South Korea for Digital Nomads

For many years, South Korea has been overshadowed as a prime East Asia travel destination by its more commercialized and famous neighbor Japan. Those days are over, now with the world renown technological advances and popularity of k-pop, South Korea is definitely on the map for both travelers and digital nomads. This country today is an ultra-modern and super hip place to be. In many ways, South Korea is a perfect digital nomad destination, and it won’t take long after landing for you to see why. Here is the ultimate guide to South Korea for digital nomads!

Introduction

South Korea is a relatively small country, with its total area being smaller than the state of New York. However, the population density is high, with over 51 million inhabitants in this tiny peninsula state. South Korea today is one of the strongest economies in Asia, and has made a name for itself worldwide with its technologically superior products, and it’s recent explosion in influence over pop culture. A visit to South Korea will show off ultra-modern cityscapes of the future, with still some traces of traditional side in tact. The natural areas have unfortunately been reduced over time, but what remains are impressively shaped mountains, volcanic islands and few wild forests.

Practical Info

Visa

American visitors can enter South Korea without applying for a visa beforehand. This arrangement will allow you to stay in South Korea for up to 90 days. Luckily, these simplified entry requirements applies to people of many nationalities.

To check if your passport qualifies for visa free entry into South Korea, check here.

Wifi

The wifi in South Korea ranks among the fastest in the world. As of February 2021, South Korea ranks as the third fastest country in terms of mobile download speeds, and the 13th fastest for fixed broadband.

According to speed test, South Korea’s mobile data speeds average at 166 mpbs download speed, while fixed broadband speeds averages 176 mpbs download speed. This is exceptionally fast, and is a key factor in what makes South Korea ideal for digital nomads.

Weather

South Korea’s climate is temperate, and each season is very distinctly different from one another. The weather is pretty uniform throughout the small country, so these averages apply wherever you choose as your base.

Spring

Spring in South Korea can be a glorious time of year. While most people think of Japan, when planning a bucket list cherry blossom viewing trip, South Korea has them too! And this season can be just as beautiful as the one in Japan, maybe even better considering far fewer crowds.

However, this is still a cold time of year in South Korea, which warms up towards the end of the season. Daytime temperatures in Seoul can be between 10 – 20 C degrees, but it’s not uncommon to feel much colder, due to gloomy skies and rainfall.

I visited in Spring, and had many days of overcast, and even a week of crazy wind. It’s not the norm, but it’s not unheard of.

Summer

Summers in East Asia are hot and humid, and South Korea isn’t any exception. The daytime temperatures are between 25 – 30 C degrees, but the humidity can make it seem like much more. This season also sees the most rain, as it falls into monsoon season.

If you will base yourself in Busan or Jeju Island, you’ll have the sea breeze as relief. This is also the best season for hitting the beach, but also the busiest, so expect huge crowds.

Autumn

Autumn is arguably the best season to visit South Korea. The humidity will subside, but the temperature drops slowly. Average daytime temperatures hover just below 20 C degrees at the beginning of the season, then drop to between 10 – 15 C.

This season sees the least rainfall, making it ideal for hiking and outdoor activities. Couple that with the iconic fall foliage, and it’s easy to see why autumn is a favorable time to visit.

Winter

Winters in South Korea are cold, and can feel long since the cold weather extends well into March. Daytime temperature average between -5 and 5 C degrees. On the extreme end, it can drop as low as -20 C some years.

It’s common for it to snow in South Korea in winter. Snow is basically certain on the mountains, which is good news for ski enthusiasts. It may also snow in the cities.

What About North Korea?

The threat of North Korea, while in South Korea will depend on when you visit and current political events. When I visited in 2017, it was during a rather turbulent time. This was when the North Korean leader was behaving erratically, and firing missiles at random towards both South Korea and Japan. We actually got a missile warning by text while in Seoul, which thankfully I could not read because I would have panicked.

Generally, you don’t need to worry about the threat of North Korea while in South Korea. Although the countries are conjoined, they may as well be an entire world apart. You likely won’t deal with any direct impacts of this political dynamic during your stay in South Korea as digital nomads.

Cost of Living

The quality of life you get for the cost of living in South Korea, may be one of the best deals in the world. As an ultramodern society, with everything you’d ever hope for in your everyday life, living in South Korea is simply amazing.

In fact, the cost of living remains a mere fraction of what you’d pay in nearby Japan. You can easily live off $1500 USD a month very comfortably. I have friends who taught English in Korea, and lived on as little as $1000 a month!

Accommodation

An apartment in Seoul can cost as little as $300 USD for a private room or studio. A fully furnished one bedroom airbnb, in a central location can cost around $500 – $700 USD. It’s so cheap! Seoul is also the most expensive, so if you base yourself elsewhere, prices can be even lower.

Food

Food in South Korea is also very reasonably priced and so damn good, that I rarely went to the supermarket while there. However, this certainly drove my budget up. you can expect to spend anywhere between $70 – $100 a week on food.

You can lower this cost by eating out less (in South Korea that’s hard though!) and giving up some western food at the supermarket. Its common in East Asian countries for western products to cost more. This includes cheese, cereal, and other items not typical in local food.

If you avoid these foods and eat only local produce and goods, you could spend $50 USD a week, or $200 USD a month.

However, the more practical expectation is that you will want to eat out sometimes. It’s a huge part of the social life in South Korea, and the food is damn good! You can’t exactly make your own k-bbq at home in your small Asian kitchen, so budget a little extra for nights out.

Transport

Getting around the city is not cheap, nor expensive. A 5-10 minute taxi ride within Seoul usually cost us $4 – $8 USD for a ride within the city center. Riding the metro starts at $1.20 USD, and additional charges will be incurred the further you travel. Travel within the city can be up to $5 USD. To save money on travel, get a T-card immediately on arrival. It costs only $2.20 USD, and will allow you to reload the card and purchase fares at the best rates.

Getting around the country will cost more, but again, when you compare it to Japan, it’s super affordable. The high speed train is comparable to the Shinkansen in Japan, but at two thirds of the cost.

Where to Stay

South Korea is not a big country, so regardless of where you stay it’s not difficult to travel around. These are some popular places in South Korea for digital nomads.

Seoul

The obvious choice is Seoul. If you want to experience the ultimate in futuristic city living, this is your place. There are little cities in the world that will impress you like Seoul. It’s massive, both vertically and horizontally and you could spend ages exploring all of its neighborhoods.

It has the largest foreigner population, so it’ll be easy to connect with other digital nomads, English teachers, or what have you. Seoul is also best for digital nomads who like to party, as it boast some world class nightlife areas.

Busan

My personal pick for the top digital nomad base in South Korea, would be Busan. While also a large and modern city, it has the advantage of being located right along the sea. The nightlife is not as famous or as wild as in Seoul, but it does have a lively scene of its own. The cost of living is also considerably cheaper than in Seoul.

To me, Busan is the perfect base for exploring more of the coastal areas along the South, and mixing a trip with both cityscapes and nature.

Jeju Island

If you’re more about experiencing nature, and don’t need to have a huge social life, Jeju Island is another attractive digital nomad base. This island surprised me when I found out it is an active digital nomad base. While maintaining a wild island feel, Jeju Island also has the infrastructure, work spaces and cafes needed to make it a good digital nomad destination. On top of that, it’s also a UNESCO world heritage site!

In fact, they are actively trying to attract more digital nomads by offering free co-working spaces.

The only downside is that you’d have to fly to visit other parts of the country, but if you love nature, you have more than enough to explore right on Jeju Island.

Getting There

The easiest way to get to South Korea is by flying into Incheon International Airport (Seoul). This is a major hub in Asia, so there are lots of direct flights from major cities around the world. However, if you prefer to fly directly to Busan or Jeju Island, there are international airports in both destinations as well.

If you are coming from Japan, you can score a one way flight to Seoul for as little as $50 USD on Peach Airlines.

Getting Around

Subway

The subway is the best way to get around the city, but bear in mind these tend to get busy during weekdays. During rush hour, try to avoid it completely.

Otherwise, the subways are clean, safe and cheap. The cities are well connected and you can easily get almost anywhere using them. They stop running at around midnight, and start early in the morning, around 5:30 AM.

Taxi

Neither Grab nor Uber are yet available in South Korea. If you need to get somewhere quickly, you’ll find many taxis throughout the city. The drivers tend to be from the older generation, and do not speak English. It’s best to have the address of where you’d like to go prepared in Korean, or be able to use the Google Translate voice app to play it for them.

Taxis aren’t cheap, but aren’t expensive compared to US prices. A short ride within the city center can cost between $4 – $13 USD.

High Speed Train

South Korea has its own high speed train, making traveling around the country super convenient, and fast. You can get from Seoul to Busan in about 2 hours, for $72 USD. The equivalent to this journey in Japan would easily be over $100 USD.

If you are on a budget, you can take the slower alternative, which would be the intercity train. If you do, a 5.5 hour trip from Seoul to Busan can be as low as $38 USD.

For more on train timetables and prices, click here.

Low Cost Domestic Flights

South Korea is home to a slightly absurd number of low cost carrier airlines, considering the small size of the country. As of now, there are at least 7 domestic low cost carriers in South Korea. Getting around the country is cheaper than ever for those who prefer to fly.

Honestly, I still think the train is the better option. If you consider the time it takes to get to the airport, transiting through the airport, and all the hassle, the train is still the same in terms of travel time and price.

But when you’ll need to fly to Jeju island, these will be life savers. Some LLC airlines in South Korea are Jeju Air and Jin Air.

Things to Do

There are endless things to do in South Korea, from fun in the city, exploring nature, to encountering more of the cultural side. You’d be pressed to run out of activities while in South Korea as a digital nomad.

Eat K-bbq

Normally I wouldn’t start this list out with food, but this is one of my favorite social and cultural (food is cultural right?) activities in South Korea. The set up of Korean barbecue is both family style dining, and cook it yourself. This makes it a top choice for eating with company.

Also, did I mention Korean barbecue is AMAZING? On top of the mouth watering meat, it’s really the endless tiny side dishes that come along with it that do it for me. Top it off with some soju, and you are set to have the perfect meal.

Have a Crazy Night Out in Gangnam

The nightlife in South Korea, especially in Seoul is known to be amazing. If you love long nights and EDM music, this is the place for you. While Seoul has a number of notoriously good nightlife areas, some of the others are more geared towards tourists, and others for the young crowd.

Gangnam is a slightly older more bougie crowd, and the neighborhood is set in a glitzy upscale part of town. Plus, you can say you partied Gangnam Style, a bucket list feat in itself.

Shop Until You Drop

If you love shopping, you are going to have serious issues with self control in South Korea. In the cities, you will find endless shopping opportunities both indoor and outdoor, underground, you name it! As a true shopper’s paradise, you can find basically anything you would ever need (and some things you didn’t know you did).

Some goods that are highly sought after for visitors in South Korea are their skincare products, beauty products, health products (google Korean Ginseng), unique South Korean fashion items, and of course cutesy little knick knacks you’d come to expect from Asia.

In Seoul, some top shopping areas are Hongdae, Incheon, and Myeong-dong, but those are merely the tip of the iceberg.

Eat Seafood in Busan

As a seaside city, it’s no surprise that there are loads of options for trying some fresh and unique seafood dishes in Busan. Moreover, it’s also home to the biggest seafood market in all of South Korea.

Jagalchi Market is a long street lined with restaurants and seafood markets, some of which overflow out onto the street. It’s a very lively place, filled with visitors wanting to observe the madness, as well as hungry folks who want to eat it.

You can feast on fresh, and even raw seafood if you like, or simply people watch. My favorite way to indulge in this area is to go to a sit down seafood hotpot restaurant.

Haedong Yonggungsa Temple

Also easily done as a day trip from Busan, is this unique temple. It may be one of the most beautiful temples you’ll ever see, but what makes it so special? Maybe it’s the fact that it’s perched directly along the sea, with the waves crashing right under it’s bridge.

This buddhist temple has over 600 years of history behind it. It’s complex is spread out over several areas of interest, from the beautifully painted main sanctuary, the Healing Buddha Statue, and the stone pagodas perched on the rocks of the cliff.

See the Colorful Village of Gamcheon

This village is a must see for anyone who loves all things cutesy and colorful. They call this village the Machu Picchu of South Korea. While I don’t exactly agree with that name, it definitely has a very unique and beautiful aesthetic.

Characterized by colorful boxy houses on a hill, this neighborhood is a quirky place to explore the whimsical side of South Korea. Many of the houses are decorated with their own individual artwork, murals or full on art installations. Some of the artwork is straight up puzzling to look at, but it adds to the fun.

It may also be one of the most photogenic places in South Korea. Take all the photos you want, just be mindful of the fact that it is a residential neighborhood.

Explore Jeju Island

Jeju Island is the ultimate paradise for nature lovers and beach enthusiasts. From historic value to the many natural landmarks, this is a must visit during your trip. You’ll find beautiful beaches, dramatic cliffs, lava tubes, and more. It’s even home to a number of waterfalls, one of which even flows directly into the ocean.

Some places not to miss are Jeongbang Waterfall, Oedolgae Rock, Jusangjeolli Lava Cliffs, Hyeopjae Beach and the Dol hareubangs staues.

See Green Tea Fields in Boseong

Whether or not you like green tea, a visit to these tea fields are worth the trip just for the views. This is the largest tea producing area in South Korea, and a visit here will have you in awe of the seemingly never ending rows of green.

This area is highly photogenic and makes a great photo spot. You can also try some green tea related food items such as green tea ice cream. If you venture into Boseong city itself nearby, you can even try some meat dished cooked in green tea.

Seoraksan National Park

Unfortunately, due to the limited space in South Korea, and the present day size of the population, a lot of the natural areas had to be cleared to make space for more inhabitable areas. This is very visible when you come to South Korea, that the nature seems to be lacking or just in limited areas.

But one area where you can really appreciate raw and beautiful nature, is Seoraksan National Park. This parks most famous landmark is easily the cragged mountain peaks, that poke out high over the clouds. It’s a beautiful hike, and when weather conditions are right it will be an unforgetable view.

It’s also home to some temples and other culturally significant sites, which you can fully explore on a weekend trip here.

View Cherry Blossoms in Spring

South Korea is a fantastic alternative to seeing cherry blossoms in Japan. Not only are the crowds far thinner, but the flowers are almost equally abundant and impressive here. I was surprised to see cherry blossoms all around Seoul, including near the temples, the palace, and parks. I even saw them in Busan and Gamcheon. You really don’t need to look far to find them during the season.

Visit the DMZ

For those interested in the political side of Korea, a visit to the DMZ can be an intriguing, yet also depressing experience. You can book a DMZ tour with a tour company while in Seoul. You’ll need to book at least one day in advanced. However, if you want to witness the changing of the guards in the Joint Security Area, an intense moment when the North and South Korean soldiers face each other eye to eye, you’ll need to time your visit with the correct day.

For more information on this, check here.

Life in South Korea for Digital Nomads

There are so many positives about South Korea for digital nomads. To me, it’s one of the best places to call a temporary home. However, depending on your interests, there could be some big downsides as well.

The Positives

Super High Tech

If you’ve ever dreamed of living in a futuristic society, or just love ultra-modern city life, South Korea is the place for you. In fact a motto has been coined about Seoul, saying “the future arrives in Seoul first”. It could even rival my home city in the Bay Area as the tech center of the world, with all the technological innovations being produced in recent years.

You can really feel that you are living in a technology driven society here. The wifi is lightening fast. The cityscape is vibrant and absolutely bustling with life, which never seems to turn off. You’ll find automated convenience stores, robots, and other exciting aspects of living in an innovative smart city environment.

Fast Wifi

The wifi is super fast, and will surely make every digital nomad more than happy. You can rest assured that you’ll always be well connected for work.

High Level of Safety

Generally, petty and violent crime levels are low across South Korea. You can live life freely knowing that you aren’t likely going to be threatened by danger, even at night.

Young Generation Speak Fluent English

The youth of South Korea have very serious education programs. As a result, most of them become very much fluent in English in early adolescence. It’s easy enough to communicate with people in their 20s and 30s here, as most have near perfect English.

Somewhat Cheap

If we compare South Korea to the cheapest digital nomad destinations, it simply can’t compete. But when compared to countries with similar quality of life, it’s an absolute steal. You can live comfortably here, with all the amenities you could ever want for about half the cost of living in Japan. If you are making an American salary, everything will feel discounted to you as a digital nomad in South Korea.

High Quality Goods

The quality of many things in South Korea would be hard to beat. They are known for having the best skincare products, tech gear, beauty products, food products, and much more. You’ll have all these things at your fingertips when you choose South Korea as your digital nomad base.

Amazing Nightlife

For night owls and party people, Seoul is the city for you. You will have endless opportunities to go out and get your drink on. The nightlife scene across the city is dynamic and seemingly never ending. On any given night, something will be popping somewhere, whether in the university area of Hongdae, or Itaewon, where foreigners and locals both frequent. While Asians may be known for not being able to tolerate much alcohol (I am looking at Japan.. and myself in that statement), South Koreans are different. Be sure you can keep up. And, I hope you like soju!

The Negatives

Stressful Society

The current culture in South Korea puts a lot of pressure on people, especially students and young professionals to succeed. Depression rates run higher in recent years, as well as drinking problems. This can be a depressing thing to come to terms with, if you stay here long enough to notice it. If you are lucky enough to make some local friends, just know that it’s usually kind of difficult. Young professionals in the cities of South Korea are often under extreme pressure and long working hours; it’s not ideal for befriending random foreigners.

Less Nature

While the nature that’s present in South Korea today is extremely beautiful, it still doesn’t detract from the fact that there’s simply less of it left. Due to limited space, the country had no choice but to clear out land to be made into living spaces for the exponentially growing population. If you travel to find lots of wild natural wonders, South Korea does have those, just not as many as other nearby countries.

Unstable Political Climate

Although I said in the beginning that you need not worry about North Korea, I also can’t lie and say it could never become a problem for you, as a digital nomad. The North and South of Korea are technically still engaged in an ongoing war, and anything can happen considering the leader has displayed erratic and impulsive behavior in the past. If this is a concern for you, do check the political climate before deciding to go.

Extreme Weather

Visiting in autumn is usually amazing. Visiting in spring can be ok too. However, the winters are known to be damn cold, and the summers are suffocating. That leaves a very small window of time for relatively good weather in Korea. Also, even if you visit in spring, you may be unlucky to experience the Asian Dust, a yearly phenomena that has the sky covered in reddish dust that contains heavy pollutants. Yikes.

Safety for Digital Nomads

South Korea currently ranks as the 48th safest country in the world, according to the Global Peace Index. While this may seem low, it’s still considered a green country, meaning it’s relatively safe. Also, it’s worth mentioning that the reason it isn’t ranked higher is almost certainly due to the political tension between North and South Korea. If you didn’t factor this in, it’s a very safe country. Both petty and violent crime are low, and the isolated incidents that due occur, rarely involve foreign visitors. Therefore, South Korea for digital nomads, can be considered a safe destination.

South Korea for Female Digital Nomads

South Korea felt like a very safe place for female travelers and digital nomads. I encountered no uncomfortable or dangerous situations as a woman, even when alone at night. I found South Korean people to be highly respectful and helpful.

I guess the only thing I’d say to look out for, is if you need to take a taxi at night. The drivers are usually of the older generation, and do not speak English, or seem to like looking at maps on the phone. I had a case where my driver dropped me off in the wrong place, late at night.

If it were anywhere else in the world, I may have been worried about my safety. But since it’s South Korea, it was only a slight annoyance, resulting in me walking an hour to get home.

Also, it’s worth noting that if you go to the nightlife districts at night, you may run into some rowdy people. It’s better to go out with a group if you are traveling alone.

And that wraps up this guide to South Korea for digital nomads. If living in a futuristic and buzzing metropolis excite you, I can’t think of a better digital nomad base. This country has so much to offer travelers and would be digital nomads who choose to spend time here.

And over to you? What’s your take on South Korea for digital nomads? Let me know below.