Korea First-Day Guide

Install both Naver Map (네이버 지도) and Kakao Map (카카오맵), and use each for what it does best. Naver is the stronger all-rounder for transit routes, subway exit numbers and place reviews. Kakao is very good for real-time bus arrivals and taxis. Neither app is fully translated, so a few search tricks, covered below, will save you a lot of frustration. Quick facts Date/hours: Not applicable. Both are phone apps you can use at any time. Price: Check the app store listing for each app. No price is confirmed here. Location: Used across Korea. Install them before you arrive. Nearest station: Not applicable. Both apps show station names and exits inside the app. Languages: English, Japanese and Chinese versions exist, but neither app is fully translated. Short answer: If you can only install one, most guides say to start with Naver. Naver Map vs Kakao Map at a glance Sources disagree on which app is better. Most advise installing both rather than choosing. The table-free sum...

For most short trips, a Korea eSIM is the easier choice for tourists. It is bought online, installed before you fly, and gives you data only. A physical SIM is better if you need a Korean 010 phone number or your phone is too old for eSIM. This guide is part of a Korea first-day series and covers the connectivity step. Prices below are indicative and unconfirmed for 2026, so check the seller's site before you buy. Best for a short, data-only trip: an eSIM on a compatible, carrier-unlocked phone. Best if you need a Korean number: a physical tourist SIM, usually with a 010 number. Indicative price: third-party eSIM roughly ₩3,000–3,500 per day (unconfirmed). Pickup hours: vary by airport and desk, from 06:00–22:00 to 24 hours (see the list below). Location: eSIM is bought online. Physical SIMs are collected at airport desks, such as Incheon International Airport (인천국제공항). Nearest station: not applicable for an eSIM. For desks, check the airport's own transfer infor...

You can buy a T-money card at convenience stores such as GS25, CU, 7-Eleven and emart24, at Seoul subway information centers, and at Incheon Airport. You can recharge it with cash at subway ticket machines, convenience stores and newsstands with a T-money sign. T-money is Korea's rechargeable transit card. Plan to carry won in cash, because card payment for top-ups is not confirmed for foreign visitors. Quick facts Date and hours: No single schedule applies. Opening hours depend on the shop or office, so check before you go. Card price: 3,000-5,000 KRW. The basic card is 3,000 KRW, and character designs are about 5,000 KRW. Starting balance: Zero. You must load money before your first ride. Where to buy: Convenience stores nationwide, subway information centers (Lines 1-8 in Seoul), and Incheon Airport. Nearest station at the airport: The Airport Railroad entrance, next to the Transportation Center on B1. Maximum balance: 500,000 KRW. What T-money covers T-mon...

The cheapest way to get from Incheon Airport to central Seoul is the AREX All-Stop train, which runs from the basement level (B1) of both terminals to Seoul Station (서울역). Fares reported by third-party guides range from about 4,150 to 5,350 KRW, so check the current price at the ticket machine before you pay. The ride takes roughly 56 to 66 minutes. Quick facts Cheapest option: AREX All-Stop train, about 4,150 to 5,350 KRW depending on the source and terminal (unconfirmed, check the current fare) Where to board: B1 at Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 Last stop: Seoul Station, with transfers to Seoul Subway Lines 1 and 4 Travel time: roughly 56 to 66 minutes Hours: one source says trains run until about midnight (unconfirmed) Also useful: T-money card for trains, subways and buses A note on the prices in this guide The official Incheon Airport transport pages could not be retrieved when this guide was prepared, so every price and time below comes from third-party travel guid...