Korea Daybook

 KOREA TRAVEL BASICS · PART 3 This article is written in English. A Korean translation is available at the end of the post. Information checked: September 11, 2026 Cash or Card in Korea photo by koreadaybook Cash or Card in Korea? Money, ATMs and Currency Exchange Guide If this is your first trip to South Korea, you may be wondering how much cash you should bring. Will your foreign credit card work? Should you exchange money before arriving? Can you withdraw Korean won from an ATM? And do you still need cash in a country where almost everyone seems to pay by card? The short answer is simple. Korea is very card-friendly, but you should still carry some Korean won. Most hotels, department stores, restaurants, cafés, convenience stores and regular shops accept credit or debit cards. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and other major international cards can be used at many businesses. However, cash remains useful for transportation-card recharging, some traditional markets, smaller bus...

 KOREA TRAVEL BASICS · PART 2 This article is written in English. A Korean translation is available at the end of the post. Information checked: September 3, 2026 A large digital media wall welcomes travelers inside Incheon International Airport. Photo by Korea Daybook. If this is your first trip to South Korea , this Incheon Airport to Seoul guide will help you complete immigration, collect your baggage, pass through customs, and choose the easiest transportation to your hotel. After a long flight, Incheon International Airport may look enormous. Fortunately, the airport is well organized, and most important signs are displayed in both Korean and English. Take your time and follow the signs. You are almost in Seoul. Quick Answer After landing at Incheon Airport: Follow the Arrivals and Immigration signs. Complete immigration inspection. Check the information screen for your flight number and baggage claim carousel. Collect your luggage. Pass through customs and declare anything...

 KOREA TRAVEL BASICS · PART 1 This article is written in English. A Korean translation is available at the end of the post. Information checked: September 2, 2026 Incheon International Airport Terminal 2, the starting point for many journeys in Korea. If you are visiting South Korea for the first time, the paperwork may look more complicated than it really is. The important thing is to check three separate questions before leaving home: Do you need a visa ? Do you need K-ETA ? Do you need to submit an e-Arrival Card ? They are not the same document. Here is the simplest way to understand what you need. Quick Answer First, check whether your nationality requires a Korean visa . If you can enter Korea without a visa, check whether you need K-ETA . South Korea has temporarily extended the K-ETA exemption for eligible countries and regions through December 31, 2026 . Travelers using the temporary K-ETA exemption will generally need to submit the free e-Arrival Card unless another exem...

  JAMSIL SERIES · PART 7 This article is written in English. A Korean translation is available at the end of the post. Seokchon Lake and Lotte World Tower, one of the most recognizable views in Jamsil. Photo: kallerna / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Resized for web Quick Answer Seokchon Lake is one of the easiest places in Seoul to combine a local walk, skyline views and major Jamsil attractions . The lake is divided into East Lake and West Lake , and the complete circumference is about 2.5 kilometers . Full loop: about 40–60 minutes without long stops Comfortable visit with photos and breaks: about 1½–2 hours Nearest station: Jamsil Station on Subway Lines 2 and 8 Best overall seasons: spring and autumn Best quiet time: weekday morning Best light: morning or shortly before sunset Admission: free If you have limited time, walk East Lake for the Lotte World Tower views. If you want the classic Lotte World castle and Magic Island scenery, continue to West Lake. Why Visit ...

  JAMSIL SERIES · PART 6 This article is written in English. A Korean translation is available at the end of the post. Lotte World Tower rising above Jamsil and Seokchon Lake on a clear day in Seoul. Quick Answer Seoul Sky is the observatory inside Lotte World Tower, South Korea’s tallest building . The tower reaches 555 meters with 123 floors , and the observatory offers a wide 360-degree view across Seoul. Nearest station: Jamsil Station on Subway Lines 2 and 8 Time needed: about 1½–2 hours Best time: about 60–90 minutes before sunset on a clear day Best for: first-time visitors, couples, photographers and anyone interested in city views Most important check: visibility, not just the ticket price If the upper part of the tower is hidden inside clouds, that is the tower politely telling you to come back another day. Is Seoul Sky Worth Visiting? Yes, particularly if it is your first trip to Seoul and the weather is clear. From the upper levels, the city becomes easier to under...