CNY to KRW Rate November 2026: Check Before You Exchange, Save on the Spread

Bottom line: As of November 9, 2026, 1 Chinese yuan was worth about 201 won (7-day average 202.66 won). That makes Korea a relatively cheap destination for Chinese travelers right now, and if you just trust the rate posted at an airport or Myeongdong private exchange booth without checking the reference rate first, you'll likely lose money on the difference.

If you didn't know: Exchanging at a rate 5% worse than the reference rate costs you 50,000 won for every 1 million won exchanged. Checking the live reference rate on your phone before you exchange takes about a minute.

Because exchange rates shift daily, the exact "201 won" figure in this article matters less than the habit of checking that day's reference rate before you exchange. Separately, foreign card spending in Korea topped 2 trillion won in a single month for the first time this past May, up 67.1% year-on-year, with Chinese travelers posting the biggest increase, according to a news report. When the won is relatively cheap, private exchange booths in Myeongdong or at the airport tend to display eye-catching boards, but the rate they actually apply is often worse than the reference rate. Comparing the live reference rate on your phone before exchanging can cut that loss. Note that the Export-Import Bank of Korea's official posted-rate page could not be accessed directly in this check, so the figures here come from a private rate-lookup site (wise.com) instead.

Journey stage: During the trip · Verified 2026-11-10