Seoul

E-Mart / Homeplus — the big-box pair

Lotte Mart — full-range

GS25 / CU — convenience stores everywhere

Traditional market — cheap produce and street food

Best: Apr – Jun & Sep – Oct · Wet: Jul – Aug

Fees: Look for 'Global ATM' signs (at convenience stores, banks); those take foreign cards for ~₩3,500. Many domestic-only ATMs won't.

Limits: ₩300,000–1,000,000 per pull.

Best machines: Global ATM (KEB Hana)Woori BankShinhan Bank

Vaccines: Routine only; Hepatitis A for wider street-food eating.

Health: Tap water is safe (though many locals prefer bottled/filtered by taste). Excellent, affordable healthcare. Hot humid summers; fine dust (미세먼지) days in spring — check the AQI and mask up if sensitive.

Tap water: ✅ Safe to drink from the tap; locals often prefer bottled for taste, not safety.

Safety: South Korea is extremely safe with very low crime — Seoul and Busan feel secure around the clock. The main things to watch: heavy nightlife districts on weekends and spring dust days. Superb, cheap public transport everywhere.

For most short tourist trips, citizens of the US, UK, EU/Schengen, Canada, Australia and New Zealand either enter visa-free or get a simple online authorisation (an eVisa or eTA) before flying. Typical visa-free stays run 30–90 days. Some countries want a visa arranged in advance, and a growing number ask you to fill an online arrival or eVisa form even when 'visa-free' — so always check the official portal for your exact nationality before you book.