South Korea
Republic of Korea
Eastern Asia · KOR
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To South Korea
South Korea is a strong East Asia pick for travelers who want big-city energy, serious food culture, and enough heritage depth to justify moving beyond Seoul. It works best when you pair the capital with one or two contrasting stops such as Gyeongju, Jeonju, or Jeju rather than trying to rush the whole country.
Popular For
Things To See
- Seoul
- Gyeongju Historic Areas
- Jeonju Hanok Village
- Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes
- Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong
- Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea
Best Months
Best Months For Winter Travel
Know Before You Go
- June through September is the easiest broad window in the current brief, while December through March fits ski-focused trips better.
- Most first visits are stronger as Seoul plus one or two regional stops rather than a full-country sweep.
- If you want more than city time, Gyeongju, Jeonju, and Jeju are the clearest contrast points in the current brief.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for South Korea.
Guidebooks
Lonely Planet Korea
Lonely Planet
Detailed coverage of Seoul, Busan, temples, and regional culture with practical travel information.
View on Amazon →
DK South Korea
DK Travel
Visual travel guide with illustrated maps and practical tips for South Korea's top attractions.
View on Amazon →
Hello, South Korea
DK Eyewitness
Accessible guide to South Korean culture, food, and travel for first-time visitors.
View on Amazon →Tours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for South Korea.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Seoul
- Population
- 51,159,889
- Area
- 100,210 km²
- Region
- Eastern Asia
Languages
- Korean
Currency
South Korean won (₩)
KRW
1 USD = 1,448.10 KRW
Cost of Living (World Bank)
59.4
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 77.5
- Restaurants
- 35.8
- Rent
- 16.1
Safety & Peace
higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Seoul (37.55°N, 126.98°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
38/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 20/100
- Lived safety
- 71/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal✅
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.937
Very high human development
- 5-year change
- +0.013
- 10-year change
- +0.032
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.959
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.038
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.745
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (17)
- 🏛️
Petroglyphs along the Bangucheon Stream
Inscribed 2025
- 🏛️
Gaya Tumuli
Inscribed 2023
- 🌿
Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats
Inscribed 2021
- 🏛️
Seowon, Korean Neo-Confucian Academies
Inscribed 2019
- 🏛️
Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea
Inscribed 2018
- 🏛️
Baekje Historic Areas
Inscribed 2015
- 🏛️
Namhansanseong
Inscribed 2014
- 🏛️
Historic Villages of Korea: Hahoe and Yangdong
Inscribed 2010
- 🏛️
Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty
Inscribed 2009
- 🌿
Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes
Inscribed 2007
- 🏛️
Gyeongju Historic Areas
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites
Inscribed 2000
- 🏛️
Hwaseong Fortress
Inscribed 1997
- 🏛️
Changdeokgung Palace Complex
Inscribed 1997
- 🏛️
Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple
Inscribed 1995
- 🏛️
Jongmyo Shrine
Inscribed 1995
- 🏛️
Haeinsa Temple Janggyeong Panjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks
Inscribed 1995
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 17.4%
- Forest cover
- 64.1%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 12
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 34
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
65/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Winter Sports
41/100
Ski infrastructure & alpine pedigree
Combines ski resort depth, ski resort density, and Winter Olympic skiing results. Separate from climate comfort.
Luxury Infrastructure
92/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Exercise normal precautionin the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea). Large-scale demonstrations may occur with little notice, potentially disrupting transportation and other essential services. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high. North Korea continues to conduct missile launches and other military activities that may increase tensions. Travelers should monitor local developments and remain vigilant. The South Korean government conducts civil emergency drills throughout the year. Please note that consular services, including passport services, are not available at the U.S. Consulate in Busan; they are only available at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data