KOREA TRAVEL INFORMATION
10 Things You Must Know Before Traveling to Korea
1Visa
Foreign nationals entering Korea are generally required to have a valid passport and a Korean visa:
however, some countries are permitted visa free under certain conditions (see table below).
For inquiries regarding visa, please visit the following websites:
Designated Countries & Regions Granted Visa-Free Entry to Korea
Allowed to stay in Korea for 30 days only (unless otherwise specified below) for the purposes of tourism and visitation only.
Country/Region
- Asia & Middle EastJapan (90 Days), Hong Kong, China (90 Days), Macao, China (90 Days), Chinese Taipei (90 Days), Kuwait (90 Days), Brunei, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain (90 Days) - North AmericaUnited States (90 Days), Canada (6 Months)
- South AmericaArgentina, Honduras, Paraguay, Uruguay (90 Days), Ecuador, Guyana
- EuropeAndorra, Monaco, San Marino, Cyprus, Albania, Croatia, Slovenia (90 Days), Vatican, Bosnaia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro
- OceaniaAustralia (90 Days), Guam, Fiji, Nauru, Palau, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga
- AfricaSouth Africa, Mauritius, Seychelles, Eswatini, Egypt
2Korean Currency and Money Exchange
Korea's official monetary unit is the won.(₩, KRW)
Korean Bills
-
fifty thousand won(o-man-won)
-
ten thousand won(man-won)
-
five thousand won(o-cheon-won)
-
one thousand won(cheon-won)
-
Money Exchange
When you need to exchange your foreign currency
into Korean won, visit a bank or authorized exchange service centers. -
Credit Card
Most businesses in Korea widely accept payment by credit cards, including major hotels, department stores and shops. Be sure check the service availability before
making any purchases. - ATM Global ATMs exclusively for international travelers are readily available for those who need to withdraw cash in Korean won.
- Traveler’s Check Traveler's checks can be exchanged for cash at banks or exchange booths; however, very few stores accept checks these days.
3Business Hours
- Banks
- Weekdays : 09:00-16:00
- Exceptions : Standard Chartered Bank weekdays 09:30-16:30, Everrich Bank weekdays 09:00-16:30
- Closed on : weekends & public holidays
- Government Offices and Organizations
- Weekdays : 09:00-18:00
- Closed on : weekends & public holidays
- Post Offices
- Weekdays : 09:00-18:00
- Closed on : weekends & public holidays
www.koreapost.go.kr (Korean, English)
- Department Stores
- Monday – Thursday : 10:30 – 20:00
- Friday – Sunday : 10:30 – 20:30
- Operating hours may vary according to store policy.
4National Holidays
Koreans officially follow the Gregorian calendar. During official holidays, offices and banks are closed but palaces, museums, most restaurants, department stores, and amusement facilities are open.
2026 Official Korean Holidays
- January 1 New Year's Day
- February 16 - 18 Seollal (Lunar New Year's Day)
- March 1 (Observed March 2) Independence Movement Day
- May 5 Children's Day
- May 24 (Observed May 25) Buddha's Birthday
- June 3 Local Election Day
- June 6 Memorial Day
- August 15 Liberation Day
- September 24 - 26 Chuseok(Korea Thanksgiving Day)
- October 3 National Foundation Day
- October 9 Hangeul Day (Korean Alphabet Day)
- December 25 Christmas
5Electricity/Voltage
The standard voltage in Korea is 220 volts. The outlet has two round holes and is same type as that of which are used in France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Turkiye, and many other countries.
If you do not have a travel adapter, you can borrow one from your hotel's front desk. It is available for purchase in duty-free shops or convenience stores at Incheon International Airport.
6Weather
You can enjoy all four seasons in Korea. Summer starts on June until August, Autumn begins on September until early November, the weather drops negative during winter on December until March, and everything blossoms on spring from April to May.
Make sure to bring the appropriate clothing for the time you visit Korea.
Average Weather in Korea
| Element | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May. | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum temperature(°C) |
-5.9 | -3.4 | 1.6 | 7.8 | 13.2 | 18.2 | 21.9 | 22.4 | 17.2 | 10.3 | 3.2 | -3.2 |
| Maximum temperature(°C) |
1.5 | 4.7 | 10.4 | 17.8 | 23.0 | 27.1 | 28.6 | 29.6 | 25.8 | 19.8 | 11.6 | 4.3 |
| Rainfall(mm) | 20.8 | 25.0 | 47.2 | 64.5 | 105.9 | 133.2 | 394.7 | 364.2 | 169.3 | 51.8 | 52.5 | 21.5 |
7Connectivity/Wi-Fi
As a leading nation in information technology, Korea provides one of the best internet connections worldwide.
Enjoy the world’s fastest internet speed through Wi-Fi for your convenience during your time in Korea.
8Transportation
You can always rely on Korea's public transportation to take you from one point to another. From express trains, subways, buses - everything is very easy to use, plus you can always expect them to arrive on time.
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- Purchase a Transportation Card
- To avoid buying a ticket each time you ride a subway or search for coins and bills when paying taxis and buses, a transportation card is a must-buy! You can buy or recharge them on stations or convenience stores.
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- Look for International Taxis
- Taxis in Korea are super-convenient, safe, and are often cheaper than those in the West. International Taxis are available in major cities, and the drivers can usually converse in English, Japanese, or Chinese.
9Time Difference
| Seoul, Tokyo (Korea Time) | Taipei, Manila, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore | Bangkok, Jakarta | New Delhi, Calcutta | Tehran, Kuwait, Jeddah | Hamburg, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam | London | Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo | New York, Montreal, Bogota, Toronto | Chicago, Houston | Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles | Sydney, Melbourne |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01:00 | (Previous day) 24:00 | (Previous day) 23:00 | (Previous day) 22:00 | (Previous day) 19:00 | (Previous day) 17:00 | (Previous day) 16:00 | (Previous day) 13:00 | (Previous day) 11:00 | (Previous day) 10:00 | (Previous day) 08:00 | 02:00 |
| 04:00 | 03:00 | 02:00 | 01:00 | (Previous day) 22:00 | (Previous day) (Previous day) 20:00 | (Previous day) 19:00 | (Previous day) 16:00 | (Previous day) 14:00 | (Previous day) 13:00 | (Previous day) 11:00 | 05:00 |
| 07:00 | 06:00 | 05:00 | 04:00 | 01:00 | (Previous day) 23:00 | (Previous day) 22:00 | (Previous day) 19:00 | (Previous day) 17:00 | (Previous day) 16:00 | (Previous day) 14:00 | 08:00 |
| 10:00 | 09:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 04:00 | 02:00 | 01:00 | (Previous day) 22:00 | (Previous day) 20:00 | (Previous day) 19:00 | (Previous day) 17:00 | 11:00 |
| 13:00 | 12:00 | 11:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | 05:00 | 04:00 | 01:00 | (Previous day) 23:00 | (Previous day) 22:00 | (Previous day) 20:00 | 14:00 |
| 16:00 | 15:00 | 14:00 | 13:00 | 10:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 04:00 | 02:00 | 01:00 | (Previous day) 23:00 | 17:00 |
| 19:00 | 18:00 | 17:00 | 16:00 | 13:00 | 11:00 | 10:00 | 07:00 | 05:00 | 04:00 | 02:00 | 20:00 |
| 22:00 | 21:00 | 20:00 | 19:00 | 16:00 | 14:00 | 13:00 | 11:00 | 08:00 | 07:00 | 05:00 | 23:00 |
*Please note the there is no daylight savings in Korea.
10Helpful Numbers
Finally, make sure to have some of these numbers registered on your mobile in case of emergency situations or to ask assistance while traveling.
- Korea Travel Hotline, 1330
-
Available 24/7, you can call and ask assistance for any travel related issues or complaints when in Korea.
Service is offered in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese.
- Emergency Calls
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- Police Department 112
- Fire Department 119
- Medical Emergencies 1339
- How to call Korea
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- IDD + Country code + Area Code + Tel. number
- Country code : 82
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Area code :
- Seoul2
- Gyeonggi31
- Incheon32
- Gangwon 33
- Chungnam41
- Daejeon42
- Chungbuk43
- Sejong44
- Busan51
- Ulsan52
- Daegu53
- Gyeongbuk54
- Gyeongnam55
- Jeonnam61
- Gwangju62
- Jeonbuk63
- Jeju64
- *IDD - International Direct Dialing / Exit Code
- Lost and Found, 182
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- National Police Agency, 97, Tongil-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
- www.lost112.go.kr
(Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)