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South Korea

South Korea Culture Overview1

  • Capital: Seoul
  • Population: approx. 51.7 million
  • Official Language: Korean
  • Currency: South Korean Won
  • National Colors: Red, White, Blue, and Black
  • About 70% of South Korea is made up of Mountains.
  • Kimchi is a staple in Korean cuisine. There is an annual Kimchi Festival held in Seoul.
  • Two of the most important holidays are Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok (harvest moon festival)

Tips On Moving to South Korea 

What Do You Need to Enter South Korea?2
  • Valid Passport
  • Valid Work Visa
  • Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA)
Customs and Declarations3

Travelers entering or leaving South Korea should be aware of certain restricted items that are not to be carried into the country.

Prohibited items include:

  • Books, photos, films, and other items of similar nature that are in violation of constitutional orders or that may be harmful to public peace and customs.
  • Items that contain confidential information on government or intelligence activities.
  • Counterfeit, forged, or fake money, bank notes, bonds, and other securities. 

Restricted items include:

  • All weapons (including replicas & decorations) such as guns and swords, as well as gunpowder, explosives, toxins, etc.
  • Wildlife protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and products or materials made from these animals.
  • Means of payment in foreign currency, check, or domestic currency (KRW) exceeding $10,000USD.
  • Plants, fruits, and vegetables, agricultural, poultry and forestry products, animal products (including meat, skin, fur), livestock, and live sea creatures.
Helpful numbers in case of emergencies in South Korea4

There are several important emergency numbers to know in case you ever experience an emergency or need emergency help:

  • Fire & Medical Emergency (119)
  • Police (112)
  • Maritime Police (122)
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Passing Away in South Korea5

Immediate Steps after death:

  • Contact local emergency services. They will dispatch a team to confirm the death and issue a preliminary report.
  • Notify the Embassy or Consulate of the deceased’s home country. They can help in contracting remaining family members, help with the processing of the documents, and arrange repatriation of remains if necessary.
  • Obtain a Death Certificate. This will be issued by the hospital or facility where the deceased was taken.

Required Documents for Repatriation of Remains

  • Death Certificate
  • Quarantine Certificate
  • The original passport of the deceased
  • Proof of legal relationship of the deceased
Repatriating Mortal Remains

The repatriation of a body to the home country requires the help of the relevant local embassy or consulate. Consular officials can assist in organizing repatriation and obtaining appropriate documentation.

When repatriation of the body is requested, funeral homes or crematoriums in South Korea will temporarily hold the remains while arrangements are made.

Repatriation covers transportation and essential documentation, which may include:

  • A certified Copy of the Notification of Death
  • An embalming certificate (if required by the destination country)
  • A certificate confirming the coffin complies with International Air Transport Association (IATA) regulations.