South Korea runs on infrastructure that makes most of the world feel dated: gigabit fibre as a baseline, free public Wi-Fi that actually works, contactless everything, and 24-hour cafes purpose-built for people with laptops. Seoul is dense, walkable, extremely safe and open at hours no European city matches. The F-1-D workation visa introduced in 2024 gives up to two years, which is longer than Japan's six months and comes with proper residence registration. The obstacles are cultural rather than logistical: the language barrier is steep, the working culture is intense in a way that shapes the whole society, and the nomad community is thin compared with Southeast Asia. Costs sit between Japan and Southeast Asia, closer to southern Europe than to Bangkok.

• Among the fastest and most universally available internet in the world

• The F-1-D workation visa runs one year and extends to two, with residence registration

• Seoul is a genuine 24-hour city: cafes, gyms and restaurants open through the night

• Public transport is cheap, clean and covers the whole metropolitan area

• Healthcare is excellent and inexpensive, and long-stay visa holders can join national insurance

Eating out is cheap and portions are generous, but groceries are surprisingly expensive, particularly fruit and imported goods. The real cost shock is housing deposits: even monthly wolse rentals typically require a deposit of USD 5,000-20,000, which most short-stay foreigners avoid by using serviced apartments or officetels.

Gigabit fibre is the default rather than a premium tier, and free public Wi-Fi covers the metro, buses and most public spaces. Cafes are effectively co-working spaces, with power sockets at nearly every table.

Integration takes Korean. Apps for delivery, banking, taxis and property are mostly Korean-only and often require a local phone number to register.

One of the safest countries in the world for street crime. Leaving a laptop on a cafe table while you order is normal behaviour here.

The Seoul metro is among the best in the world: 23 lines, English signage, mobile coverage in the tunnels and fares around USD 1. A T-money card covers metro, buses and taxis nationwide. KTX high-speed rail reaches Busan in under three hours.

Humid continental with monsoon influence

Four distinct seasons. Spring and autumn are excellent; summer is hot, humid and wet; winter is cold and dry, with Seoul regularly at minus 10C.

Most Western passports enter visa-free for 90 days. Visa-free travellers normally need a K-ETA electronic authorisation, though Korea has repeatedly granted temporary exemptions to specific nationalities, so check the current position for yours before booking. Arrivals also complete the Q-Code health declaration.

• Spring fine dust and yellow-dust events push air quality into unhealthy ranges

• English is limited outside central Seoul, and Korean-only apps dominate daily life

• Housing usually demands jeonse or wolse deposits that run into thousands of dollars

• Winter in Seoul drops well below freezing from December to February

• The nomad community is small; most foreigners you meet are teachers or corporate expats

• Korea Visa PortalMinistry of Justice, Republic of Korea2026-07-27
• K-ETA official siteKorea Immigration Service2026-07-27

Last reviewed 2026-07-27