Korea toolkit | Notion

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Fares and rules checked 3 to 4 October 2026. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap on the day for live routes and times.

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Before you fly

Entry paperwork

K-ETA. Citizens of 22 countries and territories are exempt from the K-ETA until 31 December 2026: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the UK and the US. As of the 3 October 2026 check, no extension into 2027 had been announced (to be confirmed). If you travel after that date and no extension has been announced, plan on applying for a K-ETA (KRW 10,000) before you fly, and file the e-Arrival Card if required.
First check whether your nationality and visit purpose qualify for visa-free entry. If you need a visa, follow the visa application process; a K-ETA is not a substitute for a visa.
Applying for a K-ETA: apply at k-eta.go.kr before departure. The fee is KRW 10,000 plus an online payment fee. Assessment usually takes up to 72 hours but can take longer, so allow extra time. Check nationality, age and other exemptions on the official site.
Arrival declaration: citizens of the 22 K-ETA-exempt countries and territories, and anyone entering on a visa, must file the free e-Arrival Card at e-arrivalcard.go.kr within three days before arrival. Visa-free travellers holding a valid K-ETA, and Korean residence-card holders, are generally exempt. Check the official eligibility guide.
Use only the official .go.kr sites. Look-alike sites charge extra fees.

Phone

Buy an eSIM before you fly, or use the 24-hour KT, LG U+ and SK Telecom counters near Arrival Hall F at Incheon Terminal 1.
A Korean phone number is not normally needed for map navigation, k.ride or Uber. Reservations and delivery may have venue- or account-specific requirements; check the sign-up and checkout flow before relying on them. A data-only eSIM does not necessarily provide a Korean voice or SMS number, or Korean identity verification.

Apps to install

App	What for
Naver Map	Your main map: transit, walking and restaurant search. Since 2025, foreign visitors can book and pay with overseas cards, though some venues opt out.
KakaoMap	Current routes, departure times and walking directions; easy location sharing with Korean contacts.
KakaoTalk	Business messaging with Korean contacts.
k.ride or Uber	Taxis (see Getting around below).
Papago	Korean translation, including menus and signs.
CatchTable Global	Restaurant reservations and waitlists in more than 15 languages.
Baemin / Coupang	Food and grocery delivery; confirm account eligibility and your hotel's receiving arrangements.
Korail+	Train tickets, now including the former SRT trains from Suseo station in Gangnam.

About Google Maps: at the early October 2026 check, it showed places and public-transit routes, but no turn-by-turn walking or driving navigation. The government conditionally approved a map-data export to Google in February 2026, but no launch date had been announced as of September 2026 (to be confirmed).

Airport to the city

Fare and journey-time examples below come from the 3 October 2026 check, with the 6013 and late-night bus details checked on 4 October 2026. Check transport-card payment and pass coverage on the operator's official site.

From Incheon (ICN)

Check whether your airline uses Terminal 1 or Terminal 2.

Option	Price	Time to central Seoul	Best for
AREX Express train	KRW 13,000 (online partners sell discounted tickets)	43 minutes from T1, 51 minutes from T2, nonstop to Seoul Station	Hotels near Seoul Station, Myeongdong or Gwanghwamun; light luggage
AREX all-stop train	KRW 4,750 (T1) or KRW 5,350 (T2) with a transit card	59 or 66 minutes	Hongdae, Gongdeok and other stops along the line
Airport limousine bus	KRW 17,000 or KRW 18,000, depending on the operator	60 to 90 minutes or more, depending on traffic	Gangnam, COEX, Jamsil, Yeouido. Stops near selected hotels; check the final walk to your own hotel.
Regular taxi	Roughly KRW 65,000 to 85,000 plus tolls (to be confirmed)	60 to 80 minutes	Late arrivals, groups
International Taxi	Flat KRW 70,000 to 95,000 by zone, tolls included, no night surcharge	60 to 80 minutes	Guaranteed English-speaking driver. Book 24 hours ahead at intltaxi.co.kr.