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ARRIVAL · GUIDE

Your first 48 hours in Korea

Handle entry paperwork before you fly, then get online, arrange payment, save your address in Korean and pick your airport route — in that order.

Before your flightYour second day in Korea

WHAT DECIDES THIS

The numbers that change your choice.

Before you fly
Entry check, e-Arrival Card, eSIM, second cardAll four are easier at home than at the airport.
At the airport
Data, cash, transit card, then transportIn that order. Transport decisions need a working phone.
Emergency numbers
112 police · 119 fire and ambulance · 1330 travel helpline1330 offers information and interpretation.
Maps
Naver Map or Kakao MapRecommended by the Seoul Metropolitan Government for routes and live bus information.
LAST CHECKEDJuly 29, 2026

1 day ago. Fares, routes and final train times change—confirm live before you travel.

STEP BY STEP

Do it in this order.

Each step names the sign to look for where one exists, and what travellers most often get wrong.
  1. 01
    Check your own entry requirements

    Requirements depend on your passport and change over time. Use the official K-ETA portal, not a paid copycat site.

    Watch out No travel service can decide your eligibility for you. Check your own passport against the current official rules.

  2. 02
    Complete the e-Arrival Card if it applies to you

    The official form is free and opens from three days before arrival. Its navigator tells you whether you need one.

    Watch out Valid K-ETA holders are generally exempt.

  3. 03
    Decide how you will get online

    An eSIM is the fastest setup for an unlocked compatible phone and can be installed before flying. A physical SIM at the airport suits you if you want staff help or a Korean number. Roaming is easiest and usually the most expensive.

    Watch out A physical SIM needs an unlocked phone. Check that before you travel.

  4. 04
    Prepare two ways to pay

    Carry some Korean won and bring a second card kept separate from your main one. Tell your bank about international travel if it requires notice.

    Watch out Traditional T-money purchase or top-up may require cash. Newer machines and other passes differ.

  5. 05
    Save your accommodation address in Korean

    Store the Korean name and road address on your phone. It works for taxi drivers, station staff and map search when the English name fails.

    Watch out Do this before you land. Looking it up with no data connection is the situation you are trying to avoid.

  6. 06
    Plan the airport route, then confirm it on the day

    Compare the AREX train, airport limousine and official taxi against your arrival time and luggage. Confirm live service on the official airport page before boarding.

    Watch out Late arrivals need a different plan. Rail options thin out after about 22:00.

  7. 07
    Choose a transit card after you know your routes

    Compare T-money with Seoul's short-term Climate Card rather than buying both automatically. Which one wins depends on how much you will actually ride.

  8. 08
    Save the official help numbers

    112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, 1330 for the travel helpline with interpretation. Save them before you need them.

    Watch out If life or property is in immediate danger, call an emergency service rather than a helpline.

ALTERNATIVES

Compare before you commit.

There is no single best option. The right one depends on your luggage, your arrival time and where you are staying.

eSIM installed before departure

Cost
Varies by provider
Time
Active on landing

An unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone.

Follow your provider's activation timing instructions.

Physical SIM at the airport

Cost
Varies by provider
Time
Counter queue on arrival

Wanting staff help, or needing a Korean phone number.

Requires an unlocked phone.

Carrier roaming

Cost
Usually the most expensive
Time
Works immediately

Short trips and lowest setup effort.

Confirm your carrier's data limits before departure.

COMMON MISTAKES

What goes wrong most often.

Sorting out mobile data after leaving the airport.

Every later decision — maps, taxi, address, transport — assumes a working connection. Handle data first.

Using a paid site that looks like the official K-ETA portal.

Go to the official government portal directly. Copycat sites charge for a free or cheaper government service.

Buying both T-money and a Climate Card on arrival.

Pick one after you know your actual routes. Which is cheaper depends on how much you ride.

Saving only the English name of your accommodation.

Save the Korean name and road address. English names often fail in Korean map search and with taxi drivers.

TRAVELER FAQ

Answers before you leave.

Do I need a visa or a K-ETA?

It depends on your passport, and the rules change. Check the official K-ETA portal against your own nationality. No third party can confirm your eligibility.

Is the e-Arrival Card mandatory?

Eligibility varies and valid K-ETA holders are generally exempt. The official form is free and includes a navigator that tells you whether you need one.

Which map app should I install?

The Seoul Metropolitan Government recommends Naver Map or Kakao Map for routes and live bus information.

What number do I call if something goes wrong?

112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, and 1330 for the Korea Tourism Organization travel helpline, which provides information and interpretation.

How much cash should I bring?

Enough to cover a transit card purchase and a first meal. This guide does not recommend an amount, because the answer depends on your trip. The point is not to arrive with zero.

RELATED PLACES

Where this guide takes you.

01

Mangwon Market

Street food, market snacks and a picnic stop near Mangwon Hangang Park.

SOURCES

Check it yourself.

Every changing rule stays attached to the organization responsible for it.

Last checked July 29, 2026. Korea Now edits these guides from official sources and does not decide eligibility, fares or schedules on your behalf.

NEXT

Keep going.

01

Incheon Airport to Seoul

Compare the AREX train, airport limousine and official taxi from Incheon Airport to Seoul, with the fares, journey times and late-night limits that actually change the decision.

02

Using the Seoul subway and buses

How to actually move around Seoul: choosing a transit card, reading exit numbers, transferring between subway and bus, and what to do when the last train has gone.

03

Paying for things in Korea

What actually works when you pay in Korea: card acceptance, why you still need cash, transit card top-ups, and how to avoid being stranded by a single declined card.

04

Ordering food in Korea

How to order in Korea without guessing: touchscreen kiosks, dietary restrictions in Korean, solo dining, and checking whether a place takes your card before you sit down.