While You're Here
Things to Watch Out For
The warnings nobody gives you, and the closures that ruin a day.
Closures that catch people out
This is the single most common way a planned day falls apart. Korea has predictable closure patterns that are obvious to residents and invisible to visitors.
| What | When it's closed |
|---|---|
| Most major museums and palaces | Mondays. Some close Tuesdays instead — check the specific one. |
| Almost everything | Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok — the two biggest holidays. Many restaurants and shops close for several days, and cities empty out. |
| Traditional markets | Individual stalls take irregular days off. Big markets often have one closed day a month. |
| Banks and government offices | Weekends, and public holidays. Bank hours are short — roughly 9 to 4 on weekdays. |
Check opening hours the night before, not on the morning. Lunar holidays move each year, so a date that was fine last year may not be.
Practical things that surprise visitors
- Public bins are rare. Expect to carry rubbish until you find one, often at a convenience store or station.
- Shoes off in guesthouses, temples, some traditional restaurants, and any private home. Wear socks you're happy to be seen in.
- Escalator etiquette: stand on the right, walk on the left.
- Do not eat or drink on the subway, and keep phone calls quiet.
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals prefer filtered or bottled.
Safety
Korea is a very safe country by most measures, including at night and for solo travellers. Violent crime against visitors is rare. That said, the ordinary precautions still apply: nightlife districts get rowdy late, and drink-spiking and overcharging scams do occur in a small number of bars and clubs.
- Be wary of anyone who approaches you on the street to bring you to a specific bar or club.
- Agree the price before entering a venue that doesn't display one.
- Taxis: use a taxi app rather than accepting an unmetered fare offered on the street.
Emergency numbers
| Number | For |
|---|---|
| 112 | Police |
| 119 | Fire and ambulance |
| 1330 | Korea Travel Helpline — 24 hours, multilingual, and genuinely useful for anything from lost items to interpreting during a problem. |
Save 1330 before you need it. It is the single most useful number a visitor can have.
Air quality
Fine dust can be poor, particularly in spring. It is worth checking an air quality reading on days you plan to be outside all day, and masks are sold in every convenience store and pharmacy.