Things visitors ask

Probably not.
Around 110 nationalities can come in visa-free, with the length depending on the passport, usually 30, 60, or 90 days.

Full list with the actual numbers in our Visa & K-ETA guide.

If you're from one of 67 listed countries (US, Canada, UK, the EU, Japan, Australia, plus a few more), you're K-ETA-exempt through Dec 31, 2026.
So nothing to do before flying.

If your country is visa-free but not on that exempt list, you'll still need to apply at k-eta.go.kr.
Do it at least 72 hours before your flight, otherwise you'll get pulled aside at boarding.

30, 60, or 90 days depending on your passport.
The exact number for each country is in the /visa table.

Card, basically everywhere.
Even most street food stalls take cards now.
Visa and Mastercard work without issues; American Express is hit-or-miss.

That said, keep about ₩50,000 in small bills for traditional markets, temples, and the occasional taxi driver who prefers cash.

If you spend ₩15,000 or more in one go at a tax-refund store (you'll see the sticker on the door), ask for a tax-refund slip and show your passport.

At the airport, process the refund at the kiosk before you go through security.
Full walkthrough on /tax-refund.

No, don't bother.
Rates at Incheon Airport, and especially at the Myeongdong street kiosks, are usually better than what you'll get back home.

Or skip cash entirely and use a no-FX-fee card.
Most travelers do.

AREX is the default.
The express train runs straight to Seoul Station, takes about 50 minutes, costs ₩9,500.

Limousine buses are 60-80 minutes depending on traffic and drop you near major hotels.
Taxis are ₩70,000+ and not really worth it unless you're landing late and tired.

A pre-paid travel card you tap at gates.
Works on subway, bus, and most taxis.

Buy one at any convenience store (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) or at the airport, then top it up at any subway station.
Way cheaper than buying single tickets each ride.
More on /transit.

For driving and public transit, yes.
For walking directions, no, it's often just wrong here.
Korea restricts mapping data exports for security reasons, so Google's walking layer is incomplete.

Use Naver Map or Kakao Map for anything on foot.
Both have English now.

If your phone supports eSIM (most iPhones since X, most newer Pixels), get an eSIM.
Cheapest, and you don't swap your home SIM out.

If not, grab a physical SIM at the airport, easiest path.
Pocket Wi-Fi only makes sense if 3+ travelers are sharing one device.

SIM and eSIM kiosks are at both Incheon and Gimpo airports (KT Roaming, SK, Olleh).
Or pre-book on Trazy or Klook for slightly cheaper.

Expect ₩15,000-30,000 for 5-10 days of unlimited data.

Honestly, better than most countries.
Free Wi-Fi is on every subway station, in cafés, malls, and most restaurants.

Fine for email and quick lookups.
But for navigation, get a SIM, you don't want to be stuck without data on a Hongdae backstreet.

Yes, and it's actually very good.
Private clinics in Seoul accept walk-ins, and many in Apgujeong and Cheongdam have English-speaking staff.

Pricing is usually clearer than what you're used to back home, and often cheaper than US or EU rates.
Early notes live at /healseoul.

We'd recommend it.
If you end up at a Korean private hospital without insurance, a specialist visit can run into the high hundreds.

EU EHIC isn't honored here, so don't rely on it.

Yes, including at night.
Seoul is one of the safest large cities in the world.
Solo travelers, late subway rides, walking home at 2am, all normal.

You'll see people leave laptops and phones on café tables to hold their seat.
That's how casual it is.
Just keep the usual urban awareness in nightlife districts (Itaewon, Gangnam): watch your drink, watch your bag.

Police: 112.
Fire and ambulance: 119.

Tourism hotline: 1330.
Free from any phone, 24/7, with English / Chinese / Japanese support.
They'll also help with translation, taxi disputes, lost items, basically anything tourist-shaped.

First, go to the nearest police station and file a report.
Call 1330 if you need translation help getting there.

Then contact your embassy in Seoul to get an emergency travel document.
Most major embassies cluster around Gwanghwamun and Itaewon, so it's usually a short subway ride.

Call 119 if it's an emergency.
For non-urgent care after hours, large hospitals like Severance (Sinchon) and Asan Medical Center (Songpa) have international healthcare centers with English-speaking staff.

Most pharmacies (약국) close around 10pm.
Some neighborhoods have a 공공심야약국 sign, that's a public night pharmacy.

A few quick things.
Don't tip, it's not customary and can sometimes confuse the staff.
Banchan (the side dishes) are free and refillable, just ask.

If you're drinking with locals, pour for others first, not yourself, especially when there's an elder at the table.
And wait to be seated unless you see a number-tag system at the entrance.

No. Tipping isn't a thing here, and many restaurants already include a service charge in the bill.

Pushing cash on a server can be awkward for them.
The only exceptions are hotels and tour guides, where international norms apply.

At hanok (traditional) restaurants, temples, and private homes: yes.
At regular Western-style restaurants and cafés: no.

The visual cue is a step-up onto a raised wooden platform.
If you see one, shoes off.
There'll be cubbies or a shelf near the entrance.

Yes, completely.
No paywalls, no email walls.
More about who we are.

Yes.
Bookmarks live in this browser only, no account, no email.
See your saved list.

Email contact@dealseoul.com with the page URL.

We're a small team and usually fix it within the same week.