Südkorea

Top 5 Orte

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace and Bukchon Hanok Village · Seoul

   Main Joseon palace with guard ceremonies, next to a neighbourhood of traditional houses (residents' quiet hours apply).

2. Myeongdong, Insadong and the Han River · Seoul

   Shopping and street food, traditional crafts, and riverside parks for evenings.

3. Gamcheon Culture Village and Haeundae Beach · Busan

   Colourful hillside village and the country's best-known city beach.

4. Jeju Island · Jeju

   Volcanic island with Hallasan, Seongsan Ilchulbong crater and coastal trails.

5. Bulguksa Temple and royal tombs · Gyeongju

   Former Silla capital packed with UNESCO-listed temples and burial mounds.

Unterwegs vor Ort

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  T-money card

  Rechargeable card for subways, buses and many taxis nationwide; sold and topped up (cash) at convenience stores and stations. Gives a small discount per ride and free transfers.

• Öffentlicher Nahverkehr

  Climate Card (Seoul)

  Seoul unlimited transit pass for subway and buses at a fixed price; short-term versions for visitors are available (varies).

• Züge

  KTX

  High-speed trains; Seoul to Busan in about 2.5 hours. Book on the Korail website/app, which has an English version.

• Fahrdienst-App

  Kakao T

  Main taxi app; works with foreign phone numbers and some foreign cards (varies). Shows the estimated fare and the route.

• Fahrdienst-App

  Uber (UT)

  Uber in Korea books licensed taxis; useful for visitors because it works with your existing account and foreign cards.

• Bikesharing

  Seoul Bike (Ttareungyi)

  City bike share with cheap day passes, rented through the Seoul Bike app.

Geld und Bargeld

Währung: KRW · South Korean won

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including taxis and convenience stores, but some foreign cards are declined by local terminals and websites. Bring a physical Visa or Mastercard credit card plus some cash for street food, markets and backups. Use global ATMs (marked 'Global' or 'Foreign card'), often in convenience stores and banks.

Wechselkurs nach KRW prüfen

Trinkgeld

Tipping is not customary in South Korea and is not expected anywhere in normal service. High-end hotels and restaurants add a service charge instead.

Nützliche Sätze

• 계산서 주세요 (gyesanseo juseyo) The bill, please.
• 카드 돼요? (kadeu dwaeyo?) Can I pay by card?
• 감사합니다 (gamsahamnida) Thank you.

Umgangsformen

• Remove shoes when entering homes, some guesthouses, temples and restaurants with floor seating.
• Use two hands, or one hand supported by the other, when giving or receiving money, cards or drinks from older people.
• When drinking with others, pour for others rather than yourself, and turn your head slightly away when drinking with elders.
• Do not stick chopsticks upright in rice.
• Keep quiet on the subway; priority seats are for elderly, pregnant and disabled riders.
• Respect residents in Bukchon Hanok Village: keep voices low and visit within posted hours.
• Foreigners must not join political demonstrations.

Maschen und wie du damit umgehst

• Taxi overcharging

  Wo: Incheon Airport, Myeongdong, Itaewon, late night

  So funktioniert’s: Drivers do not turn on the meter, take long routes or quote flat fares to foreigners.

  So vermeidest du es: Use Kakao T or Uber, check the meter is running and follow the route on a map app. Ask for a receipt.

• Fake monks

  Wo: Around Jogyesa temple and busy Seoul streets

  So funktioniert’s: People dressed as monks sell trinkets or ask for donations, then keep the money.

  So vermeidest du es: Politely decline.

• Culture or religion recruiters

  Wo: Seoul shopping areas and subway stations

  So funktioniert’s: Friendly strangers invite you to learn about Korean culture or an ancestral ritual in their studio, then ask for money or try to recruit you into a religious group.

  So vermeidest du es: Decline invitations from strangers to private studios or ceremonies.

• Drink spiking and nightlife assault

  Wo: Itaewon, Hongdae and other nightlife districts

  So funktioniert’s: Assaults and sexual assaults have occurred in nightlife areas, sometimes after drinks are spiked.

  So vermeidest du es: Watch your drink, stay with friends and use licensed taxis late at night.

• Card and online booking fraud

  Wo: Smishing texts and fake booking sites (varies)

  So funktioniert’s: Text messages pretending to be couriers or officials contain malicious links; fake sites sell tickets or rooms that do not exist.

  So vermeidest du es: Do not click links in unexpected texts; book through official sites or major platforms.

Sicherheit

• Crime against foreigners is rare; occasional theft happens in crowded tourist areas such as Itaewon.
• Avoid travelling alone late at night in nightlife districts; use licensed taxis or public transport.
• Crowd crush risk at big events and festivals: follow police directions and avoid narrow packed alleys.
• Drink-driving limits are very strict (lower than many Western countries).
• Download the Emergency Ready App for civil defence and disaster alerts; typhoons are possible June to November.
• Have destinations written in Korean for taxi drivers.

Wie verbreitet Englisch ist

Subway signs and announcements are in English in Seoul and Busan. Younger people may speak some English, but most taxi drivers and older people do not. The free 1330 tourist hotline offers interpretation.

Quellen

• GOV.UK Foreign travel advice: South Korea, safety and security
• Wikivoyage: South Korea
• Wikivoyage: Seoul
• Wikipedia: List of tipping customs by country

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