Packing list for South Korea, travel insurance for South Korea, and taking your belongings

What to take to South Korea: brief

To pack and check

• Documents: a passport valid for the duration of your stay and, if necessary, a K-ETA or other travel document depending on your nationality. The online Q-code form.
• Money: South Korean Won (KRW). Card payments are possible almost everywhere, but some cash can be handy for markets and smaller businesses. A T-Money card (available for purchase at the airport upon arrival) is also very useful.
• Clothing: South Korea experiences hot, humid summers and cold winters. The season largely determines what you need. For women, revealing tops (unlike short skirts) are still considered provocative.
• Shoes: comfortable shoes. Koreans walk a lot, and cities like Seoul are surprisingly hilly.
• Personal Care: sunscreen, lip balm, and possibly your favorite deodorant. Deodorant is extremely scarce and expensive in South Korea.
• Outdoors and Handy Items: umbrella, sunglasses, and a reusable water bottle. Medicines and travel first-aid kit: basic first-aid kit, ORS, and personal medication.
• Technology and equipment: Google Maps barely works, so it might be useful to download other navigation apps before departure. Furthermore, they have type C and F power outlets (like in the Netherlands and Belgium).

To consider

• International driving license for car rental.
• There are hardly any trash cans in South Korea, so a small, reusable plastic bag to put your waste in is handy.
• Tattoo covers (skin-colored stickers) for swimming pools and hot springs.
• Power bank; your phone will likely become your navigation, payment, and transportation device.
• Particulate masks for the spring, as heavy smog sometimes occurs then.
• Hiking boots if you visit national parks.
• Extra space in your luggage for skincare products, snacks, and other souvenir purchases.

What knowledge comes in handy when you go to South Korea?

• South Korea has four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, while winters can be surprisingly cold with snow and sub-zero temperatures. Knowing which season you are traveling in is helpful for your packing list.
• During the summer months, heavy rainfall and typhoons can occur. It is especially wise to be prepared for wet weather between June and September.
• South Korea is one of the most connected countries in the world. Virtually everything is done digitally, from navigation to payments and reservations.
• Etiquette and local culture. For example, it is socially unacceptable to make loud phone calls or talk on the metro or bus.

Are there mosquitoes in South Korea?

• Mosquitoes are common during the hot summer months, particularly around the Han River and in rural areas.
• There is a risk of a specific form of malaria in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during the summer months.
• More about protection against mosquitoes and insects.

Are there sandflies in South Korea?

• Sandflies are virtually non-existent in South Korea and therefore pose no health risk whatsoever to visitors.
• More about sandflies and sand fleas.

Can you buy DEET, or other mosquito repellents in South Korea?

• Yes. Mosquito repellents are readily available at drugstores, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

Can you buy a joint or weed in South Korea, or bring it to South Korea?

• South Korea has very strict cannabis laws. Use, possession, and import are prohibited.
• Even South Koreans who use cannabis legally abroad could theoretically face problems with it at home. Citizens are regularly tested for drug use at the airport.
• For travelers, the rule is simply: do not bring it in and do not use it, in any form whatsoever.