Prohibited items in South Korea include illegal drugs, weapons (firearms, ammunition), counterfeit goods, pornography, and certain prescription drugs without proper documentation. Strict regulations also ban importing many agricultural products, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and meat, to prevent disease. NVWA +4
Drugs, Weapons, and Dangerous Substances
In North Korea, jeans are banned because they are seen as a symbol of Western culture and capitalism, which the regime opposes. The government enforces strict dress codes to maintain ideological control, and wearing blue jeans, in particular, is considered an act of defiance against the state's anti-Western stance.
Weekly Work Limit: 52 Hours
Despite the 40-hour workweek cap, South Korea's labor law permits employees to work more than 8 hours in a day without violating the law, as long as the total weekly working hours do not exceed 52 hours.
The "3 date rule" in Korean dating often refers to the expectation that after about three dates, the couple should define the relationship as exclusive ("official") or move from casual "sseom" (flirting/pre-dating) to a committed relationship, a much faster pace than in some Western cultures, sometimes involving immediate texts after the first date to show interest, with the third date often solidifying commitment, though personal feelings vary.
What Not to Do in Seoul on Your 1st Visit
Korea's 3-3-3 brushing rule is simple: brush your teeth three times a day, within three minutes of eating, for at least three minutes each time. In South Korea, this routine is widely followed, especially after sugary snacks, coffee breaks, and garlicky meals.
The Youth Protection Revision Act, commonly known as the Shutdown Law or Cinderella Law, was an act of the South Korean National Assembly which forbade children under the age of sixteen to play video games between the hours of 00:00 and 06:00.
The average Korean sleeps 7 hours and 41 minutes a night. That's 41 minutes less than the OECD average of 8 hours 22 minutes — the lowest among all 38 member nations.
In addition, there is also the concept of a weekly holiday (paid holiday). If you work more than 15 hours a week, 1 day must be guaranteed as a paid holiday. Generally, this is Sunday, and on this day, you can receive wages even if you do not come to work.
Korea really loves monochrome fashion — lots of black, white, and neutral tones. It makes sense: it's easy to mix and match, looks clean, and creates harmony in an outfit. And honestly, it always looks good!
South Korea is the only developed country where tattooing is considered a procedure that only medical professionals are capable of legally performing. While tattoos are not illegal, tattoo artists face fines of up to 50 million won ($35,464) as well as prison terms for practicing their craft.
Leggings/yoga pants are considered gymwear and not something to be worn out on the streets. If you really must wear them, pair with a long top or dress.
Common Korean Etiquette
On that note, here area few helpful tips to get you by! 1) Take your shoes off at the door when entering any residence, temple, or guesthouse. 2) Greet people you meet with a short bow—essentially a nod—and soft handshake using both hands. 3) Give and receive any object using both hands.
South Korea enforces some of the strictest customs inspections in East Asia, with 2026 regulations focusing heavily on medication permits and new definitions for vaping products. One undeclared item can result in immediate fines or a permanent mark on your travel record.
Many cultures successfully have separate sleeping arrangements. The Japanese and Korean cultures for example, consider sleeping a private practice and find that having separate beds or rooms for sleeping leads to better quality sleep overall.
Abstract. In Korea, a person with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a person with a BMI ≥30 kg/m2 is classified as severely obese. Central obesity is defined as a waist circumference ≥90 cm for Korean men and ≥85 cm for Korean women.
Prostitution in South Korea is illegal, but according to The Korea Women's Development Institute, the sex trade in Korea was estimated to amount to 14 trillion South Korean won ($13 billion) in 2007, roughly 1.6% of the nation's GDP.
For South Korean Landlines:
Dial 011 – This is the US exit code. Dial 82 – The country code for South Korea. Dial the area code – Without the leading 0. Dial the local number – Usually 6 to 8 digits.
Drug policy of South Korea. The drug policy of South Korea is one of the strictest in the world. Under South Korean law, its citizens are prohibited from using drugs, even if they are abroad in a country where the use of drugs is legal.
By encouraging children to brush their teeth after every meal at home and in school, Korea has come to view toothbrushing as not only a matter of hygiene, but also an act of "social etiquette," according to Cho Hyun-jae, professor of dentistry at Seoul National University.
The fair skin, long, dark hair and round face are still qualities desired today where female Korean beauty is concerned. 신윤복 often painted women, and his work is full of insights on Korean femininity in the Joseon-era. It's not really a secret that Korea is a patriarchal society.
Although extreme diets are considered the norm for all K-pop idols, recent media attention has been drawn to the fixation of female idol weight loss, particularly after a Korean drama star commented that "if a woman weighs over 50kg, she must be nuts".