Seoul Travel Risk — Moderate Risk (28/100)
Is Seoul safe right now? Checked 16 October 2026
Seoul scores 28/100 on our travel risk index (Moderate). The US State Department rates South Korea Level 1 (Exercise Normal Precautions, updated 28 May 2025); the UK has no advice against travel; Canada says: exercise normal security precautions. No GDACS or USGS hazard events within 100 km in the last 14 days. No change in government advice in the last 7 days.
Disease & health (score 12)
Political instability (score 30)
September 27, 2026
Seoul, South Korea has a current Travel Risk Calculator composite score of 28 out of 100 (moderate risk tier); the highest-rated risk category is political instability at 30/100; the lowest-rated category is disease & health at 12/100; last updated September 27, 2026. For official nationwide security advisories, entry requirements, and health notices, see the South Korea travel risk page. Real-time conditions below include live weather, official advisory levels, GDACS disaster alerts, and current news.
Get a personalized assessment for your tripHow safe is Seoul to visit in 2026?
Seoul currently sits at 28/100 on our composite travel-risk index, which puts it in the moderate-risk tier. Most travelers will be fine with normal precautions, but a few categories below score high enough that planning matters. The highest-rated risk category for Seoul is political instability (30/100), and the lowest is disease & health (12/100). This page was last updated on September 27, 2026; the baseline category scores reflect analytical indicators, layered with live conditions throughout the day. Live conditions — weather and air quality every 30 minutes, US State Department advisory every 6 hours, GDACS disaster alerts every 30 minutes, CDC health notices every 12 hours, and news every hour — are cached at the source and refreshed automatically when stale.
Driven by: natural hazards (63/100) and security (18/100).
A score of 28 is higher than the scores of 21% of the 241 countries we cover.
AI safety snapshot · refreshed Oct 15, 2026
Seoul currently maintains a moderate baseline risk composite score of 28 out of 100 with a US State Department advisory level of 1 and a CDC Level 1 Global Dengue health notice. Recent headlines note that Seoul has raised its travel alert and urged citizens to leave Saudi Arabia. Otherwise, local safety conditions remain stable according to current reporting.
AI-summarized strictly from the live public-source data below (US State Dept advisory, GDACS, CDC, Google News). Auto-refreshed at most once per day on the first visit. Not official advice.
Live conditions last refreshed: Oct 16, 2026 03:37 UTC
What should I do now?
- Run a real assessment. Open the calculator for live data (weather, advisory, news) layered onto this baseline.
- Political instability (score 30/100): Avoid demonstrations and political gatherings. Monitor news the morning of travel. Have a flexible departure plan.
- Government advisory (score 25/100): Read your country's current official advisory within 7 days of travel. Register with your embassy on arrival if available.
- Check your country's advisory. The single most authoritative live signal. Linked at the bottom of every real assessment.
Day vs Night Safety in Seoul
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
Daytime transit and exploration in central areas are generally safe and routine. Standard alertness in crowded transit hubs and tourist plazas is adequate.
After dark, keep to well-illuminated thoroughfares and busy dining/entertainment quarters. Use verified taxis or rideshare apps when returning late.
Safety by Traveler Type in Seoul
Guidance based on our scores and official advice — not a measured score.
No group-specific warning is triggered in Seoul for solo travelers (Crime 15/100 · Transport 20/100), women traveling solo (Crime 15/100), families with children (Health 12/100 · Natural disaster 18/100), older travelers (Health 12/100 · Transport 20/100), business travelers (Digital 15/100 · Money 15/100 · Transport 20/100) and lgbtq+ travelers (Advisory 25/100 · Political 30/100): these scores sit in the low-to-moderate range, so standard precautions apply. Local laws affecting LGBTQ+ travelers and gender-specific incident rates are not captured in our scores; check your government's travel guidance.
Score layers
Safety categories
Source: Grounded open data research & citations
Quick facts
| Hospital access | medium |
|---|---|
| Airport risk | medium |
| Road safety | medium |
| Public transport | medium |
| Tourist scam risk | medium |
| Night safety | medium |
| Last updated | September 27, 2026 |
Live conditions in Seoul
Real-time data refreshed from public sources — weather and air quality from Open-Meteo, official advisory from the US State Department, disaster alerts from GDACS, health notices from the CDC, news from Google News. For an AI-synthesized briefing tailored to your specific trip, run a personalized assessment.
Today's weather
🌤 Mostly clear
Seoul, South Korea
| Today's high / low | 22.6°C / 13.5°C | Wind now / max | 1.1 km/h / 6 km/h |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humidity | 74% | Precipitation today | 0 mm · 80% chance |
| UV (max today) | 4.4 | Sunrise / Sunset | 06:40 / 17:54 |
- High precipitation chance
Source: Open-Meteo (free public weather API) · fetched 2026-10-16 03:18:40 UTC · cached
Air quality
Air Quality
Moderate
| PM2.5 / PM10 | 19.6 / 26.2 µg/m³ | O₃ / NO₂ | 37 / 45.5 µg/m³ |
|---|
Source: Open-Meteo Air Quality · fetched 2026-10-16 03:18:40 UTC · cached
Official travel advisory
Level 1 · Exercise Normal Precautions
South Korea - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Read full advisory → · US Department of State
Natural hazard calendar & history
5-Year Hazard Calendar (100 km Radius)
| Hazard | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floods | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — |
| Tropical Cyclones | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
Most flood events within 100 km of Seoul happened in July (3 of 6 in five years).
Source: GDACS, USGS; five years to October 2026.
For consular advice on women's safety, LGBT+ travel, and local laws, see the South Korea travel advice & laws.
Check the official entry requirements for your nationality before you travel. See the South Korea entry requirements.
Health notices
Health Notices for this Destination
-
Level 1 - Global Dengue WATCH · 2026-10-02
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years. Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites. Country List : Colombia, Vietnam, Maldives, Bolivia, Cambodia, Kenya, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Mar
-
Level 2 - Global Polio ALERT · 2026-09-23
Some international destinations have circulating poliovirus. Before any international travel, make sure you are up to date on your polio vaccines. Country List : Afghanistan, Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Nig
-
Level 1 - Global Measles WATCH · 2025-05-28
Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel. Country List : Afghan
Source: CDC Travelers’ Health · fetched 2026-10-15 19:24:31 UTC
Recent headlines
Recent Headlines · Seoul South Korea
-
Seoul raises travel alert, urges citizens to leave Saudi Arabia
The Korea Herald · 4d ago
-
South Korea official says shifting goalposts could block wartime command transfer from US, Asia News
AsiaOne · 18h ago
-
South Korea urges hikers to follow safety rules as autumn rescues surge - CHOSUNBIZ
Chosunbiz · 4d ago
-
Hwang Young-jo warns South Korea runners against time-chasing risks - CHOSUNBIZ
Chosunbiz · 2d ago
-
South Korea stabbing: Eight injured in Incheon knife attack
BBC · 2d ago
-
Suspect held after stabbing spree in South Korean supermarket
www.irishsun.com · 5h ago
Source: Google News · headlines verbatim, dates from publishers · fetched 2026-10-16 03:18:41 UTC
1991–2020 climate normals
Seasonal risk & best time to visit Seoul
The most weather-stable two-month window for Seoul is April–May, when typical daily temperatures run from about 6°C to 21°C and monthly rain averages 94 mm.
Seasonal planning flags include typhoon season in May–November; heavy rain season in July–August; monsoon in July–August. These are climate patterns, not forecasts.
Climate normals are planning context, not a short-range forecast. Source: Open-Meteo Climate API. Refreshed Jul 28, 2026.
Calculate risk for these travel dates Compare seasonal windows →
Practical safety map
Safety infrastructure nearby in Seoul
Seoul has 10 hospitals, 10 police stations, 5 embassies, 10 pharmacies and 5 fire stations within 7 km of the city center in the latest OpenStreetMap extract.
The interactive map loads when it approaches the viewport.
Facility list (works without JavaScript)
- Hospital: Bonjung Korean Medicine Clinic
- Hospital: Cheil General Hospital & Women's Healthcare Center
- Hospital: Haejeong Hospital
- Hospital: Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital
- Hospital: Kangbuk Samsung Hospital
- Hospital: Lime Dentist
- Hospital: Medikoseu
- Hospital: Seoul Red Cross Hospital
- Hospital: 명동성모안과
- Hospital: 제일병원 건강증진센터
- Police: Bukchang Community Policing Center
- Police: HanaTour
- Police: Jongno Police Station
- Police: Korea Tourist Police
- Police: Myeongdong Community Policing Center
- Police: Seosomun Community Policing Center
- Police: 서울남대문경찰서 서소문파출소
- Police: 서울종로경찰서관수파출소
- Police: 서울중부경찰서
- Police: 세종로파출소
- Embassy: Embassy of Ecuador
- Embassy: Embassy of Greece
- Embassy: Embassy of People's Republic of China
- Embassy: 三民主義大同盟 韓國地區 삼민주의 대동맹 한국지구
- Embassy: 그리스대사관
- Pharmacy: Coco Pharmacy
- Pharmacy: 광교약국
- Pharmacy: 명동스타약국
- Pharmacy: 명동하이약국
- Pharmacy: 새열린약국
- Pharmacy: 오아시스약국
- Pharmacy: 이층약국
- Pharmacy: 판다약국
- Pharmacy: 피치유약국
- Pharmacy: 휴베이스하이약국
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Unnamed fire station
- Fire station: Singyo 119 Safety Center
- Fire station: 북아현119안전센터
- Fire station: 종로소방서 연견 119 안전센터
Map and facility data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Locations can be incomplete or outdated; confirm before relying on them. See this destination’s numbers or browse emergency numbers by country.
Emergency numbers (South Korea)
| Police | 112 |
|---|---|
| Ambulance | 119 |
| Fire | 119 |
| General | 112 |
See nearby hospitals, police, pharmacies, embassies, and fire stations on the safety map.
Medical access
| Hospital access | high |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy access | high |
| Emergency response | high |
| English-speaking care | medium |
| Evacuation complexity | low |
Seoul features highly efficient emergency services accessible via numbers like 119 and 112, alongside widely available 24-hour pharmacies. Quality medical facilities are readily accessible throughout the city for international travelers.
Common scam patterns
- Pickpocketing. Pickpocketing can occur in crowded tourist locations like Myeongdong. Remaining alert in heavily congested areas helps protect your belongings. Tip: Stay vigilant and keep valuables secure when visiting crowded shopping districts.
- Taxi Overcharging. Some taxi drivers may claim the meter is broken to charge inflated flat rates to foreign visitors. Drivers have also been known to overcharge foreign national passengers. Tip: Use vetted transport options like Kakao Taxi or check bilingual receipts.
- Drink-Spiking. Occasional incidents of drink-spiking have been reported at touted bars in nightlife districts. Visitors should keep a close eye on their drinks. Tip: Avoid accepting drinks from strangers or leaving beverages unattended in nightlife venues.
Area notes
- Myeongdong. A popular shopping district where visitors should remain cautious of pickpocketing in crowded areas.
- Itaewon. An entertainment district featuring nightlife venues where visitors should watch out for touted bars and exercise crowd-management awareness.
- Hongdae. A vibrant area known for active late-night environments and popular among solo female travelers.
Nearest embassies & consulates
Find your home country's diplomatic mission in South Korea for consular support, lost passports, or citizen emergencies:
Run a personalized assessment for Seoul
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Calculate my trip riskScore history
| When | Score change | Tier | Reason / source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2026 | 19 → 28 | low → moderate | Method change (scoring v2) scoring v2 |
| Aug 4, 2026 | 0 → 0 | unknown | Data update Grounded open data research & citations |
| May 15, 2026 | — → 19 | low | Data update Editorial baseline 2026-05-14 (Numbeo + WHO + State Dept + Global Peace Index references) |
Every editorial change to Seoul's composite score is logged here, with the source and reason for the change. Live data overlays (weather, advisories, disaster alerts, news) refresh continuously on their own cadences and are not recorded as score changes — see the Live conditions section above for current overlay state.
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Transparency & Sources
We document the baseline sources, coverage scope, and data inputs for this destination below.
Sources used
- SimpleMaps World Cities (CC BY 4.0): Coordinates, region, population for Seoul
- Travel Risk Calculator score (method v2): Security, crime and scams, health, natural hazards and current alerts for Seoul, from US, UK and Canadian advisories, INFORM, World Bank, UCDP, CDC, GDACS, USGS and OpenStreetMap
- Editorial baseline (Travel Risk Calculator): City-level threat scoring across 9 categories (crime, health, advisory, political, disaster, transport, environmental, digital security, money safety)
Live data overlays on this page refresh asynchronously on the source cadences shown above. Run an assessment to create a trip-specific briefing using your dates and traveler profile.
Baseline scope
- Category scores represent an analytical baseline, updated from official feeds and public records.
Coverage notes
- Transport-hub safety notes (airport, train stations).
Methodology · Full data-source registry · Report a correction
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Disclaimer
Travel Risk Calculator provides estimated travel-threat information for preparation purposes only. It does not replace official government advisories, medical advice, emergency alerts, immigration rules, insurance advice, police guidance, embassy information, or professional security consultation.