10 Essential Things International Business Visitors Should Know Before Coming to Korea

A business trip to Korea is very different from an ordinary vacation.

From the moment you arrive at the airport, you may need to connect to the internet, access presentation files, make payments, communicate with local partners, keep track of receipts, and move quickly from one meeting to another.

This guide is designed for international business travelers — including CEOs, executives, buyers, investors, overseas sales professionals, conference attendees, and corporate visitors — who want to be fully prepared and ready to work from the moment they arrive in Korea.

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Currency Reference

The following exchange rates are approximate and provided for easy reference.

KRW	USD	JPY	CNY
₩10,000	Approx. $7.2	Approx. ¥1,130	Approx. ¥48
₩30,000	Approx. $21.6	Approx. ¥3,390	Approx. ¥145
₩50,000	Approx. $36.1	Approx. ¥5,650	Approx. ¥242
₩100,000	Approx. $72.1	Approx. ¥11,290	Approx. ¥483

Actual exchange rates may vary depending on the date, bank, card provider, or currency exchange service.

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1. Check Your Entry Requirements First

Passport · Visa · K-ETA · e-Arrival Card

Before booking your business schedule, the first question to confirm is:

“What do I need to enter Korea?”

Entry requirements may vary depending on your nationality, passport, length of stay, and purpose of visit.

Some travelers may need a visa, while others may need to check whether K-ETA or the e-Arrival Card applies to them.

Do not leave this until the last minute.

What to Check Before Departure

Item	When to Check	Cost
Passport validity	Before booking your flight	Free
Visa requirement	At least 2–4 weeks before departure	Varies
K-ETA requirement	Before departure	₩10,000 if applicable
e-Arrival Card	From 3 days before arrival	Free
Address of your accommodation in Korea	Before departure	Free
Return or onward flight ticket	Before departure	Varies

K-ETA Cost Reference

KRW	USD	JPY	CNY
₩10,000	Approx. $7.2	Approx. ¥1,130	Approx. ¥48

Business Tip

If several employees are traveling together, do not leave all entry preparations entirely to each individual traveler.

A company coordinator can create one master checklist covering:

• Passport
• Visa
• K-ETA
• e-Arrival Card
• Hotel address
• Return flight information

This simple system can prevent unnecessary problems at the airport.

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2. Get Connected as Soon as You Arrive

SIM · eSIM · Wi-Fi

For a business traveler, internet access is not optional.

You may need your smartphone immediately for:

• Email
• KakaoTalk
• WhatsApp
• Maps
• Translation
• Taxi reservations
• Video meetings
• Calendar updates
• Mobile payments

For this reason, it is a good idea to arrange your mobile connection before leaving the airport.

Sample eSIM Price Guide

Duration	KRW	USD	JPY	CNY
2 days	₩12,100	Approx. $8.7	Approx. ¥1,366	Approx. ¥58
3 days	₩18,000	Approx. $13.0	Approx. ¥2,032	Approx. ¥87
5 days	₩27,500	Approx. $19.8	Approx. ¥3,105	Approx. ¥133
7 days	₩35,000	Approx. $25.3	Approx. ¥3,952	Approx. ¥169
10 days	₩38,500	Approx. $27.8	Approx. ¥4,347	Approx. ¥186
30 days	₩71,500	Approx. $51.6	Approx. ¥8,073	Approx. ¥345

Recommended Options

For a 3–5 day business trip:

A 5-day eSIM is usually practical.

For a longer trip involving trade shows, conferences, company visits, and multiple meetings:

A 7–10 day plan may be more convenient.

Before purchasing, also check whether your SIM or eSIM includes:

• Data only
• Voice calls
• SMS
• A Korean mobile phone number

Having a Korean phone number can make some local reservations and verification processes easier.

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3. Prepare the Right Power Adapter and Charging Equipment

220V · Chargers · Power Banks

Imagine arriving at an important meeting only to discover that you cannot charge your laptop.

Korea uses:

220V / 60Hz electricity

and commonly uses round two-pin plugs.

Travelers from countries with different plug systems should carry a universal travel adapter.

Estimated Costs

Item	KRW	USD	JPY	CNY
Basic travel adapter	₩10,000–₩20,000	$7–14	¥1,130–2,260	¥48–97
Multi-port USB charger	₩20,000–₩50,000	$14–36	¥2,260–5,650	¥97–242
Power bank	₩20,000–₩50,000	$14–36	¥2,260–5,650	¥97–242

Keep These in Your Business Travel Bag

• Laptop charger
• Smartphone charger
• USB-C cable
• Universal travel adapter
• Power bank
• HDMI adapter
• USB-C presentation adapter

If you are giving a presentation, bringing an HDMI or USB-C adapter can be especially useful.

Different meeting rooms may use different connection systems.

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4. How Much Cash Should You Carry?

Card First, Cash Backup

Korea is a highly card-friendly country.

International credit cards are widely accepted at:

• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Cafes
• Convenience stores
• Department stores
• Shopping malls
• Many other businesses

Therefore, you generally do not need to carry a large amount of cash.

However, keeping some Korean won as emergency backup is still a good idea.

Recommended Emergency Cash

Purpose	KRW	USD	JPY	CNY
Minimum emergency cash	₩50,000	Approx. $36	Approx. ¥5,650	Approx. ¥242
Recommended for most travelers	₩100,000	Approx. $72	Approx. ¥11,290	Approx. ¥483
More comfortable backup amount	₩200,000	Approx. $144	Approx. ¥22,580	Approx. ¥966

A Practical Payment Setup

A business traveler should ideally carry:

• One main international credit card
• One backup card from a different account or issuer
• A small amount of Korean won

Business Tip

If you use a corporate card, check the following before departure:

• Overseas payment restrictions
• International transaction settings
• Daily spending limits
• Foreign transaction fees
• Dynamic Currency Conversion policies

It is better to resolve these issues before leaving your home country.

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5. Keep Your Receipts Organized

Business Expense Management

On a vacation, losing a receipt may not matter very much.

On a business trip, it can become a problem.

Receipts may be necessary for:

• Company reimbursement
• Expense reports
• Accounting
• Tax documentation
• Client entertainment records

Recommended Receipt Management

Situation	Recommended Action
Credit card payment	Keep the printed receipt
Important expense	Take a photo immediately
Hotel stay	Ask for an invoice when checking out
Business meal	Record the date, company, and participants
Taxi or transportation	Save the digital receipt
Expense reporting	Create a dedicated cloud folder

A Simple but Effective Tip

On the first day of your trip, create a folder on your smartphone called:

KOREA BUSINESS TRIP – RECEIPTS

Then save photos or digital copies of all important receipts there.

This small habit can save a considerable amount of time when preparing your expense report after returning home.

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6. Find the Right Place to Work

Coworking Space · Business Lounge · Meeting Room

Sometimes a hotel room is not the best place for an important meeting or video conference.

If you need a professional workspace, Korea — especially Seoul — offers many options.

Major business districts include:

• Gangnam
• Yeouido
• Gwanghwamun
• Seoul Station
• Samseong
• Yeoksam

You can find:

• Coworking spaces
• Private offices
• Meeting rooms
• Business lounges
• Hotel business centers

Example Long-Stay Price Reference

KRW	USD	JPY	CNY
₩263,500	Approx. $190	Approx. ¥29,751	Approx. ¥1,273

For short business trips, however, a monthly membership may not be necessary.

It is often more practical to compare:

• Day Pass
• Meeting Room Rental
• Hotel Business Center

What to Check Before Booking

Before choosing a workspace, check:

• Wi-Fi speed
• Monitor availability
• HDMI connection
• Video conference equipment
• Printer access
• Soundproofing
• Coffee and refreshments
• Operating hours
• Meeting room availability

For an important video conference, a private meeting room is generally better than a busy cafe.

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7. Install Essential Business Apps Before You Arrive

Maps · Translation · Messaging · Scheduling

Installing the right apps before coming to Korea can save valuable time once you arrive.

Recommended Apps and Services

Purpose	Recommended App or Service	Main Use
Messaging	KakaoTalk	Communication with Korean contacts
Maps	Naver Map / KakaoMap	Local navigation and addresses
Translation	Papago	Korean translation
Email	Gmail / Outlook	Business email
Video Meetings	Zoom / Teams / Google Meet	Online meetings
File Sharing	Google Drive / OneDrive	Document access
Calendar	Google Calendar / Outlook	Schedule management
Networking	LinkedIn	Follow-up and professional networking

Important Tip

Ask your Korean business partner to send the company name and address in both English and Korean.

For example:

ABC Korea

서울특별시 강남구 ○○로 ○○

Having the Korean address can make it much easier to:

• Show it to a taxi driver
• Ask hotel staff for directions
• Search on local map apps
• Ask a Korean colleague for help

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8. Back Up Your Meeting Materials

Laptop · Cloud · USB

Never depend on only one device or one file.

Internet problems, software compatibility issues, broken fonts, or hardware problems can affect an important presentation.

Prepare at least three copies of your key business materials.

The 3-Way Backup Rule

Backup Method	Recommended
Saved locally on your laptop	✓
Saved in the cloud	✓
Saved on a USB drive or another storage device	✓

Prepare These Documents in Advance

• Company Profile
• Presentation
• Product Catalog
• Price List
• Business Proposal
• Executive Bio
• Contact Information

PowerPoint + PDF

If you are giving a presentation, carry:

The original PowerPoint file + a PDF version

Why?

The presentation may look different on another computer because of:

• Missing fonts
• Different software versions
• Compatibility issues

A PDF version can serve as a reliable backup.

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9. Protect Your Business Information

Public Wi-Fi · VPN · Data Security

Korea offers convenient internet access in airports, hotels, cafes, and many public spaces.

However, business travelers should still be careful when using public Wi-Fi.

Avoid accessing highly sensitive company information on unknown or unsecured networks.

Be Especially Careful With

• Company ERP systems
• Online banking
• Contracts
• Customer personal information
• Internal corporate data
• Confidential financial information
• Human resources documents

Recommended Connection Priority

When possible, use:

1. Company VPN

2. Personal eSIM or mobile data

3. Trusted hotel or office Wi-Fi

Estimated Security Costs

Item	Estimated Cost
Company VPN	Often provided by employer
Personal VPN	Approx. ₩5,000–₩15,000 per month
Mobile data	Approx. ₩12,100–₩71,500
Two-factor authentication	Usually free

Security Checklist

Before your trip:

• Enable screen lock
• Use strong passwords
• Activate two-factor authentication
• Back up important files
• Avoid unknown Wi-Fi networks
• Keep sensitive files encrypted where appropriate

Good cybersecurity habits are particularly important when traveling with confidential company information.

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10. Prepare an Emergency Contact List

Your Korea Emergency Business Card

When something unexpected happens in another country, one of the biggest challenges is simply knowing who to contact.

Before your business trip, create an emergency contact list and save it on your smartphone.

Korea Emergency Contact List

Situation	Contact
Police	112
Fire / Ambulance	119
Travel / Interpretation Assistance	1330
Hotel	Save your hotel phone number
Korean business partner	Save your local contact
Home office	Save your company contact
Insurance company	Save the international emergency number
Lost credit card	Save your card issuer’s emergency hotline
Embassy	Save your embassy’s address and telephone number

Create a Note Called:

KOREA EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Include:

• Hotel
• Embassy
• Korean client or partner
• Company headquarters
• Travel insurance
• Airline
• Credit card company
• Emergency medical support

If your phone is lost, it can also be useful to keep a printed copy in your luggage or wallet.

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Final 24-Hour Checklist Before Departure

Before boarding your flight to Korea, review these 15 essential items.

Final Check	Status
Passport	□
Visa / K-ETA requirement	□
e-Arrival Card	□
Hotel confirmation	□
Korean company address	□
Korean contact person	□
eSIM / roaming plan	□
International credit card	□
KRW emergency cash	□
Laptop charger	□
Korea-compatible adapter	□
Presentation: PPT + PDF	□
Cloud backup	□
Meeting schedule	□
Emergency contacts	□

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One Final Piece of Advice

Do not wait until you arrive in Korea to get ready.

Prepare everything so that you can begin working from the moment you land.

A successful business trip does not begin with your first meeting.

It begins before you board the plane.