First-Timer's Guide to South Korea: Essential Travel Tips

South Korea is easy to travel once you know a handful of local quirks: the map apps are different, rubbish bins are rare and your card works almost everywhere except the market stall you most want to buy from. These tips cover what first-timers often wish they'd known sooner.

Money and cards

• The currency is the Korean won (KRW, ₩), with notes of 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 and 50,000.
• Credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and convenience stores, and contactless payment is common.
• Keep some cash for markets, street food, small guesthouses and T-money top-ups.
• Withdraw won from ATMs marked "Global" or "Foreign Card" at airports, banks and convenience stores, as not every machine accepts overseas cards.
• If a self-order kiosk rejects your card, staff can usually take payment at the counter instead.

Plugs, power and practicalities

• Sockets take Type C and F plugs with two round pins, at 220 volts. Bring an adapter and check that your chargers handle 220V; most phone and laptop chargers do.
• Free public Wi-Fi is widespread in subway stations and city centres, though connections can drop as you move around.
• Public toilets are free, clean and easy to find in stations and parks.
• Street bins are scarce, so carry a small bag for rubbish and use the bins at convenience stores or your accommodation.

Tipping and everyday etiquette

• Tipping isn't expected in restaurants, taxis or hotels.
• Hand over cards and cash with both hands, or with your right hand while the left touches your arm.
• Keep phone calls quiet on public transport and leave priority seats free.
• If you see shoes lined up at a doorway, take yours off too.

Apps to download before you go

• Naver Map or KakaoMap: the most accurate maps in Korea for walking routes, live transit and business details. Google Maps works for public transport but has limited walking and driving directions here.
• Papago: a translation app that is strong on Korean, with camera translation for menus and signs.
• Kakao T: for calling taxis.
• Korail Talk: for booking KTX and other trains.
• KakaoTalk: Korea's main messaging app, used by some guesthouses and guides to keep in touch with guests.

Download them at home and set the language to English where the option exists.

When you arrive

1. 1Switch on your HelloSIM line as soon as you land, set it as your line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line.
2. 2Buy a T-money card at an airport convenience store and load it with cash.
3. 3Take the AREX train or an airport limousine bus into Seoul.
4. 4Save your accommodation's address in Korean, since many taxi drivers won't recognise romanised addresses.
5. 5If you arrive before check-in, use the coin lockers found in many larger subway stations to drop your bags and start exploring.

A few more local habits

• Use map apps rather than street names to find places; addresses can be confusing even for locals.
• Convenience stores are open around the clock and sell everything from hot meals to phone chargers.
• Major tourist areas have information centres with English-speaking staff and free maps.
• Check whether your trip overlaps with Seollal or Chuseok, when trains sell out and some small businesses close.

Stay connected in South Korea

From the moment you land, your phone does much of the heavy lifting in Korea: maps, translation, train tickets and taxi apps all need data. A HelloSIM eSIM is data-only, so install it at home over Wi-Fi with the QR code from your email and it connects once you arrive. Your usual number stays in your phone for calls and texts, WhatsApp works exactly as before, and you can top up the same eSIM if you need more data.