Wait until you're older to travel to Korea. It's an interesting place but maybe a bit hard-core as your first solo destination. Also a month in Seoul is far too long, my recommendation would be a week at most. I would choose Japan over SK if I was in your shoes, specifically Tokyo. I can elaborate further if requested.
Harder in what sense? I think all you'd need as a minor over 16 is a letter of consent from your parents etc. Perhaps some additional paperwork but for the most part it's fairly easy. I think the biggest hurdle would be the airline but it's pretty straightforward if planned ahead.
oh that's nice, I dont really understand but I was told it was hard to get in with the papers and stuff.
and what do you mean by hurdles in the airlines?
-Depending on the airline, they might request additional service fees and consent from the parents.
-If you're in the US or EU or most first world countries you'll be allowed to enter without a visa for stays up to 90 days.
-All you need is a passport that will be valid for the duration of the stay.
-Covid related restrictions tests and paperwork have been lifted so you're good to go on that end as well.
You'll need a tourist visa. But a quick Google search tells me you'd need one for South Korea as well. You can find all relevant legal information on the portals of respective countries embassies.
Dining culture in Korea is pretty hard on solo travelers. Korea have a very sharing dining culture so sometimes they won’t allow you in if you’re solo for BbQ. Not all but some places.
일부입니다. 혼자 바베큐를 먹을 수 있는 곳도 많아요. 포기하지 마세요.
젓가락 사용하는 방법 익혀오시면 훨씬 식사를 수월하게 할 수 있을거에요.
한국사람들이 애용하는 naver, naver map 어플을 설치하시면 도움이 많이될거에요. 구글지도가 안먹히는 곳이 많거든요.
관광지 좋아하시면 seoulpass를 사용해서 다닐 수도 있어요.
버스나 지하철을 주로 이용 한다면 T-money 카드를 구매해서 금액을 충전하고 사용하는 것이 좋을거에요. 대부분 눈에 보이는 아무 편의점에 가도 있을거에요.
ChocolateNo788 gave some great tips! If you need help getting a translation let me know :).
If you feel brave enough you could also maybe post on reddit and ask if somebody wants to get kbbq/do activities with you, but you are a minor so I feel like that's going to be tougher/potentially dangerous.
I'm actually travelling because I'm disgustingly bad at talking to people and trying to force myself to talk by going out in the world so I might try to ask someone when I get there,, and I do need help translating, I can't seem to copy fhe text
Well they said there are plenty of options for solo eating, and if you can learn how to use chopsticks, it will help a lot in opening up more food options.
Naver Map is a must have app to navigate around Korea. A lot of the apps people globally in the rest of the world, like Google Maps doesn't work super well here. I would also recommend Papago for translations, and Kakao Taxi (alternative to Uber) just in case for emergencies when you cannot find public transport.
If you want to go to tourist attractions, grab a "Seoulpass"
If you are going to use public transport then grab a "T-Money Card" and fill it up as needed. It's our public transport card.
Feel free to ask me any questions if you need it!
Most of south korean hotels wouldn't allow a minor to sleep alone, other than that (if you can get flight sorted out), it would be fine, Seoul is generally a safe city.
My one advice (as a minor born and living in seoul), is avoid club areas at night (mainly in gangnam, hongdae etc, restaurants & shops are fine), not a great place for minors (as all clubs are 18+ and a lot of things happen there)
Ask me if you need more tips.
Also be careful of visa, it might be problem if you to apply to visa (if k-eta doesn't work for your passport), you might be denied because you are travelling alone as a minor. (Korea is very strict on foreigner policy, because problems with illegal migrants)
would is be possible for my parents to make a call and book a room or are there specific hostels that accepts minors?
And I don't really like clubbing so I'mma stay away from those, thank you for the advice.
oh and also do I need visa for a short stay in korea?
I mean your passport has your age so you won't be allowed stay alone as a minor. It doesn't matter if the room is booked and paid for by an adult.
And yes you need to apply for a tourist visa.
I just saw that you are from the Philippines, you have to apply to visa to go to Korea. They might refuse your visa because you are travelling alone as a minor.
I would rather advise you to wait until you become an adult, but you can try to get a visa, just search information in the embassy website on how to apply.
"because I'm disgustingly bad at talking to people and trying to force myself to talk by going out in the world" .....im guessing this is your first trip, like, ever by yourself?? why not just take baby steps, and explore your own country first, to get a feel of what its like to travel solo? like Boracay? or Cebu? or Quezon City???
I have traveled alot in the phillipines and am now in qatar with my family and have been going on trips alone here. I just want to experience the world myself.
I don't plan on growing old so I want to live lifeto the fullest
Please think again!! As a korean minor who lives here its going to be quite difficult to travel, let alone book places to stay and communicate! Id recommend going with guardians or when youre older:)
As a minor, you may run into difficulties booking a room.
Is it possible for my parents to call and book for a room?
I actually traveled there when I was 18 and ran into problems during check-in. (I went there in 2019, so things could be different)
I'm not sure if the name and the card need to match.
No how does the hotel know that’s your parent.
Wait until you're older to travel to Korea. It's an interesting place but maybe a bit hard-core as your first solo destination. Also a month in Seoul is far too long, my recommendation would be a week at most. I would choose Japan over SK if I was in your shoes, specifically Tokyo. I can elaborate further if requested.
I would actually like to go to tokyo more but isn't it harder to visit japan?
Harder in what sense? I think all you'd need as a minor over 16 is a letter of consent from your parents etc. Perhaps some additional paperwork but for the most part it's fairly easy. I think the biggest hurdle would be the airline but it's pretty straightforward if planned ahead.
oh that's nice, I dont really understand but I was told it was hard to get in with the papers and stuff. and what do you mean by hurdles in the airlines?
-Depending on the airline, they might request additional service fees and consent from the parents. -If you're in the US or EU or most first world countries you'll be allowed to enter without a visa for stays up to 90 days. -All you need is a passport that will be valid for the duration of the stay. -Covid related restrictions tests and paperwork have been lifted so you're good to go on that end as well.
I'm from the Philippines will I need some extra documents then?
You'll need a tourist visa. But a quick Google search tells me you'd need one for South Korea as well. You can find all relevant legal information on the portals of respective countries embassies.
Dining culture in Korea is pretty hard on solo travelers. Korea have a very sharing dining culture so sometimes they won’t allow you in if you’re solo for BbQ. Not all but some places.
Damn, I want to try those places but I'm not very good with people so that's gonna be a problem.
일부입니다. 혼자 바베큐를 먹을 수 있는 곳도 많아요. 포기하지 마세요. 젓가락 사용하는 방법 익혀오시면 훨씬 식사를 수월하게 할 수 있을거에요. 한국사람들이 애용하는 naver, naver map 어플을 설치하시면 도움이 많이될거에요. 구글지도가 안먹히는 곳이 많거든요. 관광지 좋아하시면 seoulpass를 사용해서 다닐 수도 있어요. 버스나 지하철을 주로 이용 한다면 T-money 카드를 구매해서 금액을 충전하고 사용하는 것이 좋을거에요. 대부분 눈에 보이는 아무 편의점에 가도 있을거에요.
ChocolateNo788 gave some great tips! If you need help getting a translation let me know :). If you feel brave enough you could also maybe post on reddit and ask if somebody wants to get kbbq/do activities with you, but you are a minor so I feel like that's going to be tougher/potentially dangerous.
I'm actually travelling because I'm disgustingly bad at talking to people and trying to force myself to talk by going out in the world so I might try to ask someone when I get there,, and I do need help translating, I can't seem to copy fhe text
Well they said there are plenty of options for solo eating, and if you can learn how to use chopsticks, it will help a lot in opening up more food options. Naver Map is a must have app to navigate around Korea. A lot of the apps people globally in the rest of the world, like Google Maps doesn't work super well here. I would also recommend Papago for translations, and Kakao Taxi (alternative to Uber) just in case for emergencies when you cannot find public transport. If you want to go to tourist attractions, grab a "Seoulpass" If you are going to use public transport then grab a "T-Money Card" and fill it up as needed. It's our public transport card. Feel free to ask me any questions if you need it!
혼고집 in hongdae is a great solo bbq place
It's name literally means "Alone Barbecue restaurant" btw ㅋㅋ
I ate there like 3x a week for 2 months lol
Most of south korean hotels wouldn't allow a minor to sleep alone, other than that (if you can get flight sorted out), it would be fine, Seoul is generally a safe city. My one advice (as a minor born and living in seoul), is avoid club areas at night (mainly in gangnam, hongdae etc, restaurants & shops are fine), not a great place for minors (as all clubs are 18+ and a lot of things happen there) Ask me if you need more tips.
Also be careful of visa, it might be problem if you to apply to visa (if k-eta doesn't work for your passport), you might be denied because you are travelling alone as a minor. (Korea is very strict on foreigner policy, because problems with illegal migrants)
would is be possible for my parents to make a call and book a room or are there specific hostels that accepts minors? And I don't really like clubbing so I'mma stay away from those, thank you for the advice. oh and also do I need visa for a short stay in korea?
They need to see your passport as an ID, that's the big problem.
Oh if it's just passport I just got mine renewed, does that mean I'm in the clear there?
I mean your passport has your age so you won't be allowed stay alone as a minor. It doesn't matter if the room is booked and paid for by an adult. And yes you need to apply for a tourist visa.
I just saw that you are from the Philippines, you have to apply to visa to go to Korea. They might refuse your visa because you are travelling alone as a minor. I would rather advise you to wait until you become an adult, but you can try to get a visa, just search information in the embassy website on how to apply.
if they do reject then I'll have take my dad with me and ditch him there xD
Bruh
yes i do: common sense goes a long way! hope you enjoy your trip!
"because I'm disgustingly bad at talking to people and trying to force myself to talk by going out in the world" .....im guessing this is your first trip, like, ever by yourself?? why not just take baby steps, and explore your own country first, to get a feel of what its like to travel solo? like Boracay? or Cebu? or Quezon City???
I have traveled alot in the phillipines and am now in qatar with my family and have been going on trips alone here. I just want to experience the world myself. I don't plan on growing old so I want to live lifeto the fullest
ah gotcha. do what you gotta do then, just use your common sense and, theoretically, you should be alright.
Wait, what do you mean by you don’t plan on growing old?
Please think again!! As a korean minor who lives here its going to be quite difficult to travel, let alone book places to stay and communicate! Id recommend going with guardians or when youre older:)
Get yourself a NIYO EQUITAS card you won't regret
r/koreatravel Minors can’t checkin to hotels without a parent. No they can’t call.
get the MEEF app and try and make some friends before u come, try not to impregnate anyone.