Korea Survival Kit

A practical guide for visitors to Korea: what to do before you fly, after you land, and when something goes wrong — getting around, eating out, paying, shopping and trips beyond Seoul, with free calculators.

Find help by situation

Every guide on this site, grouped by where you are in your trip.

What are you worried about?

“Will the taxi overcharge me?”
Seoul taxi fare calculator
Know the fair price before you ride — distance, traffic, late-night and outside-Seoul surcharges, plus what to do if the meter is off.
Estimate a fare →
“Can I pay with my card? Do I need cash?”
Paying in Korea
  • Where foreign cards work, and where you still need cash (markets, street stalls).
  • T-money, WOWPASS and the new foreign-card subway machines.
  • Alipay+ wallets, money exchange and ATM tips.
Read the guide →
“Apps want a Korean phone number.”
Using Korean apps without a Korean number
  • Naver Map / Kakao Map vs Google Maps.
  • Kakao T and Uber with a foreign number and card.
  • Papago, restaurant bookings, and eSIM vs USIM.
Read the guide →
“My stay was cancelled — or I was charged a huge fee.”
Accommodation cancellation checklist
  • Accommodation is the #1 tourist complaint in Korea in 2026.
  • Step by step: evidence, the booking platform, 1330, the Tourist Complaint Center, your card issuer.
Open the checklist →
“How do I get from Incheon Airport to Seoul?”
Incheon Airport to Seoul
  • AREX Express vs All-stop, limousine bus, taxi and pickup.
  • Time, cost, big luggage and late-night arrivals compared.
Compare options →
“eSIM, SIM card or pocket Wi-Fi?”
Korea eSIM vs SIM vs pocket Wi-Fi
  • What each needs, who it suits, and a quick checklist.
Pick one →
“What should I sort out before I fly?”
Korea trip checklist
  • Entry (K-ETA / visa), travel insurance, internet, money, apps, arrival and luggage.
Open the checklist →
“My flight is delayed or cancelled.”
Flight delayed or cancelled to/from Korea
  • What to do at the airport, whether compensation may apply, and getting into Seoul late.
Read the guide →

Sort these out before you land

Korea eSIM (data)
Install before you fly and get online as soon as you land — delivered as a QR code.
See on Klook →Ad · Affiliate link
AREX airport train ticket
Incheon Airport → Seoul Station by rail, no traffic jams. Usually the cheaper option if you travel light.
See on Klook →Ad · Affiliate link
WOWPASS card
Prepaid card for visitors: load cash, pay in shops and use the T-money function on transit.
See on Klook →Ad · Affiliate link

Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and terms are set by Klook — check the listing.

Tools

Taxi fare calculator
Seoul mid-size taxi, with route examples from the airports.
Busan taxi fare calculator
Busan mid-size taxi: 2 km base, late night from 23:00, outside-Busan +30%.
Tax refund calculator
Which receipts qualify, instant vs airport refund, and roughly how much you get back.
Trip budget calculator
Days, travelers, style and city → a total and per-day budget for Seoul, Busan or Jeju.
✈️ Before you fly: eSIM (Airalo) · Airport transfer (Kiwitaxi)
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
1330
Korea Travel Hotline
24/7 interpretation and travel help in English, Japanese and Chinese (more languages during the day). From a foreign phone +82-2-1330.

From our travel blog

Ready-made answers: Tax refund by amount (₩30,000 to ₩1,000,000) · Taxi fares by distance (3–30 km, Seoul & Busan) · Trip budgets by days and style (3, 5, 7 days)

Attraction tickets · Where to stay