Off to South Korea soon? Super news – but planning and packing is the key to a successful South Korea trip.
From Korea’s changeable weather (pack layers – you’re welcome) to travel essentials like the correct plug adaptors, putting together a South Korea packing list is a must-do before you fly.
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We’ve been lucky enough to visit South Korea almost 10 times over the years and we now have our packing down to a fine art form!
From gadgets and gizmos like Airfly to some small things you might not even consider, here is our South Korea packing list guide:
Please note this article uses Amazon affiliate links.
South Korea Hallyu tip – Take a look at our guide to Korean souvenirs before you fly – it shows all the amazing gifts you will likely buy and want to bring home, from K-beauty products to Kakao Friends plushies like Choonsik – so make sure you have ample suitcase space (or ample luggage allowance so you can buy another suitcase and fill it up with gifts and goodies)!
You might like – Our first timers guide to Seoul and South Korea >
South Korea checklist
We love using agoda.com, expedia.com and booking.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator, Trazy or Klook.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars. For private drivers and taxis, check out our Transfer guide >
Check out our South Korea travel booking resources >
All set for South Korea? Do one final check with our Seoul first timers guide and our South Korea packing list
South Korea packing list
So you’ve booked your flight to Korea, next on your Korea to do list is to start making a list of things to pack and purchase.
We’ve broken it down into several sections from what you need to buy before you travel, items for the flight, plus what to use and wear in South Korea itself.
We most recently flew with China Southern on a budget flight from the UK – it was surprisingly good value; read our review here >
Before you travel
Korean eSIMs and SIM Cards
Make sure you get the right South Korean SIM card or eSIM for your travels – they are surprisingly inexpensive but prices can vary greatly (particularly eSIMs).
You can easily reserve your SIM card in advance before you travel and collect at the airport, or you can download an eSIM before you travel so you can switch on data as soon as you land in Seoul.
Alternatively you can always consider a portable Wi-Fi router / egg should several of you want to share.
There are lots of eSIM brands and suppliers that have packages compatible in South Korea. The ones mentioned most frequently in our South Korea Facebook group are Airalo, Ubigi, Saily and MobiMatter. You can check out our guide to buying the right eSIM or SIM card for South Korea >
Korea travel guide book
Obviously we think this website will always be your best South Korea travel resource (so modest, eh) but we also like taking a printed guide book like Lonely Planet.
Check out South Korea Lonely Planet and Seoul Lonely Planet on Amazon.
Quick Tip – if you like printed guides, be sure to check out the Seoul Tourist Centers or regional tourism offices as they usually have lots of printed maps, brochures in various languages and even the occasional exclusive free gift for travellers.
Korean phrase book (or use an app)
Many members of our South Korea Travel Tips and Planning Facebook group express a desire to learn some conversational or basic Korean before they arrive so you might want to invest in a Korean phrase book.
Check out Korean phrase books on Amazon >
Alternatively, if you just want to free-wheel it in Korea and use Korean translation apps, we find the best two to use are either Papago or Google Translate.
Here is our guide to the 30+ best Korea phone apps for travellers >
Passport cover
Ok, this might sound like an obvious one but to keep your passport nice and clean, get a passport cover to reduce the risk of being turned away at the airport for having a damaged passport.
Check out passport covers on Amazon >
You might like – 50 best things to do in South Korea including going to a Korean baseball game
Join our Facebook South Korea Travel Planning and Tips Group!
Need help with your itinerary or have any South Korea related questions? Head on over to our friendly and active Facebook group with over 160,000 members!
Click here to join our group >
Or if you just want to see more of our South Korea photos, follow our South Korea Facebook page >
For the Flight
Airfly
The best airplane gadget ever – we (Neil & Caroline) both have Airfly units as we hate the free airplane headphones because of their bad sound quality and trailing wires.
Airfly uses Bluetooth technology and it wirelessly connects the sound jack from your airplane television to your own wireless bluetooth headphones. The sound quality is superb and it blanks out all the aircraft noise – seriously, we don’t travel without them and this is a must buy for any trip.
Phone Holder Mount
To watch downloaded movies on your phone during your flight, make sure you pack a phone holder mount.
Check out this phone holder mount on Amazon >
Neck pillow
No explanation is needed here other than this makes long flights much more comfortable.
Check out neck pillows on Amazon >
Sleep mask and ear plugs
Some airlines provide these but not all so check before you fly.
Check out sleep masks and ear plugs on Amazon.
Compression socks
Useful for flights, compression socks help stimulate blood circulation and reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Check out these compression socks on Amazon >
Hand sanitizer
It is hard not to touch surfaces on a flight and you can’t always get to the wash basin in the toilets so hand santizer is an essential packing list item for flights.
Check out hand sanitizers on Amazon >
Toothbrush
Again, some airlines provide these but on our last flight to Seoul via China with China Southern, toiletries were not provided so make sure you have access to them in your hand luggage (and keep carry on liquids below 100ml).
You might like – 101 things to do in Seoul or 80+ things to do in Busan
Popular Korean novels
If you are more of a bookworm or can’t stand to watch second rate movies on flights, you could immerse yourself into Korean culture and read a popular Korean novel translated into English like:
- Pachinko by Min Jin Lee >
- The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See >
- Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park >
- The Vegetarian by Han Kang >
- The Plotters by Un-Su Kim >
You might like – Our 3 day Seoul itinerary or our 3 day Busan itinerary
South Korea Packing List – for your trip / luggage
Don’t forget to include these items as part of your South Korea packing list.
Packing cubes
We genuinely don’t know how we packed before we discovered packing cubes a few years ago – these help keep clothing types together and save space so you can fit in more items into your suitcase.
Check out packing cubes on Amazon >
Airtags
Until recently, Apple Airtags didn’t work in South Korea but they should now. This would be another of our top 5 must travel essentials for Korea or any country recently. You can track where your suitcase is via your phone and keep track of it, if it has been lost by the airline.
Or you can pop one in your wallet or passport in case you fear losing them. Please note Airtag tracking capabilities work best with Apple products such as iPhones or iPads.
Check out Airtags and Airtag keychain holders on Amazon.
Scrubbra Wash Bag
What is a Scrubbra wash bag? If you don’t have access to a hotel laundry or you are staying somewhere remote like a Korean National Park, Scrubbra is like a portable washing machine for travel. Like a washboard in a bag, it is great for camping or when using a campervan.
Check out Scrubbra wash bags on Amazon >
Travel adaptor – C & F types
One of the most commonly asked questions in our South Korea Travel Tips and Planning Facebook group is about which plug adaptor to use in Korea.
So make sure you buy one of the C & F type adaptors for use in South Korea.
Check out this travel adaptor on Amazon >
Knife and fork / spork
Most restaurants and traditional markets in South Korea provide chopsticks and spoons (often hidden in drawers under the tables) but not all offer knives and forks.
To avoid being caught out (and denying yourself those delicious kalguksu noodles and other Korean foods), make sure you are always carrying an emergency knife, fork and spoon set – or even a spork!
Check out this metal cutlery set and this bamboo cutlery set on Amazon.
Portable phone charger
If you are sightseeing all day and taking photos in South Korea, chances are your phone power won’t last all day (especially if it’s an old iPhone – am I right!?)
From 1 March 2025, power banks and chargers are allowed in carry-on luggage but MUST NOT be used during the flight. Also they are not allowed inside your checked luggage.
Visitors to South Korea can bring up to five power banks with a maximum power of 100 watt-hours (Wh) each. Batteries between 100Wh to 160Wh are limited to two per passenger, and subject to airline approval. Batteries above 160Wh are banned.
P.S. In an emergency, you can also buy really cheap power packs in Daiso from 3,000 Won.
Check out portable chargers on Amazon >
Reusable bag / tote bag
Korea charges a small fee for bags in supermarkets and malls so take a tote shopping bag with you for your grocery shopping.
Also don’t forget to pack a laundry bag too!
Portable mini USB fan
South Korea in the summer months can get very hot so you may want to pack a USB powered fan. You can also buy them very cheaply in Daiso stores in South Korea.
Check out this portable USB fan and this portable handheld misting fan on Amazon.
Basic first aid kit
Hopefully just in case of emergencies and so you have easy access to an English language first aid kit.
Check out this first aid kit on Amazon >
Gatsby Deodorant Body Wipes
South Korea can get VERY HOT in the summer months and one of our group members recently recommended Gatsby Deodorant Body Wipes. They said “…Gatsby cloths…are small and not expensive. Worth every cent”
Sea sickness / motion sickness pills
Some of the mountain roads and bus journeys can be quite windy in certain parts of Korea – plus sailing trips aren’t always fun in choppy waters. So if you are used to a certain brand of tablet, best to bring it with you.
Check out these motion sickness pills on Amazon >
Sunscreen
Sometimes you can have four seasons in one day in South Korea so be sure to bring (or buy) suncream and keep it in your day bag.
Check out the range of sunscreens on Amazon >
Mosquito repellent
This is an important one, especially if you are going to Jeju in the ‘bitey’ months – Jeju mosquitoes are very annoying especially on the trails so bring extra strength repellent or DEET.
Check out mosquito repellent on Amazon >
Period products
We recommend taking your own sanitary towel and tampon products to South Korea as availability can be limited and they can be heavily scented.
Water bottle
Especially of use in the warm South Korea summer months, drink plenty of water during the day – then drink lots of soju at night – the second one is optional!
Check out the range of water bottles on Amazon >
Hand warmers
Spending the winter in South Korea or Christmas in Seoul? We’d recommend gloves and hand-warmers. Due to the risk of fire, hand warmers should be only be transported in your carry-on bag (not checked in bag).
Check out the range of hand warmers on Amazon >
You might like – 50+ things to do in Seoul with kids or Busan with kids
Money belt
Korea is generally very safe – so much so that many locals leave their phones and laptops on cafe seats whilst they go to get a drink or visit the toilet.
However, if you worry about losing your money or being pickpocketed, grab a money belt and wear it under your clothes / hanbok.
Check out the range of money belts on Amazon >
Mini day bag / rucksack
This is down to personal preference but we always like to pack an even smaller day bag / mini backpack to use on city days when you don’t need so many items.
South Korea Packing List – clothing / what to wear
Korea’s weather is notoriously changeable plus rather extreme – it can be up to 30c (86 fahrenheit) in the summer and then below -20c (-29 fahrenheit) in the mountains in the winter.
Even in spring or autumn in South Korea, the weather can quickly change so the key is to pack for all eventualities and layer up, so you can easily shed clothing if it goes from cold to warm.
Some of the South Korea clothing essentials include:
- Rain mac or winter jacket (seasonal dependent)
- Gloves, hat and scarf in winter – although Daiso has each of these starting from just 2,000 Won
- Swim wear for summer beach stays like Busan or Jeju Island
- Evening wear or clubbing gear (especially in neighborhoods like Hongdae or Itaewon)
- All your standard clothes like pants, socks, t-shirts, pyjamas etc – although don’t overpack as you can buy lots of cool t-shirts, jeans etc in South Korea at shops like 8Seconds, Perfect10, National Geographic, Aland, UNIQLO, H&M etc
We also bought a portable clothes steamer for our South Korea travels, if you like to keep your gear wrinkle free.
The final part of your South Korea packing list – South Korea travel essentials
We’d recommend reading our first timers guide to South Korea but some of the key things to also remember when planning your packing lists and itinerary:
Currency / ATMs / Overseas Cards
The currency of South Korea is the Korean Won (₩) sometimes referred to as KRW or Won for short.
There are lots of Korean based banks (Hana, KB, Woori etc etc) and overseas banks (such as Citibank and HSBC) with ATMs all over Seoul.
On our very first trip many moons ago, we found it hard to take out money but discovered the Hana Bank (and some other ‘global ‘ ATMs seem to work for us).
When using ATMs, it is usually cheaper to take out money from your account in the local KRW currency rate, to avoid additional fees. Convenience stores like 7-Eleven / CU and Seoul shopping malls also have ATMs.
It is always wise to carry some cash, as it is more commonly accepted in markets, plus you can’t always guarantee your international debit card will work.
Travel insurance
It is surprising how often in the group that someone asks ‘Is travel insurance necessary for South Korea?’
Even though healthcare in Korea is some of the best in the world (and comparatively affordable), it is NEVER wise to travel to ANY foreign country without some form of insurance.
As the old saying goes – “If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel….”
South Korea online e-Arrival card / Q code
An online arrival card will need to be completed by most international visitors to South Korea – it is easy to fill in online before you arrive or at the airport itself before Immigration.
As of 24 February 2025, Korea introduced the e-Arrival card, allowing visitors to submit their entry information online in advance.
This is instead of the current paper arrival form system, which is to be phased out after December 2025.
You can submit the e-Arrival card upto 72 hours / 3 days before you arrive.
The link to the official Korea e-Arrival card can be found here >
On our last visit to Seoul in early 2025, we filled out paper forms at the desks just before immigration (this will not be possible after December 2025). Free Wi-Fi is available at the airport too.
We also needed to complete a mandatory Q Code / Health Declaration form at the airport too because we had flown via China. Many others won’t need to do the health form.
Discover Seoul Pass & Visit Busan Pass
There are lots of things to do in Seoul, including multiple tourist attractions from family theme parks to historic Royal palaces. Or you can get around Seoul in style aboard boat cruises and hop-on hop off bus tours. But what if you could pay one price to do them all?
The cost of visiting many tourist attractions and doing day-trips from Seoul can start to add up, especially if you are travelling in Seoul on a budget.
Thankfully there is a potential way to save money when visiting attractions in Seoul – the Discover Seoul Pass, available as a 24 hour*, 48 hour, 72 hour or 120 hour pass.
We recently purchased a pass online (a 24-hour one) and used it at five Seoul attractions (including Lotte World) and transport services – we rate it very highly.
Read our Discover Seoul Pass guide (including how to use the pass tactically) or book your Discover Seoul Pass now with Klook, so you can use the airport transport discounts as soon as you fly into South Korea.
If you are visiting Busan, there is a similar Visit Busan Pass which we’ve reviewed here >
South Korea transport cards including T-Money
There are several types of transport cards you can use in Seoul including the T-Money card which can be used on public transport across the whole of South Korea.
Public transport in Seoul is simple to use, but it is even easier (and sometimes cheaper) with a T-money card (or the Seoul Climate Card).
Here is our guide to all the different Seoul transport passes >
Buy your T-Money card in advance with Klook or the Wow Pass in advance with Klook.
Car rental, tours and more
Finally, if you are looking to book tours day-trips or car rental in South Korea, check out our Travel Resources hub which includes reputable travel companies like Klook, Trazy, Get Your Guide and many more.
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