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Japanese visitors to Korea hit a record in 2025: the "go to Korea today" era
According to the Korea Tourism Organization, 3.65 million Japanese travellers visited Korea in 2025, a new record. The 2026 target is 4.5 million (up 23%). Here is what Japanese travel trade site Travel Voice reported ab
0 076.8% of Japanese visitors go to Seoul. Will "30 Small Cities" change that?
The Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) and the Korea Tourism Organization announced a joint plan to ease Seoul's pull on Japanese travellers. Key points from Travel Voice: Where things stand 76.8% of Japanese visi
0 0Naver, Kakao or Google: which map app actually got you around Korea?
Map apps come up in almost every first-timer thread about Korea, and opinions are strong. What people usually say Naver Map: detailed transit routes, exits and walking paths; has an English interface; place names can sti
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Which map app did you rely on most in Korea?
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0 0Korea extends visa-free entry for Chinese tour groups to end of 2026
Korea's temporary visa-free entry for Chinese tour groups was due to end on 30 June 2026. It has now been extended to 31 December 2026. The Ministry of Justice says the period is matched to China's own visa-free window f
0 0Google Maps in Korea: approved in February, still no walking directions
In late February Korea gave conditional approval for Google to export 1:5,000-scale map data, ending a dispute that went back to 2007, the Korea Herald reported. Many travellers read that as “Google Maps finally works in
0 0Autumn and winter in Korea: which kind of festival would you plan around?
From late autumn into winter, a lot of travellers start building trips around seasonal events rather than sights. The ones that come up again and again in travel threads: Lantern displays along Seoul's Cheonggyecheon str
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Which seasonal event would you build a Korea trip around?
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0 0K-ETA exemption runs to Dec 31, 2026: do you still need to apply?
Good news if you are planning a Korea trip before the year is out: the temporary K-ETA exemption has been extended until December 31, 2026, according to Visit Korea. What that means in practice Nationals of the visa-free
0 0Korea tax refund in 2026: what changed and when to ask at the till
Tax refund rules come up constantly in shopping threads, and 2026 brought one big change worth knowing before you book anything. The headline change The VAT refund on medical and cosmetic procedures ended on January 1, 2
0 0Planning around autumn leaves in Korea: how to time it without guessing
Autumn is one of the most requested seasons in Korea travel threads, and the big worry is always the same: will the leaves actually be there when I arrive? How people plan around it Colour usually starts in the mountains
0 0Where does most of your Korea trip budget actually go?
Budget threads for Korea tend to follow a pattern: people plan carefully for flights and hotels, then get surprised by where the rest of the money went. The usual suspects, from what travellers share Accommodation: the b
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What took the biggest share of your Korea trip budget?
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0 0Korea e-Arrival Card: when to fill it in so it doesn't expire
If you are entering Korea without a K-ETA, you will likely deal with the e-Arrival Card, the online version of the arrival form. The official portal is clear on a few points that trip people up. The basics It is free. An
0 0Same K-beauty product: buy it in Japan or in Korea?
One question keeps coming up among Japanese K-beauty fans: is it cheaper to buy in Korea? The honest answer is "it depends", and opinions split. Why Korea is often said to be better value In-store sales and bonus sets at
0 0Forgot your skincare on a Korea trip? What a convenience store can cover
Arriving at the hotel to find your cleanser or moisturiser still at home is really common. Good news: Korea has convenience stores on almost every corner, and many basics can be picked up on the spot. Often found in conv
0 0eSIM, physical SIM or pocket Wi-Fi for Korea: what did you pick?
Staying online matters more in Korea than in many places, because map apps, taxi apps and restaurant queues all live on your phone. The three options people compare eSIM: set up before you fly, no shop visit. Check that
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How did you stay connected in Korea?
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0 0Korea in winter: what to pack for cold streets and hot indoors
Winter trips to Korea get a lot of questions from people coming from warm countries. The two things travellers mention most: the wind outside and how warm and dry it is indoors. Clothing that people say works Layers you
0 0One beauty experience on your Korea trip — which do you pick?
On a short trip most people end up choosing just one or two. The usual shortlist: Personal colour analysis: know your tones, shop lipstick and clothes with a plan Head spa: mostly about relaxing mid-trip Dermatology cons
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If you could only pick one, which would it be?
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0 0Eating alone in Seoul: where it's easy and where you may get turned away
Solo travellers often ask whether they can eat alone in Korea without awkwardness. The short answer from travel forums: mostly yes, and it has become more common, but a few dish types are built for groups. Where solo din
0 0Mexicans heading to Korea in 2026: no K-ETA until 31 December
If you hold a Mexican passport and are planning Seoul, there's good news for the rest of the year: Korea's Ministry of Justice extended the temporary K-ETA exemption (electronic travel authorisation) for Mexican passport
0 0Eating at Korean markets: small etiquette that makes stall owners smile
Traditional markets are a highlight for many visitors, and they also come with a few unwritten rules that travellers often ask about. How it usually works Many stalls have counter seating: sit down, point at what you wan
0 0K-pop fans travelling to Korea: concert first or beauty shopping?
For many people from Latin America and Spain, the first trip to Korea is about music or K-dramas, and cosmetics sneak in almost by accident. Travel communities keep hitting the same dilemma: the budget doesn't stretch to
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