Korea Ready Kit

Travel Korea without getting stuck at “verify your identity”

Many Korean apps ask for a Korean phone number before you can book, order or pay. Here is what works for visitors, before, during and after the trip. Every item is checked against an official or major-media source.

Korea11%

Share of 7,260 Reddit travel posts over three years that describe an inconvenience. In Korea, digital services led at 27.8%. Yanolja Research, via Unicorn Factory (27 Apr 2026)

Before-you-fly checklist

Ticks are saved only on this device.

Before you go

Entry paperwork and bookings to make before you fly.

Entry전자입국신고서

e-Arrival Card

Korea's official e-Arrival Card is free. Filing opens 3 days before arrival, based on Korean Standard Time. A submitted card stays valid for 72 hours. You don't need to bring it to immigration, but the issuance number sent to your email can help.

Not required for K-ETA holders (unless entering on a visa), registered foreign residents, holders of certain group e-visas, and foreign flight crew. The official site is e-arrivalcard.go.kr.

Sources
Entry전자여행허가

K-ETA

Korea has extended the temporary K-ETA exemption for certain countries until 31 December 2026. Check whether your country is included on the official K-ETA website. Applications are accepted only at www.k-eta.go.kr or in the official K-ETA app.

With a valid K-ETA you don't need the e-Arrival Card, unless you enter on a visa. Approved K-ETAs are non-refundable.

Sources
Train코레일

KTX · KORAIL

Buy KTX tickets at a ticket office, on korail.com (Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese), in the KORAIL+ app, at a ticket kiosk, through NAVER Train Booking or KakaoT. Sales usually open one month before departure at 07:00.

KORAIL Customer Center in English: +82-1599-7777, 08:00–20:00 daily. Seoul Station ticket counters accept Apple Pay.

Sources
Restaurants캐치테이블 글로벌

Catchtable Global

Sign up with Google or Apple, without a Korean phone number, and pay with foreign-issued cards. The app comes in English, Japanese, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

Reservation deposits can only be paid with foreign-issued cards. Joining a waitlist needs no deposit.

Sources

In Korea

Maps, taxis, food, transit, payment and help.

Translation파파고

Papago

Naver's translator covers 14 languages and takes text, image and voice input, so you can photograph a menu or a sign.

Sources
Taxi케이라이드

k.ride

A taxi app for international visitors. You don't need a KakaoTalk account, and you can register a credit card from overseas or use Alipay+. It comes in English, Japanese and Chinese.

VisitKorea also lists TADA (sign up with an international mobile number, pay by credit card), TABA (sign up with a mobile number or a Google or Apple ID) and MOVV (book with a credit card).

Sources
Transit지하철·버스

Subway & bus fares

Since 17 March 2026, 440 ticket machines at 273 stations on Seoul Subway Lines 1–8 accept Visa and Mastercard cards issued overseas for fares. The Mobile Tmoney app supports international Mastercard, American Express and UnionPay cards. WOWPASS, a prepaid card for foreigners, works on buses and subways once its Tmoney balance is topped up separately.

Seoul's Climate Card can only be bought and charged with cash or a Korean-issued card, and from 1 October 2026 it works only within Seoul.

Sources
Food delivery배달의민족

Baemin

Without signing up, you can order food after verifying an overseas phone number by text message. Baemin supports overseas payment methods and offers English, Chinese and Japanese.

Baemin and the Seoul Metropolitan Government signed a partnership on food delivery for foreign tourists (announced 5 August 2026).

Sources
Payment해외 간편결제

Pay with your home app

Korea's standard QR codes, based on Zeropay, connect to 17 overseas mobile payment services such as Alipay and WeChat Pay, so you can pay with the app you use at home.

Look for the standard QR code at the counter. This comes from a November 2024 government announcement.

Sources
Shopping즉시 환급

Tax Free shopping

Foreigners staying in Korea for less than 6 months can get the tax refunded at the till in Tax Free shops. Each transaction must be at least ₩15,000 and under ₩1,000,000, and the total must be ₩5,000,000 or less.

Purchased goods must leave Korea within 3 months.

Sources
Help1330 관광통역안내

Korea Travel Hotline

Call 1330 in Korea or +82-2-1330 from abroad. Seoul City lists the hotline as available 24/7.

Languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay and Indonesian. Hours may differ by language.

Sources
Safety안전디딤돌

Emergency Ready App

The government's safety app gives real-time emergency alerts, safety guidelines, embassy contacts and evacuation shelter locations. Alerts come in English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai.

In an emergency, call 112 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance.

Sources

Leaving

Tax refunds, bags and leftover card balances.

Refund출국 시 환급

Tax refund at departure

If you didn't get the refund in the shop, claim it at a downtown refund counter or unmanned kiosk with your passport, refund voucher and credit card, or at the airport. When you leave, show the goods, refund vouchers and passport to customs for export confirmation.

Unstaffed airport kiosks are open 24 hours. Staffed counters: Incheon T1 07:00–22:00, T2 07:30–21:30, Gimpo 06:30–20:00.

Sources
Bags짐 배송

T-Luggage · Easy Drop

T-Luggage, launched by Seoul Metro, stores bags and delivers them between Incheon or Gimpo airport and selected subway stations on the same day. Reserve online at tluggage.co.kr at least a day ahead. Easy Drop lets departing foreign travelers check in bags downtown, in Myeong-dong (near Exit 9 of Myeongdong Station) and Gangnam-gu, and collect them at their destination airport abroad.

These details come from 2023–2024 announcements, and Easy Drop has been limited to certain airlines. Check current locations and airlines before you go.

Sources
Refund카드 잔액 환불

Leftover card balance

Small T-money balances can be refunded at convenience stores. Refunds over ₩50,000 must be processed at Tmoney Town near Exit 10 of Seoul Station. WOWPASS balances can be withdrawn in won at WOWPASS machines.

Sources