How to Get Around South Korea

Getting in

Incheon International, west of Seoul, is consistently rated among the best airports in the world, with fast trains and limousine buses into the city. Gimpo handles domestic and some regional flights, and Busan and Jeju have their own international airports.

KTX is the backbone

Seoul to Busan in under three hours, Seoul to Gwangju in about ninety minutes. Book through the Korail app; there is a tourist pass for unlimited travel. Buses are excellent and reach everywhere the trains do not, with express and premium classes that are comfortable and cheap.

In cities, and on Jeju

Seoul's subway is vast, signed in English, and announces stations in four languages. The T-money card works on subways, buses and taxis nationwide and in convenience stores. Taxis are plentiful and metered, and the Kakao T app is what everyone uses. Jeju has no rail and limited buses, so a hire car is the practical choice there.

Health screening on arrival

Travellers arriving from designated Strict Quarantine Inspection Required Areas, including those who transited through one, must submit a health questionnaire — either through the pre-entry Q-Code system or on paper on arrival. Arrivals from Quarantine Inspection Required Areas must do so if they have symptoms. The country lists change frequently, so check before travelling. Failure to complete required health screening can bring a fine of up to KRW 10 million.

Weather that stops transport

Typhoon season normally runs June to November — monitor the Korea Meteorological Administration, or call 131 inside Korea for a forecast in English. Heavy rainfall across the country during the summer rainy season, usually June and July, brings torrential rain, flooding near rivers and creeks including in built-up areas, flash floods downstream of reservoirs after even short intense bursts, and landslides in hilly and mountainous areas. Wildfires occur; Korean-language alerts go automatically to phones in an affected area, with English translations in the Emergency Ready app and on the National Disaster and Safety Portal.

Verified against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad), September 2026.

KTX, then buses

The high-speed network is the spine: Seoul to Busan in under three hours, Seoul to Gwangju in about ninety minutes, booked through the Korail app, with a tourist pass available for unlimited travel. Where the trains do not go, the buses do, and the express and premium classes are comfortable and cheap. The country is small enough that almost nothing needs a domestic flight except Jeju.

One card, everywhere

A T-money card works on subways, buses and taxis nationwide and in convenience stores. Seoul's subway is vast, signed in English and announces stations in four languages. Taxis are plentiful and metered and the Kakao T app is the local default.

Jeju needs a car

There is no rail on the island and the buses are limited, so a hire car is the practical choice. It is also the one part of the country where the driving is the point — the coast road and the interior around Hallasan.

The Q-Code, and a ten-million-won fine

Travellers arriving from designated Strict Quarantine Inspection Required Areas — including anyone who transited through one — must submit a health questionnaire, through the pre-entry Q-Code system or on paper on arrival. Arrivals from Quarantine Inspection Required Areas must do so if they have symptoms of illness. The country designations change frequently, so check the current list before travelling. Failure to complete required health screening can result in a fine of up to KRW 10 million.

Weather that closes things

Typhoon season normally runs June to November; monitor the Korea Meteorological Administration, or call 131 inside Korea for an accurate forecast in English. The summer rainy season, usually June and July, brings torrential rain, flooding near rivers and creeks including in built-up areas, flash floods downstream of large reservoirs even after short intense rainfall, and landslides in hilly and mountainous areas. Wildfires occur and can be tracked on the Korea Forest Service website.

Sirens that are not an emergency

South Korean authorities sometimes hold civil emergency exercises. Sirens mark the start, all vehicles must stop and people may have to descend into designated metro stations or basements. You do not need to participate but should follow instructions from officials. Separately, real emergency alerts arrive by text, loudly and often, in Korean — the Emergency Ready app translates them.

← Back to South Korea overview

Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against UK Government (GOV.UK; FCDO travel advice abroad) — All travellers arriving in South Korea from Strict Quarantine Inspection Required Areas, including those who have transited in one, need to submit a health questionnaire either through the pre-entry Q-Code system or on paper on arrival; travellers from Quarantine Inspection Required Areas who exhibit symptoms must also submit one, the country lists change frequently, and failure to complete required health screenings could result in a fine of up to KRW 10 million, The typhoon season in South Korea normally runs from June to November, and travellers can monitor approaching storms with the Korea Meteorological Administration or call 131 in Korea to get an accurate weather forecast in English, South Korea has heavy rainfall across the country during the summer rainy season, usually in June and July; torrential rain may cause flooding near rivers and creeks including in built-up areas, flash floods are common downstream from large reservoirs or rivers even after relatively short periods of intense rainfall, and landslides are possible in hilly and mountainous areas, Wildfires may occur in South Korea, Korean-language emergency alerts are sent automatically to mobile phones in an affected area with English translations available on the National Disaster and Safety Portal and in the Emergency Ready App, and the location and progress of fires can be tracked through the Korea Forest Service website in English and Korean, Travellers arriving in South Korea from designated Strict Quarantine Inspection Required Areas, including transits, must submit a health questionnaire through the Q-Code system or on paper on arrival, and failure to complete required health screenings could result in a fine of up to KRW 10 million, South Korean authorities sometimes hold civil emergency exercises, marked by sirens, during which all vehicles must stop and people will sometimes have to descend into designated metro stations or basements; participation is not required but instructions from officials should be followed, The typhoon season in South Korea normally runs June to November, and calling 131 inside Korea gives an accurate weather forecast in English; heavy summer rainfall usually in June and July causes flooding, flash floods downstream of reservoirs and landslides in hilly areas (September 2026).