7 Things Foreigners Should NEVER Do in Korea (No BS, Real Travel Advice)

7 Things Foreigners Should NEVER Do in Korea (No BS, Real Travel Advice)

You’ve probably seen those “Korean Etiquette” videos that tell you things like: Always give a business card with two hands… never write someone’s name in red… bow to people, etc. Yeah, none of that matters for foreign travelers. Most of those videos exist just to scare you and get views. So, today, you’re getting a real, no BS guide on what foreigners actually need to know when traveling in Korea. Only the things that will really get you in trouble—or make your trip 10x smoother. So, let’s get into it. Before we start, if you’re wondering what it’s like to travel in Korea without speaking Korean at all, I already have a video titled “What It’s Like to Travel to Korea Without Knowing Korean.” That one gives you a full one-day point of view of being a foreigner here— so check it out after this. In today’s video, I’ll cover: 7 things you should NEVER do in Korea and 4 things you MUST do to survive Korea like a local. Straightforward, honest, no irrelevant cultural trivia. So, number one, 
Don’t walk around naked in the sauna, beach, or pool. If you’re European, listen carefully.
In Europe, many saunas are mixed-gender and fully nude. But in Korea, being naked in a mixed sauna, beach, or pool = a literal crime. Police-level crime. Even if a sign says “wear a swimsuit,” I’ve seen European tourists—especially older ones— just walk in completely naked because that’s what they do back home. In Korea, however, that will absolutely get you reported. Mixed-gender saunas: You MUST wear clothes or a sauna uniform. Pools, beaches: Always wear swimwear.
Gender-separated baths: Here, being naked is normal—everyone is naked together, just like a Japanese onsen. So, naked only in single-gender baths. Everywhere else: keep clothes on. Number two, 
Don’t smoke anywhere you want – you WILL get fined. In Europe or the U.S., people smoke everywhere—bus stops, parks, even next to kids. In Korea, however, that’s a huge no. Most public smoking is illegal. You must find a designated smoking booth or just simply follow other smokers. If you smoke outside the zone? On-the-spot fines. And Koreans do report people. Number three, 
Don’t sit in the priority seats on buses or subways. This is one of the biggest complaints locals have about tourists. Priority seats are marked very clearly in English:
Seats for pregnant women, the elderly, the disabled. Even if they’re empty—do not sit there. Locals get genuinely angry about this. Also, on the subway, the seats at the ends of each long row, painted in pink? Those are pregnancy seats. Never sit there unless you want extremely dirty looks. Number 
four, Don’t wear shoes inside a Korean home. If you’re invited into someone’s house in Korea—or even many Airbnbs—your shoes come off immediately at the entrance. Not because it’s “cultural,” but because Korean homes are kept extremely clean, and outdoor dirt is simply not allowed inside.
And here’s my personal opinion. I honestly think the Western habit of wearing shoes indoors, even into the bedroom or carpeted areas, might be one of the reasons bed bugs spread so easily in some countries. Meanwhile in Korea, where shoes are always removed at the door, bed bugs are almost nonexistent. I’m not saying it’s the only factor, but it definitely feels connected. So, just slip 
your shoes off here. Easy. Number five, don’t blow your nose loudly in restaurants. This is something I see all the time in Europe. People blow their noses while others are eating and nobody cares. In Korea, this is extremely rude and honestly kind of disgusting in public dining. Not my words — but something many Koreans openly express. If your nose is running, just quietly step outside for 
a moment. Do not do it at the table. Number six, Don’t talk loudly or use speakerphone in public spaces. Koreans keep things very quiet on buses, subways, elevators, or cafes. If you need to take 
a call, keep your voice low or use earphones. Never use speakerphone in enclosed spaces. You’ll never see Koreans blasting their private phone conversations in a subway car. Don’t be that 
foreigner. And here’s the part many travelers don’t know: on buses, if you’re talking loudly on speakerphone, the driver might literally tell you to stop. Finally, number seven, Don’t leave tips on the table. Americans always ask this. Korea is a no tipping culture. If you leave money on the table, the staff will often chase you to return it. Yes, right. The only exception:
If you’re at a BBQ restaurant and a server personally cooks your meat for you the whole meal, some Koreans tip 10,000 won, which is around $7, as a small thank you. Not expected, not required. But generally? No tip. And one more thing — there’s also no “keep the change” culture here. People don’t just hand over the extra coins or small bills as a casual gesture. If you’re wondering whether Koreans get offended by tips or leftover change: no. Nobody hates receiving money in a capitalist society — it’s just not part of the culture, so it feels unusual and unnecessary. 
Okay, now that we’ve covered what not to do in Korea as a foreigner, let’s switch gears and talk about what you should do. And of course, these ones are actually useful as well. Number 
one, On buses: tap your card when you get on AND when you get off. This confuses a lot of 
travelers. You enter through the front door, then tap your card. When getting off, you must also tap 
again at the back door. If you forget, you’ll get overcharged. Here’s another travel tip. As for the card, most foreigners cannot use an international card to tap on and off in Korea. You need to get a T-money card. It’s cheap, easy, and works every time. Don’t know how? Again, watch my 1 day trip as a foreigner video. Number two, Prepare to stand near the exit before the bus arrives. Korean buses 
move fast. If you wait until the bus fully stops to stand up and walk to the door, the driver may 
simply close the door and drive off. I know it sounds absurd to most foreigners, but that’s 
genuinely how it works in Korea. That’s why many locals stand near the back door in advance 
to prepare. So just do the same. Number three, in restaurants, walk to the counter to pay. 
Servers bring you food, but they don’t bring your bill. When you’re done eating, go to the cashier near the exit and say: I’ll pay or just simply show your credit card. Simple. Number four, Don’t rely on Apple Pay or Google Pay. They barely work in Korea. Some premium stores accept them, but 
most local places do not. You need Samsung Pay on your Samsung phone or a physical credit or debit 
card. Good news: almost every store, even tiny market stalls, accepts cards. So you don’t need much cash—except maybe for Gwangjang Market. Visit better local markets instead. Lastly, Watch my detailed tutorials if you need help navigating Korea. I have step-by-step videos for: where to go, stay, what to do, itinerary tips, payment, transportation, restaurant tips, and many more. They cover specific situations in detail, so, check it out. So—was this helpful?
Today I gave you only the real, practical dos and don’ts that actually matter in Korea. No fake 
rules, no clickbait drama, just the things that truly affect your trip. If you want more honest 
Korean travel guides, check my other videos and my tutorial playlist. Thanks for watching and 
I’ll see you in the next fun and useful video.

Online tutorials to better navigate Korea:
https://payhip.com/worldwideseanp

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