South Korea Right Now
Transport work-to-rule action affects the Airport Railroad line connecting Seoul Station to Incheon Airport.
Interest in travel to South Korea rose 14% from a year ago, suggesting demand is growing.
When to go to South Korea
April, May, September and October are the best months across the country. July is the rainy season, and typhoons are most likely in August and September, when they hit Jeju and the south coast hardest. In winter, Seoul drops below freezing at night.
Best monthsAvoid
| Region | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | Avoid2°3 rainy days | Fine5°3 rainy days | Fine11°5 rainy days | Best month18°6 rainy days | Best month24°7 rainy days | Fine28°8 rainy days | Avoid29°13 rainy days | Avoid30°12 rainy days | Best month26°6 rainy days | Best month20°5 rainy days | Fine12°6 rainy days | Fine4°4 rainy days |
| Busan | Fine8°4 rainy days | Fine10°4 rainy days | Fine14°6 rainy days | Best month18°7 rainy days | Best month22°7 rainy days | Fine25°8 rainy days | Avoid28°11 rainy days | Avoid30°10 rainy days | Fine26°7 rainy days | Best month23°4 rainy days | Best month17°4 rainy days | Fine10°3 rainy days |
| Jeju | Fine9°8 rainy days | Fine10°7 rainy days | Fine13°8 rainy days | Best month18°8 rainy days | Best month22°7 rainy days | Fine25°9 rainy days | Avoid29°9 rainy days | Avoid30°10 rainy days | Fine26°8 rainy days | Best month22°5 rainy days | Fine16°7 rainy days | Fine11°8 rainy days |
Each month shows the average daily high, and a weather icon with the number of rainy days.
Need to Know
- Population
- 51,817,000 Statistics Korea · 2025 Census
- International visitors
- 18,936,562 (2025) +15.7% YoY Korea Tourism Organization · Last updated: 2026
- Annual visitors per resident
- 0.37× Annual international visitors divided by the population
Top visitor markets
- China 28.9%
- Japan 19.3%
- Taiwan 10.0%
- United States 7.8%
- Hong Kong 3.3%
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- Philippines 3.2%
- Vietnam 2.9%
- Singapore 2.1%
- Indonesia 1.9%
- Thailand 1.8%
Source: Korea Tourism Organization · 2025
Annual visitor arrivals
- 2019 17,502,756
- 2020 2,519,118 COVID
- 2021 967,003 COVID
- 2022 3,198,017 COVID
- 2023 11,031,665
- 2024 16,369,629 +48.4%
- 2025 18,936,562 +15.7%
International visitor arrivals. COVID years (2020-2021) are included for completeness. Source: Korea Tourism Organization · Last updated: 2026
- Currency
- South Korean Won (KRW)
- Language
- Korean. Signs on transit and in central Seoul are also in English; spoken English is limited outside hotels and tourist areas.
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Time zone
- GMT+9 (KST)
- Power plug
- Type C / F, 220V
- Dialing code
- +82
- Driving side
- Right
- Tipping
- Not expected. Some upscale hotels and restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill.
- Internet
- Fast 5G and LTE across the country, including in subway tunnels. Free Wi-Fi in most cafes, stations and on intercity trains.
- Emergency
- 112 (Police), 119 (Fire and ambulance), 1330 (Tourist helpline, 24 hours)
When not to go
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Monsoon and typhoon season
Late Jun to Sep · rain peaks in JulJangma (the summer rainy season) usually reaches Jeju in late June and Seoul a few days later. It brings heavy downpours for about a month. August is hot and sticky. Typhoons that reach Korea in August and September hit Jeju and the south coast hardest and can cancel flights and ferries for a day or two. Hiking and long days at the palaces suffer most.
Go here instead:
- Japan Hokkaido has no rainy season and stays mild in July and August.
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Seollal and Chuseok send the country home
Lunar calendar · 3 days eachSeollal, the Lunar New Year, falls between late January and mid-February, and Chuseok, the harvest festival, between mid-September and early October. Both send millions of people to their family homes at once. KTX and express-bus seats sell out weeks ahead, expressways jam, and banks, many family restaurants and traditional markets close for the main days. Seoul gets quiet, the main palaces stay open and the convenience stores keep the city fed. It is a good time for a slow week in Seoul and a bad one for traveling around the country.
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Fine dust in late winter and spring
Feb to May · varies day to dayOn bad days, fine dust and yellow dust blown in from China and the Gobi turn the sky over Seoul gray-yellow and push air quality into the unhealthy range. Koreans check the dust forecast like the weather, on the AirKorea app or in Naver, and wear masks when it is high. It comes and goes over a few days, so it rarely spoils a whole trip, but if you have asthma, watch the forecast and keep indoor plans ready.
Upcoming Holidays
Public holidays & observances, next 12 months
South Korea Visa & Entry
- Visa type
- Visa-free entry for most Western passports. Some nationalities also need a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization), applied for online before you fly.
- Length of stay
- 90 days for US, UK, Australian and most EU passports. Canadians get 180 days.
- Extension
- Not normally possible on a visa-free stay. Immigration offices extend only in exceptional cases, such as illness.
- Passport validity
- Valid for your whole stay.
- Onward ticket
- Officers can ask for a return or onward ticket, so have one booked.
- Tourist tax
- None.
- Eligible nationalities
- 22 countries and territories are exempt from the K-ETA until 31 December 2026, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands. Other visa-free nationals apply for a K-ETA before flying. The US State Department says Americans will need a K-ETA again from 1 January 2027 unless Korea extends the exemption.
- Entry process
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Immigration and entry process
Fill in the free e-Arrival card online up to 3 days before you land, unless you hold an approved K-ETA, which replaces it. Visitors from exempt countries who did not apply for a K-ETA still fill in the card.
Immigration takes your fingerprints and a photo. The K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 on the official site. It is valid for three years, or until your passport expires if that comes first, and approval can take up to 72 hours. Lookalike sites charge over USD 100 for the same thing.
Getting To South Korea
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From Incheon International (ICN)
On an island about 50 km west of central Seoul, 45 to 90 minutes into the city
Almost every long-haul flight lands at Incheon. The AREX airport railway runs from both terminals to Seoul Station: the express skips the stops, and the slower all-stop train connects to the subway on the way. Buy a T-money card at a convenience store in arrivals before you leave the terminal. It pays for the all-stop train, the subway, buses and most taxis.
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From Gimpo International (GMP)
Seoul's second airport, inside the city, for domestic flights and short hops from Japan, China and Taiwan
Gimpo handles Seoul's domestic flights, including to Jeju and Busan, and a few short international routes. It is on the subway network, so you can be in central Seoul in under 40 minutes without a taxi.
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From Gimhae International (PUS)
Busan's airport, on the west side of the city
Gimhae has direct flights from Japan, China and Southeast Asia as well as domestic ones. The light rail to Sasang connects to Busan's metro, and a transfer within 30 minutes costs nothing extra.
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From Jeju International (CJU)
On the edge of Jeju City, the gateway to the island
Gimpo to Jeju is the busiest air route in the world, and there are also direct flights from Japan, China and Taiwan. There are no trains on Jeju, so most visitors rent a car or use the island's buses.
Safety Advice
Very safe. Violent crime against visitors is rare and the streets stay busy late. The risks are traffic, delivery scooters on the sidewalk and the odd late-night scuffle in nightlife districts. North Korea makes headlines but does not affect travel.
Travel Advisories
Natural disasters
- Typhoons occur from June to November, so monitor forecasts through the Korea Meteorological Administration and follow local instructions.
- Summer monsoon rains cause floods and landslides, so avoid rivers and mountain areas during heavy downpours.
- Earthquakes happen occasionally, so check local safety procedures for shelter locations during tremors.
Unrest & security
- Political tensions with North Korea flare up around military exercises and missile tests, so keep track of local news broadcasts.
- Public protests happen often and foreigners are legally banned from joining local political activities.
- Dual nationals of Korean descent may face mandatory military service obligations regardless of their travel passport.
Transport & infrastructure
- You need both your home country driving license and a 1949 international driving permit to rent or drive a car.
- Drivers involved in accidents with pedestrians or cyclists face criminal charges, and blood alcohol limits are extremely strict.
- Keep your destination written in Korean because most taxi drivers do not speak English.
Other notes
- Drug offenses carry severe prison sentences and heavy fines, and police use drug tests that can lead to immediate detention.
- Theft occurs in crowded areas and nightlife districts like Itaewon, so watch your belongings closely after dark.
Always check your own government's official travel advice before traveling.
Money & Payments
Cards work almost everywhere, taxis included. Keep some cash for markets and street food, and load a T-money card for transit.
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Foreign cards work almost everywhere
Visa and Mastercard are taken in hotels, restaurants, convenience stores, shops and most taxis. Traditional markets and street stalls are the main exceptions, so keep a few 10,000-won notes for those.
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T-money for the subway and buses
You cannot tap a foreign card at subway gates or on buses. Buy a T-money card at a CU, GS25 or 7-Eleven and top it up there with cash. It also pays for most taxis and convenience-store shopping. On an iPhone, the mobile T-money card can be topped up with some foreign cards, though not all card networks are accepted.
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Use a Global ATM
Look for ATMs marked Global ATM at banks, stations and convenience stores. The machine charges about 3,000 to 6,000 won per withdrawal, and your own bank may add its own fee on top. Convenience-store machines often cap a withdrawal at 100,000 to 300,000 won; bank ATMs allow more.
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Always pay in won
When a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in won. The home-currency option uses a worse exchange rate.
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Tax refund on shopping
Shops with a Tax Free sign refund the VAT on purchases of 15,000 won or more. Many take it off the price at checkout, for purchases under 1 million won and up to 5 million won per trip. For anything else, claim the refund at the airport before you check in.
Costs in South Korea
Seoul hotels cost more than in most of Asia, but food, transit and palace tickets are good value. Barbecue dinners, taxis and a rental car on Jeju are where a budget goes.
Groceries and fuel
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SIM Cards & Data
Best option for most travelers: an eSIM you set up before you arrive. You'll be online the moment you land, with no airport line and no tourist pricing.
Travel eSIMs Connect the second you land. Zero hassle. Skip the airport line and paperwork. Activate before you fly and land connected. Find the best eSIM →Prefer a local SIM?
5G and LTE cover the cities, the KTX lines and the subway tunnels. Signal is weakest on remote mountain trails. All three carriers have counters on the arrivals floor at Incheon, and you need your passport to buy a SIM or eSIM. Prices below are for tourist data plans and change often.
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SK Telecom
Largest network
SK Telecom is the largest carrier and the default pick. Its tourist plans come as a SIM or eSIM, collected at the Incheon counters or ordered online before you fly.
5-day unlimited data: about KRW 27,500
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KT
Second-largest network
KT's unlimited plans slow down after a daily allowance, so read the plan details. In the cities and along the main routes, its coverage is as good as SK Telecom's.
5-day data: about KRW 24,700
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LG U+
Shortest plans
LG U+ sells plans as short as a single day, which suits a stopover or a short trip from Japan. Its signal is as reliable as the other two in the cities and along the main routes.
1-day unlimited data: KRW 6,500
Liveability
Fast internet everywhere, clean and punctual transit and free public toilets make daily life easy. The friction is apps: maps, taxis and delivery work best on Korean apps, and some want a Korean phone number.
Sustainability
Recycling is strict and sorted by type, and tap water is treated to a high standard, though most locals filter it. Fine dust is the problem you notice, with hazy days in late winter and spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning & moving around
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How long should I spend in South Korea?
A week covers Seoul and a few days in Busan, which is under three hours away on the KTX. With ten days to two weeks, add Gyeongju, the old capital of the Silla kingdom, and fly to Jeju for the coast and Hallasan, the country's highest mountain.
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Do I need a K-ETA to visit South Korea?
Not if your passport is from one of the 22 countries and territories exempt until the end of 2026, which include the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Japan. Other visa-free nationals apply online before they fly. The official site charges KRW 10,000; lookalike sites charge far more.
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What are the most used ride-hailing apps in South Korea?
Kakao T books most taxi rides in Korea, but it is awkward to set up with a foreign phone number and card. Visitors use K.Ride, Kakao Mobility's app for foreigners, which books the same taxis in English, Japanese and Chinese but only offers the pricier categories, or Uber, which books regular taxis in Seoul. Ride-hailing in private cars is not legal in Korea, so every app sends a licensed taxi, and most taxis also take foreign cards and T-money if you hail one on the street.
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Is it easy to combine South Korea and Japan?
Yes. Flights from Seoul to Tokyo and Osaka take about two hours, and an overnight ferry runs from Busan to Fukuoka. Many visitors fly into one country and out of the other. See our Japan guide for the second half of the trip.
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Where should I stay in Seoul?
Myeongdong and Jung-gu for a first visit near the palaces and shopping, Jongno and Insadong for the old city, Hongdae for nightlife and cheaper rooms, and Gangnam for business. Wherever you book, pick a place a short walk from a subway station.
Safety & medical
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Is South Korea safe for travelers?
Yes. Violent crime against visitors is rare, and Seoul's streets stay busy and well lit late at night. The main risks are traffic, delivery scooters on the sidewalk and occasional drunken fights in nightlife districts late at night. Tension with North Korea makes the news, but it does not affect daily life or travel.
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What numbers do I call in an emergency in South Korea?
Dial 112 for the police and 119 for an ambulance or the fire service. Both work from any phone, including a foreign SIM. For help in English, Japanese or Chinese with anything else, from a lost bag to a dispute with a shop, call the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline, which answers around the clock.
Money & costs
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Do you tip in South Korea?
No. Tipping is not expected in restaurants, taxis or cafes, and staff may try to hand the money back. Upscale hotels and some of their restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill instead, so check the bill before you add anything.
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Is South Korea expensive?
It costs less than Japan for almost everything we price. A taxi ride and a hostel bed cost about half what they do in Japan, and a 3-star hotel and a local meal cost a little less. Renting long term is the catch: landlords ask for a deposit of several months' rent or more up front. The Costs in South Korea section on this page lists each price with its source.
Culture & etiquette
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Do I need to speak Korean?
No, but learn to read Hangul. The alphabet has 24 letters and most people learn it in an afternoon. Once you can sound out signs and menus, many words turn out to be English loanwords.
Families & kids
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Is South Korea good for kids?
Yes. Most subway stations have elevators, public toilets are clean and free, and family restaurants are used to children. Strollers are hard work on the steep lanes of neighborhoods like Bukchon, so a carrier is easier there.