Seoul Travel Guide 2026: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

South Korea's Ministry of Justice has extended a temporary exemption from the K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) requirement through December 31, 2026 for citizens of 67 countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and most of the EU, as well as for travelers aged 17 and under or 65 and over. Most of these same nationalities can stay visa-free for up to 90 days. This exemption only waives the K-ETA application, though — every visitor, exempt or not, must still complete the mandatory e-Arrival Card online within three days before landing, a free digital form covering passport, flight and contact details.

Don't assume 'K-ETA exempt' means 'nothing to do before you fly' — the e-Arrival Card is the one step that still applies across the board, and skipping it can cause delays at Incheon or Gimpo immigration.

The South Korean Won (KRW) is the local currency, and South Korea runs one of the more card-friendly economies in Asia — credit and debit cards are accepted almost everywhere, including most small restaurants and convenience stores, which makes it less cash-dependent than Japan or much of Southeast Asia. That said, the single most useful physical purchase for any visitor is a T-money card, a rechargeable contactless transit card that covers the subway, city buses, many taxis and convenience store purchases across Seoul (and, with the right card, Busan too) — functionally the same role Hong Kong's Octopus or Japan's Suica play.

Tipping is not customary in South Korea — restaurant and taxi tipping is unusual rather than expected, and attempting to tip can occasionally cause mild confusion rather than appreciation.

Seoul's subway network is extensive, frequent, bilingually signed in Korean and English, and genuinely one of the easier systems in Asia for a first-time visitor to navigate independently. Tap a T-money card at the gates rather than buying single-journey tickets for every ride — it's faster and slightly cheaper. Incheon International Airport, the main international gateway, connects to central Seoul by the AREX express train (roughly 45 minutes to Seoul Station) or by airport bus.

A few etiquette notes that matter more than most guides mention: use both hands (or support your pouring hand with the other) when receiving or giving something to someone older, remove shoes when entering a traditional restaurant's floor seating area, and expect Korean BBQ and most communal meals to be eaten with both chopsticks and a spoon, rather than chopsticks alone.