Seoul entry cost 2026: the 10,000 won travel authorization is waived all year
by RuinMyTrip Editorial · Sep 2, 2026
South Korea's electronic travel authorization costs 10,000 won, but nationals of the currently exempt countries need none at all between 1 January and 31 December 2026.
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The Korea Electronic Travel Authorization costs 10,000 won, and for most visitors to Seoul in 2026 it costs nothing at all, because the exemption has been extended for another full year. The official application portal lists the fee as 10,000 won and says review normally takes up to 72 hours.
The waiver runs all year
A notice published by a Korean diplomatic mission sets the extension "From January 1, 2026 (Thursday) to December 31, 2026 (Thursday) (KST)" and states that the countries and regions currently exempt, including the United States, are covered by it. Exempt travellers are shown a message telling them no authorization is needed.
You can still apply
The same notice says those who want the benefits of an approval may apply anyway, and "in that case, the application fee will be charged". That is a choice rather than a requirement, and the fee is not refunded.
What a trip costs
Two travellers from an exempt country pay nothing to enter Seoul in 2026. The same two applying voluntarily would pay 20,000 won between them. What happens after 31 December 2026 is not settled, since the waiver has been renewed a year at a time and no page states a permanent policy.
Sources: https://www.k-eta.go.kr/portal/apply/index.do and https://usa.mofa.go.kr/us-newyork-en/brd/m_25545/view.do?seq=21
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