visit korea card

Transportation card with discounts for shopping, attractions, performances and more

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Tourist Attractions

Enjoy tour attractions all over Korea with KOREA TOUR CARD!

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Shopping / Duty-free

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Accommodations

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Ski / Resort

Here, wander around snow field of Korea which is more beautiful during wintertime

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Food & beverage

Enjoy various food & beverages with special befits!

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Performance / Exhibition

Korea’s best performances and exhibition is here for you to enjoy!

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Entertainment

Are you prepared to be thrilled with K-POP and exciting rides?

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Experiences

Here are some places where you can experience real Korea!

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KOREA TOUR CARD Travel Information

City of Peace, Suncheon photography course

Let’s relax and enjoy some healing time in Suncheon, a city of peace a…

Barrier-Free Tour through naturally beautiful Jeju

 Let’s go to Jeju, an Barrier-Free tourist destination for everyo…

Korean Wave Drama Course-Pohang

Let's walk where the main characters of the K-drama 'Seaside Village C…

Busan activity course

Busan is Korea’s iconic tourist city loved by everyone!Let’s go to Bus…

K-Healing & Beauty Tour In Donghae

A healing trip to the beautiful emerald-colored Donghae.Let's heal the…

Finding Korean Beauty [Jongno - Jung-gu] Course

With the Korea Tour Card, you can enjoy K-beauty and K-culture in Jong…

The heart of the Korean wave [Gangnam]

Let's go to Gangnam and Seocho, where you can enjoy the trends of Seou…

Experience tour with clean nature in

Muju, Jeollabuk-do is recommended if you want to visit various hidden …

A trip to [Yongin, Suwon] full of things to see and do

We recommend Yongin and Suwon, where you can taste Korean culture, art…

A travel to [Icheon] filled with the energy of nature

Let's get away from the desolate city center and go to Icheon, famous …

Top places you want to revisit in Korea [Jeonju]

Jeonju is a city where the beauty of Korea lives on, and is famous fo…

Security tour location DMZ Peace Tour

Discover Imjingak, Korea's representative peace tourism destination co…

“[Gangneung] emotional trip”, where you can feel the flavour of Gangneung

A course to discover Ojukheon and Seongyojang, where you can learn abo…

BEST 4 Attractions in a World-renowned Historical and Cultural City, [Gyeongju]

Let’s experience the thousand year history and beauty of Gyeongju, a c…

Visit [The Blue House], the hub of Korea and take a lap around Seoul!

With the Blue House as the center, which is the Presidential residence…

A photo trip of the brilliant scenery of [Gimpo-Goyang]

Enjoy Gyeongi-do’s unique and refreshing tourist attractions, while ex…

Palaces Tour Course

Many old palaces and Hanok from Joseon Dynasty remain around Gyeongbok…

Tradition Experience Course

Let's feel the beauty of Korean tradition on the tradition experience …

Sensory satisfaction course

Not only are there the traditional ancient palaces and historic remain…

Festivals you shouldn't miss on your visit to Korea

If you agree that festivals double the fun of a trip to a hot destinat…

Photography courses near Han River

Some say only photos remain from travels. Seonyudo Park used to be th…

Photo taking course in the outskirts of Seoul

Seoul is the mos visited city bu tourists visiting Korea. The transp…

Best 6 spring visitor destinations in Korea

It is a season for Silver White Winters that melt into spring. Among …

Youth Culture Tour Course

It is a route from Dongdaemun to Hyehwa-dong, which is a favorite cour…

Shopping sightseeing course in the city center

You can not exclude shopping when you think of Korean trip. Then, if y…

K-POP Mania Course

If you are a Korean wave fan who enjoys K-POP, try traveling along the…

Romantic Ambiant [Yeosu] Summer Course

Rising as an international city in South Korea, Yeosu comes to mind wh…

Bring past and present together, The Time Machine Course

Take a blast from the past with Korea Tour Card and visit Yongin and S…

HongDae All-in-one Course

HongDae (Hongik University Street) is the one of the major tourist spo…

Winter Family Course

Yangsan, where history and culture flows, is perfect for family trips …

Hallyu TV Drama Course in Gangwon

Korean drama which have great image beauty, great story to expect next…

Barrier-Free Tour Course

Why don’t you jump in the barrier-free travel that everyone can enjoy …

Andong Traditional Traveling

Let's go and find the pulse of Confucian culture in Andong, where the …

Jeju Family Travel Course

The blue sea, Hallasan, and Dolhareubang. There are many places to tra…

Jeonju History Exploration Course

Jeonju, the Korea of Korea and where the beauty of Korea is alive, is …

Information on festivals held in Seoul

Like La Tomatina in Bunol, Spain, the Carnaval do Rio de Janeiro, and …

Destinations for One-day trip

If you have visited all your desired places in Seoul, or if you are in…

Top 6 tourist attractions in Geoje and Tongyeong

South Korea's southern coast is famous for its beautiful coastline and…

Daegu Modern History Tour Course.

A trip to the modern alleys of 'Daegu', where quiet Western-style mode…

DMZ & Korean History Course

A DMZ tour is a unique experience available only in Korea that offer…

KOREA TOUR CARD Stores

The card can be purchased at about 289 stores

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Visit Korea Committee Seoul Jongno-gu Insa-dong 5-gil 29(Insa-dong 194-27) Taehwa Building 802-ho(Room 802) ㅣ Tel : +82–(0)2–6272 7300 ㅣ Fax : +82-(0)2-6272 7400

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Korea’s public transportation system is well-known for being convenient, inexpensive and clean. The KOREA TOUR CARD is a transit card for international tourists. Use it to pay for different types of public transport and enjoy a wide range of benefits offered by some 160 tourist attractions, performance venues, restaurants, shops, and many others in South Korea!

Going to visit Busan, Yeosu, Tongyeong, or other southern coastal areas? Use KOREA TOUR CARD Namhaean Coast. Some 200 benefits offered by existing KOREA TOUR CARD affiliates and by special attractions of the Namhaean coast are waiting for you.

How to purchase KOREA TOUR CARD

• KOREA TOUR CARDs are available in airports, major convenience store branches, vending machines in subways, banks, etc. at KRW 4,000. (Money for transportation should be added separately)
• For more information on KOREA TOUR CARD online reservation, visit the website.

Mobile KOREA TOUR CARD

Mobile KOREA TOUR CARD is the mobile app version of the KOREA TOUR CARD. With the NFC function of your mobile phone, users can use it to pay not only for public transportation (subway, bus, taxi, etc.) but also for purchases at Starbucks, McDonalds, and convenience stores. Don’t miss out the benefits for cultural events and tourist destinations provided to you on the KOREA TOUR CARD.

• Just run the App on boarding!
• Charge and refund with your credit/debit card
• Check balance anywhere, anytime!

Precautions Before use, check your wireless connection and make sure NFC is enabled. Enable the app and use the card when the screen is turned on. Works only on mobile phones with Android OS 5.0.1 or above and NFC function. The credit card/debit card supports VISA / Master / JCB / Amex / Union Pay only.

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Where to Purchase

Where to Top Up and Refund

– KOREA TOUR CARD can be topped up at the following locations. – Please noted that the card price(4,000KRW) is not refundable. – Inquiry: Korea Travel Hotline 1330 – KOREA TOUR CARD’s maximum balance cannot be more than 500,000 KRW.

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Top 6 Benefits

Korea's representative bank card, Transit Cards

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Pay like a korean with a card from korea's representative bank card, pay at 5 million stores nationwide.

KOREA TRAVEL CARD's online and offline payments use the using the card network of Korea's leading bank

Rail+ Transit Card

Nationwide buses, subways, and taxis.

National buses, Seoul/Jeju City Tour Bus, Airport Limousine

National Subway

National Taxi

KTX•Saemaeul• Mugunghwa•ITX Cheongchun•Nuriro, etc

National Express Bus terminal

National Expressway Corporation toll booths, private toll booths

*You can charge your transit balance at subway transit card charging terminals, CU convenience stores, and kiosks.

Charge anywhere, as much as you want!

Online charging via app, convenience stores and kiosks nationwide.

Support online recharge via APP WeChat pay, Visa, Master, Amex, Union Pay

Charge at over 14,000 CU convenience stores nationwide

Charge at 80 kiosks in major cities/tourist spots nationwide

Zero recharge fees, zero payment fees

4% wechat pay fee waived.

Get the best exchange rate with WeChat Pay recharge, and 4% cash back on the fees you pay.

Through the use of KB Bank Card in Korea Free payment fees in Korea

Up to 20% cash back

At partner stores, 0.2% unlimited cash back, on every purchase.

10,000 partner stores

Nationwide provision of, reservation services.

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Zero refund fee.

REDTABLE Gaeyang Building 7F, Myeongdong 3-gil 6, Jung-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea Tel : +82-2-6964-7955 Corporate Registration Number : 206-86-50534 Mail-order Registration Number : 2022-Seoul Jung-gu-1568 Tourist Business Operator Registration Number : 2022-000073 @Copyright KOREA TRAVEL CARD. All Rights Reserved.

2024 Korea Tourist Card Guide: Transport, Shopping & More!

We regret not preparing our Korea tourist cards including the T-Money Card as well as other travel essentials such as the  SIM card , eSIM , and pocket WiFi on our previous Korea trips. We just winged it and thought we could easily buy them upon arrival anyway.

Don’t be like us – it pays to have these Korea travel essentials ready before your trip. This will save you the hassle of having to look for stores offering them in Korea. And, you may actually save on costs since you can strategically plan your Korea itinerary with all the benefits in mind.

Best Korea tourist cards for transportation, shopping, and e-money

1. t-money card.

It’s a no-brainer. A T-Money Card should be the first thing that you should prepare before your Korea trip. It is the most popular Korea transport card with the largest number of affiliated partners. You can mainly use your T-Money Card to pay for public transportation like trains, buses, and taxis. Aside from that, you may also use it to pay at convenience stores, vending machines, and retail brands.

Read our T-Money Card guide for more information on the costs, where to buy, and benefits.

BUY T-MONEY CARD

Cashless payments are a thing in South Korea. In fact, many stores no longer accept cash payments. With the WOWPASS , you can use it as a prepaid debit card to pay for your purchases in Korea. Aside from that, it also serves as a Korea transport card so you can pay for public transportation including trains, buses, and taxis. You can top-up, withdraw, or exchange currencies at machines found in airports, subways, and even hotels.

This special Korea tourist card offers better exchange rates than banks, airports, or money changers, and accepts 16 currencies including USD, EUR, SGD, HKD, and even PHP. What’s even better is that it also offers brand cashback benefits, which is really great for tourists who love shopping and dining in Korea. You can check your balance, history, and benefits by downloading the WOWPASS mobile app .

BUY WOWPASS

3. NAMANE Card

A NAMANE Card is a prepaid travel card in Korea you can use as payment for transport and offline purchases. But what sets this card apart from the rest is that it is customizable. This means you can design your own card, making it a cute souvenir item from Korea .

Another advantage of this Korea tourist card is that there is no authentication needed and no limit to who can use the card, so even minors can use it. You may download the NAMANE Card app to check your balance and transactions.

BUY NAMANE CARD

Best Korea tourist cards and passes for attractions

4. discover seoul pass.

If you are mainly exploring the capital city of Seoul and nearby places, we highly recommend that you get a Discover Seoul Pass . With this Korea tourist card, you get FREE or discounted access to over 100 tourist attractions in Seoul and beyond like Lotte World , N Seoul Tower , Nami Island , and so much more!

Choose from 24-hour, 48-hour, or 72-hour validity, depending on your trip duration. The card itself also serves as your Korea transport card where you can top-up to pay for public transport.

Check out our Discover Seoul Pass guide where we discussed the benefits, costs, and sample itinerary in greater detail.

BUY DISCOVER SEOUL PASS

5. Klook Seoul Pass

If you are staying longer in Korea, we recommend the Klook Seoul Pass as it is valid for 30 days. You can handpick the top attractions you want to visit without squeezing them into a number of days like the Discover Seoul Pass, which will force you to use it within 24 hours to 72 hours, depending on what you avail.

With the Klook Seoul Pass, you have the freedom to pick the attractions you want to visit and when to visit them. Choose from 2, 3, or 4-attraction passes and get up to 52% discount. Some of the top attractions include Everland, Nami Island, N Seoul Tower, Lotte World, and COEX Aquarium to name a few.

BUY KLOOK SEOUL PASS

Korea travel essentials for communication and connectivity

6. korea sim card.

South Korea is one of the countries with the fastest internet speed so you are assured that the data from their SIM cards are of top quality. If you are traveling solo or as a couple, we recommend that you get a SIM card since it’s handy and more efficient than getting another device like a pocket WiFi. You can even get an eSIM if you don’t want to insert another SIM card into your mobile phone.

There are various Korea SIM card options to choose from. You may read our Korea SIM card guide so you can compare the prices and advantages.

BUY KOREA eSIM

7. Korea Pocket WiFi

If you are traveling in groups, we suggest that you get a pocket WiFi instead since it can be shared with up to 5 devices. A pocket WiFi actually costs less than a SIM card, but there are also disadvantages to it like the battery life may only last for 7 to 9 hours, and you need to physically return the device before you fly back home.

You may read our Korea pocket WiFi guide so you can see the costs and benefits before making a decision.

RENT POCKET WIFI

These are some of the best Korea tourist cards, transportation cards, and travel items we wished we paid more attention to and actually bought when we went to Korea. So, if we were you, secure your Korea tourist card ahead and you’ll thank us later!

Before you go, you may be interested to read our 5-day Korea winter itinerary , 5-day Korea spring itinerary , and Korean street food guide .

Popular Korea experiences

Premium accommodations in seoul.

5 Must-Have Tourist Passes & Transportation Cards in South Korea

Planning a trip to Seoul? Make sure to get a Korea Travel Card, a prepaid card just like T-Money that you can use to pay for transportation fares. Book one for less than $4 here 🇰🇷

• Get a Mobile Discover Seoul Pass and enjoy admission to the best attractions in Seoul! Book a 24-hour pass starting at only $39 here .
• Thinking about booking a SIM card in Korea, an AREX train ticket, shuttle to Everland, and a hanbok rental voucher? Simply book this Go Cit y Seoul All-Inclusive Card and enjoy all these perks as well as admission to the likes of Lotte World, N Seoul Tower, Aqua Planet 63, and more.
• For a comfortable stay in Incheon Airport Terminal 2 as you await your flight back home, make sure to book a Matina Gold Lounge Pass here .

Explore more: Get a Korea Travel Card, the Best Prepaid Transportation Card in Korea

Must-Have Travel & Transportation Cards in Seoul

Credit: Go City Korea

From stunning traditional palaces, modern landmarks, and breathtaking sceneries, to transportation, tours, and SIM cards, there’s just a lot you need to consider to book a trip to South Korea. To simplify your planning, we have below the most popular travel and tourist cards in Seoul that will not only give you access to transportation and attractions, but also save you some money!

1. Mobile Discover Seoul Pass

Let’s start with the most popular travel card in Korea: the Discover Seoul Pass. This is an all-in-one pass that will not only let you uncover the best attractions in Seoul, but also score you discounts to a wide variety of venues and activity centers. By getting this pass, you can enjoy free admission to over 65 attractions, including the following:

• Gyeongbokgung (Gyeongbok Palace)
• Deoksu Palace
• Korean Folk Village
• Seodaemun Prison History Hall
• Leeum Museum of Art
• MUSEUM KIMCHIKAN
• N Seoul Tower
• Alive Museum
• COEX Aquarium
• Colorpool Museum

You’ll also get a one-way AREX (Airport Railroad Express) ticket that you can use to go to Seoul from Incheon Airport, among many other perks.

The mobile version of the Discover Seoul Pass is available on for 24, 48, & 72 hours and starts at less than $40!

2. Korea Travel Card

If you’re planning to get T-Money so you can travel in Seoul like locals do, you’d better off getting the Korea Travel Card. This is a prepaid transportation pass that you can use to pay for your subway, bus, and cab fares. It can also be used to pay for your purchases in convenience stores, movie theaters, restaurants, and cafes — perfect if you don’t have a debit/credit card and you’ll visit stores that don’t accept cash anymore (cashless stores). Here are some of the places where you can use this prepaid card:

• Trains & subway lines in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Daejeon, and more
• Buses nationwide
• Hanaro Mart
• Coffee Bean
• Krispy Kreme
• Angel-in-us
• Shops in attractions like Lotte World & Everland

What’s more, the Korea Travel Card has a dedicated mobile app so you can easily check the balance of your card and even add credits on it.

The Korea Travel Card only costs around $3.85 and you can easily add money to it at the subway station ticketing machine or at the convenience store.

3. Go City® Seoul All-Inclusive Pass

Now if you want to get the most out of your money, the Go City Seoul All-Inclusive Pass is your best bet! This tourist card not only comes with admission to the best attractions in the Korean capital, but you also get transportation perks and even an 14-day SIM card. Check out all the activities and services you can enjoy by purchasing a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5-day Go City® Seoul All-Inclusive Pass:

• 14-day Korean SIM Card
• 63 Art Observatory Deck & Aqua Planet 63 Combo Ticket
• Coconut Box and Love Museum
• Cookin’ Nanta Musical Comedy Show
• Dark Side of Seoul: Ghostlore and Urban Legends Walking Tour
• Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Tour from Seoul
• Dynamic Maze
• Everland Shuttle Bus (Round-Trip from Seoul)
• Han River Cruise (Afternoon or Sunset Cruise)
• Hop-on Hop-off: 1-Day Yellow Balloon City Tour Bus
• Ikseon Boutique Retro Outfit Rental
• Incheon Airport Express Train (One Way)
• K-Pop Hollywood Tour
• Korea Folk Village
• Lotte World and Folk Museum (All-In-One Theme Park Combo Ticket)
• Nami Island Ferry Ticket (Round-Trip)
• Nami Island Shuttle Bus (Round-Trip)
• Ring-making Class (Hongdae branch)
• Ring-making Class (Myeongdong branch)
• School Uniform Rental near Everland
• School Uniform Rental near Lotte World
• Seoul Land Combo Pass (Seoul Land, Seoul Zoo & 1-Way Cable Car Ride)
• Seoul Pub Crawl (Hongdae)
• Seoul Pub Crawl (Itaewon)
• The Dark Side of Seoul Ghost Walking Tour
• Traditional Korean Costume/Hanbok Rental (Changdeok Palace)
• Traditional Korean Costume/Hanbok Rental (Gyeongbok Palace)

The Go City All-Inclusive Card in Seoul regularly starts at $65, but you can book all options on WAUG below with up to 12% discount!

4. Go City® Seoul Explorer Pass

Not planning to visit all the attractions in Seoul but only a few? If you think the Go City® Seoul All-Inclusive Pass or Mobile Discover Seoul Pass is a lot for your trip, you can opt to get the Go City® Seoul Explorer Pass. This is a tourist pass in South Korea that lets you pick 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 tours and attractions in Seoul that you can visit within a 60-day period. (To compare, the All-Inclusive Pass gives you access to all available attractions for 1-5 days). The partner attractions that you can choose from are almost similar to the All-Inclusive Pass, so you can use the Explorer option to enter N Seoul, Lotte World, Korean Folk Village, Colorpool Museum, and a lot more!

5. Incheon International Airport (T2) Matina Lounge Pass

Last but not least, we recommend getting an airport lounge pass that you can use at Incheon Airport. If the idea of relaxing at the airport after a long and tiring trip excites you, then you need get this pass if your flight departs from Terminal 2. With this pass, you not only get access to a comfortable place for resting, you can also enjoy delicious hot meals, treats, and unlimited wine! Book a Matina Lounge Pass below for only $23 — discounted from the regular price of $37!

How to Book a Transportation & Tourist Card in Korea on WAUG

WAUG, short for “Where are u going?”, is the leading activity booking app from South Korea. If it’s your first time to book, download the app below and get an instant discount coupon that you can use on your first booking!

• Log in or sign up for an account here .
• Select the pass that you’d like to book.
• Choose the date, option, and quantity.
• Check out using your card.
• Receive your voucher on the WAUG app or via email.

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16 things to know before heading to South Korea

Feb 18, 2024 • 10 min read

South Korea’s public-transport choices – including Busan’s Sky Capsule – are the envy of the world. As you plan your trip, count on using the nationwide network © By f11photo / Shutterstock

Has any place been on a run of late like  South Korea ?

The country is on the lips of travelers around the world, thanks to its cutting-edge technology, world-class cuisine, chart-topping pop bands and some of the most exciting movies and TV series being made anywhere. 

Add to all this centuries of tradition and copious natural blessings, all in a country scarcely larger than Ireland, and you’ve got one of the planet’s great travel destinations.

Safe, friendly and possessing superb infrastructure, South Korea is a truly easy – not to mention rewarding – place to explore. Read on for tips to make your visit even easier.

1. Complete your pre-trip registration three days before your flight

Most travelers – including citizens of the US, Australia and the UK – can visit South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days (up to six months for Canadians). You’ll still need to apply for a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization on the K-ETA website , however, at least 72 hours before departure. It’s a simple process, and your K-ETA is valid for two years from the date of approval.

2. Time your visit with the trees

We recommend planning your visit to South Korea for spring or fall , when the peninsula gets its most temperate weather. Bonus points if you can time it to coincide with one of the country’s two periods of arboreal magic. Korea’s cherry blossoms start blooming in mid-March on Jeju-do Island , off the south coast, and typically appear in Seoul in early April. In late October and early November, the leaves of Korea’s many ancient ginkgo trees turn into brilliant golden torches, giving Seoul and other cities a particularly regal look for several weeks.

3. Mind these two major holidays

The two periods that can cause travelers real problems are the multi-day Lunar New Year and Chuseok (fall harvest) holidays. On these two occasions every year, Koreans hit the road en masse, making booking a bus or train ticket nearly impossible. The dates change each year, so be sure to check when these are before making travel plans. 

If you can’t avoid a holiday, base yourself in Seoul or Busan for its duration. Plenty of businesses stay open, and the cities can be surprisingly peaceful with everyone out of town.

4. Take advantage of Korea’s world-class public transportation

Korea’s subways, trains and buses are clean, convenient and efficient . It can sometimes seem like a new station is added to the Seoul metro every month, and the rail and intercity bus networks will take you to every corner of the country. Public transportation is cheap: bus and subway fares in Seoul start at just ₩1250. In all of South Korea, Jeju-do is the only place where renting a car might make sense, and even there it’s probably not necessary.

With plentiful English information and sensible design, public transportation in Korea makes getting from here to there a breeze. To get moving, start by picking up a T-money transit card at a convenience store or from a vending machine in any subway station. Separate kiosks can be used to load money onto your card. Tap your card both when you board and get off the subway or bus. Fares are calculated by distance, so if you forget to tap when disembarking, you’ll be charged more and won’t be able to transfer for free. You can also use T-money cards in most taxis.

When traveling longer distances, it’s simple enough to just buy intercity bus or train tickets at stations. For the high-speed KTX train and some of the more popular routes and times – departing Seoul on Saturday morning, for example – it’s a good idea to purchase in advance. Bus tickets are typically readily available for purchase from machines and counters in bus stations. Buy train tickets on the website of  KORAIL , the national operator.

5. Stay connected with these essential apps

Wi-fi is so prevalent in Korean cities that you can do without a local SIM card, but if you decide that you want one just in case, or if you plan to head to rural areas, the easiest place to pick one up is at one of the many  telecom roaming centers at Incheon Airport upon arrival. You can also rent a phone if you didn’t bring your own.

Helpful apps to download include Naver Map ( iOS and Android ), which works better than Google Maps in South Korea; MangoPlate ( iOS and Android ) for finding restaurants and cafes; Subway Korea for navigating cities’ metro systems; and Kakao T ( iOS and Android ), which is like Uber but for taxis.

6. Get out of town

There are two Koreas. We don’t mean North and South, but rather Seoul and everything else – or, a bit more broadly, urban Korea and rural Korea. The country has a reputation for being a hyper-paced, highly wired pop-culture dynamo, but its hinterlands present a much different picture, and you’d be missing out big time if you skip them. 

The Korean countryside is beautiful, mountains and rivers make for beautiful vistas, and life is lived differently here than in the cities. The population is older – most people under 40 have decamped to the cities – and the pace is slower. At least once on your trip, get out of the cities and immerse yourself in this more traditional side of Korea.

7. Learn your ga , na , da , ra , ma , bas

Basic English is widely understood in Korea by folks under 50, and signage is almost always in both Korean and English. Yet it’s still a good (and respectful) idea to learn a bit of the language. 

Beyond memorizing a few essential Korean words and phrases, learning hangul, the Korean alphabet, is like gaining access to a secret bonus level of Korean travel. If you can sound out the letters, you’ll find that you already know what things like 카페 모카 ( ka-pe mo-ka ), 비빔밥 (bibimbap) and 사우나 ( sa-oo-na ) are. 

Hangul is easy to learn. King Sejong the Great, who oversaw its creation in the 15th century, declared that a wise man could pick it up before noon and even an idiot could learn it in 10 days.  Let’s Learn Hangul  teaches the Korean alphabet in an interactive, easy-to-follow way.

8. Roll with the nudges

Koreans live life in a hurry, and they do so in a densely populated country, so you shouldn’t expect the same sense of personal space or public courtesies you find in your home country. Koreans won’t hold doors open for you or apologize if they bump into you when walking. When getting on or off the subway, they likely won’t say, “Excuse me” – they’ll just nudge you aside. They’re not being rude, though. 

When you live in a city as crowded as Seoul, it’s just not practical to say sorry every time you knock shoulders with someone – you’d be apologizing constantly. This can be maddening to outsiders, but just accept it and roll with the nudges.

9. Be ready to get personal

The typical greeting here is a quick bow – nothing dramatic, just a head nod deep enough for your gaze to meet the floor – but you’ll sometimes be offered a handshake instead. If you are, expect more of a gentle clasp than the old squeeze-and-pump.

You’ll likely be asked questions more personal than you’re accustomed to by someone you just met. At the top of this list is your age. This data point is essential to Koreans, as it informs how they talk to one another: how formal their verb endings should be and whether to use honorifics. Inquiries about marital status, occupation and your opinion of Korea are also common. Answer politely, and feel free to return the question.

10. Wear what you like, but don’t pack anything too risqué

As a traveler, you can feel free to dress for the weather and comfort. Koreans are pretty relaxed about attire, even if they’re more modest than you might expect. If visiting a temple , while shorts are fine, tank tops and miniskirts are not. Both men and women frequently wear t-shirts at the beach (though it’s best to leave the Speedo or thong at home). Korean women almost never wear low-cut tops, and female travelers could find that doing so brings unwelcome looks. Tattoos are now common among young people, yet even still some bathhouses will deny entry if you show any ink.

11. Eat with others and don’t be afraid to shout for service

Eating is a communal activity in Korea, and many restaurants, especially barbecue joints, don’t offer single servings. So if you’re traveling solo, you might either have to drag someone from your hostel along with you (not a tough sell) or loosen your belt and order pork belly for two (poor thing).

At restaurants, servers won’t come check up on you, and most places have call buttons on each table. Give it a push, and someone will be right over. Otherwise, to grab the waitstaff’s attention, raise your hand and shout, “ Yogiyo !” (“Over here!”) Water is usually self-service, and occasionally side dishes are, too. If your server doesn’t set a bottle of water on your table, look around for a water dispenser and stacks of metal cups. At the end of your meal, take the check to the front counter to pay. There’s no tipping.

12. Is North Korea a concern?

Despite international headlines, South Koreans don’t worry about an attack from  North Korea  – and neither should you. Military clashes are very rare, and danger to civilians is rarer still. A guided tour to the  DMZ can be a fascinating and truly find-it-nowhere-else experience. From afar, North Korea can seem almost comical in its eccentricities, but when you’re looking at South Korean soldiers looking at North Korean soldiers looking at you, the geopolitical stakes hit different. Plus, many tours offer what may be your only chance to actually step foot in the world’s most secretive country.

13. Monitor the air quality

Even in post-pandemic times, it’s a good idea to always carry a mask, as air quality can occasionally drop to pretty nasty levels. This is especially true in spring, when dust blown off the deserts of Mongolia and northern China combines with local pollution to create unhealthy air. Download an app like IQAir Air Visual (for iOS or Android ) to keep track of current conditions and the upcoming forecast across the country.

14. You might have to be flexible about your diet

If you have food allergies or a specific diet, you may have a hard time finding places to eat or getting clear information about ingredients. Vegetarianism and veganism are slowly gaining popularity in Korea, but not many restaurants cater to these diets. Even dishes that you might think are vegetarian are often made with anchovy broth or fermented shrimp.  

15. Recognize that LGBTQI+ acceptance still has a long way to go 

While attitudes are slowly changing, Korea remains a conservative society in many respects, and anti-LGBTQI+ prejudice is common. Even so, LGBTQI+ travelers are more likely to be on the receiving end of curious – if misinformed – questions than any sort of open hostility. Public displays of affection are generally frowned upon (though this goes for straight couples, too).

Seoul has small gay districts in Itaweon and Jongno-3-ga, while the Hongdae-Sinchon-Ewha university corridor is another place where LGBTQI+ Koreans feel comfortable being themselves. 

16. Use common sense and keep these numbers handy, just in case

Theft and violent crime are rare in South Korea. Scams and pickpockets targeting travelers are virtually nonexistent, and Koreans typically go out of their way to be hospitable to visitors. Nonetheless – as anyone should anywhere – do exercise basic caution and common sense. South Korea has strict drug laws, and don’t even think about trying to sneak past them. Nightlife often revolves around heavy drinking, so know your limit to avoid putting yourself in a sketchy situation.

If you do have an emergency, call 112 to reach the police, 119 for emergency services or 1330 to reach the Korea Travel Hotline, where an operator will connect you to the appropriate service and serve as an interpreter. That number can also be used to reach the Korea Tourist Police .

This article was first published July 2022 and updated February 2024

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Traveling to Korea: How to Fill out Korea Arrival Card

When arriving in Korea as a tourist, is it required to submit arrival card for immigration clearance? This is a common question that may pop up if it is your first time visiting Korea. Other travelers may also have the same question. The quick answer: YES. Filling out the arrival card is one of the requirements for an unregistered foreign visitor or tourist to enter Korea.

How does the arrival card look like and what information should be provided in the arrival card? This article will explain what you need to prepare when arriving in Korea especially to ensure smooth process of immigration clearance. 

Korea Arrival Procedure

According to  Incheon Airport authority , there were around 28 million passengers arriving in South Korea in 2023, an increase of more than 200% compared to the previous year (2022). Such increase in tourist arrival indicates that tourism to South Korea has been rebounding to approach the pre-pandemic level. Before the pandemic, the airport authority recorded around 36 million international passengers arriving at the airport. With inbound traffic reached 80% of pre-pandemic level in 2023, it is not an exaggeration to assume that the inbound tourism to South Korea will fully recover in 2024.

If you plan to travel to South Korea as a tourist, you may be curious about the experience during the arrival process at the airport. Our opinion may be subjective, but you can expect pleasant experience on your arrival, other than perhaps the long queue for the immigration clearance that has often become inevitable as more tourists come to visit Korea.

Common flows that you will experience when arriving in Korea right after disembarking from the airplane are as follows:

• Walking from the arrival gate to the arrival checkpoints.
• First checkpoint, health status clearance. Those who arrive from countries under special monitoring shall present Q-Code or submit health declaration form. Other travelers will only undergo automated body temperature monitoring through sensors installed near the checkpoint.
• Second checkpoint, immigration clearance. As a tourist, you must at least show your passport, boarding pass, and Korea arrival card to the immigration officer. The officer may ask you to present additional document depending on your visa type or status of stay.
• Baggage claim. You pick up your checked-in baggage from the designated carousel in the baggage claim area.
• Third checkpoint, customs clearance. You can walk through the green line if you do not have anything to declare or go through the red line to proceed with customs declaration.
• Walking to the arrival hall / greeting area. You have now officially entered Korea and can go to your first destination from the airport using various transportation means (bus, subway, taxi, van or private car).

Now, let’s specifically discuss the immigration clearance process.

Information to Fill in Korea Arrival Card

During your flight to Korea, the cabin crew will distribute arrival cards to the passengers. An empty, unfilled arrival card will look like the image shown below.

Korea arrival card is written in two languages, English and non-English language that can be one of the languages used in a country with high inbound tourist numbers to Korea, such as: Chinese, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese. The arrival card is written on both sides. The front side contains a form related to the arrival in Korea that should be filled out by the visitor. The back side shows some brief instruction on how to fill the form.

Now, let’s label the form and discuss in more details how each column on the arrival card form should be filled.

Explanation for each labeled field in the arrival form is summarized in the table below.

As you can see from the table above, data from several sources is needed to fill out the form in Korea arrival card. Frequent flyers should not have any problem in locating such information. If you’re traveling to South Korea for the first time, don’t worry. We will show you how to complete the form.

How to Fill Out Korea Arrival Card

To complete the form in Korea arrival card, we need to pull data from several sources. Main data source is the passport. We will choose some passport specimens to give you some idea on how to put the data in the passport into the form.

Passport sample #1 : United States passport (next generation)

Passport sample #2 : Philippine passport 

Using the above passport specimens as references, we can map the information in each passport specimen to the corresponding form field in Korea arrival card based on the labeling/numbering in the information table provided earlier, as follows.

Labeled passport sample #1 (United States passport) :

Labeled passport sample #2 (Philippine passport) :

Putting the information in the labeled passport specimens to the corresponding fields in the arrival card form, we would have most of the fields in the arrival form filled. The entries from both the specimens are as follows.

Passport has a special section, which is machine readable zone (MRZ) , that is located in the lower section of the passport data / identity page. In the pictures of labeled specimens, the MRZ section is represented by the area inside the orange box. The MRZ section consists of two rows whereas each row contains some portion of the information from the identity page that is written under certain structure. The information contained in the MRZ can be used to validate the information in individual data fields located in the upper section of the identity page. As can be seen in the labeled passport specimens, identical numbers in MRZ section and the general passport data section pertain to the same type of information.

Another thing to note, in the Philippine passport specimen, middle name is not used in the MRZ section. This means that putting middle name in the arrival card is also optional. In other passport, however, middle name can be included in the MRZ section. Consequently, it is more desirable to write the given names field as [First Name] [Middle Name].

Filling out the remaining fields: occupation, phone number, address in Korea, and purpose of visit should not be too difficult. A sample of completed arrival card can also be found on the immigration desks situated before the immigration checkpoint.

You may ask what information to be put in the phone number. You can simply put the phone number of the hotel or your accommodation facility, your host’s (friend or family) number, or a local Korean number that you will use during your stay in Korea.

South Korea Entry Confirmation

Once you pass the immigration clearance, the immigration officer will hand you a piece of paper, which is the South Korea Entry confirmation. You can refer to paper on your status of stay and the validity of your visa/stay permit. Pay serious attention on the date written for the validity of your stay. Ensure that you leave the country not later than the date written in the entry confirmation. Do not overstay since you may get fined or face difficulties in your future visit to Korea.

If you plan to extend your stay in Korea, you can go to local immigration office and request for a visa extension. However, you may need to provide additional document depending on your original status of stay and nationality.

That’s a wrap. Enjoy your stay in Korea!

Related posts:

• Q-Code Is Not Required Anymore When Entering South Korea
• List of Countries with Q-Code Requirement to Enter Korea
• Q-Code Korea 2024: List of Countries with Q-Code or Health Declaration Requirements
• Guide on Filling Out Hong Kong Arrival Card when Arriving in Hong Kong

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South Korea

Travel Advisory July 24, 2023

South korea - level 1: exercise normal precautions.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise normal precautions in South Korea.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to South Korea.

If you decide to travel to South Korea:

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.   
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .   
• Review the  Country Security Report  for South Korea.   
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel.   
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .    

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No – From April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, the Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) is not required for US citizens traveling for short-term business or tourism purposes.

Embassies and Consulates

U.s. embassy seoul.

188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03141, Korea Telephone: +(82) (2) 397-4114 (from within Korea, dial 02-397-4114)  DSN:721-4114 Fax: +(82) (2) 397-4101 Email:  [email protected]

U.S. Consulate in Busan

Lotte Gold Rose Building #612, Jungang-daero 993, Jin-gu Busan 47209, Korea Telephone: (+82) 51-863-0731 Email:  [email protected]

The Embassy and Consulate are closed on weekends and on  American and Korean holidays .  Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +82 (2) 397-4114.

Destination Description

Learn about the U.S. relationship to countries around the world.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

• You must have a valid U.S. passport to enter Korea. From April 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024, the  Korean Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)  is not required for US citizens for stays of 90 days or less that are for tourism or business purposes.
• Visa required for all other purposes, including employment, teaching English, and for stays longer than 90 days.

Exceeding your authorized stay or not possessing a valid visa may result in detention and fines.

• In the event of an overstay, apply for a visa extension from the  Korea Immigration Service (KIS)  before attempting to leave the country. Also consult with KIS regarding changes in visa category.

Military Personnel/DOD and their families on orders:

• Consult  DOD Foreign Clearance Guide , and follow all instructions.
• Enter Korea with DOD identification and travel orders.
• Do not transit other countries such as China without a passport and appropriate visas.
• Family Members/Dependents of Military Personnel/DOD on orders must present upon arrival passports valid for at least six months .

U.S. Government Executive Branch personnel on official business and DOD personnel assigned to the U.S. Embassy  (Including family members/dependents):

• Employes assigned to Mission Korea should enter Korea with a diplomatic or official passport and a diplomatic or official Korean visa obtained through their sponsoring agency.  Check with your sponsoring agency about other requirements. 
• TDY visitors traveling to Korea for up to 90 days on diplomatic or official passports do  not  require Korean visas and do  not  require a K-ETA. TDY visitors must obtain country clearance using  Department of State's eCC system  or  DOD APACS system .

HIV/AIDS Restriction:  The Department of State is unaware of any such entry restrictions for visitors or foreign residents in Korea.

• Visit the  Embassy of Korea  website for current visa information. Please read our  Customs Information page .

COVID-19 Requirements :

• There are no COVID-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens.
• Travel regulations and restrictions are subject to change, sometimes with little notice. You should review the information available on your nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate’s webpage before traveling.

Safety and Security

Public Demonstrations:  Demonstrations and rallies are common in South Korea, particularly near the U.S. Embassy, Seoul City Hall, and areas surrounding military installations. You should avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercise caution in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or rallies. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.

North Korea (The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK):  An armistice agreement, monitored by the United Nations, has maintained general peace on the Korean peninsula since 1953. Tensions occasionally flare up because of provocative acts by North Korea, including ballistic missile and nuclear tests and limited armed incursions into ROK-held territory. Some provocations have escalated into geographically limited skirmishes. South Korea routinely conducts military training exercises and civil defense drills. North Korea often issues strongly-worded and threatening messages, frequently in connection with these exercises. Please see our  Fact Sheet on North Korea .

Weather-related Events:  Heavy rains and flooding may occur during the June - August monsoon season or the May - November typhoon season. See general information about natural disaster preparedness at the U.S.  Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)  website.

Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ):  To receive security messages by email and make it easier to locate you in an emergency, register in STEP. 

If the Embassy becomes aware of any specific and credible threat to the safety and security of U.S. citizens, we will inform you through our website, social media, and email.

Crime:  For most visitors, South Korea remains a very safe country. Common crimes occur more frequently in major metropolitan areas, tourist sites, and crowded markets.

• Take routine safety precautions.
• Pay attention to your surroundings.
• Report any concerns to local police.

Violent crime is not common; however, remain vigilant:

• Exercise caution in crowded entertainment, nightlife, and shopping districts.
• If traveling at night, consider traveling in groups.
• Use legitimate taxis or public transportation only.

Victims of Crime:  Call 112 for emergency assistance or to report a crime to local authorities. Call 02-397-4114 to contact the U.S. Embassy. We can:

• Help you find appropriate medical care;
• Assist you in reporting a crime to police;
• Contact relatives or friends on your behalf;
• Explain Korean judicial procedures in general terms;
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution;
• Help you find accommodations and flight arrangements to the United States;
• Replace a lost or stolen passport.

Sexual Assault:   The Embassy regularly receives reports of sexual assault from U.S. citizens. Most cases involved young women assaulted by acquaintances they met on social media, dating, or messaging apps. Alcohol is often involved, and Korea’s low overall crime can create a false sense of security.  Specialized hospital units and police are available in South Korea to assist victims, however services in English and responsiveness to the crime are not always consistent. In general, sex crimes are not punished as harshly in South Korea as in the United States and the road to prosecution is a challenging one for victims.

Domestic Violence:  Victim’s assistance resources or battered women’s shelters exist in Seoul and other urban areas but may be limited in rural areas. Most are government administered and require a police referral. Call 112 for emergency assistance or 1366 to reach Korea’s 24-hour domestic violence hotline. Victims may also contact the Embassy, tel. (+82) 2-397-4114.

Lost or Stolen Passports:  If your passport is stolen, file a report at the nearest police station.

Don't buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if widely available.  It is against South Korean law to purchase these goods and against U.S. law to bring them into the United States. The  Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Division in the U.S. Department of Justice  has more information.

Avoid fraud and scams:  See  Department of State  and  FBI  websites for more information.

Tourism:  The tourism industry is generally regulated and rules with regard to best practices and safety inspections are regularly enforced. Hazardous areas/activities are identified with appropriate signage and professional staff is typically on hand in support of organized activities. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is widely available throughout the country. Outside of a major metropolitan center, it may take more time for first responders and medical professionals to stabilize a patient and provide life-saving assistance. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on  insurance providers for overseas coverage .

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties:  While in Korea, you are subject to local laws. If you violate Korean laws, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Be aware that:

• Immigration violations can lead to arrest, fines, and deportation.
• There is little tolerance for illegal drugs.
• If you mail illegal drugs to/ from Korea, you will be prosecuted.
• Commercial disputes may lead to criminal charges being filed under local laws.

Be aware that some crimes are prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on  crimes against minors abroad  and the  Department of Justice  website.

Arrest Notification:  If you are arrested or detained, ask officials to notify the Embassy. See our  webpage  for further information.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Dual Nationality and Military Conscription:  Dual national males (including U.S. service members) may be subject to compulsory military service. If you have family ties to South Korea, consult the nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate or the  Korean Military Manpower Administration  regarding potential citizenship obligations  before entering South Korea .

Passport Seizures and Exit Bans:  If you are involved in a criminal investigation or commercial dispute, authorities may seize your passport and/or block your departure. While we may reissue a passport, we cannot lift an exit ban.

Exit Permits:  Exit permits are not generally required. However, if a parent requests a travel restriction on his/her child, Korean authorities may prevent that child from departing even when traveling with the other parent. As of June 1, 2020, foreigners who are long-term residents of the ROK are required to obtain a re-entry permit four business days prior to departure from Korea. The permits are available online through an e-application at the  www.hikorea.go.kr  website.

International Child Abduction:  See our website for information related to the  prevention of international child abduction . 

Working in South Korea:  If working, including teaching or modeling, you must enter with the appropriate work visa. It is not possible to change your visa status without leaving the country. If you begin work without the appropriate visa, you may be arrested, fined, and/or deported. If you are working without a valid work permit and get into a contractual dispute with your employer, you have little legal recourse.

Students:  See our  Students Abroad  page and  FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers:  See our travel tips for  Women Travelers .

ROK National Security Law:  Authorities may detain, arrest, and imprison persons believed to have committed acts intended to endanger the “security of the state,” including statements deemed to praise the political system and/or officials of the DPRK. 

Customs Regulations: There is strict enforcement of regulations on importing and exporting items such as firearms, narcotics and prescription drugs, non-prescription health supplements, radio equipment, and gold. Importation of materials deemed to be obscene, subversive, or harmful to the public peace is also restricted.

• Amphetamines are illegal in Korea. Do not bring amphetamines or other prescription narcotics into the country without obtaining advance permission in writing from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. See the  U.S. Embassy Seoul, Health Information page .
• Traveling with Pets: See  Korea’s Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency  website.

See the  Korean Customs Regulations website for complete information.

LGBTI Travelers:  Consensual same-sex sexual activity is not criminalized. Korea is a conservative country in regards to LGBTI issues. However, there are an increasing number of LGBTI-oriented clubs, festivals and NGOs advocating for LGBTI issues. The ROK National Human Rights Commission Act prohibits discrimination against individuals because of their sexual orientation, but there are no laws specifying punishment for persons found to have discriminated on this basis. Same-sex marriages are not recognized. Korean citizens can legally change their gender identity.

See   our  LGBTI Travel Information  page and section 6 of the  Department of State's Human Rights report  for further details.

Mobility Issues:  Korean law mandates access to transportation, communication, and public buildings. Cross walks typically have audio and visual signals. Older buildings and streets are generally less accessible than modern ones. Metro cars and buses in Seoul offer priority seating for the disabled and most metro stations have elevators. Metro platforms include Korean Braille information. Contact individual bus companies and subway associations for specific information. Foreign residents are eligible for disability assistance from local ward offices; assistance varies by ward.

Quality of Care : Western-style medical facilities are available in most large cities. However, not all doctors and staff, are proficient in English. A  list of hospitals  and medical specialists who speak English is available on our website. For emergency ambulance service dial 119. Ambulance services are widely available. For information on medical evacuation from South Korea, please see the State Department’s brochure on  Air Ambulance/MedEvac/Medical Escort Providers . 

We do not pay medical bills.  Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas. Verify your health insurance coverage before traveling overseas. See our webpage for information on  insurance providers for overseas coverage . In most cases, health care providers will require payment in advance of treatment or will not release a patient until hospital bills are paid. We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to include coverage for medical evacuation.

Medication:  Carry prescription medication in original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription. Most prescription medications, except psychotropic types, can be obtained at Korean pharmacies (brand names often differ). Local pharmacies will require a prescription from a Korean doctor.

Update  vaccinations  recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

For further health information go to:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  (CDC)

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  Roads are well-paved, traffic signals functional, and most drivers comply with basic traffic laws. South Korea has a significantly higher traffic fatality rate than the United States. Causes of accidents include excessive speed, frequent lane changes without signaling, running red lights, aggressive bus drivers, and weaving motorcyclists. It is recommended that you photo document any traffic accidents.

Be aware that motorcyclists may drive on sidewalks, and drivers do not always yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks.

Traffic Laws include:

• International driving permit (or ROK license) is required for all drivers.
• Left-hand turns prohibited except with green arrow.
• Seat belts and car seats are mandatory.
• Motorcycle passengers must wear helmets.
• Automobile drivers are presumed to have some fault in accidents involving pedestrians.
• Expect long waits at police stations while police investigate any incidents.
• Police may take your passport or detain you during an investigation.
• Even if negligence is not proven, criminal charges may be filed.
• Blood-alcohol content of 0.03% or higher is considered legally intoxicated.
• Police regularly set up DUI checkpoints. Drivers are required to submit to breathalyzer tests; refusal can result in cancellation of your license.

For information about driver's permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, refer to our  Road Safety page . You may also visit the  Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) website.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:  The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of the Republic of Korea's Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of the ROK's air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the  FAA's Safety Assessment Page .

Maritime Travel:  Mariners planning travel to South Korea should check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s  Maritime Security Communications with Industry Web Portal . Information may also be posted to the  U.S. Coast Guard homeport website  and as a broadcast warning on the  National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s website .

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

South Korea was cited in the State Department’s 2022 Annual Report to Congress on International Child Abduction for demonstrating a pattern of non-compliance with respect to international parental child abduction. Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in  South Korea.  For additional IPCA-related information, please see the  International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA )  report.

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Cash or Card: What to use when traveling to Korea?

Which payment instrument to use is one of the most common concerns when traveling abroad. In planning your trip to Korea, you may have asked yourself with the question, “Should I use cash or cash?” As someone who has been traveling to Korea for 5 years and as a former bank employee, specifically handling card products, here are some insights that will help you decide whether to use cash or card when traveling to Korea.

In this digital age and wider acceptance of digital and card payments, we can say that cash is still king. There are a lot of stores and business establishments that accept card in Korea. However, some merchants still prefer to use cash. This is actually one of things that I wish I knew when I first came to Korea. Specially if you are planning to go to countryside and other provinces, make sure to bring cash with you. Moreover, even in big cities such as Seoul, Busan and Daejeon, some stores in their traditional markets and underground shopping malls only accept cash. But for shops that accept cards (credit, prepaid and debit), cards that are powered by major payment network companies such as Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted.

In terms of security, of course, cards are better to use because of its security features. Unlike cash that can be easily lost or stolen. But being stolen from is not really a concern when you are in Korea. In fact, there are a lot of incidents when people had left their things unattended but it would still be there even after days have passed. Though one thing that I noticed whenever I use card in making a purchase in Korea is that they don’t really ask for valid IDs to verify the signature. But I guess, Korea has in-place measures to counter card fraud due to identity theft and other fraudulent transactions. In terms of online shopping, international cards are accepted too but most of the online shops will require you to have a Korean number for sending of security certificates and OTP (One-Time-Password). And remember to immediately call your bank in case of card lost or suspected card fraud.

Accountability

If you are a budget traveler, you might want to monitor your expenses while you are traveling to Korea. Well, you could do this using your mobile phone too but using card provides a more convenient way to see your previous transactions. Nowadays, most of the banks have their own mobile apps where you could easily check your card usage. In doing that, you could even see the date of purchase, exact amount used, name of merchant and added fees.

And lastly, in terms of savings, which do you think is better, cash or card? If you are traveling to Korea, you can easily exchange your money to Korean won. The exchange rate varies per location, time and date. Obviously, if you exchange at the airport, except higher fees thus, lower conversion of your money. Money exchange outside offers better exchange rates than those from the airport so you can have savings from this. Learn more about where to exchange your money to Korean won here.

On the other hand, if you use your international card in Korea, you can have savings from the following:

1. Low foreign exchange (Forex) conversion rate from your local bank or card provider.

Forex rate varies per bank but it could be from 1.5% to 3.5%. It is usually comprised of the 1% payment network assessment fee (example: Mastercard and Visa) and the remaining percent for your local bank foreign exchange conversion fee.

Here is a sample computation from my local bank (BPI) which charges 1.85% forex fee. Note that for me to be able to enjoy this low forex rate, I need to have my transaction in Korea be processed or billed in Korean won instead of being billed in my local currency. This will I will not be imposed with unfavorable rate from the Korea’s local bank versus BPI’s offer. Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post.

2. Promotions from your local banks or card provider.

Some banks and card providers are offering promotions when you use your card abroad. It could be in the form of rebates, points, gifts, vouchers and etc. that could save you extra money.

If you find this article interesting and helpful, share it with your friends. For more Korea travel tips like this, subscribe to KoreabyMe and read  my other published articles  on the site. You can follow me on  Instagram  too!

A scholar, marketer, educator, traveler, and ultimately, a fangirl currently living in South Korea. I mostly write about Hallyu-related places as well tips on traveling and living in Korea.

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The BEST Korea SIM card for tourists (2024 guide)

By: Author Kris

Posted on Last updated: January 23, 2024

If you’re looking for the best Korea SIM card for tourists, we can help.

We’ve compiled a list of all the Korea travel SIM cards that can be pre-ordered and picked up at the airport.

In some Asian countries, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia to name just a few, it’s also possible to have the SIM mailed to your home or to collect it at the airport of departure.

We used a Korea data SIM card from KT Olleh ourselves and we can honestly say that it was a big advantage. 

Not only to use excellent navigational apps such as Naver apps, Google Maps is pretty useless in South Korea, we also loaded a lot of other Korean apps on our phone.  Thanks to these apps we could eat where the locals eat, translate Korean texts and it also became much easier to interact with Koreans. 

I’ve listed some of the apps we used further down in this article.

We cover all the important details about the various Korean Sim card for foreigners, as well as all the aspects that you need to keep in mind when you’re making your selection.

Read on to find the best Korea prepaid SIM card for you.

There is a really good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you.

In a hurry? Our picks for the best Korean SIM cards

If you are short on time or you don’t want to read the complete post, these are our top choices: 

• The KT Olleh card offered by Klook  is the best for all stays of 30 days or less where a data connection is all you need.  The SIM comes with unlimited data and has no fair usage policy.
• For longer than 30 stays,  the SIM from KT Olleh  is the best option. It can be used for up to 90 days.
• If you want to make voice calls during your Korea trip you have 2 options. You can pre-order the KT Olleh Voice & text SIM from Klook and top-up this card with credits for voice calls. An alternative is the KT Olleh voice & text SIM from Trazy which comes preloaded with enough credits for 42 minutes of calling.

Table of Contents

Tip: Be sure to become a member of our brand new  Korea Travel Planning and Tips Facebook group . The purpose of this group is to help you plan an amazing vacation to South Korea.  You can ask questions and exchange tips with fellow travelers.

Why buy a Korea prepaid SIM card

It’s easy to travel independently around Korea, especially if you can use your smartphone as your travel companion.

We used our data connection a lot in South Korea, the country has several very useful apps for tourists.

Here are the apps that we used the most during our road trip in South Korea: 

• XE currency provides real-time conversion rates between the South Korean Won and your home currency.  
• Kakao Metro guides you through Seoul’s spaghetti-like metro network.  The app also works in Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon.
• Kakao T , this app enables you to call and pay for a taxi similar to Uber.  You can also use it to rent an electric bike. 
• Mangoplate , information on nearby restaurants including reviews
• Papago , fast and accurate translation of South Korean to 13 languages including English,  French, German, Japanese and Chinese.  It works offline and the quality of the translations beats those of Google Translate.
• Emergency Ready, an app provided by the Ministry of Interior and Safety. The app contains information about shelters, police and fire stations.  The government will share updates in case of natural disasters such as typhoons. ( Google Play – Apple Store )
• Visit Korea , an app provided by the Korea Tourism Organization.  It contains opening hours, prices and lots of other useful information about the many sights of the country.  To get the app, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on “KTO Mobile apps”
• If you go to Lotte World or Everland you can use the apps of those theme parks to check the waiting times at the attractions.

Roaming costs are insane and Korea prepaid SIM cards are relatively cheap.  This makes it a good investment, even if you won’t be using your data connection on a daily basis.

South Korea has the world’s best 4G network so it would be a shame not to use it when you visit the country.

Larger cities such as Seoul also count numerous WiFi hotspots.  We tested these with mixed results.  Our experience with these WiFi hotspots is described below.

Free WiFi in Korea

You can find over 500,000 public WiFi hotspots in Seoul alone. With this number, you would think that a data connection is a superfluous luxury but it is not.

First of all, it is a hassle to register your phone over and over again at each new hotspot that you come across.  If it would stop there it wouldn’t be such a big thing.

Some registration forms are in Korean only though, making the task extra tedious. And then, to make things worse, after you have finally deciphered the form, you’re sometimes met with the notice that they only accept Korean phone numbers.

We went through this process a few times only to decide that the low cost of a local tourist SIM card, or a pocket WiFi rental , is not worth all the effort registering your phone at each hotspot hoping that it will work. 

There’re free WiFi hotspots you can use, certainly those in hotels and restaurants, but you shouldn’t be blindsided by these huge numbers. 

Despite a large number of hotspots WiFi is certainly not omnipresent. There are places, such as train and metro stations, where WiFi would come in handy but where there are no hotspots. (some stations have hotspots but not all)

Since a local SIM card is not that expensive at all, it is highly recommended to get one. Just like at home, you can use your cell phone in Korea for all kinds of things, from calling taxis, finding your way on public transport, to finding good restaurants.

Here is an overview of  free WiFi hotspots in South Korea

South Korea SIM cards – The top choices

KT Olleh and SK Telecom offer Korea travel SIMs. 

On top of that, a bunch of other providers have their own travel SIM’s that also work in South Korea and that can be picked up abroad.

Further down in this article we list all the SIM cards that we could find along with all the information you need such as the included data plan and the fair usage policy.

In this section, we share our top choices.  These are the best data-only SIM’s and the best SIM that support voice calls and text messages.

For short stays

This KT Olleh card offered by Klook is the best for all stays of 30 days or less where a data connection is all you need. 

The SIM comes with unlimited data and nothing is mentioned about a fair usage policy. There may be none but even if there is one you are safe to assume that the first 3GB of data each day will be at 4G/LTE speeds. 3 GB is more than enough for normal use.

If your plans change and you need to extend your rental you can do so online.

Check prices and availability: KT Olleh Tourist SIM

For longer stays

Most SIM cards have a maximum duration of 30 days.  If you want to stay in Korea for longer than 30 days you will either need to buy multiple SIMs, something that not all providers allow, or extend your rental. The easiest option is to go for this SIM from KT Olleh which can be used for up to 90 days.

There are options for data-lite and data-heavy users.  The data-lite plan has 300MB of fast data per month, the other plan offers 10GB of 4G/LTE data.  Once the treshold is reached both plans offer unlimited data at 3 Mbps speed.

Voice-calls and texts are also possible but require that you top-up your SIM.

Check prices and availability: KT Olleh long-term SIM

For voice calls

All the SIM cards we cover in this article will allow calls with Skype or other similar tools but in some instances, it is still better to make a traditional phone call.  

To do so you will need to buy one of the KT Olleh SIMs that support voice+text.

Note that some of them only allow domestic calls. SIM cards that you top up will typically allow international calls, other SIMS that support voice calls will typically only support domestic calling.

These are the KT rates for international calls .

These SIMs can be pre-ordered through Klook and Trazy. 

When pre-ordered through Klook you will need to top-up your SIM yourself.

The SIMs pre-ordered through Trazy will have a starting balance of KRW 11,000, enough for about 42 minutes of domestic calling. You can add more credits if necessary.

Both options are similar in price. KRW 11,000 is about 7 USD at the time of writing and the preloaded SIM is also 7 USD more expensive than the other one. So you do not financially benefit by choosing the preloaded option, it is just a matter of convenience. You can start calling right away and you don’t have to worry about the top-up process.

At Klook you have to select the package option “data + domestic call and texts (extra topup)”.

In addition to voice calls the SIMs also offer unlimited data.  Trazy stipulates 3GB of data at high speed per day + unlimited data at 5Mbps.  Klook doesn’t mention a fair usage policy.  Assuming it is the same we can safely state that this is more than sufficient for most users.

Check prices and availability:

KT Olleh voice + text SIM Klook

KT Olleh voice + text SIM Trazy

Pocket WiFi or Data SIM Korea – what is best

Both are perfect options to stay connected.  

During our past journeys, we used both. 

A WiFi device might be somewhat easier because all you need to do is turn it on and connect to the broadcasted WiFi signal. It is, of course, an extra device to drag along.

Below are some pros and cons of each.

Pocket WiFi for Korea

The main reason to opt for a pocket WiFi device would be that you don’t need to switch SIMs and you don’t need to change any settings on your phone.  You just need to make sure that your data connection is disabled to avoid any nasty data roaming fees. 

This is great if you’re not really tech-savvy and another advantage is that friends, family, work relations and anybody else who has your phone number will be able to reach you as if you were home.

If you want people to be able to reach you at all times then this is probably the best option.

Another advantage is that you can share the internet connection. Some devices support just 3 simultaneous connections, others as much as 10. Some smartphones have a hotspot function that does the same but in our experience, this function drains the phone’s battery pretty quickly.

The principal disadvantage of a pocket WiFi device is that it is one extra device that you need to carry around and that you will need to charge on a daily basis if you use it frequently.

Check prices and availability: Pocket WIFI device

or read our detailed post about the best pocket WiFi rental for Korea.

Prepaid SIM card in Korea

The moment that you install the local tourist SIM in your phone people will no longer be able to reach you on your home carrier’s number.  This may be a blessing, it’s time for a vacation after all. 

If you don’t mind cutting the ties with the home front for the duration of your holiday then a SIM card is by far still the most convenient option if you’re traveling solo or if you will not be sharing the connection with anyone else.

Everybody will still be able to contact you on Skype, as well as other similar tools such as Google Hangouts, or if you prefer you can opt for a SIM which supports voice+data. 

If you opt for such a SIM you will get a local phone number which you could share with relatives at home.

Below is an overview of the different South Korean tourist SIM cards. We included all the important details to help you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Network providers in South Korea

South Korea has the fastest 4G network in the world.  Regardless of which network you use,  you will surf at speeds that you probably can only dream of at home.

The three mobile operators in South Korea are LG U+, SK Telecom, and KT.  They all have an excellent coverage of the country. LG U+ is the winner with a coverage of 99,5% but both other operators also achieve a coverage of at least 95%.

The average download speed is a whopping 40 Mbps, SK Telecom even achieves 65 Mbps.  Upload speeds are lightning-fast as well. 

You will enjoy at least 10 Mbps with peaks to 15 Mbps with the networks of SK Telecom and LG U+.

All these figures just to show that you don’t need to worry too much about the operator when you choose your SIM card.

What you need to know and check before buying a Korean travel SIM

When you rent a Korean Pocket WiFi device you can be sure that it works. Before you buy a travel SIM you better check a few things to avoid some nasty surprises.

Here’s a checklist of the things to check before placing your order.

What you need to know before buying a SIM card for South Korea

Make sure to check these 3 things about your phone. 

Googling “technical specs X” where you replace X with the model of your phone should tell you everything you need to know.

Which size of SIM card do you need

Over the years the size of SIM cards has decreased.  Old models had the standard SIM, newer phones use the Micro-SIM and the Nano-SIM.

Almost all Korean travel SIM’s are so-called multi-size SIM’s which means they can be adapted to the required size.

You can’t do anything wrong with these multi-size SIMs but if the operator only offers Nano SIMs (like some do) you better check in advance if this is the right size for your phone.

To check what kind of SIM you need you can open your phone or you can check the technical specifications.

Is your phone unlocked?

Locked phones will not work in South Korea, they come with software that prevents them from being used on another network. 

If your phone is locked you might be able to unlock it by calling your phone carrier. 

Locking phones is not common in Europe but many US, Canadian and Japanese carriers lock phones that are bought through them.

Does your phone or pocket WiFi device works in Korea

If your phone is not compatible with the country’s network it will not work.

These are the network frequencies used by SK Telecom and KT Olleh, the two providers which offer tourist SIM cards in South Korea:

• 4G LTE Bands: Band 1(2100MHz), Band 3(1800MHz), Band 5(850MHz), Band 8(900MHz)
• 3G Bands: HSDPA 2100MHz/HSDPA+

Make sure to check if your phone supports these frequencies.  The technical specs of your phone will show the supported frequencies or you could  check this page for your telephone .

What to check before buying a South Korean SIM Card

There are of course important differences between the different SIM cards. Here we indicate what to look for when choosing your Korean SIM card.

Data or Data + Voice

Data-only SIM cards are by far the most common flavor among the tourist SIM cards. 

For most visitors, this type of SIM will be all they need. You can’t make any voice calls, and you cannot send text messages either, but you can still call and text using Skype, Whatsapp, Google Hangouts, and other similar apps. 

If you do need a local phone number you will need to choose a Data+Voice SIM.

All prepaid SIM cards can be used for a certain number of days.  This period starts when you activate the SIM. In some cases this period can be extended, it is not guaranteed so be sure to check whether extensions are possible when you order your SIM.  

If extensios are not possible you could see if it is possible to buy 2 cards. However, not all providers allow multiple cards to be purchased by the same person.

In any case, the maximum rental period is 90 days. For longer periods a residence card will be required.

Data allowance

Many SIM cards offer unlimited data but the fair usage policy (FUP) varies wildly among the different options.  A fair usage policy means that the speed will be throttled after a certain amount of data is used in a certain period of time, usually over the course of a day.

Some providers will cap the speed after 2 or 3 GB is used in one day.  This is, in our experience, relatively generous.  3GB is the equivalent of browsing the internet for 36 hours, streaming 600 songs, or watching 6 hours of standard definition video.

Others only allow 500 MB of high-speed data per day.  This is sufficient if you will only occasionally connect to the internet but you will quickly reach the limits of this subscription if you stream audio, video or often check your social media canals.

Once you reach the data limit the speed is reduced to either 3G or 2G.  A speed that may be workable to check some basic webpages but frustrating low if you’re used to 4G.

Sometimes the cards can be topped up to increase the FUP but this is an exception rather than the rule.

In our below overview you can see all the details about the fair usage policy and if the card can be topped-up we also mention this.

Some SIM cards are shipped (for free) but most SIMs need to be collected at the airport. 

• Make sure to write down or print out the details of the pick-up location as well as the opening hours. (you will not be able to access the internet until after you’ve picked-up your SIM)
• In some cases, the order page or the confirmation mail includes a small map that shows where to pick up your SIM.  As you will not have internet until after you have collected your SIM it is a good idea to print this map or you could store it locally on your phone.  
• Not all collection points are open 24/7.  Make sure to check if the location will be open at the time you arrive and bear in mind that you will need to pass migration. It’s also best to provide a little margin in case your flight ends up being delayed.
• Gimpo Airport: Arrivals hall, Exit 1
• Busan Gimhae: Arrival hall, Exit 3
• Busan Harbor: Passengers terminal, 2nd floor of the arrivals hall, Exit 4

Korea SIM card with airport pick-up

Preorder your korea sim card online.

Here’s an overview of the different prepaid Korean SIM cards you can preorder online. The overview is organized by provider. 

For each, we list the most important details, if you need more information you can click on the associated links.

The advantage of ordering your Korean SIM card in advance

If you have just come from a long-haul flight, you are probably drowsy and not in the best shape to make a decision about which SIM you need. 

For this reason, we advise you to pre-order your South Korea SIM card online and have it sent to your home address or ready for pick-up at the airport.

Another advantage of ordering online is that you can take all the time you need to compare the different options. 

Korea SIM cards with pick-up at Seoul and/or Busan airport

Kt olleh (data or data + international calls & texts).

KT, short for Korea Telecom, is South Korea’s largest telephone company. Olleh is the brand name used for cellular broadband services. 

You can choose a data-only SIM or a prepaid SIM card that also supports outgoing voice calls and text messages.  

SIM cards from KT can be pre-ordered online from:

• GetYourGuide : data-only SIM, incoming calls and text messages are supported. The SIM can be topped up to make voice calls. 
• Klook : data-only SIM or prepaid SIM that supports voice+text
• Trazy : data-only SIM with top-up possibilities or preloaded SIM (The prepaid SIM comes with a starting balance of KRW 11,000, enough for 42 minutes of domestic calls)
• KKDay : short-term data-only SIM (Incoming calls and text messages are supported. The SIM can be topped up to make voice calls. ) or long-term preloaded SIM that supports calls

All SIMs, including the data-only SIMs, support incoming calls and text messages.  These are always free. Only the single-day card that can be ordered through Trazy does not come with a local Korean number.

All SIM cards can be recharged and extended online .  You have to do this before they expire.

• Size: Multi-size SIM cards (Normal, Nano and Micro).  The SIM can be adapted to work in any mobile phone.
• Network: KT Olleh
• Duration: 1 day (only available on Trazy), 5 days, 10 days or 30 days
• Not all websites offer all pick-up options.
• Make sure to check the opening hours of the pick-up locations, most are not open 24/7.
• When you order with Klook you can choose between  Seoul Incheon airport  terminal 1 & 2
• GetYourGuide offers Incheon, Busan, and Gimpo airport + 2 downtown Seoul locations. (Hongdae & Myeong-dong)
• At Trazy you can select to pick up the SIM at Incheon, Gimpo, or Busan airport. They also have pick-up locations at the Hongik University Subway station and the Myeongdong Subway station.
• Activation: The SIM card will be activated at the counter.  If, for some reason, the SIM would not work a refund will be arranged.  Data-only SIM’s can be activated at a later date if you prefer. If you want to activate your prepaid SIM on a later date you will need to inform the staff at the moment of pick-up.
• Topping Up: Is only required if you want to make voice-calls or send text messages.

GetYourGuide: Data-only SIM ( top-up for voice calls possible )

• 5 days: KRW 35,700
• 10 days: KRW 47,590
• 20 days: KRW 74.787
• 30 days: KRW 90,079

Check prices and availability: SIM Getyourguide

Klook: Data-only SIM ( top-up for voice calls possible )

• 5 days: KRW 24,400
• 10 days: KRW 34,700
• 20 days: KRW 60.500
• 30 days: KRW 64,400

Check prices and availability: Data only SIM Klook

Pay attention to select the correct service type when you order

  Trazy: data-only SIM

At the time of writing there’s an ongoing promo. The first price is the promo price, the second is the regular price.

• 1 day: KRW 5,900 – KRW 6,600
• 5 days: KRW 24,800 – KRW 27,500
• 10 days: KRW 33,000 – KRW 38,500
• 20 days: KRW 54.450 – KRW 60,500
• 30 days: KRW 62,000 – KRW 71,500

Check prices and availability: SIM voice Korea Trazy

Trazy SIM Including 11,000 KRW for voice calls

• 1 day: KRW 5,900 – KRW 6,600 (data-only, no voice calls supported)
• 5 days: KRW 35,800 – KRW 38,500
• 10 days: KRW 44,000 – KRW 49,500
• 20 days: KRW 64.450 – KRW 71,500
• 30 days: KRW 73,000 – KRW 82,500

Check prices and availability: Data + domestic calls and texts Klook

KT Olleh (data + unlimited domestic calls & texts)

This SIM is interesting if you won’t be making international phone calls. The calling rate of this SIM card is cheaper.

You are able to receive an unlimited number of international and domestic phone calls and text messages and you can call for 100 minutes to domestic numbers.  You’re also able to send 100 domestic text messages.

The data plan is unlimited.  There is a fair usage policy.  Your speed will be throttled to 400Kbps after you’ve used 10Gb of data.

The SIM card can be extended once for a maximum of 30 days.  The price to extend the duration of the SIM is KRW 3,000/day.  

• Size: Multi-size SIM cards (Normal, Nano, and Micro).  You get a Nano SIM card with an adapter to the Micro and Normal format.
• Duration: 5 days, 7 days,10 days, 15 days, or 30 days
• Pick-up:  The SIM card can be collected at Seoul Incheon airport terminal 1. Make your way to the CU convenience store on the 1st level between arrival gates D & E.  The card can be picked up 24/7. 
• Activation: Somebody is available on-site from 12 PM to 6 PM to help with the activation.   You can also register and activate the card yourself .
• Topping Up: Topping up is not possible.
• 5 days: KRW 24,500 – KRW 29,900
• 7 days: KRW 29,900 – KRW 33,490
• 10 days: KRW 34,200 – KRW 39,900
• 15 days: KRW 43,200 – KRW 50,490
• 30 days: KRW 63,100 – KRW 73,900

Check prices and availability: KT Olleh data + domestic calls

KT Olleh (longer stays )

This SIM card can be used for stays from 30 to 90 days.  It comes in 4 flavors.  3 variants have an initial duration of 30 days and can be extended twice for another 30 days. Maximum two extensions are possible, up to 90 days, unless you have a Residence Card. 

The extensions can be done online, a manual with the steps to do so will be provided together with your SIM.

The fourth SIM is valid for 90 days out of the box.

Let’s have a look at the different options in detail:

30-day data-lite SIM – KRW 36,400 (Normal price KRW 45,100)

This SIM card offers:

• Unlimited domestic calls and text messages
• All incoming calls are free
• 300 MB of high-speed 4G/LTE data.  Once this has been consumed you will get unlimited data at a limited speed of 3Mbps.
• Extend this SIM for another 30 days at KRW 36,400 (2 extensions MAX)

30-day data-heavy SIM – KRW 58,800 (Normal price KRW 67,300)

• 10 GB of high-speed 4G/LTE data.  Once this has been consumed you will get unlimited data at a limited speed of 3Mbps.

30-day data-max SIM with limited calls – KRW 43,500 (Normal price KRW 48,400)

• 100 minutes of local calls, additional calls cost 1.98 won/sec
• 100 local text messages, additional messages cost 22 won/message
• 15 GB of high-speed 4G/LTE data.  Once 15GB has been consumed your speed is throttled to 3Mbps until the end of your contract.
• The SIM cannot be topped-up. When additional costs are incurred these will shorten the duration of your contract.
• Extend this SIM for another 30 days at KRW 39,600 (2 extensions MAX)

90-day Prepaid SIM card – KRW 39,900 – KRW 74,900 (Normal price KRW 62,800 – KRW 112,800 )

• This is a prepaid SIM card. You can choose from a prepaid balance of KRW 50,000 or KRW 100,000 to start. The card can be topped up during your 90-day period.
• The balance is used towards messages, calls, and data
• Data: 20.84 won/MB
• Calls: domestic 1.98 won/sec ( Rates for international calls can be found here .)
• SMS: 22 won/message
• The possibility to make international calls

The following details apply to all 4 plans:

• Size: Multi-size SIM cards (Normal, Nano, and Micro).
• Duration: 30 days, 60 days, 90 days 
• Pick-up:  The SIM card can be collected at the KT Office near Hongik University Station or the Myeongdong Subway station.   Pay close attention to the opening hours of the pick-up locations.
• Activation: The SIM card will be activated instantly.
• Topping Up: Only the 90-day SIM card can be topped up.

KKDay Short-Term SIM

This SIM card can be used for a duration of 1 day, 5 days, 10 days, 20 days, or 30 days. The 1-day variant does not have a Korean Phone Number, all other options can also be used to make calls. You will need to top-up the card if you plan on doing so.

The duration of the card can be extended up to 90 days.

• 1 day: KRW 5,972
• 5 days: KRW 25,317
• 10 days: KRW 35,314
• 20 days: KRW 58,425
• 30 days: KRW 65,696

Check prices and availability: KKDay short-term SIM

KKDay Long-Term SIM

This SIM card can be used for 30 days. The duration can be extended twice, up to 90 days.

It comes with a credit of 11,000 KRW that can be used for outgoing calls and messages. You can reload the card in increments of 11,000 KRW.

• 30 days: KRW 45,441

Check prices and availability: KKDay long-term SIM

Korea SIM cards with pick-up at Jeju airport

Unfortunately, there are no SIMs available for pick-up at Jeju. If you will be in Seoul before you go to Jeje you can use one of the above SIM cards. If not, have a look at the next section to see if there’s a SIM that can be shipped internationally to your home address.

Another alternative would be an E-SIM if your phone supports this.

SK Telecom is the country’s largest wireless operator.  They have a roaming desk at Jeju international airport where you can collect your SIM card. The cards can be pre-ordered at Klook and Trazy.

The SIM cards support incoming calls and text messages but you cannot make voice calls or send text messages.  All incoming calls and texts, both domestic and international, are free.  

• Size: Multi-size SIM cards (Normal, Nano and Micro).  The SIM can be adapted to fit in any mobile phone.
• Network: SK Telecom
• Duration: 1 day, 3 days (only on Klook), 5 days, 10 days, 20 days (only on Klook) or 30 days (only on Klook)
• Pick-up:  The SIM card can be collected at Jeju international airport, at the SKT Roaming desk on the 1st floor in the arrivals hall, open daily from 9 AM to 7 PM.
• Activation: To activate the SIM, install it in your phone and restart your phone.  We advise doing this at the counter. If the activation would not work you can arrange a full refund.  It is also possible to activate the card at a later date.
• Topping Up & Extending: This is not possible.
• Fair usage policy: If you use more than 1GB in 24 hours your speed will be capped to 3G ( 400 Kbps) for the remainder of the day.

Trazy: 

• 1 day: KRW 6,600
• 5 days: KRW 27,500
• 10 days: KRW 38,500

Check prices and availability: Trazy Korea Jeju SIM card

Klook: 

• 1 day KRW 5,800
• 3 days KRW 15,900
• 5 days KRW 24,700
• 10 days KRW 33,700
• 20 days KRW 54,000
• 30 days KRW 62,600

Check prices and availability: Jeju SIM Card Klook

Prepaid SIM cards for Korea with pick-up abroad (via Klook)

Here are a few extra options for those who live in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, China, or India.

The following providers offer SIM cards that are either shipped to your home or that can be collected at your airport of departure.

These SIM cards are sometimes cheaper than the local SIM cards.  A disadvantage is that nobody can assist you with the activation or the settings on your phone.  In the unlikely event that you would encounter problems, you will need to rely on phone or e-mail support.

Use an eSIM to stay connected in Korea

It will require a modern phone, but if your phone supports it, an eSIM might be one of the easiest, most hassle-free ways, to stay connected in Korea.

Phones that support eSIMS typically allow to have multiple network connections at once. This means that there’s no need to switch SIM cards. You can leave your physical SIM in your phone and all you need to do is scan the QR code to connect to the other network. From that point on you can switch back and forward between your 2 SIMs using your phone’s menu.

To take it one step further. Some phones support to have 2 active networks. You could keep your own SIM for voice calls and only use the Korean eSIM for data. This would be the best of both worlds. Your friends and family can still reach you on your familiar phone number while you avoid nasty roaming fees when browsing the internet in Korea.

eSIM from Airalo

Airalo eSIMs are available for a duration of 10 or 30 days and come with unlimited data packages.

These are data-only contracts so voice calls are not supported.

• Size: eSIM card.
• Network: LG U+ (LTE)
• Duration: 10 or 30 days
• Pick-up: You will find all the information in the e-mail or the app.
• Activation: You can activate the eSIM when you want to start using it. You will need a WiFi connection to activate it.
• Topping Up: Not possible. You have unlimited data with a fair usage policy. After using 3GB of data at LTE speeds your speed will be limited to 5mbps.

Use our exclusive WAPITI10OFF promo code to get an additional 10% off your Airalo eSIM.

Check prices and availability: Airalo eSIM Korea

eSIM from Frewie

You can choose from a duration of 14 or 30 days and data packages of 15 GB or 30 GB. Once your data threshold is reached your speed will be downgraded to 128 kbps. If you want to continue surfing at high speed you can top-up your SIM.

• Size: eSIM card. You will receive a QR in the mail to activate your SIM
• Network: KT Olleh & SK Telecom
• Duration: 14 or 30 days
• Pick-up: the QR code to install the SIM on your phone will be mailed to you after your order. The QR code remains valid for 45 days from the moment that you ordered it.
• Activation: The SIM card will be activated at the moment that you scan the QR code. You will need a WiFi connection to activate it.
• Topping Up: Is possible.

Check prices and availability: Frewie eSIM Korea

Buying a SIM card in Korea

Your options are limited if you’re already in South Korea when you’re reading this but it is still possible to get a local SIM. 

You will either need to head back to an airport or you can visit the KT center near Hongik University Station in Seoul.

At the airport

It’s a bit unfortunate, but unless you’re still in Seoul, the only way to buy a SIM is to go back to the airport. You can buy your SIM there but in most cases, pre-ordering using one of the links above will be cheaper.

To be honest, we were surprised by how few options there are to get a SIM card as a foreigner.  Except for the airports the only place you can go to is the KT Center in downtown Seoul near the Hongik University Station.

The office is about a 3 minutes walk from the subway station (take exit 5).  It’s open daily from 9 AM until 6 PM.

This is the address: Link Korea, 2F, Floren B/D, 176-8 Donggyo-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Korea

You can head to the office and buy your SIM card on the spot or you can pre-order it online which will grant you a small discount.

KT Olleh long-term SIM

Activating your Korea Sim

We have always used KT SIMs when we were in Korea and never had any problems activating them. The last time we used this Prepaid SIM from Link Korea (see picture above).

It’s usually sufficient to insert the SIM in your phone and restart it. You may need to wait a while or restart the phone a second time if it doesn’t work the first time. If you don’t want to restart your phone you can enable/disable airplane mode a number of times.

We also have our own mobile WiFi hotspot and could use the SIM with the hotspot. The correct settings to use the SIM in a hotspot can be found here .

Our package always contained a small ejector tool to open the SIM slot of our phones along with instructions on how to set up the SIM card. Below are images of the instructions for both Apple and Android.

We have always used one of the KT Olleh SIMs in Korea and it turned out to be invaluable. We used Naver maps during our road trip as well as many other local apps.  The connection was always stable and very fast.

Previously, when there were no tourist SIM cards, we managed to discover a country without them, but since the introduction of these SIMs it has become much easier to discover off-the-beaten-path locations. 

It helps to travel deeper and get a better, less touristy experience of South Korea.

All information is accurate at the time of writing (March 2023).

We will regularly update this article but if you notice any changes we would appreciate it if you let us know so we can update our post.

Enjoy South Korea!