# What do you need to know before visiting South Korea?

> Things to know before visiting South Korea: K-ETA returns in 2027, the e-Arrival Card, cash for T-money, Naver Map over Google, taxi apps, tax refunds and 1330.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/things-to-know-before-visiting-south-korea
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-09-04
- Last updated: 2026-10-29

**South Korea is one of the easiest countries in Asia to travel once your phone is set up, and the setup is the part people get wrong: Google Maps still does not give walking or driving directions, T-money cards top up with cash only, and many Korean apps want a Korean phone number.** The paperwork is changing too. The K-ETA exemption for US, UK, Canadian, Australian and many European travellers ends on 31 December 2026, so trips from January 2027 need one unless Korea extends it again. Here are 16 things to know, each linked to our deeper guide where we have one. We spent 32 days in South Korea from 7 June to 9 July 2023: Seoul, Jeonju, Suncheon, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju, Sokcho and Seoul again. The rules and prices below come from official sources checked in October 2026.

## Entry and arrival

**1. K-ETA comes back on 1 January 2027 (unless extended).** Korea's Ministry of Justice extended the temporary K-ETA exemption for 22 countries and regions, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and France, to 31 December 2026, and no further extension had been announced when we checked in late October 2026. From 2027 that means an approved K-ETA before boarding: 10,000 won on the official site, k-eta.go.kr, valid for 3 years, applied for at least 72 hours before your flight. Copycat sites charge over $100. See [K-ETA 2027](https://clevertourists.com/resources/k-eta-2027-south-korea-how-to-apply-guide) and [do I need a visa for South Korea](https://clevertourists.com/resources/do-i-need-a-visa-to-visit-south-korea).

**2. File the e-Arrival Card in the 3 days before you land.** Since 1 January 2026 the electronic arrival card at e-arrivalcard.go.kr applies to all foreign visitors, unless you already hold an approved K-ETA, a Korean residence card or an e-Group visa. It is free; any site charging is not the government. Do not count on a paper card on the plane. Walkthrough: [Korea e-Arrival Card guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/korea-e-arrival-card-how-to-fill-out-guide).

**3. Use the airport rail or bus into Seoul.** From Incheon, the AREX train and the airport limousine buses both run into the city, and which is better depends on where you are staying. We compare them in [Incheon airport to Seoul](https://clevertourists.com/resources/incheon-airport-to-seoul-arex-vs-airport-limousine-bus-guide).

## Money, tipping and tax refunds

**4. Cards work almost everywhere, but carry some won.** Contactless card payment is normal in shops, cafés and restaurants. The gaps are market stalls, some street food, and transit cards: standard T-money top-up machines in stations take Korean won notes only. Draw cash from a global ATM on arrival and keep a small amount on you.

**5. No tipping.** Korea does not have a tipping culture: you pay what is on the bill in restaurants, cafés, bars and taxis. Many upscale hotels add a 10% service charge plus tax to the room rate. Details in [tipping in Japan and South Korea](https://clevertourists.com/resources/tipping-in-japan-and-south-korea-guide).

**6. Claim the tax refund at the till.** At shops with a Tax Free sign, VisitKorea lists an immediate refund at the counter for purchases from 15,000 won, as long as each transaction is under 1 million won and the trip total stays at 5 million won or less. Bring your passport when shopping. Larger purchases are refunded at the airport instead.

**7. Prices are closer to Japan than to Southeast Asia.** Seoul hotels, cafés and taxis cost roughly what they do in other big rich-world cities, while transit and casual Korean meals are good value. Our [South Korea trip cost breakdown](https://clevertourists.com/resources/how-much-does-a-trip-to-south-korea-cost) puts numbers on it.

## Getting around: maps, taxis and trains

**8. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap, not Google.** Korea restricts the export of detailed map data, so Google Maps shows places and transit routes but not turn-by-turn walking or driving directions. The government conditionally approved Google's request to export 1:5,000-scale map data on 27 February 2026, and Google has said it plans to bring full navigation, but we found no confirmed launch by October 2026. Naver Map and KakaoMap both have English modes and show which subway exit to use.

**9. Buy a T-money card or a Climate Card.** Foreign bank cards rarely work at subway gates, so you need a transit card. T-money is pay as you go and works in Seoul, Busan and Jeju; Seoul's Climate Card is an unlimited pass that suits heavy users who stay inside the city. Compare them in [Climate Card vs T-money](https://clevertourists.com/resources/south-korea-climate-card-vs-tmoney-tourist-transit-guide) and our [T-money guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/south-korea-transit-t-money-card-subway-guide).

**10. Taxi apps are useful but fussy with foreign cards.** Kakao T dominates, but registering a foreign card often fails; you can still book and pay the driver directly in the car. K.Ride, launched in June 2024, connects to the same taxi network and is built for foreign visitors. Have your destination's Korean name ready to show the driver.

**11. Book KTX trains ahead at peak times.** Seoul to Busan takes about two and a half hours on the KTX, and seats sell out on Fridays, Sundays and holiday weekends. Our [Seoul to Busan KTX guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/seoul-to-busan-ktx-train-tickets-time-price-guide) covers fares and booking; for a full route see the [10-day South Korea itinerary](https://clevertourists.com/resources/south-korea-itinerary-10-days).

## Phone, power, water and help

**12. Get data, and think about a Korean number.** A data-only travel eSIM covers maps, Papago translation and messaging. Choose a carrier SIM or eSIM from KT, SK Telecom or LG U+ instead if you want a Korean number, which many delivery, booking and verification services ask for. See [South Korea eSIM for tourists](https://clevertourists.com/resources/south-korea-esim-for-tourists).

**13. Plugs are European two-pin.** Korea uses Type C and F sockets at the same 220-230V range as continental Europe, at 60Hz, so European plugs fit and North American and UK visitors need an adapter. Chargers marked 100-240V work without a converter.

**14. Tap water meets drinking standards, and 1330 is the number to save.** The Seoul city government's 2025 Arisu water report found every site in over 5,400 tests met drinking-water standards, though many Koreans still drink filtered water and restaurants put free water on the table. In an emergency call **112** for police and **119** for fire or ambulance. The Korea Tourism Organization's **1330** Korea Travel Hotline runs around the clock for travel help and can interpret on calls with the emergency services.

## Etiquette, holidays and weather

**15. Manners follow age and both hands.** Korean etiquette centres on age and hierarchy: pour for others, receive with two hands, and let elders start eating. Temples ask for modest dress, and palaces are free if you wear hanbok; Gyeongbokgung, the biggest, is closed on Tuesdays. Read [what is considered rude in South Korea](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-is-considered-rude-in-south-korea), [what to wear in South Korea](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-to-wear-in-south-korea) and [temple and shrine dress codes](https://clevertourists.com/resources/temple-shrine-dress-code-japan-and-south-korea).

**16. Avoid the two big holidays and plan for the monsoon.** Seollal 2027 runs 6 to 9 February and Chuseok 2027 runs 14 to 16 September, according to the official calendar from the Korea AeroSpace Administration; trains sell out and some family-run places close. The *jangma* rainy season usually arrives in late June and lasts into July, and Seoul's July average is over 400 mm of rain in the Korea Meteorological Administration's 1991-2020 normals. Our June and July 2023 trip ran into the start of it. See [Seollal 2027](https://clevertourists.com/resources/seollal-2027-korea-lunar-new-year-dates-travel-guide), and for where to go, our [South Korea guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/south-korea) and [3 days in Seoul](https://clevertourists.com/guides/3-days-in-seoul).

## Frequently asked questions

### Do Americans need a K-ETA for South Korea in 2027?

Yes, unless Korea extends the exemption again. The temporary K-ETA exemption for the US and 21 other countries and regions runs to 31 December 2026, and no extension had been announced as of late October 2026. The K-ETA costs 10,000 won on k-eta.go.kr and is valid for 3 years.

### Does Google Maps work in South Korea?

Only partly. It shows places and public transit routes, but not turn-by-turn walking or driving directions. Korea approved Google's map data request in February 2026, but full navigation had not launched as of October 2026, so use Naver Map or KakaoMap.

### Can I top up a T-money card with a credit card?

Not at the standard station machines, which take Korean won notes only. Carry some cash for top-ups.

### What number do tourists call for help in Korea?

Call 112 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance. The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline, run by the Korea Tourism Organization, operates 24 hours a day and can help interpret calls with the emergency services.