South Korea Travel Guide 2026: Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju, Andong and the DMZ

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TL;DR

I spent four weeks across South Korea, riding the KTX from Seoul to Busan in 2.5 hours, hiking Jeju's volcanic ridges, walking 600-year hanok lanes in Bukchon, and standing on the 38th parallel at Panmunjom. The country packs five UNESCO sites, K-pop streets, palace courtyards, and temple gardens into a footprint smaller than Iceland. For Indian passport holders, the K-ETA at USD 7.50 makes pre-arrival entry simple.

Why Visit South Korea in 2026

South Korea hits a sweet spot in 2026: visa-free pre-arrival registration for Indian passport holders since September 2021, a K-ETA fee of USD 7.50 valid for three years allowing 60 days per visit, and direct Delhi-Seoul or Mumbai-Seoul flights running 6 to 7 hours. The KTX bullet train at 305 km/h links the capital to Busan along 423 kilometres in roughly 2.5 hours, so I covered the spine of the peninsula without renting a car.

The country runs 18 plus UNESCO entries across royal Joseon palaces, Silla Buddhist relics, volcanic landscapes, and Confucian academies. K-pop and K-drama have pushed Seoul and Busan to the top of Asian itineraries, while Jeju's lava tubes and Hallasan crater pull hikers across the region. Public transport is clean, English signage is sufficient on metro and KTX, and T-money cards cover buses, subways, and convenience stores.

I picked spring 2026 for cherry blossom season, but September to November also works, with maple and ginkgo colour across Gyeongju and Seoraksan. Winter brings skiing near PyeongChang, and summer brings humidity above 30 degrees Celsius with monsoon rain in July.

Background and Context

South Korea covers 100,363 square kilometres, placing it 109th by area worldwide, slightly larger than Iceland and smaller than Bulgaria. The population stands at 51.7 million, 28th most populous globally, with a density of 515 per square kilometre, ranking 24th highest. About 49 percent of citizens live in the Seoul Capital Area, which holds the capital city of 9.7 million inside a metro of roughly 26 million people.

Korean is the official language, written in Hangul, the phonetic alphabet commissioned by King Sejong the Great in 1443. Hangul was inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World register in 1997 for its design clarity. The currency is the South Korean Won (KRW), trading around 1,400 to the US dollar during my visit. The time zone is UTC plus 9, with no daylight saving.

The Republic of Korea was established on 15 August 1948 following Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945. The Korean War began on 25 June 1950 and paused on 27 July 1953 with the Korean Armistice Agreement, leaving the peninsula divided at the 38th parallel without a formal peace treaty. The Republic shifted from authoritarian rule under Park Chung-hee in the 1960s and 1970s to democratic governance after 1987. President Kim Dae-jung received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2000 for the Sunshine Policy. After the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol, President Lee Jae-myung took office in 2024.

The economy moved from agricultural recovery in the 1950s to a high-tech base, with Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and SK among the largest conglomerates. The Korean Wave (Hallyu) of K-pop, K-drama, and K-beauty has carried the country into global pop culture over two decades.

Seoul: Palaces, Hanok Lanes, and Skylines (Tier 1)

I started in Seoul because the metropolis lays out 600 years of Joseon Dynasty history beside neon Gangnam towers. Changdeokgung Palace was my first stop, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997. Built in 1405 as a secondary palace, it was burned during the Imjin War of 1592, rebuilt in 1623, and is the best preserved of the Five Grand Palaces. The Huwon (Secret Garden) at the rear holds 30,000 trees across 78 acres, with a separate timed ticket for the guided walk.

Gyeongbokgung Palace, built in 1395 as the main royal seat, faces Gwanghwamun Square. It was burned in 1592, rebuilt in 1867 by the regent Heungseon Daewongun, partly demolished by Japanese authorities in 1915, and reconstructed in the 1990s. The Royal Guard Changing Ceremony runs twice an hour; entry costs 3,000 KRW.

Bukchon Hanok Village sits between the two palaces, holding more than 900 traditional hanok houses across a 600-year-old residential quarter. I walked the lanes early morning to respect residents who still live there. Insadong nearby holds galleries, tea houses, and calligraphy shops. Myeongdong covers cosmetics and street food; Hongdae anchors youth culture near Hongik University.

For modern Seoul, I took the metro to Gangnam, the district behind the 2012 song, walking COEX Mall, Bongeunsa Temple, and the Starfield Library. N Seoul Tower, opened in 1969 atop Namsan, rises 236 metres on a 244-metre peak, putting the observation deck 480 metres above sea level. Cable car costs 14,000 KRW round trip, and the night view across the Han River is the standard Seoul photo.

Busan: Port City, Beaches, and Cultural Villages (Tier 1)

The KTX ride from Seoul Station to Busan Station took 2 hours 32 minutes, the Sancheon-class trainset cruising at 305 km/h across 423 kilometres of dedicated track operational since 2004. The fare ran 59,800 KRW one way in standard class.

Haeundae Beach stretches 1.5 kilometres along the eastern coast, drawing more than 1.5 million visitors in July and August. The white sand and shallow shelf make it swim-friendly, though high-rise resorts blur the line with Miami. I preferred quieter Gwangalli Beach at night, when the Gwangan Bridge lights up across the bay.

Gamcheon Cultural Village clings to a hillside southwest of the centre, often called the Korean Machu Picchu. It began in the 1950s as a settlement for Korean War refugees and was painted in tiered colours during a 2009 public art project that turned 800 homes into a tourist circuit. Maps cost 2,000 KRW, and the photo points include the Little Prince statue and the stairway murals.

Jagalchi Fish Market is the largest seafood market on the peninsula, where I bought live abalone, hagfish, and king crab from ground-floor stalls and took them upstairs to cook for a 5,000 KRW handling fee. BIFF Square hosts the Busan International Film Festival each October. North of the city, Beomeosa Temple was founded in 678 CE during the Silla Kingdom, sitting at the base of Geumjeongsan with a one-pillar gate from 1614.

Jeju Island: Volcanic UNESCO and Haenyeo Divers (Tier 1)

Jeju Island, 85 kilometres off the southern coast, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2007 for its volcanic landscapes, the only natural site in South Korea on that list. I flew Jeju Air from Gimpo to Jeju International for 60,000 KRW one way, a 65-minute hop.

Hallasan, at 1,947 metres, is the highest peak in South Korea, an extinct shield volcano with a crater lake (Baengnokdam) at the summit. I hiked the Seongpanak trail, 9.6 kilometres each way, leaving at 6 am to summit by noon. Permits are free but must be booked online 30 days ahead.

Manjanggul Lava Tube runs 7.4 kilometres underground, the world's longest accessible lava cave system, formed by a basaltic eruption around 200,000 years ago. Only 1 kilometre is open, ending at a 7.6-metre lava column. Seongsan Ilchulbong (Sunrise Peak) rose from a hydrovolcanic eruption roughly 5,000 years ago, a tuff cone on the eastern coast with a 600-metre-wide crater. I climbed the 182-metre summit by dawn, where the morning light hit the Pacific.

The Jeju Olle Trail covers 437 kilometres across 27 coastal routes. I walked sections of Olle 7 around Seogwipo in 5 hours. The Haenyeo, women divers of Jeju, were inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2016. The remaining divers, averaging 60 plus years old, free-dive for abalone and conch without oxygen tanks; the Haenyeo Museum in Hado-ri tells their history.

Gyeongju: Silla Capital and Buddhist Heart (Tier 1)

Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla Kingdom for nearly a thousand years, from 57 BCE to 935 CE, and the historic areas were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2000. I took the KTX from Busan to Singyeongju Station in 30 minutes, then a city bus 15 kilometres into the old centre, where royal tombs sit beside cafes.

Bulguksa Temple, founded in 528 CE and rebuilt several times after the 1593 Japanese burning, was added separately to the UNESCO list in 1995 with Seokguram Grotto. The temple's two stone pagodas, Dabotap and Seokgatap, date from 751 CE and survived the fires. Seokguram Grotto, carved into the slope above Bulguksa, houses a 3.5-metre granite Buddha facing east toward the East Sea, completed in 751 CE under Prime Minister Kim Daeseong.

Cheomseongdae Observatory, built around 632 CE during Queen Seondeok's reign, is the oldest astronomical observatory in East Asia, a 9.17-metre stone bottle shape. Tumuli Park (Daereungwon) holds 23 large mounded tombs of Silla royalty; Cheonmachong is open for interior viewing. Anapji Pond, restored in 1975, glows at night with reflections of the reconstructed pavilions. I rented a bicycle for 10,000 KRW to cover the flat district.

Andong: Hahoe Folk Village and Confucian Heritage (Tier 1)

Andong sits in the central inland region, reached by KTX from Cheongnyangni Station in 2 hours. Hahoe Folk Village, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010 along with Yangdong, has preserved Joseon-era residential life since the 14th century, when the Pungsan Ryu clan settled the bend in the Nakdong River. About 150 residents still live in the village, with thatched and tiled hanok homes on the riverside loop the name describes.

The Hahoe Mask Dance Drama, a Joseon-era satirical performance using nine wooden masks, was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2022. Performances run weekends at the village arena from March to November, free for visitors. The Hahoe masks, National Treasure 121, date from the Goryeo period.

Byeongsanseowon, a Confucian academy founded in 1572, sits 10 kilometres downstream, inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2019 as part of the Seowon group. Andong is also the home of Korean rice wine; the Andong Soju Museum traces the distilled spirit at around 45 percent alcohol, far stronger than the green-bottle soju in supermarkets. Makgeolli, a milky unfiltered rice brew at 6 to 8 percent, is the everyday drink across the region.

DMZ and Panmunjom: The 38th Parallel (Tier 2)

The Demilitarized Zone, 4 kilometres wide and 250 kilometres long, has separated the two Koreas since the 1953 armistice. I booked a DMZ tour from Seoul through a licensed operator (Koridoor or VIPTravel) at 130,000 KRW for the half-day option. The Joint Security Area at Panmunjom, the village where the armistice was signed, requires advance booking at least four weeks ahead, valid passport, dress code (no torn jeans, no sandals), and signed indemnity. JSA access can shift with diplomatic conditions, so I confirmed two weeks before travel.

The standard tour covers the Third Infiltration Tunnel, dug by the North in the 1970s and discovered in 1978, descending 73 metres below ground. Dora Observatory looks across the demarcation line to Kijong-dong (the propaganda village) and Kaesong city. Imjingak Park holds the Bridge of Freedom, where 12,773 prisoners crossed home in 1953. I treated the visit as a history lesson, with respect for families on both sides still separated since 1953.

Suwon: Hwaseong Fortress (Tier 2)

Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997, runs 5.74 kilometres of stone and brick walls built between 1794 and 1796 under King Jeongjo of Joseon. The king commissioned the fortress to honour his father Crown Prince Sado, and the design by Jeong Yak-yong used pulleys and cranes considered innovative for the period. The four main gates still anchor the walls. I walked the full circuit in 3 hours for 1,000 KRW entry. Suwon sits 35 kilometres south of Seoul, reachable by Line 1 metro in 50 minutes for 1,800 KRW.

Jeonju: Hanok Village and Bibimbap (Tier 2)

Jeonju Hanok Village, in North Jeolla Province, holds more than 800 traditional Korean homes in a residential district that has stayed largely intact since the early 20th century. KTX from Yongsan Station reaches Jeonju in 1 hour 45 minutes for 35,000 KRW. The city is the origin of jeonju bibimbap, the rice bowl topped with vegetables, beef, and gochujang; I paid 13,000 KRW for the full set at Gajok Hoegwan, the oldest restaurant in the area. The village also holds the Jeondong Catholic Cathedral, built between 1908 and 1914 in Romanesque style.

Sokcho and Seoraksan (Tier 2)

Sokcho on the east coast is the gateway to Seoraksan National Park, where granite peaks rise to 1,708 metres at Daecheongbong. Buses from Seoul Express Bus Terminal take 2 hours 20 minutes for 18,800 KRW. I took the Seorak Cable Car to Gwongeumseong at 800 metres for 11,000 KRW round trip, then walked to Heundeulbawi (the rocking rock) and the Ulsanbawi ridge view. Sinheungsa Temple, founded in 653 CE during Silla, holds the 14.6-metre Tongil Daebul bronze Buddha cast in 1997.

Tongyeong: Naples of Asia (Tier 2)

Tongyeong on the southern coast spreads across 151 islets in the Hallyeohaesang Marine National Park, the country's first marine park designated in 1968. The Tongyeong Cable Car climbs Mireuksan at 461 metres for one of the wider sea views I found in Korea. The city was the headquarters of Admiral Yi Sun-sin during the 1592 to 1598 Imjin War; Sebyeonggwan Hall (1605) is the oldest surviving wooden naval office in the country. I took the ferry to Somaemuldo island, 90 minutes each way, 22,000 KRW return.

Cost Table (May 2026 rates)

Item	KRW	USD	INR
Budget hostel dorm	22,000 to 42,000	16 to 30	1,330 to 2,500
Mid-range hotel night	110,000 to 250,000	80 to 180	6,650 to 14,950
Luxury 5-star night	420,000 plus	300 plus	24,920 plus
Bibimbap meal	9,000 to 13,000	6.5 to 9.5	540 to 790
Kimchi jjigae meal	8,000 to 11,000	5.5 to 8	460 to 660
Korean BBQ for two	60,000 to 100,000	43 to 72	3,570 to 5,980
Street food snack	3,000 to 6,000	2 to 4.5	170 to 370
KTX Seoul to Busan one way	59,800	43	3,570
KORAIL Pass 5-day flexi	138,000	100	8,310
Seoul metro single ride	1,500	1.1	91
T-money card load	5,000 plus	3.6 plus	300 plus
Airport taxi ICN to Seoul	70,000 to 90,000	50 to 65	4,150 to 5,400
AREX express train ICN	11,000	8	660
K-ETA application	10,000	7.50	620

KRW notes: bring some cash for traditional markets, but most cafes, restaurants, taxis, and hotels accept Visa and Mastercard. ATMs marked "Global" or located inside Citi, BNP, and Standard Chartered branches accept foreign cards.

Planning Your Trip

Best time to go: I would pick mid-March to mid-May for cherry blossoms across Yeouido, Jinhae, and Gyeongju, with day highs of 12 to 22 degrees Celsius. September to November brings cool dry weather and autumn colour across Seoraksan and Andong. Avoid July and August unless beach time matters, since humidity sits at 80 percent. Winter, December to February, drops to minus 5 to minus 15 degrees in Seoul, with ski resorts near PyeongChang.

Visa for Indian passport holders: Since September 2021, India is on the K-ETA list, so no embassy interview or biometric appointment. The application runs through etask.go.kr, costs 10,000 KRW (USD 7.50), and stays valid for three years across multiple visits of up to 60 days each. Apply at least 72 hours before departure, since approval can take 24 to 48 hours. The K-ETA scheme is temporarily waived for some nationalities, so check current rules before booking.

Flights from India: Direct flights run Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM) to Seoul Incheon (ICN) on Air India, Korean Air, and Asiana, with one-stop options on Indigo, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines. Direct flying time is 6.5 hours from Delhi and 7 hours 15 minutes from Mumbai. Round-trip fares run USD 350 to USD 700.

Internal travel: KTX links Seoul to Busan, Gwangju, Mokpo, and Pohang at speeds up to 305 km/h. The KORAIL Pass for foreign tourists costs USD 100 for a 5-day flexi pass. AREX runs from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station in 43 minutes for 11,000 KRW. Seoul has nine metro lines, Busan has four. Buy a T-money card at any convenience store, load 20,000 KRW, and tap on.

Climate and packing: South Korea has a temperate continental climate with four clear seasons. I packed layers: fleece, rain shell, and walking shoes for spring. For winter, add a thick parka, gloves, and beanie. For temples and Confucian academies, cover shoulders and knees as a courtesy.

Language and apps: English is widely understood at tourist sites, hotels, and major restaurants. Install Naver Map and KakaoMap (Google Maps has limited routing inside Korea due to security export rules). Papago is the local translation app and outperforms Google Translate for Korean.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do Indians need a visa for South Korea in 2026?
Indian passport holders apply for the K-ETA online for 10,000 KRW (USD 7.50), valid three years for visits of up to 60 days each. Apply at least 72 hours before flying through etask.go.kr.

2. How do I get Korean Won cash?
Citi, BNP Paribas, Standard Chartered, and KB Kookmin Bank ATMs marked Global accept Visa and Mastercard. Convenience store ATMs (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) also work.

3. What is a T-money card?
A rechargeable contactless transit card. Buy at any convenience store for 5,000 KRW, load with cash, and use across all buses, metro lines, and many taxis. It also pays for snacks and lockers.

4. Is vegetarian food easy to find?
Pure vegetarian options are limited, since most stews use beef or anchovy stock and kimchi sometimes contains fish sauce. Temple cuisine (sachal eumsik) is fully vegan. Apps like Happy Cow list verified vegetarian places in Seoul, Busan, and Jeju.

5. What is the dress code in temples and palaces?
Casual modest works. Cover shoulders and knees for temple interiors; remove shoes when entering halls and rented hanok rooms.

6. How does Korean BBQ work?
The grill sits at the table, and staff bring raw meat, banchan, and lettuce wraps. I grilled my own samgyeopsal (pork belly) over charcoal, wrapped pieces in lettuce with garlic and ssamjang paste, and ate by hand.

7. Is soju safe to drink?
Yes, when consumed reasonably. Soju runs around 17 percent alcohol and is poured for elders first using both hands as Confucian etiquette. Makgeolli, the milky rice brew at 6 to 8 percent, pairs with Korean pancakes (jeon).

8. How do I visit the DMZ and Panmunjom?
Book a licensed tour from Seoul at least four weeks ahead through Koridoor, USO Tours, or KTB. JSA requires passport details, dress code, and signed indemnity. Half-day tours start at 60,000 KRW; JSA combinations run 130,000 to 200,000 KRW.

Useful Korean Phrases

English	Korean	Romanisation
Hello	안녕하세요	Annyeonghaseyo
Goodbye (when leaving)	안녕히 계세요	Annyeong-i gyeseyo
Goodbye (when others leave)	안녕히 가세요	Annyeong-i kaseyo
Thank you	감사합니다	Kamsahamnida
You're welcome	천만에요	Cheonmaneyo
Yes	네	Ne
No	아니요	Aniyo
Excuse me	실례합니다	Sillyehamnida
Sorry	미안합니다	Mianhamnida
How much is this?	얼마예요?	Eolmayeyo?
Where is the bathroom?	화장실 어디예요?	Hwajangsil eodiyeyo?
I don't eat meat	고기 안 먹어요	Gogi an meogeoyo
Delicious	맛있어요	Masisseoyo
Help me please	도와주세요	Dowajuseyo
One more please	하나 더 주세요	Hana deo juseyo
Cheers	건배	Geonbae

Cultural Notes

South Korea is ethnically Korean at about 96 percent, with Chinese minorities (1 percent) and migrant workers from Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, and India around 2 percent. Religious distribution runs roughly 19 percent Korean Buddhism (Jogye Order dominant), 19 percent Protestant, 8 percent Catholic, and the rest non-religious, often with Confucian family practices.

The cultural backbone is Confucian, traced through the Joseon Dynasty (1392 to 1910), which institutionalised civil service exams, ancestral rites, and hierarchical respect. Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945 imposed Shinto shrines and Japanese language schools; the country still marks Liberation Day on 15 August. The economic miracle from the 1960s under Park Chung-hee transformed agriculture into electronics and shipbuilding, and the 1987 constitutional reform brought direct elections.

The Korean Wave (Hallyu) covers K-pop labels (SM, JYP, YG, HYBE behind BTS and BLACKPINK), K-drama hits (Squid Game, Crash Landing on You, Train to Busan), and K-beauty routines. Kimchi (kimjang autumn preparation) was added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2013. Hanbok, the traditional dress, is rented near palaces for 15,000 KRW for 4 hours, often granting free palace entry.

Major holidays include Seollal (Lunar New Year) in late January or February, and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, when families return to ancestral villages for tomb rites.

Pre-Trip Prep Checklist

Apply for K-ETA at etask.go.kr at least 72 hours before flying, USD 7.50, valid 3 years.
Book first 2 nights of accommodation, since K-ETA approval can ask for proof.
Print or save digital copy of passport, K-ETA confirmation, return ticket.
Pack power adapters for Type C and F (220V, 60Hz, European standard plugs).
Bring a local SIM (KT or SK Telecom 30-day data plan around USD 30) or an eSIM via Airalo.
Save offline copies of Naver Map and KakaoMap with my hotels pinned.
Pack layered clothing: spring needs fleece plus rain shell, autumn the same, winter add parka.
Carry comfortable walking shoes for palace courtyards, Olle trails, and Bukchon lanes.
Bring some USD 100 in cash for emergency currency exchange at Incheon.
For DMZ: book 4 weeks ahead, pack passport, no torn jeans or sandals.
Vegetarians: pre-research Buddhist temple restaurants and download Happy Cow.

Sample Itineraries

5-Day Seoul Quickstart

Day 1: Arrive ICN, AREX to Seoul Station, walk Myeongdong, dinner near Namdaemun.
Day 2: Gyeongbokgung morning, Bukchon Hanok afternoon, Insadong evening tea.
Day 3: Changdeokgung and Huwon morning, Jongmyo Shrine, dinner in Hongdae.
Day 4: DMZ half-day tour, evening N Seoul Tower at sunset.
Day 5: Gangnam morning, COEX Aquarium, return flight from ICN.

8-Day Seoul Plus Busan and Jeju

Days 1 to 3: Seoul (palaces, Bukchon, DMZ).
Day 4: KTX to Busan (2.5 hours), Haeundae beach, Gwangalli at night.
Day 5: Gamcheon Cultural Village, Jagalchi market, Beomeosa Temple.
Day 6: Flight Busan to Jeju (1 hour), Manjanggul Lava Tube, Seongsan Ilchulbong sunset.
Day 7: Hallasan partial hike via Yeongsil, Haenyeo Museum, Seogwipo waterfalls.
Day 8: Olle Trail 7 morning, flight Jeju to Seoul, return international.

12-Day Full South Korea Loop

Days 1 to 3: Seoul palaces and Bukchon, DMZ day trip.
Day 4: Suwon Hwaseong Fortress half-day, return Seoul.
Day 5: KTX to Andong, Hahoe Folk Village, Byeongsanseowon afternoon.
Day 6: Andong to Gyeongju by bus, Bulguksa and Seokguram afternoon.
Day 7: Gyeongju Tumuli Park, Cheomseongdae, National Museum, evening Anapji.
Day 8: KTX to Busan, Gamcheon and Jagalchi.
Day 9: Beomeosa Temple morning, Haeundae afternoon, BIFF Square evening.
Day 10: Flight Busan to Jeju, Manjanggul and Seongsan.
Day 11: Hallasan partial summit, Jeju Folk Village, Olle Trail.
Day 12: Jeju to Seoul flight, return international from ICN.

Related Guides on Visiting Places In

Japan Tokyo to Kyoto two-week complete guide, with Kanto and Kansai loop.
China Beijing and Xi'an history-first itinerary, Great Wall and Terracotta Army.
Taiwan Taipei plus Tainan and Sun Moon Lake first-timer plan.
North Korea (DPRK) historic context and the divided peninsula, written for context.
Mongolia Ulaanbaatar and Gobi Desert nomadic culture two-week plan.
Vietnam Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi north-south rail itinerary.

External References

Wikipedia, "South Korea" country article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, full list of Korean inscriptions: https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/kr (Changdeokgung 1997, Bulguksa and Seokguram 1995, Hahoe and Yangdong 2010, Jeju Volcanic 2007, Gyeongju Historic Areas 2000, Hwaseong 1997, Seowon 2019).
Visit Korea official tourism portal: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr
Wikivoyage South Korea, traveller-curated practical info: https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/South_Korea
Lonely Planet South Korea destination guide: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea

Last updated 19 May 2026 after my four-week trip across Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju, Andong, and the DMZ. I will refresh exchange rates, K-ETA rules, and JSA access status quarterly.

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