Essential Items for Traveling to South Korea: A Comprehensive Guide for Foreign Tourists
Whether you're from a tropical island in Southeast Asia or a faraway land, Korea’s unique four seasons and rich cultural charm are truly worth exploring. To help you navigate your journey with ease, we've put together a comprehensive checklist of essential items—covering travel documents, daily necessities, payment methods, and more. Go through this list before you depart to ensure a worry-free start to your Korean adventure!
- Documents and Important Files
🔹 Passport: Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months and prepare a copy or electronic scan in case it gets lost.
🔹 Visa: Depending on your nationality, confirm if you need to apply for a visa. If you're from a visa-exempt country, it's recommended to print or save the relevant policy documents.
🔹 Flight & Accommodation Reservation Information: Print or save an electronic copy of your flight ticket and accommodation address, as customs may check it (also, it’s recommended to have a version of the address in Korean for taxi drivers or hotel reception).
🔹 Emergency Contacts: Make a note of your home country's embassy in South Korea, hotel reception, travel agency, or tour guide's contact information, in case of an emergency.
2. Currency and Payment Methods
🔹 Cash (KRW): It’s recommended to carry 500,000 to 1,000,000 KRW (approximately 400-800 USD) for a one-week trip. While most shops in South Korea accept international credit cards, small stalls, markets, taxis, and some restaurants only accept cash. It’s a good idea to exchange some KRW at the airport or a bank.
🔹 Credit & Debit Cards: Visa, MasterCard, and UnionPay cards are widely accepted in South Korea. It’s recommended to enable international payment functions.
🔹 T-money Transportation Card: Almost all public transportation in South Korea supports the T-money card, which can be used on subways, buses, in convenience stores, and more. You can purchase and top-up the card at convenience stores near the airport. (For more details, refer to the article "Essential Guide to Buying and Recharging T-money Card for Traveling in South Korea")
3. Electronic Devices: Ensuring Communication and Convenience
- Mobile Phone and Charging
🔹 Power Adapter: South Korea uses Type C/F round plug (220V). It’s recommended to bring a multifunctional power adapter.
🔹 Power Bank: Capacity should not exceed 100Wh/20,000mAh (for boarding). Ensure it’s labeled with the rated capacity (Wh).
2. Internet Connection
🔹 Portable Wi-Fi: You can arrange portable Wi-Fi at the SIM card counter at the airport.
🔹 SIM Card: You can get a 4G/5G prepaid SIM card from LG/KT Olleh or SK Telecom at the airport SIM card counter (passport required for real-name registration).
🔹 Attention Southeast Asian Travelers: Make sure your phone supports the LTE bands used in South Korea.
3. Essential Mobile Apps
🔹 Navigation: Naver Map (supports Chinese and English), KakaoMap (supports English).
🔹 Translation: Papago (can translate menus by photo, supports multiple languages).
Papago APP
🔹 Ride-hailing: Kakao T / Uber (link your international credit card to avoid cash payments).
4. Daily Essentials
Toiletries and Skincare:
🔹 Travel-size toothpaste and toothbrush, available at airport convenience stores, but not provided by hotels.
🔹 Comb, razor, sanitary items (available at convenience stores, but with limited emergency options).
Medications:
🔹 Cold medicine, fever reducers, etc. Since pharmacies in South Korea are closed at night, if you’re arriving late, it’s recommended to prepare these in advance.
Pen:
You’ll need to fill out an entry card before passing through customs at the airport. It’s convenient to have a pen ready before departure.
SIM Card Ejector Pin:
You will need a SIM card ejector pin when inserting or removing your phone's SIM card. It’s recommended to prepare one in advance.
Summary
South Korea is a travel destination worth exploring in depth. Whether it's food, culture, shopping, or natural landscapes, it offers endless charm. We hope this Essential Items for Traveling to South Korea checklist helps you prepare for your trip and enjoy a carefree journey! 💙
🎒 Wishing you a pleasant trip and lots of fun! ✈🇰🇷
