What You Need to Know Before Traveling to South Korea Flight tickets to South Korea vary depending on the season. There are two main peaks for tourists: April, when the cherry blossoms bloom, and autumn, when the leaves turn yellow. I visited in early October, and it was absolutely beautiful. Once you buy your tickets and book your hotel, you’ll need to fill out the K-ETA form (available on their official website; some countries are exempt). Starting January 1st, the Arrival Card, which used to be filled out before boarding, is now also completed online. Make sure to print your approved K-ETA form or save it on your phone. Upon arrival, you have several transport options to get to the city: express train, metro, bus, or taxi. Pay attention to your arrival time, as some buses or metro lines might not operate late at night. At the airport, you can purchase a T-money card, which can be topped up with cash at airport kiosks. The card can be used for public transport and even in small shops, where it can be recharged as well. For navigation, the essentials are Naver Map and Kakao Taxi, since Google Maps does not work properly in Korea. If you get a Korean SIM card or a local phone number, some stores may offer additional discounts (for example, when I bought a Dyson, I received an extra discount for having a local number). Always carry your passport with you for tax-free shopping. If you want, I can share my Naver map to make getting around much easier.
