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South Korea: 2025 Arrival Guide for Digital Nomads

Updated Oct 16, 2025

Are you a digital nomad, remote worker, or entrepreneur coming to South Korea for the first time?

This arrival guide covers the critical information you need to live, work, and connect in South Korea with as little friction as possible. Learn how to clear immigration quickly, choose mobile and Wi‑Fi options, pay locally, understand what's realistic on a tourist visa, and more.

If you want to learn more about South Korea’s digital nomad visa, there is information to help you get started as well.

Visa & Arrival Preparation for South Korea

  • Many nationalities can enter South Korea visa‑free. Always verify current requirements for your passport with a reliable source like the Korea Immigration Service or Passport Index.
  • Visitors will have to complete and submit an arrival card. If you prefer to submit one online prior to entering South Korea, you have two options:
    • K-ETA: Apply online and pay a small fee. Valid up to 3 years (or until your passport expires). Holders typically do not need to complete a paper arrival card during that validity. Not all nationalities are eligible.
    • e-Arrival Card: Submit within 3 days (72 hours) before arrival. This is per‑trip and is used instead of the physical arrival card.
  • If you don't have a K-ETA or an e-Arrival Card, you must complete a physical arrival card and hand it to the immigration officer when you land. Ask a flight attendant for the form and fill it out on the plane to save time.
  • Document checklist: passport (6+ months validity is not official required, but may be for visa applications), onward/return ticket, accommodation address/phone number.
  • Decide on whether you will purchase a data-only eSIM before your flight, or pick up a SIM card at the airport. Check the Connectivity section for more information.

Digital Nomada Visa (Workation Visa F-1-D)

  • The F-1-D visa launched January 1, 2024 and extended through December 31, 2025, allowing remote workers employed outside Korea to live and work for up to two years.

  • Initial one-year stay with a one-year extension option

  • Alien Registration Card (ARC) included, enabling local bank accounts, long-term leases, mobile and internet plans

  • Does not lead to permanent residency; holders must leave or change visa category after two years

  • Eligibility requirements:

    • Minimum age: 18, with at least one year of relevant work experience
    • Annual income ≄ ₩88,102,000, double Korea’s GNI per capita in the previous year
    • Private health insurance covering ≄ ₩100 million for treatment and repatriation
    • Clean criminal record, must be employed by or run a company registered outside Korea
    • Family members (spouse and children under 18) may accompany primary applicant with additional documents

  • Application process:

    • Submit at a Korean embassy or consulate, or at a local immigration office if already in Korea on a short-termvisa
    • Visa application form, passport (6+ months validity), passport photo
    • Proof of remote employment, income verification (pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns)
    • Apostilled criminal background check, health insurance certificate

Arrival & Immigration into South Korea

  • Physical arrival cards are required only if you haven't completed K-ETA or the e-Arrival Card.
  • Ask a flight attendant for this and complete it during your flight, to reduce time spent in the immigration area
  • ABTC: At many airports, ABTC holders can use priority/crew lanes, which can speed processing. Availability varies by terminal and time of day.
  • When heading towards immigration processing, try to find spots where there's one queue for two immigration officer booths (usually on the far left or far right). Those queues will likely be processed faster than others.

Mobile & Wi-Fi Connectivity in South Korea

  • Data-only eSIM:
    • Pros: Instant activation on landing; minimal personal info; no kiosk lines.
    • Cons: No local phone number; usually poorer value than local SIMs (less data/minutes per KRW).
  • SIM pickup:
    • Pros: Local number; plans often include generous data/voice at better value.
    • Cons: Requires finding the correct airport kiosk (sometimes in another terminal if pre-purchased) and presenting your passport for real-name registration.
  • You can also have tourist-friendly local SIMs delivered to an address. This will likely require you to still supply a local phone number for delivery.
  • Bridge strategy: Use a cheap 1–3 day data-only eSIM to get out of the airport quickly, then shop around in the city for the best local SIM/eSIM deal.
  • Local SIMs will expire after 90 days or for the duration of your visa; terms vary by provider. Confirm extension rules before purchase.
  • Mobile connectivity is still strong in the subway and underground stations.
  • Free Wi-Fi is widespread across South Korea, though some may be blocked behind a password or captive portal. A phone number or social login may be required.
  • South Korea provides some of the fastest consumer internet in Asia, so high-bandwidth tasks like video calls can be done in cafes and coworking spaces.

How to Pay in South Korea

IC Cards

  • Obtain an IC card to make transportation usage easier. Common options:
    • T-Money & EZL: Function similarlyand are widely accepted. Without an Alien Registration Card (ARC), top up with cash at subway machines orconvenience stores.
    • Loading T-Money funds through Apple Pay is only supported while using a Korean payment method, so it's notpractical for most short-term visitors.
    • Seoul Climate Card: Unlimited publictransport within the Seoul integrated fare area for the duration you load. Valid on AREX all-stop trains withinthe network; not valid on the AREX Express.
    • WOWPASS: Combines a local prepaid payment card with a T-Money function. You can top up the WOWPASS balance at WOWPASS machines or in the app (machine or app accept different payment methods) and load T-Money in the same ways. Some cards also allow ATM cash-out (fees apply).
  • All of these cards can be used for other services, such as taxi and payment at convenience stores

Credit Cards

  • Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, including in taxis. AmEx works at many chains but is less universal. Some European fintech cards (e.g., certain Revolut BINs) may fail—carry a backup card.
  • Samsung Pay and Google Pay have broader acceptance than Apple Pay. Expect uneven contactless acceptance for Apple Pay.
  • For smaller groups, restaurants are happy to split a bill and accept multiple cards. Calculating split costs is sometimes done manually, so check the results yourself. Splitting a bill is more difficult with larger groups and one payment is preferred in these cases.

Cash & ATMs

  • Most ATMs charge a fee. Machines from major banks (KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori, Hana) outside airports and major stations tend to have lower fees.
  • Not all ATMs will allow a foreign card to withdraw cash. Unfortunately there's no easy signage to differentiate these ATMs. But this issue is usually with very local banks (BNK) or quick service variants (NH농협365).
  • Have cash prepared to reload your IC card, as that is your only method of reloading without a residence card, or as a backup in case your credit card doesn't work

Sending Money

  • Have cash ready to give to people for meals at places that won't split a bill
  • Wise can deposit funds into a Korean bank account for a small fee, the transaction is usually completed in minutes. Local wallets like KakaoPay/Toss generally require Korean ID and a domestic bank account.

Messaging in South Korea

  • Can use Papago or Google Translate for decent translation. But these will default to using the most formal way of expressing something; Korean speech follows hierarchy and status rules.
  • These may be slower, but using AI apps like ChatGPT or Claude let you specify who you’re talking to (friend, colleague) for more natural translations.
  • KakaoTalk is the most popular instant messaging app amongst Koreans, but it's not expected for foreigners to have this.
    • Sign up with your regular, foreign phone number if you plan to keep KakaoTalk for a long time. But your account will be scrutinized more than one registered with a Korean phone number.
  • Instagram is also popular and can be a replacement for KakaoTalk.
  • WhatsApp is gaining popularity but you're less likely to meet Koreans using it than KakaoTalk or even Instagram.
  • Telegram in South Korea is mostly associated with crypto communities and scams, so you may face some judgment in asking for this under the wrong context.
  • Naver Map and KakaoMap are your only options if you want accurate business, transportation and navigation information.
    • Naver Map is the most popular app and has better UX for foreigners, as KakaoMap still uses Korean in many parts of its UI even when set to use English.
  • Avoid using Google Maps: no walking directions, inaccurate business information, missing locations and no street-level coverage comparable to Naver/Kakao.
  • Tip: Searching in Korean yields the best results. Copy/paste the Korean name from Google or a website into Naver/Kakao when possible.

Transportation in South Korea

  • AREX: Connects Incheon (ICN) and Gimpo (GMP) airports to Seoul.
    • Two services: All-stop (use IC card) and Express (separate ticket). Ticket machines accept multiple payment methods; third-party deals sometimes beat airport prices.
  • Airport Limousine buses: Comfortable buses to major areas/hotels. Fares and routes vary by destination; buy at counters or kiosks.
  • Subway: Cheap, frequent, and extensive—especially in Seoul.
    • Tap in and tap out.
    • Some subway cars have stronger air conditioning.
    • Peak crowding aligns with work hours (roughly 9–6). Last trains are typically around midnight to 1 am, varying by line/day.
  • Bus:
    • Get in the front door and tap your IC card.
    • Tap your IC card and get out the back door to record your trip and receive transfer discounts.
  • Uber, Kakao T or k.ride:
    • While not as cheap as in SEA, taxis are not that expensive and can be productive if you need to work whilemoving.
    • Kakao T and k.ride have the best availability across Korea, where Uber has sufficient coverage for most townsand cities but there may be times of unavailability even in cities.
    • If you try multiple apps, cancel unneeded bookings promptly to avoid driver inconvenience or fees. k.ride adds an integration/agency fee, making rides ~30–40% more expensive than booking Kakao T directly.
  • KTX/ITX & SRT:
    • High-speed and regional trains link major cities and towns.
    • KTX isn't always the best option to/from Seoul depending on your final destination, so look at ITX and SRToptions (for example Suseo SRT station is more convenient to access from Gangnam than Seoul Station KTX/ITX).
    • Book via official apps, websites, or station kiosks; foreign credit cards generally work.
  • Escalators: stand on the right, move on the left.

Power in South Korea

  • Plug types: C and F (interchangeable).
  • Voltage: 220 V, frequency: 60 Hz
  • Most modern chargers handle 100–240 V automatically. You just need the right plug adapter when necessary. Use a resource like World of Sockets for more info.

Coworking & Cafes in South Korea

Online Shopping in South Korea

  • Many Korean shopping and delivery apps increasingly require a residence card (ARC), a Korean payment method, or both.
    • Advice from other sources during prior years about easy setup on Coupang or Baedal Minjok (ë°°ë‹Źì˜ëŻŒìĄ±) may no longer apply without local ID/payment.
    • Workarounds include borrowing a trusted friend’s account (ensure you can enter the address correctly in Korean) or using foreigner‑friendly services.
  • Workarounds include borrowing a trusted friend's account (ensure you can enter the address correctly in Korean) or using foreigner-friendly services.
  • Alternatives include Shuttle Delivery for food delivery with foreign cards and English support.

Other Tips for South Korea

  • Trash/recycling: Public bins are scarce. If you can't find one, use the bins inside convenience stores (GS25, CU or 7-Eleven) and sort your trash correctly.
  • ID: Carry your passport when buying SIMs, picking up tickets, or if asked by authorities. Having a photo of your ID may not be sufficient for certain places.
  • Smoking is prohibited in many public areas; use designated smoking zones to avoid fines.
  • Emergencies: Police 112; Fire/Ambulance 119.
  • Holidays: Expect closures or crowds on major holidays (Seollal/Lunar New Year, Chuseok). Intercity tickets sell out early, so book ahead. Foreigner-friendly KTX booking site may be closed during Chuseok ordering periods.
  • Tipping is not customary and may be considered offensive, similar to how it is perceived in Japan.

Events in South Korea