Asia · Eastern Asia

South Korea

Republic of Korea

Flag of South Korea
Local Time
--:--:--
UTC+09:00
🏛️ Capital
Seoul
👥 Population
51,159,889
📐 Area
100,210 km²
💱 Currency
South Korean won (₩)
🗣️ Languages
Korean
📞 Calling Code
+82
🕐 Time Zones
UTC+09:00
🌐 Region
Asia / Eastern Asia

About South Korea

South Korea is a country of exhilarating contrasts, where ultramodern cities pulse with technology, K-pop, and world-class cuisine while ancient palaces, mountain temples, and traditional villages endure just a short journey away. Occupying the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, this East Asian nation has undergone one of the most remarkable economic and cultural transformations of the twentieth century, evolving from a war-devastated country in the 1950s into a global trendsetter that now exports its culture as enthusiastically as it exports semiconductors.

Seoul, the capital and home to nearly half the country's 51 million people, is one of the world's great cities — a megalopolis where ancient Joseon-era palaces stand in the shadow of futuristic skyscrapers, where the nightlife rivals Tokyo and New York, and where the food scene ranges from sizzling street stalls to Michelin-starred temple cuisine. Beyond Seoul, the country offers extraordinary diversity: the island paradise of Jeju, the historic city of Gyeongju with its ancient Silla kingdom burial mounds, the vibrant port city of Busan, and countless national parks laced with hiking trails.

The Korean Wave — the global phenomenon of Korean pop culture — has introduced millions of people around the world to this country through its music, dramas, cinema, and food. But visitors who come expecting merely a K-pop fantasy discover something far richer: a deeply rooted culture with thousands of years of history, a cuisine of extraordinary depth and complexity, and a people whose legendary hospitality makes every visitor feel genuinely welcomed.

History & Background

The Korean Peninsula has been inhabited for thousands of years, with the Three Kingdoms period — Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla — shaping its early history from around the first century BCE. The Silla kingdom unified much of the peninsula in 668 CE, followed by the Goryeo dynasty, from which the name "Korea" derives. The Joseon dynasty, established in 1392, lasted over five centuries and profoundly shaped Korean language, culture, and philosophy through its adoption of Neo-Confucianism. This era produced the Korean alphabet, Hangul, invented under King Sejong the Great in 1443 — one of the most scientifically designed writing systems ever created.

The twentieth century brought profound trauma: Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945, followed immediately by the devastating Korean War of 1950–1953, which killed millions and left the peninsula divided along the 38th parallel. South Korea's subsequent rise from one of the world's poorest countries to its twelfth-largest economy within a single generation is often called the "Miracle on the Han River." This transformation, built on industrialisation, education, and extraordinary collective determination, underpins the confident, dynamic South Korea that visitors experience today.

Culture & People

Korean culture is shaped by thousands of years of Confucian philosophy, Buddhist tradition, and a fierce, hard-won national identity. Respect for elders and ancestors is deeply embedded in social life — Koreans use different speech levels depending on the age and status of the person they are addressing, and family hierarchies are taken seriously. At the same time, contemporary Korean society is dynamic, creative, and globally connected, with young Koreans leading trends in fashion, beauty, gaming, and entertainment that resonate around the world.

Traditional arts remain vibrantly alive alongside the modern. Samulnori drumming, pansori folk singing, taekwondo, and the intricately elegant gestures of court dance are performed at cultural centres and festivals throughout the year. The hanbok, the traditional Korean garment, is worn proudly at celebrations and increasingly as a fashionable cultural statement by younger Koreans. Korea's spiritual landscape encompasses Buddhism, Christianity, and Confucian ancestor worship practised simultaneously — a testament to the Korean capacity to hold multiple traditions in comfortable coexistence.

Food & Cuisine

Korean cuisine is one of the world's great culinary traditions, celebrated for its bold flavours, its emphasis on fermentation and gut health, and the communal joy of cooking and eating together. Kimchi — fermented napa cabbage with chilli, garlic, and ginger — is the beating heart of Korean food culture, appearing at virtually every meal as a banchan (side dish). The array of banchan that accompanies any Korean meal is staggering in its variety, from spinach seasoned with sesame oil to fishcake, braised lotus root, and pickled daikon.

Korean barbecue (gogi-gui), where diners grill marinated beef, pork belly, or chicken over a charcoal or gas grill built into the table, is an unmissable social experience. Bibimbap — a bowl of rice topped with vegetables, a fried egg, and gochujang paste — is both a daily staple and a dish of genuine artistry. Street food deserves its own exploration: tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), hotteok (sweet pancakes), odeng (fish cake skewers), and Korean fried chicken are among the best snacks in Asia. Seoul's Gwangjang Market is one of the world's great street food destinations.

Top Attractions

  • Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul — The grandest of Seoul's five royal palaces, rebuilt in its Joseon-era splendour, with daily guard-changing ceremonies and a superb National Folk Museum within its grounds.
  • Jeju Island — A volcanic island paradise with UNESCO-protected lava tube caves, the dramatic crater of Hallasan volcano, black sand beaches, and distinctive haenyeo (female free-diving) culture.
  • Gyeongju — The ancient capital of the Silla kingdom, dotted with royal burial tumuli, the UNESCO-listed Bulguksa temple, and the spectacular Seokguram grotto.
  • Bukchon Hanok Village, Seoul — A well-preserved neighbourhood of traditional hanok courtyard houses perched on a hillside between two royal palaces, offering a glimpse of old Seoul.
  • Hahoe Folk Village, Andong — A UNESCO-listed living village where traditional clan houses and Confucian culture have been preserved for centuries, surrounded by a sweeping bend in the Nakdong River.
  • Seoraksan National Park — One of Korea's most dramatic landscapes, with granite peaks, autumn foliage, Buddhist hermitages, and excellent hiking trails in the country's northeast.

Practical Travel Tips

  • Get a T-money card on arrival — this rechargeable transport card works on Seoul's subway, buses, and even taxis, and saves you the hassle of buying individual tickets.
  • Download the Naver Maps app rather than relying solely on Google Maps; Naver Maps is far more accurate for Korean transit directions and local business locations.
  • Learn a few basic Korean phrases — even attempting "annyeonghaseyo" (hello) and "gamsahamnida" (thank you) is warmly appreciated and will generate genuine smiles.
  • Shoes come off at many traditional restaurants, home visits, and guesthouses; wear clean, easily removable footwear to avoid awkward moments.
  • Convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven) are exceptional in Korea — clean, open 24 hours, with hot food, decent coffee, and ATMs that accept international cards.
  • Book popular hiking routes like Bukhansan in Seoul and Hallasan on Jeju in advance during autumn, as trail permits are required and fill up quickly.
  • Tipping is not customary in South Korea and can occasionally cause mild confusion; service charges are included in restaurant bills.

Visa Overview

South Korea offers visa-free entry to citizens of over 100 countries for stays of 30 to 90 days, including the USA, UK, EU nations, Australia, Canada, and Japan. Visitors must hold a valid passport and may be asked to show proof of onward travel and sufficient funds on arrival. An Electronic Travel Authorisation (K-ETA) is required for many visa-exempt nationals; check the Korea Immigration Service website well in advance, as K-ETA applications must be submitted online before departure. Citizens of countries not on the visa-free list must apply at a Korean embassy or consulate.

Getting Around

South Korea has one of the world's best public transport systems. Seoul's subway network is extensive, cheap, clean, and easy to navigate with English signage. High-speed KTX trains connect Seoul to Busan in about two and a half hours, with frequent daily departures. Intercity buses reach areas the rail network misses. Within cities, buses and taxis are affordable; KakaoTaxi is the go-to ride-hailing app. Domestic flights connect Seoul's Gimpo Airport to Jeju in under an hour. The T-money card provides seamless payment across almost all transport modes nationwide.

Safety Notes

South Korea is one of Asia's safest countries for travellers, with very low rates of violent crime and a well-functioning police presence. Petty theft is rare but not unknown in tourist-heavy areas and on public transport; standard precautions apply. Solo female travellers consistently rate South Korea as very safe. The main safety consideration is the geopolitical situation with North Korea — while the border area is carefully managed and attacks have not occurred in decades, stay informed of any alerts. Air quality in Seoul can be poor during spring dust events from China; check daily AQI readings.

Live Exchange Rates

Current exchange rates for currencies used in South Korea.

South Korean won (KRW) ₩
Updated: 2026-10-06
⌕
Currency CodeRate
1INCH 0.007046
AAVE 0.000004
ADA 0.002764
AED 0.002736
AFN 0.048129
AKT 0.000973
ALGO 0.005800
ALL 0.061100
AMD 0.269487
AMP 1.161694
ANG 0.001339
AOA 0.682337
APE 0.004649
APT 0.000907
AR 0.000165
ARB 0.003654
ARS 1.132188
ATOM 0.000409
ATS 0.009140
AUD 0.001069
AVAX 0.000066
AWG 0.001333
AXS 0.000569
AZM 6.331728
AZN 0.001266
BAKE 2.902127
BAM 0.001299
BAT 0.007062
BBD 0.001490
BCH 0.000002
BDT 0.091570
BEF 0.026794
BGN 0.001299
BHD 0.000280
BIF 2.237991
BMD 0.000745
BNB 0.000001
BND 0.000953
BOB 0.008936
BRL 0.003724
BSD 0.000745
BSV 0.000037
BSW 1.810213
BTC 0.000000
BTCB 0.010661
BTG 0.001129
BTN 0.071822
BTT 2,003.662699
BUSD 0.000745
BWP 0.010252
BYN 0.002272
BYR 14.602039
BZD 0.001498
CAD 0.001063
CAKE 0.000305
CDF 1.721458
CELO 0.007163
CFX 0.013575
CHF 0.000620
CHZ 0.044531
CLP 0.724808
CNH 0.004993
CNY 0.004995
COMP 0.000030
COP 2.382663
CRC 0.340856
CRO 0.010969
CRV 0.002021
CSPR 0.292025
CUC 0.000745
CUP 0.017843
CVE 0.073242
CVX 0.000337
CYP 0.000389
CZK 0.016249
DAI 0.000745
DASH 0.000013
DCR 0.000040
DEM 0.001299
DFI 0.815032
DJF 0.132518
DKK 0.004964
DOGE 0.007856
DOP 0.044643
DOT 0.000602
DYDX 0.005098
DZD 0.100134
EEK 0.010393
EGLD 0.000167
EGP 0.039054
ENJ 0.022501
EOS 0.007330
ERN 0.011173
ESP 0.110515
ETB 0.121167
ETC 0.000084
ETH 0.000000
EUR 0.000664
EURC 0.000664
FEI 0.000745
FIL 0.000624
FIM 0.003949
FJD 0.001676
FKP 0.000564
FLOW 0.023543
FLR 0.103342
FRAX 0.000752
FRF 0.004357
FTT 0.002884
GALA 0.307449
GBP 0.000564
GEL 0.001933
GGP 0.000564
GHC 87.575204
GHS 0.008758
GIP 0.000564
GMD 0.055131
GMX 0.000085
GNF 6.549277
GNO 0.000006
GRD 0.226328
GRT 0.025583
GT 0.000067
GTQ 0.005685
GUSD 0.000746
GYD 0.155497
HBAR 0.007400
HKD 0.005846
HNL 0.019974
HNT 0.001436
HOT 1.626560
HRK 0.005004
HT 0.020423
HTG 0.097337
HUF 0.243998
ICP 0.000214
IDR 13.345043
IEP 0.000523
ILS 0.002278
IMP 0.000564
IMX 0.004062
INJ 0.000098
INR 0.071822
IQD 0.973835
IRR 1,339.720322
ISK 0.090951
ITL 1.286083
JEP 0.000564
JMD 0.117877
JOD 0.000528
JPY 0.117777
KAS 0.017363
KAVA 0.010745
KCS 0.000098
KDA 0.076297
KES 0.096695
KGS 0.065148
KHR 3.017663
KLAY 0.017885
KMF 0.326768
KNC 0.005200
KPW 0.670502
KSM 0.000145
KWD 0.000230
KYD 0.000619
KZT 0.339137
LAK 16.714586
LBP 67.176929
LDO 0.001626
LEO 0.000084
LINK 0.000054
LKR 0.245692
LRC 0.072554
LRD 0.127116
LSL 0.012402
LTC 0.000011
LTL 0.002293
LUF 0.026794
LUNA 0.014587
LUNC 14.087713
LVL 0.000467
LYD 0.004779
MAD 0.007435
MANA 0.007203
MBX 0.025186
MDL 0.013350
MGA 3.298742
MGF 16.493712
MINA 0.005529
MKD 0.040866
MKR 0.000000
MMK 1.563673
MNT 2.678042
MOP 0.006021
MRO 0.298235
MRU 0.029823
MTL 0.000285
MUR 0.035310
MVR 0.011516
MWK 1.289293
MXN 0.013464
MXV 0.001531
MYR 0.003043
MZM 47.546337
MZN 0.047546
NAD 0.012402
NEAR 0.000143
NEO 0.000294
NEXO 0.000876
NFT 3,121.620919
NGN 0.984790
NIO 0.027385
NLG 0.001464
NOK 0.007149
NPR 0.114969
NZD 0.001331
OKB 0.000006
OMR 0.000287
ONE 0.005086
OP 0.005541
ORDI 0.000164
PAB 0.000745
PAXG 0.000000
PEN 0.002565
PEPE 172.237601
PGK 0.003356
PHP 0.046814
PI 0.008533
PKR 0.205965
PLN 0.002910
POL 0.006812
PTE 0.133161
PYG 4.351691
QAR 0.002711
QNT 0.000003
QTUM 0.000760
ROL 35.504164
RON 0.003550
RPL 0.000390
RSD 0.078014
RUB 0.063197
RUNE 0.000959
RVN 0.303604
RWF 1.097959
SAND 0.011328
SAR 0.002793
SBD 0.006010
SCR 0.010551
SDD 44.707392
SDG 0.447074
SEK 0.007482
SGD 0.000953
SHIB 127.251501
SHP 0.000564
SIT 0.159170
SKK 0.020010
SLE 0.017174
SLL 17.173563
SNX 0.002975
SOL 0.000006
SOS 0.423812
SPL 0.000124
SRD 0.028087
SRG 28.087023
SSP 4.265765
STD 16.388385
STN 0.016388
STX 0.001988
SUI 0.000624
SVC 0.006518
SYP 9.686516
SZL 0.012402
THB 0.025073
THETA 0.003217
TJS 0.006856
TMM 13.070659
TMT 0.002614
TND 0.002229
TOP 0.001794
TRL 36,630.845167
TRX 0.002217
TRY 0.036631
TTD 0.005044
TUSD 0.000745
TVD 0.001069
TWD 0.023674
TWT 0.001305
TZS 1.965332
UAH 0.033550
UGX 2.994602
UNI 0.000084
USD 0.000745
USDC 0.000745
USDD 0.000745
USDP 0.000749
USDT 0.000745
UYU 0.030091
UZS 8.762324
VAL 1.286083
VEB 64,860,178.209022
VED 0.648602
VEF 64,860.178209
VES 0.648602
VET 0.085360
VND 19.363922
VUV 0.089546
WAVES 0.002497
WEMIX 0.003890
WOO 0.054418
WST 0.002073
XAF 0.435691
XAG 0.000012
XAU 0.000000
XAUT 0.000000
XBT 0.000000
XCD 0.002016
XCG 0.001339
XCH 0.000476
XDC 0.022166
XDR 0.000551
XEC 93.411145
XEM 1.186468
XLM 0.003452
XMR 0.000001
XOF 0.435691
XPD 0.000001
XPF 0.079261
XPT 0.000000
XRP 0.000496
XTZ 0.002229
YER 0.175943
ZAR 0.012402
ZEC 0.000001
ZIL 0.204133
ZMK 14.726913
ZMW 0.014727
ZWD 0.269579
ZWG 0.019942
ZWL 49.829765

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Cities in South Korea 212
Browse all cities and towns
Aeweol Andong Angang Ansan Ansan Anseong Anyang Anyang Anyang-Si Anyang-Si Anyangsi Asan Bucheon Buchon Buchun-Si Bundang Busan Byeoryangdong Changweon Changwon Chechon Cheju Cheonan Cheongju Cheongwon-gun Cheonju Chincheon Chinhae Chinju Chinyeong Chochiwon Chonan Chongok Chongup Chuncheon Chungcheong Chungju Daegu Daejeon Dalseo-gu Danjin-gun Dongan-gu Euijeongbu Euiwang Eumsung-Kun Geumsan-Gun Gimhae Gimhae-si Gimpo City Gongjusi Goyang Goyang-si Gumi-Shi Gunpo Gupo-si Guri-Si Gwacheon Si Gwangju-Si Haenam Hanam Hayang Heunghae Heungup-Myun Hoechon Hoengseong Hongcheon Hongseong Hwado Hwaseong-si Hwasun Hwasung Hwawon Icheon-si Ichon Iksan Iljuk-myeon Incheon Inchon Jeju Jeonju-Si Jincheon-gun Jinchunkun Kanghwa Kangneung Keoje Kihung Kijang Kimcheon Kimhae Kimje Kimpo Kochang Kochang Kongju Koseong Koyang Kumchon Kumi Kumsan Kunpo Kunsan Kuri Kwacheon Kwangju Kwangju Kwangju Kwangmyeong Kwangyang Kwangyang Up Kyeongju Kyeongsan Kyungsan Masan Miryang Mokpo Mummakeup Mungyong Munsan Naeso Naju Namdongku Namwon Namyangju Nongso Nonsan Ochon Oedong Okcheon-gun Okchon Osan Paengseong Paju Paju Peolgyo Pocheon-Si Pochon Pochun Pohang Poryong Puan Pubal Pucheon Pusan Pusan Puyeo Pyeongtaek Sacheon Samchok Sangju Seogwipo Seokcho Seonghwan Seongnam Seongnam Seonsan Seosan Seoul Shiheung Shihung-Si Siheung Sihung-si Sinhyeon Suncheon Sungnamshi Suweon Suwon Suwon Taean Taean Taebaek Taegu Taejeon Taejon Taesan Tangjin Tongducheon Tonghae Tongyong Uijeongbu-dong Uijongbu Uiwang Ulsan Um Sung Gun Ungsang Wabu Waegwan Weonju Wonju Yangju Yangju Yangju Yangju Yangpyeong-Gun Yangsan Yangu Yechon Yeocheon Yeoju Yeokbuk-Dong-Si Yeongcheon Yeongju Yeongpyeong-Dong Yeongweol Yeonil Yeosu Yesan Yongdong Yonggi Yonggwang Yongin Yonmu Youngcheon-Si

Visa Requirements

Check what visa a citizen of South Korea needs to enter any country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the capital of South Korea?
The capital of South Korea is Seoul.
What currency does South Korea use?
South Korea uses the South Korean won (₩) as its official currency.
What language is spoken in South Korea?
The official language(s) of South Korea include Korean.
What is the population of South Korea?
South Korea has a population of approximately 51,159,889 people.
What region is South Korea in?
South Korea is located in Asia, specifically in the Eastern Asia subregion.
What is the international calling code for South Korea?
The international dialing code for South Korea is +82.
What time zones does South Korea observe?
South Korea observes the following time zone(s): UTC+09:00.
What is the current time in South Korea?
The local time in South Korea is currently --:--. This time applies to the primary time zone.
What is the total area of South Korea?
South Korea covers a total area of 100,210 km².
How many states or provinces does South Korea have?
South Korea is divided into 35 states or provinces.
What are the public holidays in South Korea in 2026?
You can view the complete list of public holidays for South Korea in 2026 on the Holidays 2026 page.
What are the visa requirements for citizens of South Korea?
Visa requirements for citizens of South Korea vary by destination. Use our Visa Requirements Checker below to look up requirements for any destination country.