Asia and Oceania

Korea (Republic of)
Still current at: 08 November 2009 Updated: 29 September 2009

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the summary (consular assistance figures). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

(see travel advice legal disclaimer)

Travel advice for this country

Travel Summary

On 25 May 2009 North Korea carried out an underground nuclear test. North Korea has also test-launched a number of short-range missiles. On 27 May North Korea said that it regarded South Korean membership of the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative as an act of aggression and would no longer be bound by the terms of the 1953 Armistice Agreement, although it has said this before. Tensions on and around the Korean peninsula are heightened but there is no evidence of any increased risk or danger to those living in or travelling to South Korea. Please see the Political Situation section of this travel advice for more information.
Following the funeral of former South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, who died on 29 May 2009, there continue to be gatherings of supporters in central Seoul, protesting against the current government. Large crowds, particularly in the evenings and at weekends, are possible and there could be disruption to transport. Please see the Political Situation section of this advice for more information.

Thereare confirmed human cases of the A (H1N1) virus (swine flu) in Kiribati. See the health section of this advice for more details. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its pandemic threat alert phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any further developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu is available on the UK Department of Health website. The responsibility for deploying resources to combat and cascade warnings about swine flu now rests with local governments so travellers may want to check the current advice with the regional authorities in the areas they are travelling or plan to travel to.
It is recommended that if you come to South Korea for longer than two weeks you should register with the Consular Section of the British Embassy. You should also follow developments in the region closely. See the general (registering with the British Embassy) section of this advice for more details.
It is not possible to enter North Korea from South Korea, unless making an official visit to the Kaesong Industrial Complex.
There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
The typhoon/tropical storm season in South Korea normally runs from June to November. See the natural disasters section of this advice and tropical cyclones for more details.
Many British nationals visit South Korea every year. Most visits are trouble-free. 16 British nationals required consular assistance in the Republic of Korea in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (4 cases), hospitalisations (3 cases), and arrests, for a variety of offences (4 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (29 cases).
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. See the general (insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

For further information see terrorism abroad.

Crime

Although the crime rate in the Republic of Korea is low, there is a higher incidence of pick pocketing, purse snatching, assault, burglary (in hotel rooms and private residences), and other crime in major metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and Busan, than elsewhere in Korea. Exercise normal safety precautions and ensure valuables are secure. You should exercise normal safety precautions and ensure your valuables are secure, especially in known tourist areas, such as Itaewon and other large market areas.

Incidents of rape have been reported in popular nightlife districts of Seoul, as well as in private residences. You should exercise caution when travelling alone at night and you should use only legitimate taxis or public transportation. For more information see rape and sexual assault abroad.

For emergency assistance, call 112 for police (an interpretation service is available during working hours) and 119 for ambulance and fire. The Korean National Police operates a 24-hour, seven day a week Central Interpretation Centre where foreigners can report crimes (in Seoul Tel: 313-0842; elsewhere Tel: +2-313 0842).

For more general information see victims of crime abroad.

Political situation

Republic of Korea country profile

Armistice Agreement

An Armistice Agreement has been in place since the end of the Korean War in 1953, but relations between South and North Korea are currently at a low point, following the election in 2007 of President Lee Myung-bak in South Korea. Regional tensions are currently heightened, following the UN Security Council’s condemnation of the attempted launch of a satellite in breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1718 by North Korea on 5 April 2009. In response, North Korea withdraw from the Six Party Talks aimed at denuclearising the Korean peninsula and threatened a further nuclear test (the first was carried out in October 2006) and ballistic missile tests. On 25 May 2009, North Korea announced that it had carried out an underground nuclear test. There are also reports of a short-range missile test. It has also carried out a number of short-range missile test-launches.

On 26 May, South Korea announced that it would join the US-led Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), which aims to interdict vessels suspecting of carrying of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and materials. North Korea has responded by repeating earlier threats that it would regard South Korean PSI membership as an act of aggression and would respond militarily to any attempt to intercept its ships. It has also said that it would no longer be bound by the 1953 Korean War Armistice Agreement, although it has said this before.

Demonstrations

Demonstrations are common in South Korea. Following the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun on 23 May 2009, and his funeral on 29 May, a number of demonstrations have occurred throughout South Korea. Some have turned violent. Most demonstrations, however, are peaceful and take place in the City Hall/Seoul Plaza/Cheonggyecheon Stream area of central Seoul. You should follow the advice of the local authorities and monitor local media for developments.

Local Travel

It is not possible for you to travel directly to North Korea from South Korea, unless making an official visit to the Kaesong Industrial Complex.

Taxi drivers tend to speak little or no English. Have your destination written in Korean, with a map for private addresses, as it can be difficult to locate them otherwise.

Road Travel

An International Driving Permit is needed to drive in South Korea. You should ensure that you also have fully comprehensive insurance.

In 2007 there were 6,166 road deaths in South Korea (source: DfT). This equates to 12.7 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.0 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2007. Car and motorbike drivers are presumed to be at fault in accidents involving motorcycles or pedestrians. Criminal charges and heavy penalties are common when accidents result in injury, even if guilt is not proved. You should watch out for motorcycles travelling at speed on pavements.

For further information see driving abroad.

Air Travel

The revised aviation security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in South Korea. For more details about this please see: DfT - Airline Security Update

The European Commission has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the European Union. This is regularly updated. You should check the European Commission website to see whether this will affect your travel. At the time of writing no South Korean airlines feature on this list.

Local laws and customs

English is not widely spoken in South Korea.

You are subject to local laws, which can be more severe than in the UK for similar offences. A serious violation may lead to a jail or a death sentence.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs can result in long jail sentences and heavy fines. This applies even to personal use of small amounts of marijuana. British nationals have been detained solely on the basis of drug tests.

Any jail sentence would be served in South Korea. Often, usually where less serious offences are concerned, convicted foreigners may instead be deported. The same may apply to foreigners convicted of offences not involving a prison sentence. If you are deported you may be banned from returning to South Korea for several years.

You should carry some form of identification at all times and ensure your next-of-kin details have been entered into the back of your passport.

There is no legal barrier to homosexual relationships, but some prejudice exists among the older generation. Younger Koreans are more liberal and gay rights organisations are gaining support. The gay scene, although relatively small, is well established and growing in visibility.

For more general information for different types of travellers see your trip.

Entry requirements

Visas

Holders of British Citizen passports can enter South Korea for tourist purposes for up to 90 days without a visa. You must also have an onward or return ticket.

Visas are required for all other purposes. It is illegal to work on a tourist visa in South Korea, whether as a teacher or in any other capacity. If you wish to work you should contact the nearest South Korean Diplomatic Mission before you travel for information on obtaining the appropriate documentation. In addition, you should research the educational establishment or company where you intend to work as thoroughly as possible. Please see the General section of this travel advice if you are considering a teaching job in South Korea.

Holders of all other types of British passport should contact the nearest South Korean Diplomatic Mission before travelling for information about visa requirements - Embassy of the Republic of Korea, London.

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for at least six months after the date you intend to enter South Korea.

British males of Korean origin

If you are a British male of Korean origin, whose name appears on your Korean family register, you should be aware that you may be liable for military service, even if travelling on your British passport.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the nearest South Korean Diplomatic Mission - Embassy of the Republic of Korea, London.

Health

Medical and dental care in South Korea is usually of a good standard but can be expensive. Staff often do not speak English.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 13,000 adults aged 15 or over in South Korea were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at less than 0.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to South Korea and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see travel health.

Swine Flu

Therehave been confirmed human cases of A (H1N1) - swine influenza in South Korea. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat AlertPhase is at Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu is also available on the UK Department of Health website. The responsibility for deploying resources to combat and cascade warnings about swine flu now rests with local governments so travellers may want to check the current advice with the regional authorities in the areas they are travelling or plan to travel to.

You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. Yonhap’s website in English can provide information, but the following Korean sites may at times be more up to date: Yonhap (Korean Language), and KBS. The Korean government’s main website on the flu outbreak is the Korean Centre for Disease Control.

Avian influenza (bird flu)

There have been outbreaks of avian influenza (bird flu) in domestic poultry across South Korea since 1 April 2008. The initial outbreaks were concentrated in poultry farms and livestock markets in rural areas, but more recently outbreaks have also been found in urban areas. The Korean authorities have held extensive culling exercises and established poultry quarantine zones and movement controls around the outbreaks. The Korean authorities are on the alert for any further outbreaks. No human infections or deaths have been reported.

The risk to humans from avian influenza is believed to be very low. As a precaution you should avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned of the possibility that the avian influenza outbreaks could lead at some point to a human flu pandemic, if a virus mutates to a form, which is easily transmissible between people.

For more information please visit: avian and pandemic influenza

Natural disasters

Typhoons

Travellers to South Korea should be aware that typhoon season normally runs from June to November. We recommend paying particular attention to local weather and travel information and consult the Korean Meteorological Administration website, which has information in English.

Please also see tropical cyclones for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a typhoon.

General

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before departure. You should ensure that your insurance covers the costs of medical repatriation if you need complex hospital treatment. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see travel insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

Mobile phones

Mobile telephones purchased outside South Korea will not normally work in the country. For those visiting South Korea phones can be rented at the airport on arrival.

Registering with the British Embassy

If you are staying for more than two weeks, we strongly encourage you to register with the Consular Section of the British Embassy. You can also find contingency guidance information on the Consular Services Section of the British Embassy website British Embassy website.

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Money

The local currency is the South Korean Won. It is almost impossible to change Scottish or Northern Irish bank notes. Credit cards are not always accepted outside major cities. ATMs, whilst widely available do not always accept foreign cards. ATM’s with a sign saying 'Global' will normally accept foreign cards.

Employment

If you are considering a teaching job in South Korea, you should note that it is not possible to obtain a visa to teach English in South Korea without a three-year university degree – a TEFL qualification alone is insufficient. If you are found to have obtained a teaching visa by submitting fraudulent documents, even if unknowingly produced by a third party, you will be detained and deported. You should also be aware that complaints are frequently received from British nationals teaching English in South Korea about problems arising from living or working conditions that do not meet expectations and complications, and over obtaining the correct visas and residence permits. There have also been complaints of breach of contract, confiscation of passports, and of payment being withheld also of inadequate or no medical insurance. Check that all terms and conditions of employment are clearly stated before accepting an offer and signing a contract. Where possible ask to speak to other teachers from the educational establishment when you plan to work before accepting any offer. You should note that written contracts are not necessarily considered binding documents and verbal agreements often take precedence. It is illegal to work in South Korea on a tourist visa. For those in possession of a work visa all employment changes must be authorised by Korean Immigration.

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Contacts

Korea, Republic of (South Korea), Seoul, British Embassy

Address:

Taepyeongno 40
4 Jeong-dong
Jung-gu 100-120

Fax:

(+82) (2) 725 1738

Email: postmaster.seoul@fco.gov.uk

Office hours:

Office hours (Local time):
Monday-Thursday: 09:00-17:15
Friday: 09:00-17:00

Office hours (GMT):
Monday-Thursday: 00:00-08:15
Friday: 00:00-08:00

Public opening hours ›

Website: http://ukinkorea.fco.gov.uk/en/

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