Korea travel guides for your first trip
Practical, on-the-ground guides to Seoul and beyond — written from native knowledge, in English, 日本語 and 繁體中文.
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Last Updated: July 2026 Quick answer: Bring a Visa or Mastercard (Amex is hit-or-miss) plus about ₩100,000–200,000 in cash as backup — Korea is cashless for most locals, but small shops, markets, and some transit kiosks still don’t take foreign cards. Exchange most of your cash at a bank counter, a Myeongdong exchange shop, or […]
Money in Korea: Cash, Cards, T-Money & Currency Exchange (2026) Read More »
Last updated: July 2026 Quick answer: The 2026 Songdo Beer Festival runs August 22–30 (nine days) at Songdo Moonlight Festival Park in Incheon, themed “Fantasy Land: BEER LAND.” General admission is free — you can stand or sit on the lawn and watch the stage lineup, which mixes rock acts like YB and Crying Nut
Songdo Beer Festival 2026: Dates, Lineup & How to Get There Read More »
Last updated: July 2026 Quick answer: South Korea’s Liberation Day (광복절) falls on Saturday, August 15, 2026. Because the holiday lands on a weekend, the government designates Monday, August 17, 2026 as a substitute public holiday (대체공휴일) — a full day off for government offices, banks, and schools. Subways, palaces, restaurants, and shops all stay
Korea Liberation Day 2026: The August 17 Substitute Holiday Read More »
Last updated: July 2026 Quick answer: South Korea’s two high-speed rail operators, Korail (KTX) and SR (SRT), are merging their booking systems into a single app. Member-account conversion started July 14, 2026, and the unified app itself — an update to the existing Korail Talk app — launches in early August. Through it, you’ll be
KTX and SRT Are Merging: What Changes in 2026 Read More »
Last Updated: July 2026 Quick answer: Where to stay in Gyeongju comes down to three areas — Bomun Lake, the resort district a few minutes east of downtown, for larger hotels, family pools, and lake views; Hwangnam-dong, the old quarter beside the royal tombs, for hanok stays and a walk-everywhere base; and near Bulguksa, on
Where to Stay in Gyeongju: Best Areas & Hotels for Every Trip (2026) Read More »
Last updated: July 2026 Quick answer: The new Asiana Kobe–Incheon flight launches September 1, 2026, running one round trip a day through October 24 on an Airbus A321neo. It’s a seasonal addition rather than a permanent year-round route, but for the two months it operates it gives Japan’s Kansai region — Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, and
Asiana’s New Kobe–Incheon Flight: What Travelers Need to Know Read More »
Last updated: July 2026 Quick answer: Since March 16, 2026, South Korea’s Ministry of Justice has more than doubled the reach of the Smart Entry Service (SES), the automated e-gate system at Incheon Airport — from 18 eligible countries to 42. The expansion adds most of the EU, Canada, and four non-EU Schengen states. If
Incheon Airport E-Gates Just Expanded to 42 Countries (2026) Read More »
Last Updated: July 2026 Quick answer: Korean etiquette is more forgiving of tourists than it looks, but a few rules matter: take your shoes off in homes, hanoks, and many traditional restaurants; don’t tip (it’s not expected and can even confuse staff); use two hands when giving or receiving something from someone older; and dress
Korean Etiquette: Dos and Don’ts for First-Time Visitors (2026) Read More »
Last updated: July 2026 Quick answer: The 29th Busan Sea Festival runs August 7–13, 2026 (five days) at Dadaepo Beach in Saha-gu, Busan. It’s free to attend and packed with marine sports demonstrations, evening concerts, and nightly fireworks over the water — Busan’s signature summer beach event, timed for the peak of the season. Table
Busan Sea Festival 2026: Dates, Highlights & How to Get to Dadaepo Beach Read More »
Last updated: July 2026 Quick answer: Manchester City plays two matches at Seoul World Cup Stadium as part of the 2026 Coupang Play Series — against the K League All-Stars on Wednesday, August 5, and against Atlético Madrid on Sunday, August 9 at 8 PM KST, a rematch of their sold-out 2023 meeting in Seoul.
2026 Coupang Play Series: Man City Plays Seoul, August 5 & 9 Read More »
