🏯 South Korea

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Recent disaster alerts (UN/EU GDACS)

Updated 4 Nov 2026. Alerts change quickly: check GDACS and your government's advice before you travel.

Costs

Prices here are about 57% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Visa and K-ETA requirements depend on the passport, so check before booking. For visas, use the visa portal (Hi Korea). Many visa-free nationalities need the K-ETA electronic travel authorisation, handled on the K-ETA site, although a list of countries enjoys a temporary K-ETA exemption lasting until 31 December 2026. Foreign visitors must now also complete the e-Arrival Card, which is free and online, before arrival, except for holders of an approved K-ETA; for the exact timing, see the official site. Stick to the official .go.kr sites only.

Culture - take note

Elders command respect: a slight bow is the greeting, and cards, money and drinks are handed over or accepted using both hands. Shoes come off in homes, guesthouses and many restaurants. Tips are not expected. Drinking alongside elders means pouring for others, receiving with both hands and turning your head slightly aside to sip. Keep voices low on public transport. Writing someone's name in red ink is something to avoid. Fashionable clothing is the norm, though temples call for modest dress. Many public places ban smoking. In Seoul, halal food can be found near the Seoul Central Mosque as well as in some districts, and halal-certified restaurants are growing in number, so check ahead.

Emergency

Police 112. Fire and ambulance 119. Korea Travel Helpline 1330 (English and other languages).

Good to know

Plugs and voltage

Seoul's official tourism site says the standard voltage in Korea is 220 volts and the frequency 60 hertz, with Type C and Type F sockets that have two round holes. VisitKorea likewise describes outlets with two round holes, and says a multi-voltage adapter can be borrowed or bought at a hotel front desk.

Tap water is drinkable

Seoul's official tourism site states that Korean tap water is safe to use for hygiene purposes, such as brushing teeth and washing the face, and is safe to drink as well.

Foreign cards at cash machines

The currency is the won. Canadian advice says some major banks have cash machines that accept international debit or credit cards, but the amount allowed per withdrawal may be quite low, so service charges can add up over several withdrawals.

Local laws and customs

ID, drugs and medicines

UK advice says carrying ID is a legal requirement, though rarely checked, and that drug convictions can bring long jail sentences, even for small amounts of marijuana; visitors have been detained on drug tests alone. Canadian advice says narcotic and psychotropic medication needs an import permit, applied for online before arrival, even with a prescription, and that photographing military sites or government buildings is illegal. It also says same-sex acts are not prohibited by law and same-sex marriage is not legally recognised.

Taxis and scams

Taxis in South Korea

Regular taxis in South Korea carry yellow licence plates and a TAXI roof sign, while deluxe taxis are usually black, says the Korea Tourism Organization. Most run on a taximeter, with a late-night surcharge that usually applies from about 22:00 to 04:00. Cash, a card or a transport card all work for payment, and tipping is usually unnecessary. Drivers often speak little English, UK advice says, so have your destination written in Korean.

Taxi apps in South Korea

Among the taxi apps listed by the Korea Tourism Organization are Kakao T, k.ride, TADA and TABA, with k.ride and TABA described as designed for foreign visitors. k.ride, from Kakao Mobility, accepts overseas credit cards and supports English, Japanese and Chinese. Kakao T requires a Kakao account, which can be created with a local mobile number. Uber Taxi is booked through the standard Uber app. The organisation's page was last updated in October 2025.

Fake arrival card websites

Do not use any website that charges fees for arrival cards, because Canadian travel advice reports online scams tied to the e-Arrival card in South Korea. The same advice separately warns against leaving food or drinks unattended or with strangers, because anything handed over by new acquaintances may contain drugs, which could lead to sexual assault or robbery.

Who can help

local government

Korean National Police (112)

Helps with: South Korea's police emergency number, listed on the Korea Tourism Organization's emergency page for crimes such as theft and assault. The page lists no police unit for tourists.

Who qualifies: Anyone in South Korea, including visitors, who needs police help.

Phone: 112

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

1330 Korea Travel Helpline (Korea Tourism Organization)

Helps with: The national tourism organisation's helpline for travel questions and visitor help. The page lists support in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai and Malay.

Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in South Korea or planning a trip there.

Phone: +82-2-1330

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

119 Fire and Medical Emergencies

Helps with: South Korea's emergency number for fire and ambulance, with a separate infectious disease line, 1339, listed on the Korea Tourism Organization's emergency page.

Who qualifies: Anyone in South Korea, including visitors, who needs an ambulance or fire service.

Phone: 119

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Republic of Korea

Helps with: The UN migration agency's Korea office. It works with the Korean government and partners on protecting people on the move and regular migration pathways, and runs trainings and events.

Who qualifies: Government and partner organisations working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: 02-6925-1360

Address: 13th Floor, Hyoryung Building, 32 Mugyo-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul 04521

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

embassy

Foreign embassies in South Korea (official diplomatic list)

Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The Korean foreign ministry posts a Diplomatic List of resident missions as a downloadable spreadsheet.

Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy in Seoul.

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Myeong-dong Tourist Information Center

Helps with: Seoul's tourist information centre in the Myeong-dong shopping district. Staff give visitors travel information in person; the city's official tourism site lists the address and phone.

Who qualifies: Anyone visiting Seoul who wants travel information or directions.

Phone: +82-2-778-0333

Address: 1F, Annex Building, Hana Financial Group Myeongdong, Seoul

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

120 Dasan Call Center (Seoul)

Helps with: Seoul city government's call centre for city information and complaints. Its foreign-language service covers English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Mongolian, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm excluding public holidays.

Who qualifies: Residents and visitors in Seoul who need city information or help in a foreign language.

Phone: 02-120

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

ngo

Korean Red Cross

Helps with: The site describes disaster emergency relief, support for vulnerable people, life-safety education, medical services and blood programmes. The site is mostly in Korean.

Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use each service. It describes help for people affected by disasters and for vulnerable groups.

Phone: 1577-8179

Email: [email protected]

Address: (26465) 강원특별자치도 원주시 혁신로 50

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Seoul SeoulStreet food and Myeongdong shopping sit alongside K-drama and K-pop spots and royal palaces in the capital.Photo: Eunmi Park, CC BY-SA 4.0 Busan BusanSeaside temples, markets selling fresh seafood, the colourful Gamcheon Culture Village and Haeundae Beach are all in this port city.Photo: by lwy, CC BY 2.0 Jeju Island Jeju IslandUNESCO-listed lava caves and craters, beaches, tangerine farms and Hallasan hikes feature on this volcanic island.Photo: LG전자, CC BY 2.0 Incheon IncheonKorea's main international airport is located here, together with nearby islands, Songdo's modern waterfront and a historic Chinatown.Photo: Jaehyuk Lee, CC BY-SA 2.0 Gyeongju GyeongjuBulguksa Temple, royal tombs and other UNESCO-listed heritage sites mark the old capital of the ancient Silla kingdom.Photo: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0 Gangwon (Sokcho and Seoraksan) Gangwon (Sokcho and Seoraksan)East-coast beaches, ski resorts, autumn colours and Seoraksan National Park mark this mountain and coast province.Photo: Scroozle, CC BY-SA 3.0

City selection based on: Korea Tourism Organization / Ministry of Culture foreign visitor surveys; Euromonitor Top 100 City Destinations 2025

Festivals and events

culture

Seollal (Korean New Year)

5-10 Feb 2027 · Seoul

Falling on the Lunar New Year, this family holiday sees numerous shops and restaurants shut.

nature

Jinhae cherry blossom festival

around Mar-Apr 2027 · Changwon (Jinhae)

This is the largest cherry-blossom festival in Korea.

festival

Cherry blossom season

around Apr 2027 · Seoul

Plan early. This is one of the largest events in the country each year, and hotels fill up as prices rise.

festival

Boryeong Mud Festival

around Jul-Aug 2027 · Boryeong

Daecheon Beach holds mud games and concerts.

culture

Busan International Film Festival

around Sep-Oct 2027 · Busan

The largest film festival in Asia takes place in Haeundae.

culture

Chuseok (Korean thanksgiving)

14-16 Sep 2027 · Seoul

This three-day family holiday means free palaces, full trains and many closed shops.

culture

Seollal (Korean New Year)

25-29 Jan 2028 · Seoul

Falling on the Lunar New Year, this family holiday sees numerous shops and restaurants shut.