Practical, honest, and specific. The things that catch first-time Korea visitors off guard and how to handle each one before you land.
Korea is one of Asia’s most visitor-friendly countries. The transport is excellent, the food is extraordinary, and the safety record is outstanding. But Korea operates under conventions that differ meaningfully from what most Western visitors expect. These 15 tips cover the practical realities that experienced travellers to Korea wish they had known first.
1. Download Naver Map Before You Land
This is the single most important practical step for Korea. Google Maps does not give walking or driving directions in Korea due to national security regulations. Apple Maps works for walking in most areas, but is less complete. Naver Map (by Naver, Korea’s dominant internet company) is the standard navigation tool. Download it before flying and download the offline map tiles for Seoul, Busan, and wherever else you are going. See the Best Apps for Korea guide for the full list of app setups.
2. Get a T-money Card at the Airport
The T-money IC card covers all subway and bus services, as well as most taxis in Korea. Tap in, tap out. The fare is automatically deducted. Get one from the T-money counter or GS25 convenience store in the Incheon arrivals hall immediately on landing. Load 30,000 to 50,000 won. See the T-money guide for full details.
3. Tipping is Not Done
Never tip in Korea. Not at restaurants, not in taxis, not for guides. Korean service culture does not incorporate tipping, and leaving extra money causes confusion rather than appreciation. Pay the bill amount exactly and leave.
4. Korea is More Cashless Than Japan
Korea is one of the most cashless societies in the world. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at restaurants, shops, cafes, and most taxis. Carry some cash for pojangmacha tent stalls, some traditional markets, and small street food vendors, but significantly less than you would need in Japan.
5. Spice Levels Are Real
Korean food is genuinely spicy. Tteokbokki, kimchi jjigae, sundubu jjigae, buldak noodles, and many popular dishes are spiced at a level that surprises visitors who have only had Korean food at international restaurants. Say ‘maepji anke haejuseyo’ (please make it not spicy) when ordering if you have a low tolerance. See the Korean phrases guide for the pronunciation.
6. Age in Korea Works Differently
Traditional Korean age reckoning (sae nanum) counts everyone as 1 at birth and adds a year on January 1 each year. Under the old system, a baby born in December turns 2 in January. South Korea officially adopted international age counting in 2023, so this matters less now, but it still comes up in conversation and some contexts.
7. Take Off Your Shoes More Than You Think
Shoes come off at traditional restaurants (particularly those with floor seating), at temples, at traditional guesthouses, and in some cultural spaces. Wear slip-on shoes or shoes that come off easily. Socks without holes. This matters more than most pre-trip packing guides suggest.
8. Kakao T is Better Than Hailing a Taxi
Download the Kakao T app and link your credit card before arriving. Requesting a taxi through the app is significantly more reliable than hailing on the street, particularly at busy times. The app shows estimated time, fare, and driver details. Kakao T also has English interface support.
9. The Escalator Rule
In Seoul, stand on the right side of escalators, walk on the left. The opposite of Tokyo (where it is stand left, walk right). Observing this is expected,, andfailing to do sot inconveniences commuters.
10. Public Transport Runs Until Around 1 am
Seoul’s subway service runs until around midnight to 1 am, depending on the line. Night buses run until dawn but less frequently. If you plan to be out late, arrange transport home before midnight or budget for Kakao T. See the Korea nightlife guide for late-night transport logistics.
11. Jjimjilbang are Available 24 Hours
Korean public bathhouses and saunas are open 24 hours and cost around 10,000 to 15,000 won for unlimited access. Many have sleeping areas where Koreans (and visitors) rest between sessions. Dragon Hill Spa near Seoul Station is the most visitor-friendly of the major jjimjilbangs. Excellent for a midday rest, an early morning arrival waiting for check-in, or a late night when transport has stopped.
12. Check Your Medication
Some common medications require advance approval to bring into Korea. Codeine-based cold medicine, some ADHD medications, and certain controlled substances need checking. See the What not to bring guide for Korea for the full list.
13. Korean Business Cards Are Received With Two Hands
When receiving a business card, name card, or any item formally presented to you in Korea, receive it with two hands or with one hand supported by the other forearm. This applies in professional contexts and at higher-end restaurants when staff present items. A small gesture that registers positively.
14. Learn to Read Hangul
Hangul, Korea’s alphabet, is phonetically consistent and can be learned to basic reading proficiency in 2 to 3 hours. Once you can read, menus, subway signs, and shop names become partially accessible even without knowing the vocabulary. It is the single best investment before visiting Korea. Multiple free apps (Duolingo, Drops) have Hangul learning modules.
15. Gyeongbokgung Free Entry in Hanbok
Wearing hanbok (traditional Korean dress) gives free entry to Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Deoksugung Palace, and Gyeonghuigung Palace. Hanbok rental shops are clustered near the palace entrances, with rates of 15,000 to 25,000 won for 2 to 4 hours. This is one of Seoul’s best-value experiences and produces the photographs most people associate with a trip to Seoul.
