Corée du Sud

Top 5 des lieux

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.

Se déplacer

• Transports en commun

  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.

• Transports en commun

  Climate Card (Seoul)

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

• Trains

  KTX

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

• Appli de VTC

  Kakao T

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

• Appli de VTC

  Uber (UT)

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

• Vélos en libre-service

  Seoul Bike (Ttareungyi)

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

Argent et espèces

Devise: 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.

Vérifier un taux de change vers KRW

Pourboires

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.

Phrases utiles

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

Savoir-vivre

• 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.

Arnaques et comment y faire face

• Taxi overcharging

  Où: Incheon Airport, Myeongdong, Itaewon, late night

  Comment ça marche: Drivers do not turn on the meter, take long routes or quote flat fares to foreigners.

  Comment l’éviter: Use Kakao T or Uber, check the meter is running and follow the route on a map app. Ask for a receipt.

• Fake monks

  Où: Around Jogyesa temple and busy Seoul streets

  Comment ça marche: People dressed as monks sell trinkets or ask for donations, then keep the money.

  Comment l’éviter: Politely decline.

• Culture or religion recruiters

  Où: Seoul shopping areas and subway stations

  Comment ça marche: 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.

  Comment l’éviter: Decline invitations from strangers to private studios or ceremonies.

• Drink spiking and nightlife assault

  Où: Itaewon, Hongdae and other nightlife districts

  Comment ça marche: Assaults and sexual assaults have occurred in nightlife areas, sometimes after drinks are spiked.

  Comment l’éviter: Watch your drink, stay with friends and use licensed taxis late at night.

• Card and online booking fraud

  Où: Smishing texts and fake booking sites (varies)

  Comment ça marche: Text messages pretending to be couriers or officials contain malicious links; fake sites sell tickets or rooms that do not exist.

  Comment l’éviter: Do not click links in unexpected texts; book through official sites or major platforms.

Sécurité

• 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.

Pratique de l’anglais

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.

Sources

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

Nous vérifions ces guides auprès de sources officielles et reconnues, mais les règles et les prix changent. Une info dépassée ? Écrivez à support@tourits.app.