South Korea travel guide

Gyeongbokgung Palace

Seoul

Changing of the guard; free entry wearing hanbok

Bukchon Hanok Village

Seoul

Residential area — visiting hours are restricted, keep quiet

N Seoul Tower

Seoul

City views from Namsan mountain

Gamcheon Culture Village

Busan

Colourful hillside houses

Seoraksan National Park

Gangwon

Granite peaks and autumn colours

DMZ

Gyeonggi

Only on organised tours; bring your passport

Bulguksa Temple

Gyeongju

UNESCO-listed Silla-era temple

Seongsan Ilchulbong

Jeju

Volcanic tuff cone — climb for sunrise

Seoul

Palaces, Bukchon Hanok Village, Myeongdong shopping and Hongdae nightlife

Guides in Seoul →

Busan

Beach city: Haeundae, Gamcheon Culture Village and seafood markets

Guides in Busan →

Gyeongju

“Museum without walls” — capital of the ancient Silla kingdom

Guides in Gyeongju →

Jeonju

Hanok village and the home of bibimbap

Guides in Jeonju →

Incheon

Main airport, Chinatown and island trips

Guides in Incheon →

Sokcho

Seaside town and gateway to Seoraksan National Park

Guides in Sokcho →

✈️ Seoul — Incheon (ICN)

• AREX Express train to Seoul Station (non-stop) or all-stop AREX for cheaper
• Airport limousine buses to major districts and hotels
• Taxis are metered — use the official taxi ranks

✈️ Seoul — Gimpo (GMP)

• Seoul Subway Line 5 and Line 9, and AREX
• Mostly domestic flights plus some to Japan, China and Taiwan

✈️ Busan — Gimhae (PUS)

• Busan–Gimhae Light Rail to the Busan subway
• Airport limousine buses to Haeundae

🚆 Getting around

• KTX high-speed trains connect Seoul with Busan, Gyeongju and other cities
• Buy a T-money or similar transit card for subways, buses and convenience stores
• Use Naver Map or KakaoMap — Google Maps directions work poorly in Korea
• Kakao T app for taxis; intercity express buses are cheap and frequent

🙏 Culture & etiquette

• Don’t write someone’s name in red ink — it is associated with death
• Use two hands (or support your arm) when giving or receiving items, especially with elders
• Don’t sit in the priority seats on the subway
• Remove shoes when entering homes and some restaurants
• Don’t stick chopsticks upright in rice

📍 Places, scams & seasons

• Visit the DMZ only with authorised tours and follow all instructions
• Rainy monsoon season (jangma) is late June–July; typhoons possible in late summer
• Check the UK Foreign Office or your government’s advisory for current warnings

⚖️ Laws & restrictions

• Drug laws are very strict, including for cannabis
• Check whether you need a K-ETA (electronic travel authorisation) — some nationalities are exempt for a limited period
• Carry your passport; it’s needed for SIMs, tax refunds and some check-ins
• Jaywalking and littering can bring fines

💬 Words & topics to avoid

• Don’t describe Korean culture as “basically Japanese” or “basically Chinese”
• Territorial issues such as Dokdo and the East Sea naming are sensitive — avoid casual debate
• Avoid jokes about plastic surgery or North Korea

Seoul

Myeongdong or Jongno (sights), Hongdae (young, nightlife), Gangnam (upscale), Insadong (traditional)

Stay near a subway line

Busan

Haeundae (beach) or Seomyeon (central)

Jeju

Jeju City (airport) or Seogwipo (south coast)

Rent a car to get around

Traditional idea

Hanok guesthouses in Bukchon, Jeonju or Gyeongju

Sleep on floor mats in a traditional house

Gwangjang Market

Seoul

Bindaetteok, mayak gimbap and yukhoe

Myeongdong street food

Seoul

Evening food stalls

Jagalchi Fish Market

Busan

Pick seafood and eat it upstairs

Jeonju Hanok Village

Jeonju

Bibimbap and street snacks

Kimchi

Fermented cabbage served with almost every meal

Korean BBQ

Samgyeopsal pork belly and galbi grilled at your table

Bibimbap

Rice bowl with vegetables, egg and chilli paste

Tteokbokki

Spicy chewy rice cakes

Korean fried chicken

Crispy chicken, best with beer (“chimaek”)

Naengmyeon

Cold buckwheat noodles, great in summer

Seollal (Lunar New Year)

January/February

Nationwide

Cherry blossom season

Late March – early April

Jinhae, Seoul, Gyeongju

Lotus Lantern Festival

April/May (Buddha’s Birthday)

Seoul

Boryeong Mud Festival

July

Boryeong

Chuseok (harvest festival)

September/October

Nationwide

Busan International Film Festival

October

Busan

Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival

October

Jinju

📱 SIM & eSIM

• Main networks: SK Telecom, KT, LG U+
• Airport counters sell tourist SIMs and rent pocket Wi-Fi (passport needed)
• eSIM data plans work well

📶 Coverage & Wi-Fi

• Among the fastest mobile internet in the world, including on the subway
• Free Wi-Fi is widespread in cafes and public places

🔌 Power plugs

220V, 60Hz — plug types C and F