Frequently Asked Questions

Korea Travel Guide is a travel information platform that provides real-time data on tourist spots, festivals, travel courses, accommodations, and restaurants using the Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI and public data.

Yes, Korea Travel Guide is completely free to use.

We fetch data in real time via the Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI. However, some information may differ from current conditions — always verify important details through official channels.

Yes. Use the language switcher in the top right corner to toggle between Korean and English.

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Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) offer the most pleasant weather. Spring brings cherry blossoms, autumn brings spectacular foliage. Summer (June–August) is hot and humid with monsoon rains, while winter (December–February) is cold but great for skiing and winter festivals.

Korea has visa-free agreements with over 100 countries. Citizens of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and most European nations can enter visa-free for 90 days. Some nationalities require a K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) — it costs ₩10,000 and takes up to 72 hours to process. Always check your specific visa requirements before departure.

English is commonly available at major tourist sites, hotels, and large restaurants. Subway announcements are in English too. However, in traditional markets and small local eateries, English may be limited. Installing Papago (a Korean translation app) or Google Translate before your trip is highly recommended.

It depends on your travel style. Budget travelers (guesthouses + street food) can get by on ₩50,000–70,000/day. Mid-range (business hotel + regular restaurants) costs ₩150,000–250,000/day. Luxury (5-star hotel + fine dining) starts at ₩400,000+/day. Korea is very card-friendly, but carry some cash for traditional markets and street food.

The fastest option is the AREX Airport Express (43 minutes to Seoul Station, ₩9,500). The all-stop train takes 66 minutes for ₩4,950. Airport limousine buses go directly to major hotel areas (₩10,000–18,000). Taxis cost ₩65,000–90,000. For late-night arrivals, taxis or night buses are available.

T-money cards are available at convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven), subway station vending machines, and Incheon Airport. The card costs ₩2,500–4,000 and requires separate loading. T-money works on subways, buses, taxis, and at convenience stores, with free transfers within 30 minutes.

Yes. Free Wi-Fi is available at airports, subway stations, cafes, convenience stores, and most tourist areas. Seoul also provides public Wi-Fi (Seoul WiFi). For constant connectivity on the go, buy a SIM card or eSIM at Incheon Airport — unlimited data plans run about ₩20,000–30,000 for 7 days.

Korea uses 220V/60Hz with European-style Type C (round 2-pin) and Type F outlets. If you have US (Type A/B) or UK (Type G) plugs, you will need an adapter. Most smartphone chargers and laptops support 100–240V multi-voltage, so an adapter alone is usually sufficient.

No. Korea does not have a tipping culture. Tipping is not expected at restaurants, taxis, or hotels — service charges are included in the price. Offering a tip may even cause confusion.

Not at all. Many popular dishes like bulgogi, galbi, seolleongtang, bibimbap (with less gochujang), and janchi guksu are mild. You can ask "an maepge haejuseyo" (not spicy, please) when ordering. Korea has a huge variety of non-spicy options.

Yes. Seoul's Insadong, Itaewon, and Hannam-dong areas have dedicated vegetarian restaurants. Buddhist temple cuisine restaurants serve fully plant-based meals. At regular restaurants, you can order doenjang jjigae (without shrimp paste), bibimbap (no meat), or tofu dishes. Saying "gogi ppae juseyo" (no meat, please) is usually understood.

While not legally required, travel insurance is strongly recommended. Medical costs for uninsured foreigners can be high in Korea. Get coverage that includes medical expenses, lost luggage, and flight delays. If you take prescription medication, bring an English-language prescription from your doctor.

Our Festivals page provides real-time festival schedules across all of Korea, powered by the Korea Tourism Organization TourAPI. You can find start/end dates, locations, and program details. Korea hosts diverse festivals year-round — cherry blossom festivals in spring, mud festivals in summer, foliage festivals in autumn, and light festivals in winter.

Korea is one of the safest travel destinations in the world. Violent crime is rare and it is generally safe to walk around at night. In emergencies, call 112 (police), 119 (fire/ambulance), or 1330 (24-hour tourist helpline with English, Japanese, and Chinese support — free of charge).

SIM cards are available at carrier booths (SK Telecom, KT, LG U+) in the Incheon Airport arrivals hall, or you can pre-order online before departure. If your phone supports eSIM, you can activate it instantly online without swapping physical cards. Unlimited data plans for 7–10 days cost approximately ₩20,000–40,000.