Solo Trip to South Korea: Safe Return! Here’s What Actually Works

⚠️ No Korean, no English—just “Annyeonghaseyo” and “Kamsahamnida” to get through 5 days in Seoul! ⚠️ Below are my practical takeaways for your trip ✅ Pre-Trip Prep Visa + Passport (valid for over 6 months) Korean data SIM or phone card (stay connected!) Power bank (max 20,000 mAh) + plug adapter Disposable toiletries (some hotels don’t provide them) Trash bags (public trash cans are hard to find 🗑️) Cash: 200,000 KRW (≈1,000 RMB) for 5 days (enough for small shops) Wear thin inner layers—indoor heating is so strong, you’ll sweat if you’re too bundled A black pen (for entry forms) + screenshots of your hotel’s address/phone number ✅ Must-Have Apps Papago Translator: No sign-up needed, super easy to use (lifesaver for communication 🗣️) Uber: Sign up with email; choose cash payment if you don’t have a Visa Naver Map: Download it once in Korea—checks restaurant reviews to avoid bad spots ✅ Entering South Korea Fill out the entry form on the plane. After landing, follow the crowd, look for “Arrival” signs, turn left, take the escalator down, and ride the shuttle train. Run a little to queue earlier for immigration—submit your passport + entry form, scan your fingerprints. No communication needed—just follow the steps! ✨ ✅ Travel Dos & Don’ts Always cross the street at crosswalks—fines apply if you don’t 🚶 No smoking in hotel rooms—fines are super expensive Avoid subways with luggage—some stations have no elevators (carry-on only if you must!) Stand on the RIGHT side of escalators—leave the left for people in a hurry If you order takeout at restaurants/cafés, don’t eat in—they use different utensils Clear your tray yourself at some fast-food spots Don’t feed pigeons—they’re dirty, and you’ll get fined if caught 🐦 Carry your passport with you—needed for shopping and tax refunds ✅ Shopping Tips Trendy Brands: Lotte Department Store Duty Free (more brands, better rebates) Gold/Jewelry: Shinsegae Duty Free (solid gold + fixed-price items have great rebates) Luxury Goods: Lotte Duty Free (most comprehensive brand selection) Cosmetics: Shinsegae Duty Free (biggest discounts) Niche Brands: I’Park Duty Free (Lots of promotions) Late-Night Shopping: Dongdaemun Hyundai Duty Free (open till 10 PM—heaven for trendy brands) Gangnam Luxury: Gangnam Hyundai Duty Free (easy to find popular luxury styles, good rebates) LV Shopping: Jamsil Lotte Duty Free (more stock, fewer people, great rebates) Tax Refunds for Non-Duty-Free Shops: Spend over 15,000 KRW, show your passport at checkout to qualify for refunds ✅ Leaving South Korea Airport Tax Refunds (2 Steps!): Step 1: Submit refund documents before check-in/baggage drop. Step 2: After security, use the tax refund machine to collect your money. Ask for KRW—other currencies have bad exchange rates! Duty-Free Pickup: For imported brands bought at duty-free shops, pick them up after security (scan your passport). Luggage Tip: Bring an empty backpack/suitcase for pickup items—avoid carrying bags with obvious brand logos. Feel free to leave questions—I’ll reply when I see them! #KoreaTravelGuide #FirstTimeInSeoul #XiaYouRebates #KoreaXiaYou #XiaYouKoreaRebates #KoreaShoppingGuide