Today we’ll explain what you need to know before traveling to South Korea.
Safety
South Korea is an incredibly safe country. Crime rates are low, although it is recommended to take precautions with your passport and to avoid theft. There have also been some cases of sexual assault and chemical subjugation against foreign women.
It’s so safe that people leave their belongings on the cafeteria table and go quietly to order food.
At the Seoul train station, people left their bags in the hallway and went to the bathroom. Without any remorse.
The Korean Police have a tourist police service available to travelers in major tourist areas.
There is a risk of typhoons during the rainy season, between July and September. For up-to-date information, please visit the Korea Meteorological Agency website:
https://www.kma.go.kr/eng/index.jsp
To travel to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), you must take a guided tour. It is not possible to visit it independently. We recommend the one we hired.
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Healthcare
Healthcare in South Korea is incredibly expensive. Its hospitals are in optimal condition for any type of procedure.
Hospitalization requires a deposit covering the expected cost of medical care, and in some cases, a guarantor statement from a Korean citizen is required.
It’s best to travel with good medical insurance. We always travel with IATI. They specialize in travel insurance, and as a reader, you’ll get a 5% discount.
Transport in South Korea
Bus
Buses are the most popular form of transportation in South Korea. They’re fairly cheap and very efficient, although all the ones we used were quite old.
Buses can reach almost anywhere in the country. You can check all schedules and prices on the official KOBUS website.
Train
The train is considerably faster, but it won’t take you everywhere, but it will reach the country’s main cities.
You can check all schedules and prices on the official KORAIL website.
Taxi
Taxis in South Korea are really affordable. During the day, the base fare is around 4,000 won (€2.80). For every kilometer, the meter increases by 1,000 won (€0.70).
Between midnight and 4 a.m., the fare increases by 20%.
Travel Passes
KORAIL Pass
The KORAIL Pass is exclusively for international tourists traveling to Korea. Each pass can only be used within the designated duration (2, 3, 4, or 5 days). KORAIL Pass holders are eligible to use all KORAIL rail services, including regular tourist trains and KTX high-speed trains.
There are two types of passes: the Flexible Pass (for 2 or 4 selected days) or the Consecutive Pass (for 3 or 5 consecutive days).
Prices:
You can purchase it online without paying. With the electronic receipt, you can go to any train station with your passport and pay for it. If you reserve it but don’t pick it up, it will be canceled without any charge.
You can also purchase it directly at any station. The price is exactly the same.
Public Transport Tickets
T-Money
The T-Money card is a travel card exclusively for foreign tourists. It can also be used to pay at some affiliated stores.
It’s a wallet card that can be purchased at all convenience stores for 1,000 won (€0.70). We can top it up at the store itself and at the ticket machines at the stations.
It also saves you some money compared to paying in cash. It’s not much, but it’s also convenient to use.
To use T-Money, you must hold it to the reader both at the entrance and exit of the bus or subway turnstiles.
Single Ticket
To pay on the bus, you’ll have to put the exact amount into a machine next to the driver. Don’t try to trick him, because he’ll either be attentive or check that you have the correct amount.
The subway is a bit more complicated. When you buy a single ticket from the ticket machine, you’ll be charged an extra 500 won (€0.35) as a deposit. For example, if the ride costs 1,350 won, you’ll have to pay 1,850 won.
Once you finish your ride and exit the turnstile, you’ll need to insert it into a machine, which will refund the 500 won. The card is NOT rechargeable.
Apps for Getting Around
Google Maps doesn’t work in South Korea, which is a bit tedious. This is due to a 1947 law that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport doesn’t provide map information to Google. This was done to protect itself from North Korea, which is a country at war.
But don’t worry, there are excellent substitutes for the American app. These are the main ones:
KAKAO Maps: This is the app we use. It’s simple and has pricing information for different modes of transportation. It has an English version.
Find it on their website.
Naver Map
This is a competitor to KAKAO Maps and is similar. It’s also available in English and offers extensive information.
Find it on their website.
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