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Top 10 Things to Know Before Traveling to South Korea (2026)

Korea is easy once you know its quirks: an online arrival card, a map app that is not Google, a transit card you top up with cash, and a phone number some apps insist on. Ten things to know first.

Quick answer: Check whether your passport is on the K-ETA exemption list, which runs until 31 December 2026; if it is not, apply only on k-eta.go.kr. File the free e-Arrival Card online within 72 hours before landing unless you hold a K-ETA. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap, because Google Maps still gives limited directions in Korea. Carry some cash for T-money top-ups and markets, do not tip, and install a travel eSIM before you fly, since almost everything in Korea assumes you are online.

Key takeaways

K-ETA exemption runs to 31 December 2026 for 22 countries and regions, including the UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan and much of Europe.
The paper arrival card is gone. Since 2026 the e-Arrival Card at e-arrivalcard.go.kr is the accepted form; K-ETA holders skip it.
Google Maps is not enough. Naver Map and KakaoMap give the walking and transit directions you will actually use.
Data runs the trip. Maps, translation, taxis and transit all need a line, and fixed-data plans in Korea slow to 128 kbps once the allowance is used.

You land at Incheon, open Google Maps for the walk from the station to your guesthouse in Mangwon, and it shows you a straight line and no directions. Korea is one of the easiest countries in Asia to travel, but it works on its own apps and its own rules. Here are ten things to know before you fly, so the first evening goes the way you planned.

1. Do you need a K-ETA in 2026?

Maybe not. Korea's Ministry of Justice extended the temporary K-ETA exemption from 1 January to 31 December 2026 for 22 countries and regions, among them Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, the UK, the US, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. Other visa-free passports need a K-ETA, KRW 10,000, applied for only on k-eta.go.kr or its official app. Agency sites charge far more for the same form.

2. What is the e-Arrival Card?

Korea replaced the paper arrival card with an online form. Since 2026 the e-Arrival Card at e-arrivalcard.go.kr is the only accepted version. It is free, you can file it up to 72 hours before arrival, and it is valid for 72 hours, so a delayed flight may mean filing again. Holders of a valid K-ETA are exempt.

3. Why does Google Maps not work properly in Korea?

Korean law restricts the export of precise map data, so Google has long offered transit directions but no proper walking or driving routes. A conditional approval in February 2026 has not yet been shown to change the app for travellers. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you fly. Naver Map has an English setting under Settings, Language, and both give walking, bus and subway routes with exit numbers.

4. How does the T-money transit card work for visitors?

T-money is the tap card for subways, buses and many taxis, sold at convenience stores. The most reliable way to top it up is with cash at a convenience store counter or a station machine, so keep some won notes. Since March 2026 the Tmoney iPhone app has a Foreigner option that lets you top up a virtual card with a non-Korean Mastercard, American Express or UnionPay card; Visa was not supported when it launched.

5. Will your foreign card work everywhere?

Almost. Cafes, convenience stores, restaurants and taxis take Visa and Mastercard, and some places take no cash at all. Traditional markets such as Gwangjang, some street stalls and T-money machines are the exceptions, so carry a little won.

6. Do you tip in Korea?

No. Tipping is not part of the culture in restaurants, taxis or hotels. In many restaurants you take the bill to the till on the way out.

7. Why do some apps ask for a Korean phone number?

Food delivery apps, some restaurant booking apps and a few online shops verify you with a Korean mobile number. A travel eSIM gives you data, not a Korean number, so for those apps you need a local SIM or a friend's help. Maps, messaging, translation and most taxi and transit apps work fine on data alone.

8. Which network will you be on, and how much data do you need?

Buy and install a travel eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, keep your home SIM on for bank SMS, and switch the travel line on after landing. The Fizen South Korea eSIM runs on LG U+, 4G and 5G (catalog checked 25 October 2026). Fixed plans range from 1 GB to 50 GB over 3 to 30 days and slow to 128 kbps once the high-speed data is used, which is enough for text messages and little else. Unlimited plans run from 3 to 30 days, listed as unlimited high-speed data with no speed cap stated.

Your trip	Typical daily use	Plan that fits
Weekend in Seoul	about 1 GB	3 GB for 3 days
One week, maps and messaging	about 1 GB	10 GB for 7 days
Two weeks with KTX days and video calls	1 to 1.5 GB	Unlimited for 15 days, or 20 GB for 15 days if you stay near 1 GB a day

Most plans cannot be topped up, and more data means a new eSIM, so size for the whole trip. A verified fault on Fizen's side gets a free 1-for-1 replacement for the length of the trip, or a refund for the days you could not use, from a real person in chat. An unused eSIM that is not installed yet can usually be taken back; eligibility depends on the plan, so check Package details or ask chat. New users get US$10 of eSIM credit in the Fizen app's eSIM tab.

9. When is a Korean SIM the better buy?

KT, SK Telecom and LG U+ sell tourist SIMs at Incheon and Gimpo arrivals and some downtown shops, registered to your passport. If you are staying a month or more, or need a Korean number for delivery and booking apps, the local SIM is the better choice. For a one or two week trip, an eSIM installed before you fly saves the queue at the counter.

10. What small habits make a first trip smoother?

Keep subway priority seats free and phone calls quiet on trains.
Take shoes off where you see a raised floor or a shoe rack.
Street bins are rare; carry rubbish to a convenience store.

Sorted, the first evening looks like this: through immigration with nothing to fill in, Naver Map walking you from Hapjeong exit 8 to the door, and a T-money card topped up with the change from your first convenience-store coffee.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a K-ETA for South Korea in 2026?

Not if your passport is on the exemption list for 22 countries and regions, valid until 31 December 2026. Other visa-free nationalities apply on k-eta.go.kr for KRW 10,000.

Is the Korea e-Arrival Card mandatory?

Since 2026 it is the only accepted arrival card. File it free at e-arrivalcard.go.kr up to 72 hours before landing. Valid K-ETA holders are exempt.

Does Google Maps work in South Korea?

Only partly. It shows transit routes but lacks proper walking and driving directions. Naver Map and KakaoMap work far better and have English options.

Can I top up T-money with a credit card?

Cash at convenience stores and station machines is the reliable way. Since March 2026 the Tmoney iPhone app also accepts foreign Mastercard, American Express and UnionPay cards; Visa was not supported at launch.

Which network does a South Korea eSIM use?

The Fizen South Korea eSIM uses LG U+ on 4G and 5G. Fixed plans slow to 128 kbps after the high-speed allowance; unlimited plans list no speed cap.

Land at Incheon with data already on

Install the South Korea eSIM at home on Wi-Fi and switch it on after landing. LG U+, 4G and 5G. Paying in USDT? Use the Fizen app instead.

Get your South Korea eSIM

Terms and conditions

Information only. This article is information only. It is not an offer or a sale, and it is not travel, legal or financial advice. Entry rules change; check k-eta.go.kr and official Korean government sources before you travel.
For readers in the United States. This is information only, not an offer or sale, and not advice. Fizen products and services are not offered to US Persons.
Data-only product. The eSIM is data only. It does not include a Korean phone number or SMS. Most plans cannot be topped up (more data means a new eSIM), so size it for the whole trip.
Facts and availability. Carrier, plan sizes and speeds were checked in the Fizen catalog on 25 October 2026. The shop page carries current plans and prices.

Sources

Entry rules, app and transit details, and eSIM catalog facts checked on 25 October 2026.