Ensure your passport has at least 6 months’ validity from arrival and two blank pages; Indian nationals generally need to apply for a short‑term tourist visa at the Republic of Korea embassy/consulate (apply 2–4+ weeks ahead) — check whether K‑ETA applies to your nationality; carry printed hotel bookings, return ticket and proof of funds. No routine mandatory vaccines for Korea, but have routine immunisations up to date (MMR, Tdap) and a COVID booster as recommended; yellow fever certificate is only required if you transited from a yellow‑fever endemic country. Insider tips: use a visa agent or appointment booking early, register with India’s MEA/consular service for alerts, buy comprehensive travel insurance with medical evacuation, keep digital+paper copies of documents and prescriptions, and recheck Korea/MEA travel advisories and entry rules 72–24 hours before departure as policies can change.
South Korea uses the Korean won (KRW); check live FX rates before travel (Google/XE) and exchange a small amount at Incheon airport for immediate needs, then use banks or reputable exchangers in the city for better rates. ATMs at major banks (KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Woori) and airport/global ATMs accept foreign Visa/Mastercard (Cirrus/Plus) though fees and daily limits apply—notify your bank and avoid dynamic currency conversion. Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and larger shops (AMEX less so); many small markets, street stalls and some taxis are cash-only. Mobile payments (KakaoPay, Naver Pay, Toss, Samsung Pay) are ubiquitous but usually require a Korean phone number/local bank ID for full functionality, so bring an international card as backup and carry some KRW for small purchases.