Is Korea safe enough for female travellers to fly there solo?

Suran Lee
Jul 2, 2024
2 min read

🌸 Solo Female Travel in Korea: Your Ultimate Safety & Language Guide! 🌸

안녕하세요 (an-nyeong-ha-se-yo), fellow KULTURIST adventurers! As someone who's lived and taught in Korea, let me be your virtual unnie (언니 - older sister) as you plan your solo journey through this amazing country!

Safety First - Let's Talk Facts! 📊

Korea isn't just safe - it's incredibly safe! As a female who's navigated every corner of Seoul (and beyond!), I can tell you that the respect for safety here is unlike anywhere else. You'll be amazed to see people leaving their laptops unattended in cafes (though I still recommend keeping your belongings close!).

Essential Safety Phrases (Let's practice these together!):

"Excuse me" - 실례합니다 (sil-lye-ham-ni-da)
"Help, please" - 도와주세요 (do-wa-ju-se-yo)
"Where is...?" - ...어디예요? (...eo-di-ye-yo?)
"Thank you" - 감사합니다 (gam-sa-ham-ni-da)

Public Transportation Tips 🚇

Getting around is a breeze! Here's what you need to know:

Get a T-Money card (티머니 - ti-meo-ni)
Download 'Subway Korea' app
Ask "This goes to...?" - 이거 ...가요? (i-geo ...ga-yo?)

Budget-Friendly Travel 💰

Your wallet will thank you! Learn these phrases:

"How much?" - 얼마예요? (eol-ma-ye-yo?)
"Too expensive" - 너무 비싸요 (neo-mu bi-ssa-yo)
"Student discount?" - 학생 할인 있어요? (hak-saeng hal-in i-sseo-yo?)

KULTURE's Pro-Tips:

Bow slightly when saying thank you (friendly tip: 45 degrees is perfect!)
Accept items with two hands (super polite!)
Don't be surprised by the amazing free WiFi everywhere!

Making Friends 👯‍♀️

Koreans are super friendly! Try these conversation starters:

"I'm from..." - 저는 ...에서 왔어요 (jeo-neun ...e-seo wa-sseo-yo)
"Nice to meet you" - 만나서 반갑습니다 (man-na-seo ban-gap-seum-ni-da)
"Can we be friends?" - 친구 될 수 있을까요? (chin-gu dwel su i-ssul-kka-yo?)

Feel Overwhelmed? Don't Worry!

Remember these reassuring points:

Tourist helpers in red shirts are everywhere
Security cameras provide extra safety
English is widely spoken in tourist areas

Pro Tip: Save screenshots of Korean phrases on your phone for quick reference!

Want to feel even more confident before your trip? KULTURE offers specialised travel-focused Korean Language classes and even our very own Travel Tours in Seoul and Jeju island: