Trip to South Korea
Pack for Korea: K-ETA, Naver Map instead of Google, T-money, Papago and proper shoes for Seoul's hills. Tell us if kids are coming and the list adapts.

[ ] Check if you need a K-ETA or visa
    Many visa-free nationalities need the K-ETA electronic authorization, and exemptions come and go. Rules shift — verify current requirements for your passport before booking.
[ ] Buy travel medical insurance
    Korean healthcare is excellent but paid for tourists. A policy with $30–50k coverage is a sensible minimum.
[ ] Carry some cash won
    Cards work almost everywhere, but markets, street food and tiny cafés prefer cash. A modest stash of won covers the gaps.
[ ] Get a T-money transit card
    Sold at any convenience store, it works on metro, buses and taxis nationwide and discounts transfers. Top up with cash at machines and stores.
[ ] Install Naver Map or Kakao Map
    Google Maps can't route walking or driving in Korea — it's mapping law, not a bug. Locals live in Naver Map and Kakao Map; both have English interfaces.
[ ] Download the Papago translator
    For Korean, Papago beats Google Translate noticeably, especially on photo menu translation. Grab the offline pack.
[ ] Arrange an eSIM
    A Korean data eSIM takes five minutes to set up at home. Wi-fi is everywhere, but navigation and taxis need data on the street.
[ ] Check chargers: type C/F sockets, 220V
    European-style sockets — EU plugs fit without an adapter. UK and US plugs need one.
[ ] Pack broken-in walking shoes
    Seoul sits on hills: climbs to palaces, hanok villages and viewpoints mean real elevation plus 20k steps a day.
[ ] Check the season before packing
    Summers are hot and humid with monsoon rains (July–August), winters are Siberian-cold and dry, spring brings yellow dust days. April and October–November are the sweet spots.
[ ] Pack a first aid kit
    The basics: fever reducer, stomach remedies, plasters, your regular meds. Pharmacies are good, but much is prescription-only and pharmacists may not speak English.
[ ] Brace for spicy food
    Korean food is spicy by default. The phrase 'an maepge juseyo' (not spicy, please) and a bowl of white rice are your insurance.
[ ] Learn the basic etiquette
    Money, gifts and glasses are passed and received with both hands; priority seats stay empty even in an empty car; keep your voice down on transit.
[ ] Book accommodation early
    Cherry blossom season, autumn foliage and big holidays (Chuseok, Seollal) sell out far ahead. During holidays half of Korea is on the move.
[ ] Want the DMZ? Book a tour ahead
    The DMZ is accessible only on organized passport-checked tours, and popular dates fill up. Bring your original passport on tour day — no exceptions.
[ ] Leave suitcase space for skincare
    Olive Young is on every corner and nobody leaves empty-handed. Tax-free kicks in from ₩15,000 with your passport.
[ ] Make copies of your documents
    Photos of passport, K-ETA/visa and insurance to the cloud; paper copies separate from originals.
[ ] Buy Lotte World or Everland tickets online
    Online tickets run noticeably cheaper than the gate, and weekend entry queues eat an hour. Everland is farther out but bigger; Lotte World is central and half indoors.
[ ] Kids' first aid kit
    Child-dose fever reducer, tummy remedies, thermometer, plasters. Familiar kids' medicines are hard to match in Korean pharmacies.
[ ] Plan non-spicy food for your kid
    Kids do well with gimbap, bulgogi, unsauced fried chicken and mandu. Convenience stores with onigiri, fruit and yogurt are the backup plan on every corner.
[ ] Kids' T-money and metro elevators
    Kids get their own discounted T-money (age registered at purchase). Stations have elevators, but often just one at a far exit — check the station map.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/south-korea