15 Things You Should Know Before Traveling to South Korea

South Korea is one of Asia’s most exciting travel destinations. It offers historic palaces, modern cities, efficient public transportation, beautiful mountains, traditional markets, K-pop, Korean food, and vibrant nightlife.

Korea is generally convenient and welcoming to international visitors, but knowing a few things in advance can make your trip much easier. Here are 15 essential things every traveler should know before visiting South Korea.

1. Check the Entry Requirements Before Your Flight

Entry requirements depend on your nationality, passport, length of stay, and reason for travel. Before departure, check whether you need:

• A tourist visa

• A Korea Electronic Travel Authorization, or K-ETA

• A Korea Electronic Arrival Card

• Proof of onward travel

• Your accommodation address in Korea

As of 2026, nationals of designated countries and regions are temporarily exempt from K-ETA through December 31, 2026. However, travelers should verify their individual eligibility before departure because immigration rules can change.

Travelers who need an electronic arrival card can submit it free of charge through Korea’s official government system beginning three days before arrival. The official application does not request payment information, so be careful of imitation websites.

2. Keep Your Passport and Accommodation Information Ready

Immigration officers may ask where you will be staying in Korea. Save the following information on your phone and carry a printed copy as a backup:

• Hotel or accommodation name

• Korean address

• Telephone number

• Return or onward flight details

• Emergency contact information

It is especially helpful to save the address in Korean because taxi drivers and local residents may recognize the Korean version more easily than the English version.

3. Arrange Mobile Data Before or Upon Arrival

Reliable mobile data makes traveling in Korea much easier. You will use your phone for maps, subway directions, translation, restaurant searches, reservations, and communication.

International visitors can use:

• An eSIM

• A prepaid physical SIM card

• International roaming

• A portable Wi-Fi device

SIM cards, roaming services, and portable Wi-Fi devices are available at major Korean airports. Free public Wi-Fi is also available in many airports, subway stations, train stations, cafés, and public areas.

4. Download Korean Travel Apps

Install essential apps before beginning your trip. Useful categories include:

• Navigation: Naver Map or KakaoMap

• Translation: Papago or another translation app

• Public transportation: Subway navigation and train-booking apps

• Taxi service: Kakao T

• Communication: KakaoTalk

Save the names and addresses of your hotel and major destinations in Korean. This will help when showing directions to taxi drivers or asking local people for assistance.

5. Purchase a Transportation Card

A rechargeable transportation card is one of the most useful items you can buy in Korea. Common options include Tmoney and EZL cards.

These cards can be used on many:

• Subways

• City buses

• Taxis displaying the transportation-card logo

• Convenience-store purchases

• Other affiliated services

Transportation cards are available at airports, subway stations, convenience stores, and tourist information centers. Some cards may need to be recharged with Korean cash, so keep several ₩10,000 bills available.

Remember to tap your card when entering and leaving the subway. On buses, tap when boarding and again before getting off so that transfers and distance-based fares can be calculated correctly.

6. Public Transportation Is Usually the Best Way to Travel

Seoul and other major Korean cities have extensive subway and bus networks. Public transportation is usually faster and more affordable than taking taxis during busy hours.

When using public transportation:

• Allow passengers to exit before entering

• Stand in the marked waiting lines

• Speak quietly

• Avoid loud phone conversations

• Keep priority seats available for people who need them

• Do not block subway doors or escalators

Airport railroad trains, airport buses, taxis, and private transfers connect Incheon International Airport with Seoul. The best choice depends on your destination, luggage, arrival time, and budget.

7. Credit Cards Are Common, but Carry Some Cash

International credit cards are accepted at many hotels, department stores, restaurants, cafés, and major retail businesses. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express are commonly accepted at major establishments.

However, cash can still be useful for:

• Traditional markets

• Small street-food vendors

• Transportation-card recharging

• Coin lockers

• Small local businesses

• Emergency situations

Korea’s currency is the Korean won, written as ₩ or KRW. Notify your bank before traveling and check whether your card charges foreign transaction fees.

8. Korea Uses 220-Volt Electricity

South Korea uses:

• 220 volts

• 60 hertz

• Two round-pin electrical outlets

Travelers from the United States will normally need a plug adapter. Most modern phone and laptop chargers support both 110 and 220 volts, but always check the voltage information printed on your device or charger before connecting it.

Hair dryers, curling irons, heating appliances, and other single-voltage devices may require a voltage converter, not just a plug adapter.

9. Prepare for Korea’s Distinct Seasons

Korea has four distinct seasons.

Spring: Generally mild, with flowers and occasional fine dust.

Summer: Hot, humid, and rainy. The monsoon season can bring heavy rain.

Autumn: Often mild and comfortable, with colorful foliage.

Winter: Cold and dry, with temperatures sometimes falling below freezing.

Pack comfortable walking shoes because Korean travel often involves subway stairs, palace grounds, markets, hills, and long walking routes. Check the local weather immediately before departure rather than relying only on seasonal averages.

10. Remove Your Shoes When Required

Shoes are removed at the entrance of most Korean homes. You may also need to remove them at:

• Traditional guesthouses

• Some restaurants

• Temple accommodations

• Certain clinics

• Traditional cultural facilities

Look for a raised floor, shoe rack, slippers, or other shoes placed near the entrance. These are signs that you should remove your shoes.

Wear clean socks, and avoid stepping onto the indoor floor with your outdoor shoes.

11. Learn Basic Korean Dining Etiquette

Korean meals often include shared side dishes, grilled meat, stews, and communal plates.

Basic dining etiquette includes:

• Wait briefly for the oldest person to begin at formal meals

• Use a spoon for rice and soup

• Use chopsticks for side dishes

• Do not stick chopsticks upright into a bowl of rice

• Do not point at people with chopsticks

• Return shared utensils to the shared dish when provided

• Ask before ordering if you have food allergies

Korean chopsticks are often made of metal and may feel slippery at first. Most restaurants will provide a spoon as well.

Tipping is generally not expected at ordinary Korean restaurants, cafés, taxis, or salons. Exceptional tourist-oriented businesses may have different policies, but you should not feel obligated to leave the standard percentage-based tip common in the United States.

12. Understand Korean Restaurant Customs

At many Korean restaurants, staff members will not repeatedly visit your table. You may need to:

• Press the call button on the table

• Raise your hand politely

• Say “Jeogiyo,” meaning “Excuse me”

• Pay at the counter when leaving

Water and side dishes may be self-service. Some restaurants provide free side-dish refills, but policies vary.

Many Korean dishes contain ingredients that may not be obvious, including seafood broth, fish sauce, shellfish, sesame, peanuts, eggs, wheat, soy, or pork. Travelers with serious allergies should carry a translated allergy card.

13. Respect Public and Residential Spaces

Korea’s cities can be crowded, but public behavior is often relatively orderly.

Travelers should:

• Avoid speaking loudly on public transportation

• Keep streets and public areas clean

• Follow recycling and waste-disposal instructions

• Avoid photographing strangers at close range without permission

• Keep noise down in residential neighborhoods

• Respect restricted areas in temples, palaces, and historic sites

Places such as Bukchon Hanok Village are real residential neighborhoods, not outdoor movie sets. Visitors should avoid looking through windows, entering private property, or making excessive noise.

14. Save the Emergency Numbers

Save these numbers before your trip:

• 112: Police

• 119: Fire and ambulance

• 1330: Korea Travel Helpline

• 1339: Infectious-disease and medical information

• 182: Lost-property assistance

The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline provides travel information and language assistance in several languages, including English.

When calling from a foreign phone number, international dialing formats may be required. Your hotel front desk, tourist information center, or a nearby police station can also help in an emergency.

15. Keep Your Passport for Tax-Refund Shopping

Eligible international travelers may receive a tax refund when purchasing goods from participating tax-refund stores.

Depending on the store and purchase, the refund may be:

• Processed immediately at the store

• Claimed through a downtown refund kiosk

• Completed at the airport before departure

Bring your passport when shopping because the store may need to verify your eligibility. Keep the receipt and tax-refund documents until the process is complete. The refund system applies to qualifying purchases and travelers, and individual transaction limits and procedures may apply.

Useful Korean Expressions

Annyeonghaseyo
Hello.

Gamsahamnida
Thank you.

Jeogiyo
Excuse me. This is useful when calling restaurant staff.

Eolmayeyo?
How much is it?

Hwajangsil eodiyeyo?
Where is the restroom?

Yeongeo haseyo?
Do you speak English?

Igeo juseyo.
Please give me this one.

Dowajuseyo.
Please help me.

Final Travel Checklist

Before leaving for Korea, confirm that you have:

• A passport valid for your trip

• The correct visa, K-ETA, or arrival documentation

• Accommodation information

• Travel insurance

• Mobile data or an eSIM plan

• Korean navigation and translation apps

• A credit card and some Korean won

• A power adapter

• Comfortable walking shoes

• Copies of important documents

• Emergency numbers saved on your phone

South Korea is modern, safe, efficient, and relatively easy to explore. You do not need to understand every cultural rule perfectly. A polite attitude, basic preparation, and willingness to experience something new will help you enjoy a comfortable and memorable journey.