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Traveling to a foreign country is always a thrill, and the dynamics of travel after the pandemic only make adventures abroad even more full of questions. However, don’t let the unknown intimidate you!

South Korea has been a cultural powerhouse for years, inviting people worldwide to come and experience it for themselves. With our guide, we hope to help you prepare for your journey to South Korea and make the best of your trip!

Health requirements

One of the biggest questions travelers ask these days, sometimes even before thinking about getting an entry permit or visa, is the health requirements. During the pandemic and after it, certain restrictions are in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The most significant conditions for travelers include closed borders — which means that you couldn’t even enter the country and quarantine.

So what are the health-related requirements and restrictions currently in place in South Korea?

First, the borders of South Korea are now open and travel into the country is allowed, with no quarantine required. Effective in January 2023, proof of negative pre-departure COVID-19 test results is no longer required. Pre-entry Q-code registration is encouraged. Q-code registration is used for health monitoring of foreign visitors.

Visa or K-ETA

Now that we know that you can enter Korea, we get into the question of getting the permit to enter Korea. To enter as a tourist, you may need a visa, or more likely, you will need a K-ETA.

The K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization that is issued to foreign visitors who are eligible to visit visa-free. So, even though the visa-free policy makes the entry process significantly easier, you should still take care to apply for your K-ETA correctly.

To apply for the K-ETA, you will need to enter your personal and travel details, including an identification photo. Make sure you’re applying ahead of time to avoid immigration problems.

What to bring with you on your trip

Packing for a trip, for some, can be more complicated than taking care of travel documents, as there’s no fixed step-by-step tutorial on how to correctly pack for your trip! As if the baggage limit wasn’t enough of a headache, you also need to think about what you might need in the future.

We hope that our packing guide can help you pack more efficiently for your South Korean trip!

Clothes for the season

First thing that comes to mind when packing for travel is clothes. You will need to think about what the weather may be like during your travels, not only in terms of temperature, but also whether it’s going to be windy, rainy, snowing, and others. In researching this, remember that location also plays a part! Different parts of Korea have different weather tendencies.

While you can’t exactly tell what the weather is going to be like, you can make sure that you get the basics covered. For example, sure, it may be predicted that Seoul will be sunny the whole time you will be there, but you should probably still pack a rain jacket. And obviously, you should pack a warm jacket for winter travels, and so on.

It may also be useful to check the temperature in the accommodation you will be staying in. For example, if reviews of the hotel you’re staying in says it gets cold there, you may consider warmer pajamas, and so on.

First aid kit

While a lot of basic medications are available regularly around the world, it’s useful to have your own first aid kit. Imagine you have a banging headache and don’t have paracetamol with you — you would need to visit a pharmacy and ask for meds in a language that is foreign to you, if you don’t speak Korean. So spare yourself the headache — pun intended — and have some basic first aid kit with you.

If you’re someone who takes some meds regularly, this goes without saying. If it applies to you, you may need to make sure that you have the permission to bring certain meds into the country. A prescription may be enough, but you may need to check with your doctor and/or immigration service.

Gadgets

In our daily lives we’re used to our gadgets, and while you’re out there for adventure, your gadgets can help you make the most of your travels, too!

For example, your phone can help you navigate the city, discover local gems, and converse with locals even though you don’t speak the language. To support your phone, we recommend a power bank so you can use your phone without worry.

Don’t forget about adapters, either. South Korea uses 220V outlets with European style plugs with twin round pins. If you’re a serial traveler, you know how universal adapters can come in very handy.

Sense of adventure!

Okay, it’s not something you can pack, but you must have it on your trip! We know that sometimes things will not go smoothly during our travels, but that’s okay. Simply take it in stride and plan your next move. If anything, know the local emergency contacts, and the contact of your country’s embassy in Korea.

There’s only so much you can do in preparation, the trip is still the most important part, so make sure you’re out there to have a real adventure!