South Korea Travel Safety
Travel Safety in South Korea
General travel safety in South Korea on a scale of 1 to 4 — where 1 is safe and 4 is dangerous. Data compiled on the basis of Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs.
Country
South Korea
Updates
Updated: 13 Mar 2024 • Still current at: 25 Mar 2024
Status
LEVEL 1 - Exercise normal safety precautions
Use common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour. Monitor the media and other sources for changes to local travelling conditions, safety and security concerns. Laws and social customs could differ significantly. You could face terrorist attacks, civil unrest, violent crime, or unique health threats - but overall, the risks are not great.
Safety and Security Tips
Road safety
Speeding, running red lights and other risky behaviour is common, particularly by buses, taxis and motorcyclists. Motorcycles are sometimes driven on sidewalks. Automobile drivers are presumed to be at fault in accidents involving motorcycles or pedestrians. The rate of fatal road accidents is very high. Check carefully before crossing the road as vehicles may not stop at pedestrian crossings. Use underground or above-ground pedestrian crossings where available. Criminal charges and heavy penalties are common when accidents result in injury.
Public transportation
A high-speed train (KTX) links Seoul and major southern cities such as Busan, Gwangju and Mokpo.
Taxis
Taxis may not be equipped with seatbelts. Drivers may speak some English, but have your destination written in Korean.
Women's safety
Women travelling alone may be subject to some forms of harassment and verbal abuse. Avoid dark or non-tourist areas at night. Instead try to be around larger crowds, whether they are fellow tourists or local citizens. In addition, don't flash money or valuables in public. Doing so may make you a potential victim of criminal activity.
Crime
Crime against foreigners is generally low. Ensure that your personal belongings and passports and other travel documents are secure at all times. Remain aware of your surroundings and avoid walking alone after dark. The use of public transport after dark may be safer than using taxis when travelling alone. When subway and bus services end for the night, use officially marked taxis only and, if possible, do not travel alone. The Korean National Police Agency operates a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week Central Interpretation Centre where foreigners can report crimes.
Update 1 November 2020Emergency Calls
- Police112
- Fire119
- Ambulance119
Local Law and Culture
LGBT
South Korea laws do not prohibit sexual acts between individuals of the same sex. Younger Koreans are more liberal and LGBT rights organisations are gaining support. The gay scene, although relatively small, is well established and growing in visibility.
Illegal drugs
Penalties for possession, use and trafficking of illegal drugs can result in long jail sentences and heavy fines. This applies even to personal use of small amounts of marijuana
Driving
An International Driving Permit is required.
Update 1 November 2020Vaccinations and Medications
A doctor's consultation is required prior to any vaccinations being administered. This section is for informational purposes and does not exhaust all issues related to vaccination. Please contact your doctor for complete information on this subject.
Stay Healthy and Safe
Act in advance of to prevent. Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor at least 4-8 weeks before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.
All travelers
You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. Some vaccinations may also be required in South Korea.
Before each trip, it is worth making sure that we are up to date with the routine vaccinations. These include vaccinations against measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, chickenpox, polio and flu.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Reduce your exposure to germs
Most travelers
Get travel vaccines and medicines because there is a risk of these diseases in the country you are visiting.
Hepatitis A is a digestive disease caused by the hepatitis A virus and is closely related to a lack of good hygiene.
It can be asymptomatic, moderate, or very severe.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Eat and drink safely
Typhoid fever is an acute, systemic infectious disease caused by Salmonella typhi.
The source of the infection may include dirty water, raw fruits, vegetables, dairy products, as well as dirt containing bacteria.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Eat and drink safely
Some travelers
Vaccinations and medications that may be recommended under certain conditions, depending on where you will be, the length of your stay and the nature of your stay.
Hepatitis B is a disease caused by the hepatitis B virus.
Infection occurs through contact of injured skin or mucous membranes with virus-infected blood or other secretions (e.g. during sexual contact, through contaminated needles or as a result of medical procedures).
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Avoid sharing body fluids
- Avoid non-sterile medical or cosmetic equipment
Japanese encephalitis is an infectious disease caused by arboviruses from the same family of microbes (Flaviviridae) that cause yellow fever or tick-borne encephalitis.
The vector of infection is mosquitoes of the genus Culex and Aedes.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Prevent bug bites
Malaria is a life-threatening parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes.
Prevention
- Take antimalarial meds
- Prevent bug bites
Estimated relative risk of malaria in South Korea
Niskie
Areas with malaria
Limited to the months of March–December in rural areas in the northern parts of Incheon, Kangwon-do, and Kyônggi-do Provinces, including the demilitarized zone (DMZ)
Rabies is an acute infectious disease caused by neurotrophic viruses from the rhabdovirus family.
The infection is most often caused by biting a sick animal or other contact of its saliva with mucous membranes, conjunctiva or damaged skin.
Prevention
- Get vaccinated
- Keep away from animals
We have made every effort to ensure that the information presented reliably reflects the general safety situation in a given place. However, the data is provided for informational purposes only and we do not take responsibility for any damages or losses resulting from incorrect risk assessment. Before each trip, we recommend checking the current situation in the country of destination on the websites of the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
North Korea