South Korea Country Report

South Korea is an economically prosperous nation in Northeast Asia. The conflict threat from North Korea continually looms large. While former South Korean President Moon Jae-in adopted a conciliatory approach to North Korea, current President Yoon Suk-yeol will likely take a hardline stance and could engage in retaliatory action should Pyongyang increase posturing.

While corruption exists, its impact on business activity remains low-to-moderate. The rule of law is generally observed and enforced, although corruption in the judiciary, as well as allegations of nepotism and patronage, have raised concerns. South Korea is generally safe from powerful earthquakes, although it is susceptible to storm systems during the typhoon season as well as other aberrant weather patterns. High-quality healthcare is available, although modern and well-equipped hospitals are limited to urban centers.

South Korea is generally a safe destination for travelers. Petty opportunistic crime poses a limited threat to visitors in the main urban centers. Protests and strike actions occur fairly regularly, although they mostly result in localized disruptions to traffic and commerce rather than pose a direct threat to the safety of individuals. North Korea remains a latent threat due to its history of provocative rhetoric and actions, along with its nuclear capabilities. Though generally reduced tensions from 2018 raised hopes for better ties between the two Koreas, periods of escalated rhetoric and symbolic threats continue to occur. Transnational extremist groups are not known to have a presence in South Korea, and the country has strong counter-terrorism capabilities in place.

There are no major safety concerns over air travel.

There are no major safety concerns over air travel, however, driving can be somewhat dangerous due to reckless motorists.

The Port of Busan is efficient.

Electricity supply, mobile network coverage, and Internet connections are reliable across the country, with the country having one of the fastest Internet connections in the world.

Cybercrime poses a credible threat due to the high use of, and reliance on, online networks and platforms.

South Korea is susceptible to powerful and disruptive storm systems during the typhoon season July-September. Climatic extremes can also occur during the summer and winter periods. The country is not in an active seismic region, and high-intensity tremors are rare. The demilitarized zone separating North and South Korea remains one of the most heavily mined areas in the world.

South Korea has several diseases and health threats, including Japanese encephalitis. Vaccines before travel are also recommended. Decent-quality private medical facilities can be found in major cities; however, healthcare is lacking in rural locations. Access to mental health services is limited. Tap water is considered safe for drinking.

The election of Moon Jae-In as the country's new president in early May 2017 helped eased some of the political uncertainty generated by the impeachment of his predecessor Park Geun-Hye over corruption allegations. Corruption levels are still considered low, whilst rule of law is generally observed. However, the recent scandal involving the former president, a confidante, and several local conglomerations have exposed a shady nexus between political and corporate interests in the country.