

South Korea

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South Korea

South Korea Banner.jpg


Beomeosa Temple, Busan
South Korea in its region.svg
Flag of South Korea.svg
Quick Facts
Capital Seoul
Government presidential republic
Currency Won (₩, KRW)
Area 98,480km²
land: 98,190km²
water: 290km²
Population 51,302,044(2014 estimate)
Language Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Electricity 220V, 60Hz (C & F type "German" plugs)
Country code +82
Internet TLD .kr
Time Zone UTC +9



" Be mindful of every little pleasure in life, by living every day like it’s your last day." — Jin Kwon


Prehistory and founding of a nation[edit]

Archaeological finds of prehistoric toolmaking on the Korean Peninsula date back to 70,000 BC, and the first pottery is found around 8000 BC. Neolithic era comb-pattern pottery culture peaked around 3500-2000BC.

Legend has it that Korea began with the founding of Gojoseon (also called Ancient Chosun) by the legendary Dangun in 2333 BC. Archaeological and contemporaneous written records of Gojoseon as a kingdom date back to around 7th-4th century BC, functioning as a loose confederacy of smaller polities. The western half fell to the encroaching Han Dynasty of China and its territories were governed by remote outposts, but was a tenuous foothold and the natives of the peninsula and Manchuria soon reclaimed the territory, namely the Three Kingdoms of Korea, Goguryeo, Silla, and Baekje. Despite repeated attempts by China, namely the Sui Dynasty and later the Tang Dynasty, to conquer the Korean Peninsula, northern-based Goguryeo managed to repel them. Eventually, Goguryeo fell to a Silla-Tang alliance, which had earlier defeated Baekje. This "unified" Korea began under the Silla dynasty, however true political and cultural unification would not be be achieved until the Goryeo dynasty, after absorbing Goguryeo remnants (Balhae) in 926. Even though Tang later invaded, Silla forces managed to drive them out, thus maintaining Korea's independence.


Japanese occupation[edit]

Rapid modernization stirred by the Second Industrial Revolution created tension between China and Japan as they felt the pressures of Western expansionism, each wanting to extend their influence over Korea. This eventually led to the Sino-Japanese War in 1894, which took place on the Korean Peninsula, devastating the Joseon. It put Japan in a position to extend its imperialism into Korea without fear of Chinese intervention. Then in 1905, Japan defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War, making Korea a protectorate until they were finally able to annex Korea in 1910, thus beginning a 35-year occupation of the country. Despite numerous armed rebellions, assassinations and intellectual and cultural resistance, suppression and a cultural assimilation policy that included forcing Koreans to take Japanese names and forbidding them to speak the Korean language allowed Japan to maintain colonial control.




Republic of Korea[edit]


The downsides of South Korea's economical growth, however, included heavy censorship, authoritarian governments (i.e, the 2nd Republic led by former military leader Park Chung-Hee, which would last from 1962 to Park's murder in 1979) and multiple human rights violations (illegal detentions, torture, straight-up murder, etc., like the infamous Gwangju Massacre from 1980) Demands for greater freedom of press and human rights fomented to nationwide demonstrations that led to democratic elections in 1987, just prior to the South Korean capital of Seoul hosting the 1988 Summer Olympic Games.


The country elected its first female president, Park Chung-Hee's daughter Park Geun-hye, in 2012. However, between 2016 and 2017 she was impeached and then removed from office on charges related to influence peddling by her top aide, Choi Soon-sil. Moon Jae-in was elected as President in new elections held in 2017.



Namdaemun Gate, Seoul

South Korea is a very homogeneous country, with nearly all native residents identifying themselves as ethnically Korean and speaking the Korean language. The largest resident minority are the Chinese, numbering around 20,000-30,000. However, there is a number of foreign laborers from China, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, and other parts of world as well as English teachers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa and the United States. South Korea's large and growing economy has attracted people from all over the world and Seoul's status as a leading financial center has brought many financial workers from North America, Europe and Japan. Today, over one million foreigners reside in South Korea.

It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, but also has one of the world's lowest birth rates (1.21 children per woman). Currently there are 105.3 males for every 100 females, and that ratio is expected to reverse in 2020. There are various explanations to the cause of the low birth rate, such as more women in the work place, social conditions that do not encourage child rearing along with a career, job insecurity and long working hours, etc. About 85% of South Koreans live in urban areas. This encourages many Korean men in rural areas to seek wives from other countries such as China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Eastern Europe. This is also steadily becoming a social issue that South Korea will eventually need to tackle, as it hinders Korean reunification: an ideology that is based on the concept of race-nation.

Though East Asian tourists have been visiting Korea in droves since the turn of the millennium due to the Korean Wave (also known as 한류 hallyu), it is still largely off the radar of most Western tourists. As such, having locals stare or listen to your conversations is still somewhat a common experience among Westerners visiting Korea. Children in particular will approach you or shout a "Hi!" in passing. Much of this is done out of curiosity and eagerness to hear English spoken by native speakers. Although most Koreans have been educated in English since elementary school and most companies set a premium on possessing a certain level of fluency, English speakers are less common than one might think especially if one travels outside Seoul. However, many city dwellers can speak at a basic level and understand a substantial amount of English. Tourists will normally find Koreans to be quite friendly and helpful when trying to find their way around.


Decoration of a royal palace, Changdeokgung, Seoul

Because of the peninsula's mountainous topography and isolationist policies of the last ruling dynasty, to the point where it was known as the "Hermit Kingdom", Korea retains a distinct cultural identity despite being surrounded by larger, historically imperialistic neighbors. "The irony of history", writes the historian Wontack Hong, had Korea joined their Manchurian cousins with the Mongols of Inner Mongolia in their imperial ambitions of taking over China, Koreans would be "buried in oblivion" with the rest of the ethnic minorities of modern China. With the Khitan and Manchu disappearing into the history books, Korea is the oldest and last surviving Northeast Asian civilization. This insularity can perhaps be viewed as the reason of its success. There are some linguistic and cultural similarities with Turkic and Tungusic people, however Korean culture developed to where it became an enigma even in Northeast Asia; the Korean language is one of the handful that has no genetic relationship with any other language family. In ancient times, its location as a maritime hub played a role in spreading advanced Chinese culture throughout Northeast Asia, most notably to Japan, as such Chinese influences are evident in various parts of traditional Korean culture.

During the Joseon dynasty, Korea's dominant philosophy was called Neo-Confucianism. People were separated into a rigid hierarchy, with the king at the apex, an elite of officials and warriors and a small group of nobility below him, a middle class of merchants below them, and then a vast population of peasants. The educated were superior to the uneducated, women served men, and everybody stuck to a defined role or faced severe consequences. Korea adopted its own version of the imperial examination system invented by and used in China to select officials, creating somewhat of a premodern meritocracy for government like its Chinese counterpart. Buddhism waned during the twilight years of the Goryeo, largely due to the rise of Confucianism, with classical scholars rejecting indigenous religions while monks were quite sympathetic with nativists and would see the value of preserving myths and folklore. While the Joseon dynasty ceased to exist in 1910, its legacy lives on in Korean culture: education and hard work are valued above all else.


Korea has a significant number of Christians (31%) and Buddhists (22%), with churches dotting the towns and temples and monasteries on hills. However, slightly less than a third of the country professes to follow no particular organized religion but most, if not all, are strongly influenced by traditional Korean Buddhist and Confucian philosophies that have been seeped into the Korean cultural background.


Baseball was brought to Korea by American missionaries in 1905 and is the most popular sport in the country. Football (soccer) gained popularity when the South Korean national team reached the Korea-Japan World Cup semi-finals in 2002. Other popular sports include golf and basketball. Badminton, table tennis and bowling are also popular and facilities for the public are widely available in cities. Korean martial arts such as taekwondo are also popular. Golf particularly has a strong following, with membership fees for Korea's top golf clubs being more expensive than those in neighbouring Japan. Also, many of the world's top female golfers originate from Korea or are of Korean descent.










  • Orininal (어린이날): means children's day, 5th May


Korea has four distinct seasons:

  • Spring is a great time of year to be in Korea. The temperatures are warm but not hot and there's not too much rain either. However, spring is also the time when yellow dust blows over from China. Some days can be horrible to breathe because of this. The many hills in Korea come alive with soft pink cherry blossoms.
  • Summer starts with a dreary rainy season (장마철,jangma-cheol) in June and turns into a steambath in July-August, with extreme humidity and the temperature heading as high as 35°C (95°F). Best avoided unless heading to the beaches. Summer is a suitable season for go swimming to the beach in Korea. Moreover, trees in summer are in leaf.






natural wonderland; Seoraksan National Park, east-coast beaches and ski resorts. Notable Places: Chuncheon, Sokcho, Donghae.
North Chungcheong
South Chungcheong
North Gyeongsang
South Gyeongsang
known for its gorgeous seaside cities and most respected temples. Notable Places: Busan, Geoje, Jinhae, Haeinsa Temple, Jinju.
North Jeolla
Great Korean food. Notable Places: Jeonju
South Jeolla
South Korean claimed provinces of North Korea.



Other destinations[edit]

  • Jirisan National Park — the oldest, largest and probably most famous national park of South Korea
  • Guinsa — spectacular mountain headquarters of the Buddhist Cheondae sect
  • Ulleungdo — scenic remote island off the east coast of peninsula

Get in[edit]

Visa-free entry[edit]

  • Citizens of Canada are allowed visa free entry for up to 180 days.


Military personnel travelling under the SOFA for South Korea are not required to possess a passport for entry, provided they hold a copy of their travel orders and a military ID. On the other hand, dependants must hold a passport and A-3 visa for entry.


Jeju Island[edit]

All citizens worldwide (except from Afghanistan, Cuba, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Macedonia, Nigeria, Palestine, Sudan, and Syria) can visit the Autonomous province of Jeju visa free for up to 30 days. However, exiting Jeju will automatically require you to have a visa for the rest of South Korea.


By a tour group[edit]

For citizens of Mainland China, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, a visa fee is waived for tour groups coming from the following countries in the period July 6 - September 30. If traveling by air to Jeju Island via Seoul, Busan, Cheongju, Muan and Yangyang, citizens of China who are traveling as part of a tourist group by authorized travel agent may stay in mainland South Korea for up to 15 days. Chinese citizens may also stay for 30 days in transit to or from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Switzerland, United States or an EEA member state with a valid visa sticker

Working Holiday Visa[edit]

Citizens from the following countries and territories; Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugual, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States/American Samoa can recive a Working Holiday Visa or H-1 if they apply to the agreements of South Korea. Having this special visa can stay for up to one year and engage in employment and educational activities. Only people between the ages of 18 and 25 or 30, depending on the country, are eligible for a Holiday visa. However, a holder of this special visa cannot be employed in certain jobs such as receptionist, dancer, singer, musician, acrobat, or in places of entertainment due to concerns of corrupting Korean morals and manners.

Overseas study visa[edit]

A Overseas study visa or D-2 is another special visa issued to any citizen wishing to study in a undergraduate or above level school.

Corporate Investement visa[edit]

Another special visa, the Corporate Investment Visa or D-8 will be issued to foreigners who will own and manage a small to medium sized Korean business within South Korea. It can also be issued to those who had invested at least 50 million won into the South Korean economy. The perk of having this visa is so that the South Korean government will not track your investment(s) into South Korea.

Foreign Language teaching visa[edit]

The Foreign Language teaching visa or E-2 will only be issued to registered foreign teachers who will work in South Korea. Applications are required to be native residents of a country whose mother tongue is the same as the language they will teach and they are also required to hold a bachelor's degree from that country. Applications are required to submit criminal background checks, health checks, sealed transcripts, verified copies of their degree, contracts and a fee to obtain the visa

Residency visa[edit]

The Residency Visa or F-2 is issued only to spouses of Korean nationals or holders of the F-5 permanant residency visa. Applicants must provide documents proving financial ability and relationship. Refugees can also try and recive this visa.

By plane[edit]


  • Incheon International Airport, about 1 hour west of Seoul, is the country's largest airport, with good connections throughout the world. This is also one of the the best run and best designed airports in the world - a pleasure to use, although if you arrive late watch out for pushy taxi drivers lying about the hotel buses and trying to get you to pay 3x the normal fare. There are direct inter-city buses to many locations throughout South Korea just outside the international arrival hall. You can buy the tickets at the airport. The airport has a direct rail service to Seoul station by the express and all stop AREX trains. With the latter stopping at a range of destinations between Incheon and Seoul including Gimpo Airport, Digital Media City, Hongdae and Gongdeok. The express service takes 43 minutes to reach Seoul Station and offers a more mainline train journey (i.e. trains have , whilst the all stop train takes a slightly longer 56 minutes and offers a more subway like journey. If travelling on the express service and flying on Korean Air, Asiana or Jeju Air from Incheon it is possible to check in for your flight at Seoul Station. Seoul Incheon is the main hub of the two large Korean airlines, Korean Air and Asiana although it is also served by 62 airlines from around the world and it is possible to fly directly from the airport to destinations on all the inhabited continents. Low cost airlines operate flights from the airport across East Asia with a heavy focus on Japan and SE Asia. Most of the world's large cities are served by direct daily flights. Despite the high number of daily flights to Europe, it is often cheaper to fly via the Middle East when travelling from Europe to Korea, although this does add about 7 hours on to your journey.

  • Seoul Gimpo airport is more centrally located to Seoul than Incheon, but it offers primarily domestic flights to most South Korean cities. There are, however, a few routes offering international "city shuttle" services to many Asian cities such as Tokyo-Haneda, Osaka, Nagoya, Beijing, Shanghai-Hongqiao and Taipei-Songshan. All Korean airlines serve the airport as do Air China, ANA, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, EVA Air, Japan Airlines and Shanghai Airlines. It is possible to reach the airport by the all stop AREX train from Seoul, Gongdeok, Hongdae and Digital Media City stations as well as Incheon Airport. As well as by the more expensive Airport Limousine bus or by line 5 or line 9 of the Seoul Subway.

  • Busan's Gimhae airport has international flights to Cambodia, China, Guam, Japan, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. If arriving/departing from Incheon Airport on Korean Air it is possible to book connecting flights to/from Busan though the airline, note that as immigration is completed in Busan, it is not possible to leave the Incheon Airport and baggage is checked right through to Busan. Air Busan and Korean Air offer flights from Seoul Gimpo to Busan which can often be cheaper than the KTX.

Korean Air and Asiana are the principal full service carriers to and from South Korea that fly around the world. Low cost airlines Air Busan, Jin Air, Jeju Air, Eastar Jet and T'Way Airlines offer both domestic flights to Jeju as well as international flights across Asia.

By train[edit]

Travel from North Korea (and hence anywhere else in Asia) to South Korea by train remains impossible in practice. There have been a few test runs on the newly rebuilt railroad connecting the two, but it will likely remain more of a political statement than travel option for some time to come. However, for travellers coming from or continuing on to Japan, special through tickets are available, giving discounts of 30% on KTX services and 9-30% on Busan-Fukuoka ferries as well as Japanese trains.

By boat[edit]

Busan Port International Passenger Terminal is the largest seaport in Korea and offers ferry rides mostly to and from Japan. There are fairly frequent ferry connections from Busan to Japan. JR Kyushu's Beetle hydrofoil service from Busan to Fukuoka is the most popular which travels to Fukuoka in just under three hours with up to five connections a day. It also offers service to near by Tsushima. All other links are slower, overnight, ferries, such as Pukwan Ferry Company's services to Shimonoseki cost ? (one-way). A Busan-Osaka ferry is operated by Panstar Line Co., Ltd..


There are also weekly departures from Donghae (Gangwon-do) to Vladivostok from USD205 operated by DBS Cruise Ferry Co.

By land[edit]


Get around[edit]


By plane[edit]

Despite South Korea's small size, it has a very good network of domestic flights. Flights are offered from Seoul Gimpo to Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, Jeju, Pohang, Sacheon, Ulsan and Yeosu and to Jeju from Busan, Cheongju, Daegu, Gunsan, Gwangju, Muan, Sacheon, Seoul Gimpo, Wonju, Yangyang and Yeosu. These flights are operated by full service airlines Asiana and Korean Air as well as low cost airlines Air Busan, Eastar Jet, Jeju Air, Jin Air and T'Way Airlines. The service doesn't vary significantly between full service and low cost airlines on domestic services, in fact low cost airlines offer complimentary soft drinks and 15kg of hold luggage (likely to be very different from the low cost airline service you are used to!).

By train[edit]

KTX network map

National train operator Korail [3] connects major cities in South Korea. Neglected for a long time, a large amount of money has been plowed into the network in recent years and trains are now quite competitive with buses on speed and price. The main problem is that the network is still a little limited and services in rural areas are limited, with trains only once every few hours. If travelling long distances, train travel is usually more expensive and in a reasonable number of cases, slower than travelling by bus. As ticket prices are fixed, booking before hand will not save you money, although it is recommended as trains fill up and become sold out fast. This can be done either at a station or on Korail's online booking service [4]. Seating or standing tickets can be bought, those with standing tickets can sit in any unoccupied seat however expect to stand if you buy one of these tickets as trains are often full. Seating tickets will always give you a carriage and seat number and you must sit in your allocated seat.

There are three types of long distance rail service in Korea, in decreasing order of speed and price and increasing order of number of services these are:

The Korea Train Express (KTX) high speed services that connect major cities with each other and Seoul. As of 2015, major cities served by KTX services include Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Ulsan, Gwangju, Jeonju, Mokpo, Changwon and Suwon. These services started operation in 2004 and use French TGV technology to zip along at up to 300km/h. The fastest non-stop trains cover the distance in just over two hours. KTX trains offer fast, free wifi, a cinema car (on many services), plug sockets (at the end of each carriage in standard class or in each seat in first) and vending machines.

The ITX-Saemaeul are significantly slower than KTX services and mostly run on the same older and slower lines as Mugunghwa services, although stopping at fewer destinations. Onboard they feature plug sockets (at most seats) and vending machines, although lack wifi.

Mugunghwa services are the slowest and most common rail services in Korea, they often run long distance services (e.g. Seoul-Busan) and will stop at virtually every city, town and village in between the start and end point of their journey. Mugunghwa trains are the most comfortable to travel on (assuming you have a seating ticket) featuring large, well padded seats with plenty of legroom and space for luggage. Most trains have a staffed cafe as well as a couple of noraebang rooms. These trains lack wifi and power sockets may be hard to find on board.

There are also seven tourist trains operating in the country (the DMZ Train, Sea Train, O-Train, V-Train, S-Train, A-Train and G-Train). These services run on scenic lines and stop at popular tourist spots. These trains are also lavishly decorated inside and passengers can take part in various activities such as a traditional tea ceremony.

Seoul to Busan by train
Type Time Price
KTX 2:45 W59,800
ITX-Saemaeul 4:47 W42,600
Mugunghwa 5:30 W28,600

By Rail Cruise[edit]

Korail Tourism Development provides a series of rail cruise tour which enable customers to travel to sight-seeing destinations in Korea via specially designed luxury trains. Note that these trains are not covered by the KR Pass, below.

KR Pass[edit]



By bus[edit]



Make sure to ask whether it is a or there are direct bus(ses) or opt for the express and real inter-city busses, because local inner-city busses sometime make many stops in between, which can mean 2h 45min for 120km, e.g. Jinju to Jeonju.

Korean buses have no toilets, and rest stops are not standard on trips of less than 2 hours duration, so think twice about that bottle of tea or soda at the terminal.

Korean Express Bus Lines Association [6]: Timetables and fares of the Express bus routes in South Korea

By boat[edit]


By car[edit]

The legal driving age in South Korea is 18.

An International Driving Permit (IDP) may be used to drive around South Korea. In general, road conditions are good in South Korea and directional signs are in both Korean and English. Car rental rates start from ₩54,400 a day for the smallest car for about a week. Traffic moves on the right in South Korea.


By taxi[edit]

Taxis are a convenient, if somewhat pricey way of getting around the cities, and are sometimes the only practical way of reaching a place. Even in the major cities, you are extremely unlikely to get an English-speaking taxi driver, so it will be necessary to either have the name of your destination written in Korean or a map to show your taxi driver. Likewise, get your hotel's business card to show the taxi driver in case you get lost.




Handwritten hangul in an advertisement

       See also: Korean phrasebook








See[edit][add listing]


The other major city, Busan, is also a common area to spend a few days. The city is perhaps most know by tourists for the Haeundae beach (해운대), which is very beautiful and, in the summer, the atmosphere is comparable to beaches in southern France. Families in Korea often take summer holidays in this area. There are also many famous temples and historical sites in the area, and as a large city, there are also many popular shopping and cultural destinations.

In addition, Panmunjeom aka JSA (Joint Security Area) is the only ‘truce village’ of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where tourists can view North and South Korea without much hostility. It is probably the only unique area without many troops around, as the other areas separating the two Koreas is the most heavily armed in the world. Here you can also enter one of the three buildings/bungalows that are located on top of the border aka MDL, which means you can virtually/actually cross the border when entering those buildings. The border is indicated by the concrete line where North and South Korean soldiers face each other coldly. The purpose of those buildings is for family meetings and negotiations. This place is know from many pictures and the tour includes the bridge of no return, which is situated in the same location.

The World Heritage cultural sites in Gyeongju and the natural sites on Jeju Island are very popular, and especially Jeju with its many sights and things to do very much worth it.

Jeonju and Andong are famous for their traditional villages and specific dishes, Bibimbap (비빔밥) as well as stewed chicken (찜닭, jjimdak) and salted mackerel (간고등어, gan godeungeo) respectively.

Do[edit][add listing]

As South Korea is increasingly becoming a popular tourist destination, you might want to visit our individual destination pages for specific provinces/cities, with Seoul being an excellent starting point.

  • Stay in a Jjimjilbang overnight and experience something not available in other parts of the world - a decent sauna, a choice of bathing options, and a clean, warm place to rest or sleep. Very convenient if your accommodation plans have fallen through.
  • Jeju is a famous southern island of South Korea which offers many opportunities for tourists. Worth mentioning are in particular Mt. Halla, Manjanggul lava-tube, Seongsan Ilchulbong, and Loveland.
  • Jirisan National Park (지리산) enjoys its prestige as South Korea's first and largest national park, offering great views and hikes along the mountain ridges and amazing experiences during the winter. Even though not specially catering to the foreign tourists, 1-3 day trails (max 40-45km) can be organized and easily achieved - sign posts and maps are in English as well. Half a dozen shelters/huts (mostly well heated, but bring a sleeping bag) are available along the many trails, whose starting and finishing points have good bus connections to and from the cities around Jirisan or Mt. Jiri.

Another mountain within the mainland is Seoraksan (설악산). There are many other hiking opportunities - good website about Korean trails. All of them are excellent places for hiking/trekking and taking pictures. In autumn the leaves turn into beautiful colours, so the best seasons to go there are autumn and spring.

You can also go snowboarding/skiing in the Gangwon Province, or GangwonDo. The province is very beautiful when it snows. Also see the Seoul guide for destinations close to the city.

Karaoke, or noraebang (노래방), is popular and hard to miss wherever you go in metropolitan cities.

Martial arts classes are offered for taekwondo (태권도), hapkido (합기도), and the ancient dance-like martial art called taekkyeon (택견).

The city of BoRyeong in Chunchungnam-do hosts a Mud Festival (보령머드축제) in mid-July, and it has grown into an internationally buzzed about (and slightly notorious) fun destination event. Participants cover themselves in mud or literally dive into mud, and take part in everything from mud wrestling to body painting, and check out various beauty products utilizing the famous Boryeong Mud. The nearby beach becomes something of a party apocalypse, with music and food and drink and general good time for all. Inquire about lodging at least a few weeks in advance.

The Gyeonggi-do & Kangwon-do provinces offer up plenty of water themed parks, such as Caribbean Bay (the park seen from the actual music video by 2PM and Girls Generation Cabi) in YongIn City, Gyeonggi-do (beside Everland which is most biggest amusement park), Ocean World in HongCheon, with its Egyptian setting, and Ocean 700 in PyeongChang. Tourists and locals usually go in the summer, but the number of Winter visitors have been on the rise, with an increasing array of winter events on offer.

Buy[edit][add listing]


The currency of South Korea is the won (￦), written 원 in hangul. The exchange rate was approximately KRW1,180 per US dollar and KRW1,255 to each euro.

Coins come in denominations of ￦10, ￦50, ￦100 and ￦500, while banknotes come in denominations of ￦1,000 (blue), ￦5,000 (red), ￦10,000 (green) and ￦50,000 (yellow). ￦1 and ￦5 coins, while they exist, are very rare. The largest bill currently in circulation is only ￦50,000 and somewhat uncommon in ATMs, which makes carrying around large sums of currency a bit of a chore. ￦100,000 "checks" are frequently used, and some of the checks go up to ￦10,000,000 in value. These checks are privately produced (by banks, etc.) which can be used as "c-notes".


Credit cards[edit]

Credit card acceptance is very good, and all but the very cheapest restaurants and motels will take Visa and MasterCard.


ATMs are very common, but most Korean ATMs don't accept foreign cards, foreign bank ATMs however do, e.g. Citibank [7]. Having said this, there are nevertheless many special Global ATMs around. They can generally be found at Shinhan (or Jeju) Bank (remember the logo), KEB banks, NH banks, airports, in areas frequented by foreigners, in major cities, some subway stations, and in many Family Mart convenience stores - most of the time indicated by the "Foreign Cards" button on the screen.

Sometimes however even the Global ATMs may not accept your foreign card, so it is wise to have a second source of money for those times or to ensure your card is fully accepted. Be sure to stock up on cash before heading to the countryside or other remote areas.

Some banks have a fee of KRW3,500 for foreign cards, especially Citibank - just opt for a different bank.

  • Note. As of 2016 it is now quite likely that global atms will NOT accept your bank card unless you are with a major bank such as HSBC or Deutsche Bank. If you are staying in Korea for a longer period of time and need to obtain money then using Western union is probably the best method.

T-Money card[edit]

An alternative source of payment accepted widely, especially for transport, is the T-Money card. In Seoul you can buy this card at most subway stations and many newspaper kiosks near subway entrances, as well as convenience stores (7/11, CUC, GS25). The card itself costs ₩4,000 (not refundable) and cash can be charged onto the card as often as you like. You can get all but ₩500 back if you have unused credit.

When entering and leaving a subway turnstile or the bus, place the card on the reader (leaving it inside your purse or wallet is fine), and it will deduct the appropriate fare from the card. Note that if you do not tag the machine as you leave the bus, you will be charged the maximum fare possible by the route. However, be aware that on buses outside of Seoul and especially in the countryside only placing it once when entering may be sufficient - just observe what the locals are doing.

Using this card will save you ₩100 on Seoul's transfer system and it accounts for changing between subway, train and bus for up to 30min, i.e. instead of paying the full fare for each type of transport, a smaller amount or 0 is deducted the second and third time and so on, e.g. when coming from or going to the airport. I.e., for example, if you travel 10km by subway, transfer to a bus and travel a further 5km, KRW1,050 will be deducted once you leave the subway, nothing will be deducted when you enter the bus, but you will be deducted ₩100 for the extra 5km journey when you leave the bus.

Typically for most travelers staying less than 2 weeks in Korea or Seoul, purchasing this card may not be cheaper but consider: it can be used countrywide for taxi fares, buses, storage lockers, pay phones, (convenience) stores, restaurants and most transport systems.

There also exist other such cards, especially outside of Seoul and topping up T-Money can be a problem there, but at Shinhan (or Jeju) Bank (remember the logo) it should always be possible. You may need to ask the local cashier due to the Korean-only menus/buttons.

Bank account[edit]

If you plan on staying in Korea for a longer time, you'll probably want to set up a local account at e.g. Woori Bank, which can then be used at the bank's ATMs throughout the country. Even some non-local accounts can do this, e.g. Woori Bank accounts set up in China come with an ATM card that can be used with all its ATMs in Korea.


Korea is fairly expensive compared to most Asian countries, but it is a less expensive than Japan and, when compared to other fully modern, developed, countries, it is on the cheaper side. A frugal backpacker who enjoys eating, living and travelling Korean-style can easily squeeze by on under ￦60,000 per day, but if you want a regular hotel and to eat your meals in restaurants ￦200,000/day is probably more realistic.

Seoul has been particularly expensive in recent years due to high real estate values, by some measures even more so than Tokyo, but this has calmed down since the 2008 financial crisis, and while the Won has recovered since then, hotels and restaurants, are still generally lower priced than they were in the 2000s.







Eat[edit][add listing]






While many of these dishes can be found throughout Korea, every city also has its own regional specialties, such as dakgalbi (닭갈비) in the city of Chuncheon. See the various city articles for more details.



Whilst you should definitely try authentic Korean food whilst in the country, if this isn't to your taste, a wide range of foreign cuisine restaurants are incredibly common and you should be able to find restaurants serving dishes from all corners of the world. Seoul's Itaewon area is known for its international cuisine.


Korean chopsticks and spoon made of stainless steel.



Some etiquette pointers:





Coffee Shops[edit]

Koreans love coffee and thus coffee shops can be seen virtually everywhere in the country (even in small countryside villages). There are a large number of Korean chain coffee shops as well as independent ones. Foreign owned coffee shops such as Starbucks tend to be much less common than their Korean counterparts. Aside from coffee, these cafes will usually sell food such as sandwiches, toasties, paninis and quesadillas as well as sweet options such as bingsu (Korean shaved ice), Korean style toast, pastries and a wide variety of cakes.


Galbi on the grill and the accompaniments around it



Rice dishes[edit]





Soups and stews[edit]

Budae jjigae, a spicy stew originated during the Korean War.

Soups are known as guk (국) or tang (탕), while jjigae (찌개) covers a wide variety of stews. The line is fuzzy, and a few dishes can be referred to with both (eg. the fish soup-stew dongtae jjigae/dongtaetang), but in general, jjigae are spicier and heartier, while tang/guk are milder and broth-like. Both are always eaten with plenty of white rice on the side.






Koreans are great noodle lovers too, and the terms kuksu (국수) and myeon (면) span a vast variety of types, sold in fast-food noodle shops for as little as KRW3,000-4,000. Wheat-based noodles are a staple of Korea.

Naengmyeon, Korean cold noodle soup.





Finally, udong (우동) are thick wheat noodles, similar to the Japanese udon.







Sannakji, a raw small octupus in Korean cuisine




A squirmy delicacy is raw octopus (산낙지 sannakji) — it's sliced to order, but keeps wiggling for another half hour as you try to remove its suction cups from your plate with your chopsticks. Sea squirts (멍게 meongge) are at least usually killed before eating, but you might be hard-pressed to tell the difference as the taste been memorably described as "rubber dipped in ammonia".

Hound by the pound


In any case, you're unlikely to end up chewing on Snoopy by accident, as dog is only served by specialty restaurants, and as they rarely advertise you will have to actively seek them out. If you do make the effort, a bowl can go for under KRW10,000 and you'll find that dog tastes broadly like beef or veal, if perhaps a tad gamier.

Dietary restrictions[edit]


Most stews will not use beef stock, but fish stock, especially myeolchi (멸치, anchovy). This will be your bane, and outside of reputable vegetarian restaurants, you should ask if you are ordering any stews/hotpots or casseroles.



There is an increasing number of vegetarian restaurants in Korea - most are in the larger or medium-sized places. Some of these are run by religious groups. The most prominent franchise is probably Loving Hut, which is vegan and rather low priced. While, you probably wouldn't make this a destination restaurant, it's a good backup plan (if you've noted the locations and closing times in advance).

Drink[edit][add listing]

The legal drinking/purchasing age of alcoholic beverages is 19, or more specifically due to the Korean aging system, you can purchase and consume alcohol from the first of January of the year that you turn 19.












The national drink of South Korea is soju (소주), a vodka-like alcoholic beverage (usually around 20%). It's cheaper than any other drink — a 350ml bottle can cost slightly over KRW4,000 at bars (as little as KRW1,100 at convenience stores!) — and also strong. Usually this is made by fermenting starch from rice, barley, corn, potato, sweet potato, etc, to produce ethanol which is then diluted with water and other flavors, and further distilled to increase the alcohol content. Depending on how it's distilled, there may be a large amount of impurities present, so be prepared for a four-alarm hangover in the morning, even after drinking a comparatively small amount.


History tells that there were numerous brewers throughout the country in the past until late Joseon dynasty and before the Japanese occupation. However, during the Japanese colonization, grains produced in Korea were shipped directly to Japan, thus using rice for making wine or spirits was strictly prohibited. This eliminated most of the traditional brewers in the country and Korea was left with a few large distilleries (Jinro 진로, Gyeongwol 경월, Bohae 보해, Bobae 보배, Sunyang 선양, etc), that basically made synthetic soju. Brewery distribution and markets were regionalized, and until the 1990s it was difficult to find a Jinro soju anywhere else than Seoul (you would have to pay premium even if you found one), Gyeongwol soju outside Gangwon, or Sunyang outside Chungcheong.


Rice wine[edit]

Cheongju vs. sake




Ginseng wine[edit]



Western-style lagers are also quite popular in Korea, with the three big brands being Cass, Hite and OB, all of which are rather light and watery and cost around KRW1,500 per bottle at a supermarket. Korea's version of the beer pub is the hof (호프 hopeu), which serve pints of beer in the KRW2,000-5,000 range, although imported beers can be much more expensive. Note that you are expected to order food as well, and may even get served grilled squid or similar Korean pub grub without ordering, for a charge of KRW10,000 or so. Imported beers from around the world are incredibly popular in Korea although as you'd expect these are slightly more expensive than the local beers.

Tea and coffee[edit]


  • insamcha (인삼차), ginseng tea
  • oksusucha (옥수수차), roasted corn tea

Western-style black tea is not common; looking at packaging in grocery stores, you should know that its Korean name hongcha (홍차) translates as red tea, not black.

Coffee (커피 keopi) is also widely available, especially from streetside vending machines that will pour you a cupful for as little as KRW300, usually sweet and milky, but there is often a "black" option. Canned coffee, while not as common as in Japan, is also widely available (and consistent).

Those looking for high quality coffee can always default to Starbucks which is ubiquitous in Seoul and common throughout the country, and there are a number of similar chains. Those looking for independent shops can also find them, but it can be difficult without local assistance.

Other drinks[edit]

Some other traditional drinks worth keeping an eye out for:




Smoking is forbidden in most public buildings, public transport and restaurants, although it's permitted in most bars. Karaoke parlours, DVD-bangs, hotels etc give you a choice of smoking or no-smoking rooms. Effective since July 2013, most Internet cafes (except with completely sealed smoking room) are non-smoking areas legally.


Sleep[edit][add listing]

There's plenty of accommodation in all price brackets in South Korea. Note that prices in Seoul are typically about twice that of anywhere else in the country. For making a hotel, motel, hostel or guest-house reservation simply consult the place's or your favourite website.





When you walk in there will be a frosted window with someone behind it. If it's late at night they might be sleeping, but you can wake them up. You pay for your room in advance (KRW30,000-50,000, cash only) when you enter, and will be given a room key and a kind of 'welcome pack', consisting of a toothbrush, other toiletries and condoms. When you leave, just leave the key at the window. Typically there are no receipts or records of names as the system is designed to be discreet and anonymous, although they will give you a receipt if you ask for it.








Very similar in concept to a Minbak, these aren't limited to just rural areas or near national parks. Since the World Cup in 2002, many families around the country have opened their doors and hearts to foreigners looking for a good place to sleep. These can run between KRW30,000 and KRW35,000 per night and sometimes include breakfast.


For the budget traveller public bath houses known as Jjimjilbang (찜질방) offer a great and very relaxing way to sleep, bathe and take a sauna. The entrance is ₩5,000-15,000 and includes a short pajamas or robe to wear. The facilities can be expansive, including showers, public baths, restaurants, computer/video game rooms, a room with DVD movies, and a warm hall to sleep, mostly with mattresses and soft head rests available. These places are generally for families or couples coming in for the day, but traveller are still very welcome. They are also used by Korean men from the country side working in the city for resting over night. There is no secure place to leave your things except for the mostly two lockers, one for the shoes (at the entrance) and one for your cloths (near the mirrors and bath entrance). Sleeping hall and mixed facilities are entered with pajama, the baths are garment-free. A Jjimjilbang is no more awkward than any western public bath - so go ahead. Ask whether overnight stay is possible if needed, because some Korean Spas don't offer this option, e.g. like the "Spa Land Centum City" in Busan, which however is no Jjimjilbang. When you leave you have to take everything with you, and pay to get back in.


Jogye (조계사), Korea's largest Buddhist sect, runs a popular Temple Stay program where visitors get to spend 24 hours living at a Buddhist temple. Korean ability helps but is not necessary at some temples, but you will be expected to work at the temple and get up at 3 or 4AM to participate in morning prayer. In exchange for three meals and a basic bed for the night, a "donation" of KRW50,000-80,000 is expected. Reservations are necessary and can be made at the Temple Stay site [9] or via Korea Travel Phone, tel. +82-2-1330


With its natural mountainous landscape, there is little wonder why Koreans love to go trekking and set themselves amidst the scenic mountains or river streams aplenty of the Korean peninsula. This is especially so for the majority urban dwellers of bustling Seoul during weekends. Apart for the fun getaway with family and friends, health and beauty conscious Koreans often regard such activities as a mean to stay both physically and psychologically balanced. A growing trend in recent years has been that of Glamping which is a portmanteau of 'glamorous' and 'camping'. For the fashionable Korean teens, glamping with friends means party away having BBQ and soju with the fantasy of camping and the comfort of a hotel. For the family-oriented Koreans with young children, glamping means a fuss-free trip to the countryside with all amenities and food provided for. Glamping locations are often near to ski parks, mountain trekking courses and places of interests, hence providing a good accommodation option for visitors considering to explore outside of Seoul to see and experience the real local Korean lifestyle.


Education is taken very seriously in South Korea, and the country is home to several world class universities, many of which have exchange agreements with various foreign universities, and are a good way for foreigners to experience life in the country. The most prestigious comprehensive universities are Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yonsei University, Korea University, and Pohang University of Science and Technology(POSTECH).


  • Chang (창) or Pansori (판소리) — If you like music, this will be good for you. It's a unique traditional Korean form of singing. If you want to learn about Pansori through film, "Seopyeonje (서편제)" would be an excellent choice.
  • Learn how to make Kimchi — Many tourist packages nowadays include learning how to make a Korean staple dish, Kimchi.


Work as an English teacher is available through various companies, with the desired minimum level of education being a Bachelor's degree. Schools prefer native English speakers. In most instances, native English speakers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the UK are the only applicants that can be considered because the South Korean government usually (information has been inconsistent) just accepts those from the aforementioned pre-approved English-speaking countries.



Caution: Discrimination based on race is legal in Korea, and there are few protections against any types of discrimination. Korean employers tend to be more discriminatory towards people with darker skin, and especially people of African and south Asian ancestry. Korean job applications usually require you to attach a photo of yourself, along with other information usually considered private in the Western world, such as height, weight and marital status; if you are a person of color, your application will be more likely to be denied. Please be advised when looking for jobs. However, the public schools typically are more colorblind in regards to accepting applicants compared to hagwons.

Year-long public school positions are avaialble though the government-funded EPIK Program [10] in most provinces (now including Seoul as a subsidiary) and the rapidly contracting GEPIK Program in Gyeonggi, with a small number also handled by recruiter companies. Alternately, the TALK Program runs 6-month and 1-year rural public school positions for those who have completed a 2-year university degree or have completed 2 years of study for a 3-4 year degree. As of April 2015, described in a press release on EPIK's website, the official recruiting agency partnerships with EPIK include Reach To Teach Recruiting, Korvia Consulting, Korean Horizons, and Canadian Connections.

Stay safe[edit]


South Korea is a very safe country, with reported crime rates much lower than in the US and comparable to most European countries. Crime rates are comparable to other safe places such as Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong and it is safe to walk around at night even in the major cities. Violent crime is rare toward locals and tourists alike. For the most part, the only foreigners who encounter trouble in South Korea are drunken ones that provoke fights at bars or clubs. If you do happen to encounter any trouble, police stations are located in every district, usually in walking distance from subway entrances and bus stops. While most officers won't understand English, they do have interpreters on-call that can assist you.


South Korea is a very homogeneous country, and for a few Koreans, this is a point of pride. However violent racism and racial politics in South Korea is relatively non-existent compared to other developed countries.





Civil Unrest[edit]


Local Laws[edit]


Natural Hazards[edit]

The principle disaster risks are typhoons (hurricanes). While South Korea experiences fewer natural disasters than its neighbours, you should note that its much smaller size makes that a little misleading, and the geology and geography give it a similar risk profile to its neighbours. That said, typhoon risk is not as high as Japan's eastern coast. On average, one typhoon hits Korea each year. You should also note that Typhoons are seasonal, so the risk is largely limited to the summer months. Earthquakes are a very rare occurrence and are mostly observable in the southwest of the country.

Conflict with North Korea[edit]

Although recent diplomatic missions between the two countries have improved the North Korean situation, the tension between the two countries is still very high. A re-ignition of the war between the North and South is potentially calamitous and would result in many casualties, military and civilian alike. Be aware of current events in the region before traveling. This situation might possibly have been improved substantially after Pyongyang Joint Declaration in September 2018.

Emergency Numbers[edit]


Emergency-service English interpreters are available 24 hours a day.

Stay healthy[edit]

The quality of healthcare will vary depending on where you are and it is generally very high. The sheer number of hospitals and specialized clinics in the country will also offer you plenty of choice. Treatment is high-quality; Korean healthcare is known worldwide for its excellence in both research and clinical medicine.

  • Although health care in South Korea is not free, it is heavily subsidized by the government and is very cheap more so in the clinics. For expatriate workers who have a medical insurance card (this is required), it is even less expensive (although it is still not free).
  • In addition to Western medicine, Oriental medicine is quite popular in Korea. Herbal supplements can be bought in most pharmacies as well as from shops which produce their own. The most popular herbal supplements (such as Ginseng) can even be bought in convenience stores in the form of energy drinks, tea, gum, and alcohol. This is not to be ignored, as Oriental medicine has deep roots and a university degree is a prerequisite to practice, (unlike psuedo-oriental-clinics in western countries where the owner may not have proper qualifications). Though such herbal medicines can be effective, they should not be taken instead of modern medicine.
  • Pharmacies are usually located near hospitals, as hospitals in Korea are not allowed to dispense take-home prescriptions (with the exception of Emergency Rooms). Prescriptions are dispensed in small paper packages.
  • Although there are no official vaccinations that are required or recommended for visitors, Hepatitis A attacks the liver and is transmitted through food and water. Once infected, time is the only cure. The Center for Disease Control [11] designates the prevalence of infection in Korea to be intermediate.


As a land of Confucian hierarchy and etiquette, Koreans are a reserved and well-mannered people. As a visitor, you will not be expected to know every nuance, but making an effort will certainly be appreciated. Following these rules will impress the locals:

  • Koreans bow to each other to show their respect when they meet. They may also shake hands. However, with people you know well, quick nod of the head and a simple annyeong haseyo (안녕하세요), meaning "hello," should suffice. The direct translation is "do you have peace".
  • Do not attempt to compliment North Korea in any way. With that in mind, while South Koreans oppose the North Korean government, this does not similarly apply for ordinary North Koreans, who many, especially among the older generation, regard as their oppressed brothers and countrymen. Jokes at their expense will not be appreciated.
  • Tipping is not part of the culture here, and attempting to do so will only elicit confusion from your intended recipient.

The further you are away from metropolitan areas, the more conservative the people are.


Reverse swastikas are commonly seen in Buddhist temples. They are a religious symbol and do not represent Nazism or anti-Semitism, so visitors should not feel offended when encountering them. Remember that swastikas are left handed and right handed and that most religious swastikas are the opposite face to those used by the nazi party.


Homosexuality is a mixed bag in South Korea. There are no laws against homosexuality in South Korea, and same-sex relationships are neither recognized nor ruled against by the government. Gay clubs and bars exist in the larger cities, though openly displaying your sexual orientation in public is still likely to be met with disapproval. Conversely platonic displays of physical affection between same-sex friends are very common, particularly when alcohol has been consumed, and holding hands with a same-sex romantic partner may be viewed in this light.



By phone[edit]


Mobile phone coverage is generally excellent, with the exception of some remote mountainous areas. The country has three service providers: KT [12], SK Telecom [13] and LG U+ [14]. They offer prepaid mobile phone services (pre-paid service, PPS) in South Korea. Incoming calls are free. Phones and prepaid services can be acquired at any retail location found on any street. Second-hand phones are also available at selected stores in Seoul, also you can rent korean phones at the international airports.

Prepaid Simcards for Tourists

There are offers for prepaid simcards in korean mobile network specially for tourists. This is the cheapest method to make and get phone calls, cause you don't need to rent a mobile and don't have to use expensive roaming.

EGSIMCARD is the first prepaid simcard provider in Korea. 3G and LTE Simcards are offered including up to 5 GB data. More information at

Korea SIM Card powered by kt (Korea Telecom) is providing all the prepaid SIM options available in Korea with low price guaranteed program. Korea SIM Card Home

SIMCARD-KOREA is a new prepaid product offering simcards up to unlimited local voice & data starting in 2018. International delivery is offered. It can be used for foreign and korean passport holders. Longterm usage for students or work & travel is possible. More information: 

NeoKOSIM is a start-up company that has recently launched a partnership with KT to offer a 4G LTE unlimited data plan prepaid SIM card for travelers coming to Korea. Sales Agent of KT

Data-only pass : You can order online on their website and will receive a PDF voucher via your e-mail after payment. SIMs can be picked up at Incheon airport, at the Olleh KT roaming center (gate 6) inside in the arrival hall 1F. These SIMs are for purchase and not to be returned.

Voice & data pass: You can order online on their website and will receive a PDF voucher via your e-mail and will pay when you pick up the SIM. They can be picked up at Incheon airport, at the Olleh KT roaming center (gate 6) inside in the arrival hall 1F. These SIMs are for rental and are to be returned: Voice and text consumptions will be billed extra.

Mobile Network



All the carriers offer mobile phone rental services, and some handsets also support GSM SIM roaming. They have outlets at the international airports in Incheon, Seoul (Kimpo) and Busan (Kimhae). You can find service centers for KT SHOW and SK Telecom at Jeju airport as well. Charges start from KRW2,000/day if you reserve in advance via the visitkorea website [16] for a discount and guaranteed availability. Also avalible for rent are the 4G WiBro eggs. However 4G WiBro coverage is weak, and almost non existent outside of the bigger cities and motorways.


There is bbb Korea which offer 24/7 free interpretation service in 20 languages (English, Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, Italiano, Russian, Deutsch, Portuguese, Arabic, Polish, Turkish, Swedish, Thai, Vietnamese, Bahasa Indonesia, Mongolian, Hindi, Bahasa Malaysia, Kiswahili). When encounter language difficulties in South Korea, just call to 1588-5644 and dial desired language. Also, bbb Korea offers application which is more user-friendly.


South Korea is the world's most wired country and Internet cafes, known as PC bang (PC 방, pronounced BAH-ng), are ubiquitous through the country. Many customers are there for gaming but you're free to sit and type e-mails as well, typical charges are about ₩1,000 to ₩2,000/hour. Like anything, it may be more expensive in more "luxurious" places. Also, snacks and drinks are available for purchase in most PC bangs. Smoking is prohibited in PC bangs and you can smoke in smoking rooms only.

Due to the sensitive situation with North Korea, certain websites or links such as North Korea's twitter account are blocked. Websites and links that contain any form of indecency; un-rated games, illegal pornography, or internet gambling will be redirected to a warning page. Tor is available in South Korea.

  • Internet Privacy

Any connection made with North Korea will be monitored in case of espionage. Praising North Korea, Communism, or doing any espionage with those in North Korea will get you arrested. Posting any anti-government comment(s) will automatically be deleted.

  • Internet Curfew

In order to combat internet gaming addiction, the South Korean government has enacted a curfew law that forbids anyone under the age of 16 to play online from 00:00 to 06.00. However this only affects computers, and public Wi-Fi areas. Consoles and mobile phones remain unaffected.

By mail[edit]

Korea Post is fast, reliable and reasonably priced. Postage for a postcard anywhere in the world is ₩660, while letters and packages start from ₩480. If you want actual traditional stamps, be sure to ask for them, or else you will just get a printed label. On request, fancy "tourist" cancellations (Gwangwang Tongsin Ilbuin) for your stamps are available at selected post offices without additional charge. Korea Post accepts Visa and MasterCard for purchases over ₩1,000.

Most post offices are open weekdays only 09:00-18:00. Larger post offices also open Saturday mornings, and central offices in the main cities stay open late and are open on Sundays as well.



News Service

  • Yonhap News Agency [17]

Daily Newspapers


  • Arirang TV [22] available via cable
  • AFN Korea [23] available to US military community or via cable


  • TBS e-FM 101.3 FM
  • Arirang Radio available Korea DMB Service; your car or mobile'Create category