Apps, phone numbers and practical tips to know before you land.
Apps to install before you go
Naver Map or KakaoMap: the two most-used map apps in Korea, both with English versions, with transit, walking and bus directions. Google Maps works for subway and bus, but walking and driving directions are limited.
Papago: translation, including photos of menus and signs.
Map app language: Naver Map has English, Chinese and Japanese (Menu, Settings, Language). KakaoMap has English (Menu, Settings, App settings, Language). If an English search fails, paste the Korean name of the place. Search by the Korean road address, because romanized addresses from Google Maps often fail. Both apps need data, so set up a SIM or eSIM first.
Kakao T: taxi hailing, with an English interface. You can sign up with an overseas phone number, but adding a foreign card may be rejected. Choose "pay the driver directly" and pay the meter in won cash, a physical card or T-money. An app call fee may be added. K-RIDE uses the same taxis and is reported to accept foreign cards more easily.
Subway Korea: subway routes in English.
Emergency and help numbers
112 police
119 fire and ambulance
1330 Korea Travel Hotline: tourist help in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean, 24 hours, free. They can also join a call to a hospital or shop as an interpreter.
1345 immigration contact center: visa and stay questions in about 20 languages, weekdays 09:00 to 22:00. Not an emergency line.
1577-1366 Danuri help line: about 13 languages, 24 hours, with three-way interpretation.
110 government help line for when you do not know whom to call.
Confirm numbers and language support on official sites if you need them. Call 119 for a life-threatening emergency; do not use 1339, which is not an emergency line.
Bring your passport. Without Korean insurance, a simple clinic visit is reported at about 50,000 to 80,000 won, so ask for the price first. Keep the itemized receipt and prescription for your travel insurance.
Pharmacies (μ½κ΅) sell over-the-counter medicine. Describe your symptoms, or show a photo of the medicine you take. Convenience stores sell only about 13 basic items (pain and fever relievers, cold medicine, digestives, patches), one per purchase.
Public late-night pharmacies are open 22:00 to 01:00 in many Seoul districts, but rotate, so call first. You can also call 119 for 24-hour guidance.
Planning a skin or cosmetic clinic visit? Foreign patient numbers in Korea passed 2 million in 2025, with dermatology the most common (a July 2026 news report). Clinics that recruit foreign patients must be registered with the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), so check that a clinic is listed (for example on the Seoul Medical Tourism site) before you pay. Ask for a written quote beforehand, and allow time before your flight home in case you need a follow-up. This site does not recommend clinics.
Some prescription sleep and anxiety medicines (for example zolpidem or alprazolam) need advance approval from Korea's drug regulator (MFDS) to bring in, and the limit is a 90-day supply. Apply well before you fly, at least 10 business days is reported.
Trains between cities (KTX)
The Korail website (korail.com, English) lets foreign visitors book as a guest with a passport and an overseas card. Turn on overseas payments and 3D Secure in your bank app, and type your name exactly as printed on the card. Payment failures are the most common problem.
Korail's app often asks for Korean phone verification, which can block visitors. At big stations, counters and machines work with cash, and some accept overseas cards, but popular trains sell out.
Seoul to Busan is reported at about 54,400 won for a standard seat, and it varies by train and time. Check the official site just before you go. More booking links are on the Where to go page, under Beyond Seoul.
Entry rules
Visa and K-ETA rules change often and depend on your passport. Check the official sites before you book: K-ETA and Korea Visa Portal. We do not list who needs what. One report says the K-ETA exemption for some nationalities was extended to 31 Dec 2026, so check whether yours is covered. Duty-free allowance on arrival is generally goods worth up to US$800 (plus 2 L of alcohol up to US$400, 200 cigarettes, 100 ml of perfume); confirm on Korea Customs Service.
Tax refund
Look for "Tax Free" signs at shops. Bring your passport and ask for the refund at the till or at the refund counter.
A minimum purchase amount applies, and the rules and limits change. Ask at the shop.
Keep your receipts and passport together for the airport counter.
Per receipt, at least 15,000 won including tax is needed. Reported rules (Sept 2026): an immediate refund in the store is possible for purchases under 1,000,000 won per transaction and up to 5,000,000 won in total since you entered Korea. Larger purchases are refunded at the airport.
The goods must be taken out of Korea within 3 months and be unopened and unused. At Incheon, scan your passport and the refund slip at the 24-hour kiosk, check in, have bags checked by customs if asked, and collect the refund at the tax refund counter (Terminal 1 counter reported open 07:00 to 22:00). Service fees reduce the amount, so you get less than the full tax.
Luggage storage and delivery
Seoul Station: T-Luggage near exits 1 and 2, about 09:00 to 22:00, small bags from about 3,000 won and large from about 6,000 won (weekday, reported). Bring your passport for pick-up.
Subway lockers (T-Locker): small 2,200, medium 3,300, large 4,400 won for the first 4 hours (reported). Foreign cards may not work and very large suitcases may not fit.
Incheon Airport: staffed storage counters in both terminals, about 5,000 to 12,000 won a day by size. Delivery to a hotel is reported at about 15,000 to 45,000 won, usually around 30,000 won.
Hotels with a 24-hour front desk usually accept deliveries. Prices and hours change, so check the service before you go.
Everyday tips
Power is 220 V with two-round-pin plugs (type C and F). Bring an adapter if needed.
Tipping is not expected in restaurants or taxis.
Many restaurants have a call button on the table. Press it to call staff. Water and basic side dishes are mostly self-service and free. Spoons, chopsticks and paper napkins are usually in a drawer on the side of the table, so open it and look.
Subway cars are quiet. Keep calls short and use headphones.
Carry some cash for small markets, but cards work in most places. Unstaffed kiosks often accept only Korean cards, so pay at the counter if yours is refused.
Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, emart24) have free microwaves and hot water, and many have a few seats. T-money cards can be topped up with cash only. They do not store luggage, and for alcohol or cigarettes you may be asked to show your passport. Opening hours differ by branch.
Before you land in Korea
A few small preparations make the first day easier: a map app that works in Korea, a data connection, a transit card, and the numbers to call if you need help.
FAQ
Do I need a visa or K-ETA? It depends on your passport and may change. Check the K-ETA and Korea Visa Portal sites before booking.
Is tipping expected in Korea? No. It is not customary in restaurants or taxis.
Can I use my foreign card to withdraw cash in Korea? Yes at ATMs marked Global ATM or with your card logo. Expect an ATM fee of about 3,000 to 4,000 won plus your bank fee, and choose won if asked about the currency.
What number do I call for tourist help? 1330, the Korea Travel Hotline. For emergencies, call 112 for police or 119 for fire and ambulance.