Call me biased, but South Korea should be at the top of your travel wish list. Beyond the allure of kimchi, K-Pop idols, K-Dramas, and remarkable skincare, you’ll discover a country steeped in rich history, culture, and breathtaking landscapes.
As a Korean Adoptee, I didn’t grow up in a ‘typical’ Korean family. While I learned a lot about Korea through culture camps, media, and Korean friends, my first trip back to South Korea in 2018 was marked with numerous firsts, surprises, and culture shocks.
Transitioning from a returning visitor to a resident over the past few years, I’ve loved when friends visit. For those unfamiliar with Korea or East Asian countries, I often share tips about what to expect and how to prepare for your visit.
While every country has its unique differences and quirks, this list of travel tips for South Korea has been compiled over time with all the essentials. I hope you find it helpful as you plan your trip!
1. Picking the Best Times to Travel to South Korea
Korea is the most comfortable to visit in early spring and from late September to early November. This is when the weather is usually milder and hasn’t yet hit the extremes of heat or cold.
It’s important to note that if you’re visiting during the summer months, you will want to prepare for very high temperatures and humidity, and carry an umbrella in case of sudden showers. Korea also experiences at least a few typhoons each year, especially during the rainy season, so it’s crucial to follow safety measures and regulations if you are here at that time.
2. Booking a Tour or Experience is a Great Way to Make Friends
From personal experience, booking Airbnb experiences or tours is a great way to see Korea from a local’s perspective, while also meeting other travelers along the way. I’ve gone on a few of them now, and have walked away with some incredible experiences and great long-term friendships.
Here are a few sites to look up tours and experiences:
Some of my personal favorite tour experiences include:
- Fortress Night Hike & Snack at a Local Market
- Pamper yourself with a Korean sauna
- Discover 100jazzclubs
3. Booking Event Tickets? You Will Want to Plan Ahead
If you think K-Pop fans are obsessed with their idols, you can imagine this same energy translating into the ticketing space. Whether you’re looking at other events, different genres of music, festivals, etc., securing a ticket will be a battle to the finish, and you will need a big dose of luck along the way.
For example, even for tickets like a Hwadamsup (Hwadam Forest) monorail ride during peak cherry blossom season, my friend and I tried relentlessly to get into the site on the day of ticket sales, as it kept repeatedly crashing. However, as difficult as securing a ticket may be, the event you want to see will often be worth the wait, the hassle, and even the trip to a Korean PC Room (arcade) to access faster WiFi speeds. While not all tickets are insanely hard to get, make sure to plan ahead and maybe get a few friends to help you along the way.
4. Need a Translator? Make Papago Your New Best Friend
This isn’t so much a culture shock as it is a major adjustment if you are not used to traveling in non-English speaking countries. While public transportation is almost always translated into Korean and English, when you travel outside major cities you will need to rely more heavily on translation apps like Papago or Google Translate. These apps also offer image translations, which come in handy especially at restaurants where menus might only be in Korean.
5. Learn a Few Konglish Words or Phrases
For those who aren’t familiar, “Konglish” is Korean-style English that combines English and other foreign loanwords, grammar, and phrases. As a native English speaker, I often find Konglish trickier to understand than Korean, even though the words are derived from familiar words and phrases. However, once I learn a new Konglish word or phrase, I’m always delighted by how clever, creative, and how fun the words are to say as they roll off your tongue.
Here are some essential Konglish words you are likely to hear often:
- cider (사이다) – Sprite / lemon lime soda
- hand phone (핸드폰) – cellphone
- consent (콘센트) – electrical outlet
- self (셀프) – free self-refill
- service (서비스) – complimentary food on the house
- Sbuck (스벅) – Starbucks (more Konglish coffee lingo here)
6. Check Your Cell Phone Plan Before Buying a Sim or eSim
Before you jump at any enticing deals on eSIMs or Korean SIM cards, make sure that your cell phone provider and/or phone contract has unlocked your phone. From personal experience, I learned this the hard way and definitely recommend checking before you go.
If your phone can accept another carrier’s SIM card or if you’ve unlocked your phone, I also highly recommend purchasing an eSim or SIM card for pickup at Incheon International Airport upon your arrival. Another great alternative is checking to see if your phone carrier offers temporary international data plans or similar services.
Here is a great article that walks you through everything you would want to know about eSims for your next trip to South Korea.
7. Save Time and Money with a “Wow Pass”
Recently, some friends were visiting Korea and showed me this all-in-one card that allows you to add and exchange currency while also checking your subway card balance and topping up. With special package deals, you can even add an eSIM to the deal and pick up everything from the airport if you order ahead of time. While I was skeptical at first, I was amazed at how easy their travels were using it. While this is not an ad or endorsement, I highly recommend checking out Wow Pass. It’s definitely something I wish I knew about on my first visit back to Korea.
8. Don’t Use Google Maps, Use a Korean Map App Instead
When traveling throughout Korea, do yourself a big favor and download Naver Map or Kakao Maps. (Yes, there is an English setting option in the app!) It might be surprising to note, but Google Maps won’t work well in Korea. This is because Korea has strict security policies when it comes to mapping data, and won’t allow Google to store direction details on a foreign server. So to avoid getting lost or using outdated maps, Naver Map or Kakao Maps is your way to go.
9. Book a Pension for a Different Experience
Aside from hotels, motels, and Airbnbs, you can also book pensions in Korea (which are not to be confused with the English word for retirement savings, as I initially thought.) Pensions can range in size from small seaside cottages to large pool villas. Many of them are themed, and some include options for private saunas and baths, barbecue areas, pools, and breakfast.
While there are many apps to browse, here a few great places to start:
- Agoda – Internationally friendly and easy-to-use.
- Stayfolio
- Yanolja (야놀자) – You will need a Korean bank account and phone number.
- Search on Naver Booking or Kakao Maps – While not always the case, it’s best to have a Korean bank account and phone number.
- Booking.com
10. Korea is a Relatively Safe Country, Even at 3AM
In the U.S., I’ve learned to never leave my personal items unattended. However, in Korea, it’s common to leave personal belongings, like phones and bags, to reserve tables at restaurants or cafes. While it’s taken me time to adjust to this norm, I still find it remarkable that I can get up and return to my belongings untouched or unharmed.
Generally speaking, Korea is a relatively safe country due to 24/7 CCTV surveillance in most public places (excluding restrooms) and its collectivist cultural mindset. However, it’s important to note that you should still always be careful and make wise decisions about your personal safety and belongings.
11. Ordering at Cafes or Restaurants
Calling out “jeogiyo,” or “excuse me,” at a Korean restaurant for the first time took some confidence and getting used to. Growing up in Western culture, I learned that this was rude to do, but it is perfectly acceptable in Korea. There are even buzzers attached to tables at many restaurants to get the attention of waiters and staff.
Another difference I’ve found is the use of kiosks and tablets to order and pay before a meal. This is usually more common in restaurants with quicker turnaround times, but I’ve even seen them at fancier establishments. When you’re ready to pay, it’s also more common to go up to the counter instead of having the staff come to you. Additionally, tipping is not expected and might even be seen as rude.
Final tip: Some popular restaurants and cafes don’t always have a paper waitlist, so it will be important to use a Korean phone number, or a number you can use internationally while here. If you need help, ask the restaurant staff how to use it or look for the translation button, as many of them will have multi-lingual options.
12. Some Differences in Korean Cafe Etiquette
Korean cafes are truly unrivaled. However, compared to the U.S., where cafe culture often provides a third workspace for most people, you will need to be more mindful in Korea. While there are designated kid and study cafes, not all regular cafes will allow children or laptops.
As someone who loves to work at cafes, I always research beforehand whether or not the cafe is laptop-friendly. The easiest way to do this is to check on Naver or Kakao Maps and look through pictures of cafes to check for people’s uploaded images of charging outlets, laptops, etc.
If you know Korean or use a translation app like Papago, you can also read reviews, as this will often be explicitly discussed. When you order, there is often a minimum order per person, and it’s kindly expected that if you plan on spending a long time there, you order more than one menu item later on.
As a final tip, cafes often have strict policies about eating in or takeout (“takeaway” in Konglish) due to the strict recycling laws. If you plan on taking out drinks but then decide to eat there, it might be a burden to the staff to change your order or cup. It’s important to be mindful of this before you order!
13. Use Korean Weather Apps for the Best Results
In a very similar way to how Google Maps fails to function at full capacity in Korea, Western weather apps have similar drawbacks. While there’s plenty of Korean apps on the market, my hands-down favorite apps are MiseMise (to check the air quality) and Weather Sky (for all my weather needs.)
As a designer, for me, what sets both apps apart are their user-friendly interfaces. With Weather Sky’s recent app update, I have also really enjoyed using the clothing suggestion feature which gives accurate suggestions on what type of clothes will be most appropriate throughout the day. It hasn’t failed me yet!
14. When the Air Pollution is Bad Wear a Face Mask
As someone with pretty severe allergies, I often check the air quality index on my MiseMise app to make sure I always have a face mask on hand. In Korea, the air quality can change throughout the day and can also fluctuate throughout the year. Winter and early spring usually have the worst air quality due to the strong winds that bring in yellow fine dust from China and Mongolia. Luckily, face masks are readily available throughout the year and can be picked up for affordable prices at supermarkets, pharmacies, and convenience stores.
15. Enjoy the Comfort and Ease of Korean Transportation
One of my favorite aspects of Korean subways in cities like Seoul or Busan are the arrival jingles that play when the train is approaching the station. They are so cute and charming, and only heighten your anticipation when the train approaches. Another great perk of Korean subways is the access to free WiFi. (In fact, public WiFi is common in many areas of Korea.) Between the heated seats, air conditioning in all cars, and general cleanliness, subways in Korea are by far some of the best I have seen in my travels.
16. Tips for Booking Train or Bus Tickets
Aside from the perks, navigating a new country and language can be challenging. However, I found that Korea’s transportation is relatively easy to manage by using these few tips. When it comes to buying KTX (Korean train) tickets, you should download the KTX app. If you’re using a foreign bank account, you should use the English setting. If you are using a Korean bank account, I recommend using the app in Korean, as it is sometimes a little less finicky.
For buses, all of the Korean bus-booking apps I have seen require a Korean bank account and phone number. So to reserve ahead of time, I recommend checking out sites like Klook or Trazy, which will help you reserve bus tickets to popular destinations. Here you can even purchase a Korail Pass, which is valid for a certain number of days, based on your purchase. Just note that you will still need to reserve your seats the day of to claim your spot, so if you can, using the app is still preferable.
When booking tickets, I strongly recommend checking if you will be traveling to Korea during major holidays, school vacation periods, or around seasonal festivities (like cherry blossom season.) At these times, whole trains sell out fast, so it’s best to book at least 3-4 weeks in advance.
17. Be Mindful of How Loud You Are on Public Transit
If you’re speaking at what you consider a normal volume in a taxi or on public transportation, don’t be alarmed if an older Korean ajumma (woman) or ahjussi (man) occasionally glares at you or gently sighs. While you don’t have to completely mute yourself in public, to accommodate cultural differences, consider your volume levels and dial back if you notice those around you being quieter.
18. Public Restrooms Are Pretty Accessible in Korea
Access to free public restrooms is more common than other countries I have visited. At almost every subway underground station you will find public restrooms, which are all mostly clean and well taken care of. Sometimes you will even see bathroom attendants whose job is to help keep the restroom clean, dry, and restocked throughout the day.
19. Choose Wisely: Sitting vs. Squatting Toilets
In Korea, most restrooms will have a Western style seated toilet, but bidets and squat toilets are also common alternatives. While I was familiar with bidets from my travels in Europe, using a squat toilet or “squatting toilet” was a new experience for me. Admittedly, they were a little awkward and uncomfortable to use at first, but with some practice, you get the hang of it.
Pro Tip: When using a squatting toilet it’s important to be mindful of what you’re wearing before you go. Also, squat toilets are often found in older buildings, highway rest stops, and rural areas, so keep this in mind if you prefer other alternatives and plan ahead.
20. Very Important Tips on Toilet Paper
It’s worth noting that in some restrooms, you may need to retrieve tissue paper from holders inside the restroom, but outside the stalls. Too many times I have forgotten this until it’s almost too late, so check the stall before you go.
Another huge adjustment for me was the disposal of toilet paper. Since many pipes in Korea can’t handle paper, business owners and public restrooms often request that you dispose of toilet paper into garbage bins inside your stall to prevent clogging.
Signage usually indicates whether to dispose of toilet paper in the toilet or the garbage. However, in the absence of signs, it’s safer to assume that you should throw it in the large bin vs. flush it.
Pro Tip: While less common, some restrooms lack toilet paper or soap, or use bar soap attached to a metal rod. I always recommend carrying tissues, toilet paper packs, and/or hand sanitizer in your bag as a backup.
21. Personal Space Looks Different in Korea
In Korea, I’ve noticed that my personal space bubble is much smaller than what I’m used to back home. From experience, it’s quite common for people to stand rather close to you in line or on the subway, or brushing through you if you’re walking too slowly on the street. While I still prefer to maintain my own personal boundaries, living here has taught me to adjust my expectations and standards to fit the culture. I’ve learned that every country has different standards for what’s considered a polite social distance from others, so I try to take these encounters less personally.
22. Don’t Be That Foreigner, Please Take Off Your Shoes
This almost feels silly to share, but as a gentle reminder it’s polite and expected for you to take off your shoes when entering a Korean home, hotel, etc. In some temples, cafes, and restaurants, it’s also a requirement before entrance or sitting down. While disposable slippers are often given at lodging accommodations, I always recommend bringing or wearing a pair of socks, which comes in extra handy while you’re wearing sandals in the summer. Your feet will thank me later!
23. Korea’s Strict Rules on Trash, Recycling, and Food Waste
Something you will notice right off the bat as you walk around Korea, but public trash cans will be very hard to find. Rules on trash, recycling, and food waste are pretty regulated here as part of the government’s effort to be more environmentally conscious. While you might not notice if you stay at a hotel or pension, if you plan on staying at an Airbnb, some hosts will ask that you dispose of trash, recycling, and food waste on your own.
It will be important to adhere to the rules set out by your host to use the right bags for disposal. In Korea, many regions and even neighborhoods in larger cities use different colored bags or labels. You will also have to collect food waste and dump it into special trash bins or collect it in special bags. Recycling will need to be sorted into a variety of categories like PET (water bottles), cans, glass, cardboard, paper, plastic, etc. It might seem tedious, but once you get the hang of it, it’s rather easy, and you’re doing your part for the environment, as well.
24. Wet Room Style Bathrooms Are The Norm
Growing up in a Western and non-Korean household, it took me a while to warm up to the idea of a wet room style bathroom. In Korea, this style of bathroom is the norm. For those who might be unfamiliar, a “wet room” is a bathroom that usually has no separating enclosure between the shower or tub and the rest of the bathroom.
Most wetroom-style bathrooms will have special shoes for the shower to avoid slipping, but if it makes you more comfortable, bring your own cheap pair of flip-flops to use. You will also find that handheld showers are more common than overhead showers, which is another reason the shower area can get quite wet.
Despite the whole bathroom being wet when you’re done showering, I’m always surprised by how quickly they dry. Just make sure to turn on the vent and leave the door open afterwards to avoid musty smells and mold.
25. Smaller Bath Towels Are Common
It’s more common to use hand-sized towels to dry off after showering. While it took some getting used to, now I definitely get the appeal of smaller towels. They are much easier to dry, especially in the depths of Korean summers when humidity is high.
26. Want to Cook? Finding an Oven Will Be Impossible
In Korea, most households do not have ovens since Korean cuisine doesn’t require cooking techniques like broiling, roasting, baking, etc. When I first moved to Korea, this was a big adjustment for me, and I often missed the luxury of roasting veggies or baking. While not a huge hurdle to jump, it’s an important adjustment to note if you plan to cook while you are here. A solid work around is to find an accommodation that comes with an airfryer, or mini or compact oven, which can be bought for pretty cheap, as well.
27. Save the Planet, Air Dry Your Clothes Instead
I love that Korean apartments and Airbnbs come with washers in-unit. Having lived in New York City before moving to Korea, this was such a luxury for me, and something I never want to take for granted.
Most washing machines will have drying features built-in, but culturally it’s more common for Koreans to air dry their clothes on clothing racks. The drying settings aren’t always the most ideal either, so buying or using the drying racks at your accommodation is the way to go.
28. Fruit and (Some) Vegetables Are Really Expensive
This always makes me really sad when I grocery shop, but compared to the cost per income in the U.S., fruits and even some vegetables can get very expensive in Korea. The prices will also double, sometimes triple around peak seasons or Korean holidays like Seollal (Lunar New Year) or Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) when fruit becomes a luxury and a sought-after gift. While some fruits and vegetables remain around the same price all year, items like apples, grapes, tomatoes, bell peppers, and berries will often fluctuate drastically.
29. In a League of Their Own: Convenience Stores, “Dollar Stores,” Fast Food Chains, and Service Stations
In the U.S., these types of stores and restaurants are popular for their cheaper prices, but not necessarily known for their quality. So, you can imagine my surprise on my first visit. For instance, household items that I bought at Daiso (the Korean equivalent of an American Dollar Store) are still holding up strong, even close to four years later.
Also, if you’ve never been to a 7/11 in Korea, now is your time to try! You can pick up pre-packaged ice and make your own iced coffee, all while preparing and eating ramen right in the store. Alcohol, such as hard liquor, wine, and beer can also be bought from convenience stores. Convenience stores are a perfect one-stop shop for all your picnic needs along Seoul’s famous Hangang River Park with friends.
If you ever go on a road trip and stop at one of the service stations, you are in for a treat. The options for food and drinks are way better than those in the West.
30. Shopping? “Free Size” Does Not Mean Free
If you see clothes labeled “F” in Korea, this stands for “free size,” which means one size fits all. Many subway shopping centers, small boutiques, etc., will sell free size clothing. However, larger and name-brand stores often carry items labeled based on Korean and Western sizing charts. It’s important to note that Korean sizing tends to run smaller and is less inclusive, but in major cities, you will find stores that accommodate a wider range of body types.
