Korea Travel Checklist: Everything to Do Before You Arrive
eSIM, e-Arrival Card, apps, T-money, KTX tickets — here's exactly what to sort before your flight, and in what order.
Most Korea trip problems happen before you land — wrong app downloaded, no data on arrival, arrival card forgotten, train tickets sold out. None of it is complicated, but the prep order matters.
This checklist covers everything worth doing before your flight, organized by when to do it.
4–6 Weeks Before — Book Your Trains
KTX seats on popular routes sell out fast, especially for weekend travel. Seoul to Busan on a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon can be fully booked weeks in advance.
Book your intercity train tickets early through Trip.com or Klook — both accept foreign cards and don't require a Korean phone number. Trip.com covers individual KTX and SRT routes. Klook offers the Korea Rail Pass, which works out cheaper if you're visiting three or more cities.
Don't leave this until arrival. Booking at the station is possible, but you'll have less choice on departure times and seat class.
1–2 Weeks Before — Sort Your eSIM
Buy and install your eSIM before you board. This is the single most useful thing you can do — it means you have data the moment you land, before you've found the airport Wi-Fi or figured out where the SIM shops are.
Korea runs on three networks: SK Telecom, KT, and LG U+. Most eSIM providers run on one of these. For a short trip under two weeks, a data-only eSIM from Klook or Airalo covers everything you'll need — maps, translation, messaging, ride apps.
If Korea is part of a longer Asia trip, consider a regional eSIM that covers multiple countries so you don't need to swap plans mid-trip.
Install the eSIM profile on your phone at home, but don't activate it until you land. Set it as your secondary line so your home number still works on Wi-Fi.
72 Hours Before — Complete the e-Arrival Card
As of January 2026, South Korea has replaced paper arrival cards with a mandatory digital e-Arrival Card. You complete it online before your flight at the official government portal: e-arrivalcard.go.kr
It's free and takes about five minutes. You'll need your passport details, flight number, and accommodation address in Korea. Once submitted, you receive a QR code — save it to your phone or take a screenshot. You'll scan it at immigration.
Important: submit it within 72 hours of your arrival, based on Korea Standard Time (KST/GMT+9). If you're flying from the US or Europe, factor in the time zone difference.
Beware of third-party websites charging a fee for this — the official process is completely free. If a site asks for payment, it's not the official portal.
One exception: if you hold a valid K-ETA, you don't need to complete the e-Arrival Card separately.
K-ETA — Do You Need One?
Probably not in 2026. The Korean government has extended a K-ETA exemption for citizens of major visa-free countries — including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, and most EU countries — through December 31, 2026.
If you're from one of these countries, you can enter Korea with just your passport and your e-Arrival Card. No K-ETA required.
Starting January 1, 2027, K-ETA is expected to become mandatory again for all visa-free travelers. If you're planning a trip in early 2027, apply in advance at k-eta.go.kr.
Before You Fly — Install These Apps
Download and set up these apps at home, not at the airport.
Naver Map is the most accurate navigation app for Korea. Google Maps works but gives unreliable public transit directions. Download offline maps for Seoul before you fly.
Papago is Naver's translation app. Better than Google Translate for Korean menus and signs. Download the Korean language pack for offline use.
K-RIDE is the easiest taxi app for foreign visitors. Built by Kakao Mobility, it supports Google and Apple login, accepts overseas Visa and Mastercard, and has a full English interface. Register your card at home so it's ready when you land.
Catch Table is useful if you have specific restaurants in mind. Many popular spots in Seoul only take reservations through this app. Works with foreign phone numbers.
Get a T-money Card on Arrival
You can't buy a T-money card before you arrive — pick one up at any convenience store inside the airport arrivals hall as soon as you land. Cost is around ₩4,000.
Top it up at the convenience store counter with cash or a foreign card. Load enough for a few days — ₩30,000–50,000 is reasonable for a week in Seoul covering daily subway rides.
The T-money card works on all subways, buses, and most taxis across Korea. It's the simplest way to pay for public transport without worrying about foreign card compatibility at turnstiles.
Quick Checklist
None of this is complicated — it just needs to happen before you board. The biggest mistake most visitors make is landing without data and then trying to sort everything at the airport. Do it at home, in the right order, and the first hour in Korea is just getting to your hotel.
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