Planning a Korea Trip

Entry rules (K-ETA, e-Arrival Card) → transit cards and passes → tax refund and duty-free → Busan in 2–3 days → beyond Seoul → weather and packing by month → jjimjilbang → luggage. 8 parts.

Head-of-the-list attractions are covered everywhere; this course covers the decisions: which entry form you actually need in 2026, which transit card to buy, how the tax refund works, whether to spend two or three days in Busan, what the weather does in each month, and where to put your suitcase. Prices and rules are dated and sourced — Korea changes its fares and passes often, and most English guides are a year behind.

  1. 1 Korea Entry Requirements 2026Nationals of 22+ countries incl. the US, UK, EU, Japan and Australia skip K-ETA through Dec 31, 2026 but must file the e-Arrival Card before arrival. Checker. Calculator
  2. 2 T-money vs WOWPASS vs Climate Card (2026)Seoul subway is ₩1,550 a ride with free transfers; Climate Card day passes (₩5,000–20,000) pay off above 4 rides a day. WOWPASS adds currency exchange. Busan. Calculator
  3. 3 Korea Tax Refund for Tourists (2026)Tourists get 5–8% back on purchases of ₩15,000+; shops refund up to ₩1M per purchase on the spot, the rest at airport kiosks. Duty-free $800 allowance. Calculator
  4. 4 Busan in 2 or 3 Days (2026)Two days covers the beaches, Gamcheon and the markets; a third earns Taejongdae, Yonggungsa and Spa Land. KTX from Seoul ₩54,400 since Sept 2026. Drone show.
  5. 5 Korea Beyond Seoul and Busan (2026)Gyeongju's Bulguksa and Suwon's fortress walls are free now; Gangneung is 100 minutes from Seoul by KTX (₩27,600). Second-tier destinations with 2026 fares.
  6. 6 Korea Weather and What to Pack by Month (2026)Seoul swings from −6°C in January to 30°C in August with a July monsoon. Monthly averages, rainy and dusty seasons, blossom and foliage windows, packing list. Calculator
  7. 7 Jjimjilbang Guide (2026)Shoe locker → pay → bath floor (nude, single-sex, shower first) → uniform → mixed sauna rooms. ₩10,000–26,000, most open 24h. Dragon Hill closed; Spa Land on.
  8. 8 Luggage Storage in Korea (2026)Seoul subway lockers cost ₩2,200–4,400 per 4 hours by size (more at weekends), paid by card or T-money. Station and airport counters, hotel delivery. Calculator