TL;DR — 3 things to know before you go
- Bring cash: ₩500 coins are the safe choice. Most machines take ₩500 coins, and many stores have a changer that turns notes into coins. Card payment goes through a separate kiosk at many franchise stores, but we could not confirm that foreign-issued cards are accepted. We found no evidence that T-money works at these machines.
- Approx. ₩4,000–6,000 to wash, ₩3,000–6,500 to dry. A wash-then-dry visit is roughly ₩8,000–12,000. All-in-one wash+dry machines at Cleantopia stores cost about ₩11,000–13,000. Prices are set per store, so check the board on the wall.
- Detergent is usually included. Cleantopia says its self-service stores add detergent and softener automatically for free. Other brands may sell detergent from a vending machine instead.
⚠ What we could not confirm
No laundromat brand publishes whether its kiosks accept foreign-issued cards, and we did not test one. Kiosk menus, sign-up rules and prices also differ by store. Carry about ₩10,000–20,000 in cash so a declined card does not leave you stuck with wet clothes.
Finding a Laundromat
Self-service laundromats are common in residential areas and near universities.
Naver Map search terms: 코인세탁 (coin laundry), 셀프빨래방 (self-service laundromat) or 빨래방. Listings show opening hours, photos and reviews.
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Big brands you will seeCleantopia runs two self-service formats, Cleantopia+Coinwash (크린토피아+코인워시) and Coinwash 365 (코인워시 365), and says it had 1,148 laundromats nationwide in January 2026. Other chains include Wash Friends (워시프렌즈) and Washenjoy (워시엔조이), plus many independent stores.
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Unattended, often 24 hoursMost stores run without staff: machines, a payment kiosk or coin changer, and a vending machine. Many are open 24 hours, but check the hours on Naver Map. Some Cleantopia stores share space with a staffed dry-cleaning counter that keeps daytime hours.
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Big machinesLaundromat machines are larger than home ones. One Coinwash 365 store lists 15 kg and 22 kg wash+dry machines and a 32 kg washer, so a duvet or a week of travel clothes fits in one load.
Typical Prices
Approximate ranges from store reports and price guides in 2024–2026. Each store sets its own prices.
Washer
세탁
approx. ₩4,000–6,000
about 30–40 min
Dryer
건조
approx. ₩3,000–6,500
about 30 min base
Wash+dry in one
세탁+건조
approx. ₩11,000–13,000
Cleantopia examples
Extra dryer time
추가 건조
₩500 per few min
add coins before it ends
Example from one store: a Cleantopia Coinwash store reported in 2024 a ₩5,000 base wash (30 min) and a ₩5,000 base dry (30 min). The bedding course cost ₩500 more and the heavy-soil course ₩1,000 more. Cleantopia says a full wash and dry takes about 60 minutes.
Payment Methods
Cash (₩500 coins) works at most stores, but some stores take only cards or app payment. Everything else depends on the store.
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₩500 coins at the machineAt the Cleantopia stores in our sources, the machines take ₩500 coins only. Insert coins up to the price shown and the machine starts by itself. You can also add ₩500 coins to a running dryer to extend the time.
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Notes → coin changerMany stores have a changer or vending machine that turns ₩1,000, ₩5,000 or ₩10,000 notes into ₩500 coins.
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Card at the kioskMany franchise stores have a central kiosk: pick the machine number and course, then pay by card (one Coinwash 365 store asks you to insert the card chip-up). Cleantopia kiosks offer member sign-up with a phone number and name, and a 2024 store report says non-members can also pay by card. Whether foreign-issued cards or foreign phone numbers work is unconfirmed.
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Brand apps and prepaid cardsSome chains offer app or QR payment (for example the Cleantopia app or Wash&Pay) and store prepaid cards or points. These need sign-up and we did not test them with a foreign phone number. On a short trip, cash is simpler.
T-money: the old version of this guide said most machines take T-money. We found no store report or operator page that confirms this, so do not plan on it. Bring cash.
How to Use It — 6 Steps
The order at a typical franchise store. Small details differ by brand.
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1Pick the right machineCheck the label: 세탁 is a washer only, 건조 is a dryer only, and 세탁+건조 washes and dries in the same drum. Capacity is marked in kg.
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2Load and close the doorPut your clothes in and close the door firmly. At one Coinwash 365 store the kiosk shows “door open” until it is shut properly, and you then refresh the machine status.
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3Check the detergentAt stores with automatic dosing, detergent and softener go in by themselves, so you add nothing. If the store has no auto-dosing, buy a packet from the vending machine.
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4Choose the course표준 (standard) suits everyday clothes. 이불 is for duvets and bedding. 찌든때 is for heavily soiled items and takes a little longer.
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5Pay — it starts by itselfInsert ₩500 coins at the machine, or pay at the kiosk for that machine number. In both store reports the machine started automatically once payment was complete.
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6Move to the dryerUnless you used a wash+dry machine, move the clothes to a 건조 machine. Pick a temperature, pay, and add ₩500 coins before it ends if you need more time. Jeans and towels need longer.
Key Korean Labels on Machines
Words you are likely to see on machines and kiosks. The notes are general descriptions: wording, and what each course or button does, differ by brand and machine, so check the panel.
Machine & Course
| Korean | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 세탁 | Wash | Washer, or the wash menu on the kiosk |
| 건조 | Dry | Dryer, or the dry menu |
| 세탁+건조 | Wash + dry | All-in-one machine; clothes stay in one drum |
| 표준 | Standard | Default course for everyday clothes |
| 이불 | Bedding / duvet | Course for blankets; may cost a little more |
| 찌든때 | Heavy soil | Longer course with soaking |
| 소량 | Small load | Shorter course for a few items |
Control & Status
| Korean | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 시작 | Start | Some machines need it after payment |
| 취소 | Cancel | Cancels before the cycle starts |
| 잔여시간 | Time remaining | Countdown on the panel |
| 문열림 | Door open | Door not closed; shut it and retry |
Dryer Temperature
| Korean | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 고온 | High heat | Towels, bedding, jeans, thick cotton (one store guide: 75°C) |
| 중온 | Medium heat | T-shirts, shirts, everyday clothes (65°C) |
| 저온 | Low heat | Nylon, polyester, thin synthetics (55°C) |
| 섬세 | Delicate | Heat-sensitive items that may shrink (45°C) |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Expecting a washer to dryA 세탁 (washer-only) machine leaves you with wet clothes. If you want one step, look for 세탁+건조 on the label or the kiosk screen.
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High heat on syntheticsHigh heat suits towels and bedding, not polyester or delicate items. Use 저온 (low) or 섬세 (delicate) for anything that might shrink.
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OverfillingClothes need room to tumble. If you have to push them down to close the door, split the load or use a bigger machine.
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Loading a big prepaid balanceBrand prepaid balances and points are tied to that brand and store system. For a short stay, pay per use instead of topping up a large amount.
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Leaving clothes in the machineOthers may be waiting. Come back when the timer ends so the next person can use the machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Machines and kiosks may show Korean only, but the key words are few: 세탁 (wash), 건조 (dry), 표준 (standard) and 시작 (start). Use the label table in this guide or a camera translation app on the kiosk screen.
Maybe. Many franchise stores take cards at a central kiosk, but no brand states whether foreign-issued cards are accepted and we did not test one. Bring cash: most machines take ₩500 coins, and many stores have a note-to-coin changer.
Usually not. Cleantopia says its self-service stores add detergent and softener automatically for free, and many other franchise stores do the same. If a store has no auto-dosing, a vending machine there sells detergent packets.
Roughly ₩8,000 to ₩12,000 for a wash followed by a separate dry. All-in-one wash+dry machines at Cleantopia stores cost about ₩11,000 to ₩13,000. Prices are set per store, so check the price board.
First check that the door is fully closed, since some kiosks show “door open” and wait. Then photograph the screen and use the customer-service or owner contact number posted in the store, if there is one.
Sources (checked October 25, 2026)
- Cleantopia: Self-service coin laundry (auto detergent and softener, about 60 min wash to dry, 30-min drying)
- Cleantopia: Coinwash 365 franchise page (1,148 stores as of January 2026, 24-hour unattended operation)
- Store report, Cleantopia Coinwash Dangsan, January 2026 (₩500 coins, note changer, kiosk, auto detergent)
- Store report, Coinwash 365 Guro, November 2024 (kiosk card payment, machine prices, dryer temperatures, ₩500 extension)
- Store report, Cleantopia Coinwash Songpa, January 2024 (₩5,000 wash and dry base prices, course surcharges, ₩500 coins only, non-member card payment)
- Store report, Cleantopia Coinwash Busan Yeonsan, May 2025 (wash+dry ₩12,500–13,000, washer ₩5,500, dryer ₩6,500)
- Namu Wiki: Coin laundry, revision October 2026 (typical prices, coins and prepaid cards, app QR payment)
- Korea Experience: How to Use a Korean Laundromat, October 12, 2026 (price ranges, auto-dosing, apps)