FAQ for International Travelers: Must-Know Before Your Busan Trip

Visa requirements for Korea vary by nationality — many passport holders qualify for visa-free short-term tourism, but rules and entry requirements such as Korea's Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) differ by country and can change with policy. Always check the latest requirements for your nationality via the Korea Tourism Organization or your country's relevant official channels before you go.

Korea runs on 220V with round two-pin outlets (similar to the European standard). If your home country uses a different plug shape — flat two-pin, three-pin, and so on — you'll need an adapter. Most phone and camera chargers today support 100–240V, so a separate voltage converter usually isn't needed, but it's worth checking your own devices before you leave.

No. There's no general tipping culture in Korea. Restaurants, taxis, and hotels don't expect a tip on top of what's shown on the bill.

Call 112 for police, and 119 for ambulance or fire services. For multilingual travel assistance, call the tourist hotline 1330, which offers support in several languages besides Korean.

Google Maps doesn't give accurate public transit directions in Korea. Use "Naver Map" or "Kakao Map" instead to plan subway and bus routes — both support an English interface. See our Busan Subway & Bus Guide for details.

For data, choose between an eSIM, pocket Wi-Fi, or a local SIM — see our eSIM vs. Pocket Wi-Fi comparison for details. For local transport, we recommend picking up a Cashbee transit card at a convenience store — full details in our Busan Subway & Bus Guide.

Shops in the main tourist areas (Haeundae, Nampo-dong, Seomyeon) can usually manage basic English, and some hotels and department stores have staff who speak additional languages. A translation app (like Papago), paired with the English interface on Naver Map or Kakao Map, covers most everyday travel needs.