A Minimalist Packing List for South Korea (Summer)

I decided to go for full-minimalism when packing for Seoul, South Korea.

I was a shopaholic, especially during the time I went to Korea. On a Delta flight, we were allowed a personal item, a carryon item, and a checked bag for free. So this is what I brought: a big Adidas backpack with my personal items and electronics, a carryon on suitcase that had all of my clothes, and then a nearly empty suitcase that basically just had my gifts for my host family. And I did go shopping quite a bit—I almost filled that empty suitcase on the way back.

For clothes, bring light fabrics. Korea in the summer is hot and humid; when I was there, one of the days it reached 120 Fahrenheit. Buying clothes in Korea also is a good idea; I bought lightweight pants and shirts while I was there, which was perfect for the weather. You can also buy a cheap umbrella there, but if you’d prefer to bring your own, bring one. Especially if you go in June—that’s monsoon season. It’ll rain a lot.

I brought eight t-shirts, eight pairs of shorts, and a lot of underwear/socks. I was going for six weeks, and that was the perfect amount of clothing for me. I also bought quite a bit of tops and pants while I was there, so it ended up working.

I recommend bringing a tote bag or using the backpack from the plane on the streets, especially if you plan on shopping—some stores will charge you a couple extra won for a bag, and it’s more sustainable to just put them in your own bag.

Bring shampoo and conditioner if you’re not East Asian. It might be harder to find a certain type that isn’t suited for Korean hair. I also recommend bringing spray sunscreen if you’re into that; they don’t sell spray sunscreen in Korea.

I brought makeup, but I honestly didn’t wear much of it because it was so hot. I sweated it all off, then I bought quite a bit while I was there anyways. People always said to bring tampons, but I found them in Seoul?

Korea is extremely safe; you could literally leave your bag on the table at a cafe and no one will touch it. My friend left her $120 shoes she bought in a store in Hongdae, went back three hours later, and they were still there.

As a woman, I felt very safe, but a few times men would indeed stare or make creepy comments. It might be because I was a foreigner living in Anyang, but I got asked if I was Russian a few times, which apparently means asking if I’m a prostitute? Only old men asked me that.

However, Korea does have sexism issues. I say this because I never went out alone at night, nor did I wander into isolated areas. I stuck to main paths. I say I felt safe in Korea, but I also was only there for a brief time, nor did I feel comfortable putting myself in situations where I had the potential to feel unsafe. I recommend exercising caution wherever you go as a foreign woman.

Bring a converter if you don’t have plugs adjusted for Korean outlets. I bought a three-pack on Amazon and they worked perfectly. I also don’t recommend bringing a water bottle if you’re going outside of Seoul; the tap water might not be as clean. In Seoul, it was fine, but you could also buy mini water bottles for 500 won, or the equivalent of 45 cents in USD.

Bring walking shoes. I walked an average of 17,000 steps when I was in Korea, and there’s so many great trails and mountains. Your feet are going to hate you otherwise.

I brought my laptop, but I honestly didn’t use it much. There’s so much to see and do, so unless you need it for work, then just don’t bother.

Definitely bring a nice camera—the views from Namsan, Gyeongbokgung, or even the streets of Hongdae are worth capturing in HD.

I recommend getting a SIM card there. It’s just easier to navigate with something like Naver Maps, rather than just relying on the subway maps. I got lost quite a bit even when a cell plan.

Those are all my tips :) Hope this is helpful for someone!