Entering Seoul🇰🇷 Latest Entry Policy❗️

1. Nucleic Acid Test [No longer required since October 1, 2022]

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced that starting September 3, the requirement for inbound travelers to undergo a COVID-19 test before departure has been lifted. Please refer to this if you plan to visit South Korea. All overseas entrants are no longer required to submit a negative PCR test result within 48 hours or a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) result within 24 hours before departure, and the quarantine exemption certificate is no longer processed. However, the quick quarantine procedure of presenting the Q-CODE upon arrival in Korea will remain, and the requirement to undergo a PCR test within 24 hours of entry remains unchanged.

2. Q Code

Q Code, full name (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization), is South Korea's electronic travel permit. It is an electronic travel authorization that visa-exempt foreign tourists must obtain by submitting their travel itinerary and other relevant information online before entering South Korea. K-ETA must be applied for at least 72 hours before your arrival in South Korea; otherwise, you may face delays in approval or be denied entry (for safety, it is recommended to apply two weeks in advance, as approval times are reportedly longer now). The application fee is 10,000 KRW (approximately 54 RMB).

There is a one-hour time difference between South Korea and Beijing, China. We know that Beijing is in the UTC+8 time zone, while South Korea's location is slightly east of China, so its time zone is one hour ahead. Therefore, South Korea time is one hour earlier than China time. \

South Korea has a typical temperate monsoon climate, with mainly southeast winds in summer and northwest winds in winter. Winters are long, cold, and dry, with January being the coldest month; the lowest average temperature drops below zero, with Seoul's average temperature at -6°C, and the highest average temperature in January slightly above 1°C. Summers are short, hot, and very humid. In Seoul, the average highest temperature in July and August during summer is about 29°C, while the average lowest temperature is about 22°C.

The monsoon rainy season starts at the end of June and ends in early September, with July and August being the rainiest months. During the monsoon season, South Korea is often affected by typhoons, averaging 1 to 3 times per year, most frequently in August. Generally, the main affected area is the southern coast of South Korea. The average annual precipitation is between 1,200 mm and 1,500 mm, with two-thirds of the rainfall occurring between July and September.

When temperature is above 30°C: T-shirts, shorts, tank tops

When temperature is 26~29°C: half-sleeves, shorts, thin pants

When temperature is 22~25°C: thin cardigan, long-sleeved t-shirt, thin pants, long pants

When temperature is 19~21°C: long sleeves, cardigan, shirt, light jacket

When temperature is 15~18°C: knitwear, sweatshirt, hoodie, jeans

When temperature is 11~14°C: thick cardigan, trench coat, coat

When temperature is 7~10°C: thermal underwear, fleece-lined pants, leather jacket, overcoat

When temperature is below 6°C: down jacket, scarf, fleece clothing

6. Travel Preparation

Passport, visa, transportation card, bank card, travel adapter, cash.

7. Worthwhile Places to Visit

Lotte World + Folk Museum (Original price 62,000 KRW; free with Go City pass)

Lotte World is a large entertainment complex in Seoul, South Korea. It includes a large indoor theme park, an outdoor amusement park, a shopping mall, hotels, a Korean folk village, sports facilities, and a cinema, all connected by a monorail. The Lotte World indoor theme park is the third largest indoor amusement park in the world, after Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates and IMG Worlds of Adventure in Dubai.

Visiting the Korean Folk Village is a meaningful activity when in Seoul, because you can explore the history of the Republic of Korea, see traditional old houses, and learn about the lifestyle of Koreans in the past. Not only that, but there is also a small amusement park with some rides.

Overall, it is a place with ethnic characteristics, and everything displayed there is very interesting.

Everland (Original price 58,000 KRW; free with Go City pass)

Everland is called the Disneyland of South Korea! It is the largest theme park in South Korea, and in 2009, it was the fourth most visited theme park in Asia, after Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, and Universal Studios Japan. The park includes a zoo, a water park, and land-based attractions.

Everland has many rides. The most famous is T-Express, South Korea's first wooden roller coaster. T-Express is also one of the top ten fastest wooden roller coasters in the world, with a speed of 104 km/h, a maximum drop of 46 meters, a steepest drop angle of 77 degrees, and a longest drop length of 1.64 km. Can you survive this thrilling 3.12 minutes?

N Seoul Tower (Original price 16,000 KRW; free with Go City pass)

Have you ever watched the once hugely popular Korean dramas "My Love from the Star," "Prince of the Loft," or "True Beauty"? These Korean dramas were filmed at N Seoul Tower. N Seoul Tower is located on Namsan Mountain in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea, near the Namsan Cable Car station. It is 236.7 meters tall, built in 1975, and serves as a landmark combining tourism and television broadcasting.

In 2005, Seoul Tower underwent a seven-month renovation costing 1.5 billion KRW, reopening on December 9, 2005, and was renamed N Seoul Tower. The tower's lighting changes according to the season and theme. The tower features a revolving restaurant, a café, and an observatory, offering a bird's-eye view of the entire Seoul.

Visit the Go City pass – Seoul official website to see attractions, plan your trip, and purchase the pass. After purchase, download the Go City app. Show your electronic pass at the entrance of each attraction, scan the QR code, and enter easily—no more waiting in line to buy tickets. Go start your wonderful Barcelona trip!