INSUBUY® Insurance Blog

Posted: 03/31/20232,594 Views

In a bid to boost tourism back to pre-pandemic levels, the nation of South Korea is set to begin exempting visitors from certain countries from being required to use the K-ETA Portal and fill out electronic travel authorization documents in order to visit the country.

Starting April 1, visitors from the following 22 countries and regions will no longer have to fill out the online forms or pay associated fees to enter South Korea for tourism purposes:

  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hong Kong
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Macau
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Singapore
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Taiwan
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

This exemption is currently slated to run through the end of 2024, though there is the possibility that it could be extended.

Those who aren’t from one of the countries listed above are still welcome to visit South Korea, but they must continue utilizing the K-ETA Portal and take the necessary steps at least three calendar days prior to their trip to South Korea. Of course, this is all in addition to any visa requirements that may exist for the traveler.

Is Travel Insurance Required to Visit South Korea?

Insurance is not legally required, but it is highly recommended for all visitors.

While it is true that South Korea has some of the best healthcare in the world, treatment is not free for you as a visitor. If you become sick or get injured during your trip, you will have to pay for care out of your own pocket if you do not have travel medical insurance coverage, and you may not be able to afford this. Rather than risk forgoing treatment because you can’t pay for it, or draining your bank account paying for it, get travel medical insurance instead. For a relatively low cost, you can take the uncertainty out of unplanned medical costs when you travel abroad.

Those traveling to South Korea from the United States may want to consider trip cancellation insurance, which primarily insures your nonrefundable prepaid trip costs in case you are forced to cancel your travel plans. In addition, trip cancellation insurance can cover events like trip interruption, travel delay, lost baggage, and emergency medical treatment.

With travel to South Korea now requiring even fewer steps for visitors from some countries, all that’s left to do is plan your itinerary, book your tickets, shop the right insurance plan, and enjoy your vacation.

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