South Korea Traveler Essentials
- Capital
- Seoul
- Currency
- KRW (Won)
- Best time to visit
- April–May (cherry blossoms) and September–November (fall foliage).
Visa requirements
Most Western nationalities get 30-90 days visa-free. K-ETA may be required.
Getting around
Korea's high-speed KTX and SRT trains connect Seoul with Busan and other cities in a couple of hours, supplemented by express buses and short domestic flights. Cities have superb, cheap metro and bus systems paid with the rechargeable T-money card, and the Kakao T app is the standard way to call a taxi.
Safety
South Korea is extremely safe — one of Asia's lowest crime rates.
Tipping customs
Tipping is not part of Korean culture and is generally not expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels. Upscale hotels and restaurants may add a service charge; otherwise no tip is needed, and offering one can occasionally cause confusion.
Travel tips
Get a T-money card for transport. Korean BBQ is a must. Download Naver Maps.