South Korea offers high standards of health and safety with excellent healthcare facilities, low crime rates, and safe food and water.
Health and Safety in South Korea
Recommended Vaccinations: Before traveling to South Korea, it's important to be up-to-date on routine vaccines such as measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, varicella (chickenpox), polio, and your yearly flu shot. The CDC also recommends Hepatitis A and B vaccinations.
Food & Water Safety: South Korea has high standards for food and water safety. Tap water is generally safe to drink, but most locals and tourists prefer to drink bottled water. Street food is quite popular and generally safe, but as always, look for vendors with high turnover and well-cooked food.
General Safety: South Korea is considered safe for travelers, with low crime rates. However, standard precautions should be taken as you would anywhere else. Keep an eye on personal belongings, especially in crowded areas. Use licensed and reputable transportation services. In terms of political tensions, the situation with North Korea can occasionally be a cause for concern, but it generally doesn't affect day-to-day life or tourism in South Korea. Always stay informed of the current political climate.
Emergency Numbers: The emergency numbers in South Korea are:
Police: 112
Fire and Ambulance: 119
Medical Emergency (Seoul): 1339
English-speaking operators are available, but it can be helpful to have your address or location written in Korean if possible.
Insurance Recommendations: It's always recommended to have travel insurance that covers medical expenses, including emergency repatriation. Make sure your insurance policy covers the activities you plan to do, such as any extreme sports.
Additional Tips:
South Korea has excellent healthcare facilities, but not all staff may speak English. In Seoul and other large cities, you're more likely to find English-speaking staff than in rural areas.
Masks and hand sanitizing are common practices, especially in the context of recent global health concerns.
If you need to take prescription medication, make sure to bring enough to last your entire trip. Bring a copy of your prescription and preferably, a letter from your doctor explaining what the medication is and that it's for personal use.
South Korea can have a severe monsoon season (June to September) and winter season (November to March). Be aware of weather advisories, particularly if you're planning outdoor activities.
