash pickups while another may suit a bank transfer. Once you've found the best one for your requirements, click "Go to site".
  2. Create an account.
    You'll need to give your name, address, contact details, proof of ID and method of payment.
  3. Provide your recipient's details.
    Enter your recipient's name and contact information. If you're sending straight to their South Korean bank account, you'll need the account number, SWIFT or IBAN plus their bank branch's address.
  4. Enter your transfer amount.
    Check you're happy with the fees, exchange rates and transfer speed, then enter the amount you wish to send. Double-check the total South Korean wons your recipient gets.
  5. Complete your transfer.
    Send your money transfer to South Korea. Keep your transaction reference number safe so you can track your transfer. Your recipient may need it too.

    6. Example: Minho sends money to South Korea

    Minho is working in Canada as a software engineer and he stays in regular contact with his elderly parents back home in South Korea. His parents need some funds to help pay off a mortgage, so Minho plans to send them $2,000 from Canada.

    He decides to compare a bank and a money transfer specialist to see which one can save the most money on his transaction.

    Bank Money transfer company
    Exchange rate 1 CAD = 0.98 KRW 1 CAD = 1.00 KRW
    Transfer fee $10 $2.50
    Transfer method Bank account deposit Bank account deposit
    Processing time 2 - 5 working days Next day
    Amount received 1,954.18 KRW 1,987.51 KRW

    The money transfer company enables Minho to send an extra ₩33.33, which is transferred straight to his parents' Kookmin Bank account.

    How to choose the best money transfer companies to send money to South Korea

    Although we currently have any active deals to help you transfer money to South Korea from Canada, below we cover the most features to consider when researching providers.

    • Exchange rates. Banks and transfer services use the mid-market rate to trade with one another. It is the best rate you can get. However, not all money transfer providers offer you this mid-market rate so compare the KRW you're offered to the mid-market rate and look for the smallest difference.
    • Transfer fees. Are you being charged a flat fee or a percentage of your transfer amount? For example, a provider offering to transfer your money to South Korea for a flat or low fee might work out better if you plan to send a large amount.
    • Transfer type. Does your recipient have a South Korean bank account or is cash or cell phone top-up a better option? Each transfer type will have different fees. For example, instant cash pickups tend to be more expensive than bank transfers.
    • Transfer speed. If you need your transfer to arrive quickly, you can pay for an express delivery. Some companies offer instant cash pickups but may charge more. If you're not in a rush, online money transfer services offer the best value and get your money to South Korea faster and cheaper than banks.
    • Transfer limits. Find out how much you can send with each service.
    • Discounts. Some providers may offer you a free transfer simply for signing up. Others may offer a discount if you transfer more than a specific amount of South Korean wons.

    Is this a good time to send money to South Korea?

    Compared to a month ago, the Canadian dollar is weaker against the South Korean won. Currently $5,000 is equivalent to ₩5,000.00, whereas a month ago, $5,000 was equivalent to ₩4,928,563.00. That's a decrease of 99.9% over the past month.

    Similarly, compared to a year ago, the Canadian dollar is again weaker against the South Korean won. A year ago, $5,000 was equivalent to ₩4,921,369.50. That's a decrease of 99.9% over 12 months.

    What's more important, however, is where the strength of the Canadian dollar against the South Korean won goes from here – which is harder to call. Based on those two quick glances back, your Canadian dollars might not go as far as they would have, so shopping around for the best deal on your transfer is key.

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