Many nationalities visit Korea visa-free for tourism, but rules around the K-ETA travel authorization change often — confirm what applies to your own passport before you fly, then clear immigration at Incheon or Gimpo.
Visa-free entry
Citizens of many countries can enter visa-free for short tourist stays. Allowed length varies by nationality, so check the official rule for your passport before booking.
K-ETA
Visa-free visitors may need a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization. Apply ONLY at the official site k-eta.go.kr — paid look-alike sites charge extra for the same thing. A temporary K-ETA exemption currently applies to a number of countries, so verify whether you actually need it before you fly.
Passport validity
Your passport should be valid for the duration of your stay; six months of validity beyond entry is the safe recommendation.
Arriving at the airport
Most visitors land at Incheon International (ICN), Korea's main gateway; some flights use the closer Gimpo (GMP). Both link straight into central Seoul by train.
Customs & duty-free
The duty-free allowance is broadly 1 bottle of alcohol (up to 1 litre and US$400), a limited amount of tobacco, and 60ml of perfume. Anything over the limit must be declared on the customs declaration — undeclared excess can be fined.
Fares, prices and rules can change over time — please check official sources before you travel.
