Overland South Korea Travel
![]() |
WikiOverland is growing. We only have Gas and Diesel prices for South Korea right now. If you know more about South Korea, please update the sections below by clicking edit. |
Currency to display:
Contents
- 1 Visiting South Korea
- 2 Entering South Korea with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in South Korea
- 4 Gas and Diesel price in South Korea
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in South Korea
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in South Korea
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting South Korea
South Korea is at the southern end of the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea to the north and Japan to the east. The two Korean countries are split because North Korea is Communist and South Korea is not.
Entering South Korea with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: (date last confirmed correct)
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for South Korea, application instructions and fees see: South Korea Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
List the paperwork required to enter with a vehicle, including number of copies
RO-RO
- Here is a great blog post with all the details for shipping into South Korea Shipping To Korea
Container Shipping
- March 2016 - LandCruising Adventure detailed post on how to get your car out of the container and on to the road - Shipping the Land Cruiser from Suriname to South Korea – Part 2
- April 2016 - Nomadic Year updates LandCruising Adventure on how to get your car out of Busan port - South Korea Car Shipping Guide
Process at border
Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle
Cost of entry
State the cost for a vehicle to enter
Permitted length of stay
State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle
Extension of stay
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.
Driving in South Korea
Recommended books for Overlanding in South Korea
Travel insurance for South Korea
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
Vehicle insurance requirements
Yes, mandatory.
Cost of vehicle insurance
2000 Toyota LandCruiser - ₩172,000.00 KRW for one month. Better terms are available for longer periods.
Where to purchase vehicle insurance
We emailed Brian Kim at Samsung Insurance for our needs: lasmid@hanmail.net
Driving license
Valid International Driving Permit is required.
Driving side of road
Right.
RHD vehicles can be driven in South Korea.
Mandatory items in vehicle
State any mandatory items that must be carried in the vehicle. (i.e. safety triangle, first aid kit, fire extinguisher, etc.)
Roads
General Road quality
Road quality is excellent. Even in rural areas, most public rights of way are paved and well-maintained.
Road signs
Road signs are excellent, and most signs are written in both Korean and English.
Toll roads
All expressways are toll roads, as are a number of privately owned highways. It is, however, almost always possible to take an alternate route that does not have a toll.
Bribery in South Korea
Bribery is neither expected nor helpful in South Korea.
Checkpoints
describe the frequency of checkpoints (police or military and what to expect.
Traveling with pets
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.
Gas and Diesel price in South Korea
Last updated: October 2012
Currency and unit to display:
Gasoline Grade | Price |
---|---|
Unleaded | €1.42 EUR per Liter[1] |
Diesel | €1.28 EUR per Liter[1] |
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
Briefly describe if gas shortages are known to occur.
Also state the approximate average distance between gas stations. This is a very rough estimate.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Discuss if gasoline / diesel considered "clean" or "dirty", and generally high or low quality.
State the sulfur content of diesel, if known.
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
Discuss driving at night and if it should it be avoided. Mention why.
Vehicle parking
Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.
Special driving considerations
A List of special things to be careful of (i.e. Unsigned speed bumps, abnormal road rules, people or animals on the road, etc.).
List any roads that are not recommended to drive for safety or other security reasons.
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for South Korea - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in South Korea
Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Drinking water
Describe if the regular tap water is safe to drink. If not, describe where safe water can be purchased and the approximate average price range.
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in South Korea
GPS Maps of South Korea
Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in South Korea
- iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in South Korea
Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- South Korea: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to South Korea - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- South Korea travel guides at wikivoyage
- South Korea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia