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Traveling is about more than just packing your things up in a suitcase. You also need to research your destination beforehand, particularly if you’re going to a non-English-speaking country like Korea, Japan, Vietnam, or China. Communication challenges may arise in such cases.
You will need a helpful guide to make your travel experience convenient as you come across different languages, regulations, and cultures. This article has compiled important information that travelers need to know before visiting South Korea.
Local Laws About Wearing Masks
As of June 2023, wearing masks is only mandatory for hospitals. You must pay fines of up to 100,000 South Korean won if you don’t comply. However, there are exceptions for children under 24 months, people with disabilities, and those with medical reasons for not wearing a mask.
People who are infected with the virus won’t have to isolate themselves anymore, although the government still suggests a self-isolation period of 5 days.
Transportation Fee
Starting from March 2023, more buses in Seoul will stop accepting cash and only allow transactions made with transportation cards like the T-Money card.
However, this change doesn’t apply to night buses, and about 262 out of 370 bus routes in Seoul will still accept cash. Nevertheless, you should expect more buses to go cash-free in the future.
The public transportation cost in Korea, including buses and subways, will increase by around 300 to 400 Korean won from the summer of 2023.
Bus fares are going up to 1,550 won per journey, and subway fares will increase to 1,650 won per journey.
Meanwhile, from February 2023, the minimum base fare for taxi rides in Korea has increased by 1,000 to a minimum of 4,800 won.
Useful Apps
When traveling with a language barrier, our smartphone becomes an invaluable companion. By downloading and using these apps, you can easily navigate your way around Korea.
The first must-have app is the Self-Check app to enter Korea. It allows travelers to record their health status daily for 14 days after arriving. Without it, you won’t be able to enter the country.
The next app is The K-ETA, which stands for Korea Electronic Travel Authorization for visitors from countries with a visa waiver agreement with Korea. You can easily apply for K-ETA by submitting relevant information at least 24 hours before your flight or ship departure.
For transactions, use your T-money smart card. The app is available for managing your T-money balance on the go. You can check your balance, view transaction history, recharge your card, and find transportation information, discounts, and promotions.
Visit Korea is an app developed by the Korea Tourist Organization that provides numerous services for travelers. You can find tourist attractions, guided tours, information about Korean culture, festivals, restaurants, shopping centers, exchange rates, weather updates, and more. Notably, you can also save the information offline for easy access.
In certain countries, you might get limited access when connecting through public hotspots at hotels, cafes, or airports. It can put your privacy at risk due to hacking or data theft.
Fortunately, a VPN allows you to maintain your privacy and anonymity while opening up your internet access. The app can create a secure tunnel for your internet traffic, keeping your personal data safe from potential security risks.
