Updated on 16 September 2026 ·
source checked daily
South Korea — official level as of 16 September 2026: Level 1/4 ("Exercise Normal Precautions"), from the U.S. Department of State. Maximum Insurance covers this country: hospital settled directly, unlimited repatriation, CHF 1.5M, certificate on payment.
Four official readings
United StatesState Departmentsource ↗Our reference level — the one shown across this site
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
Level 1/4 — “Exercise Normal Precautions”levels 1 and 2 are advice to be careful, not travel restrictions
FranceFrance Diplomatiesource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: red or orange AREAS
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country+ orange areas
our reading: some areas are classified orange (advised against except for imperative reasons)
United KingdomFCDOsource ↗Added on top of the U.S. level, under its own rules: travel statuses
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
our reading: no travel advised against
source reviewed 14 May 2026
SwitzerlandFDFAsource ↗Advisory cited by the Maximum policy
Is the whole country advised against?Nono restriction on the whole country
our reading: the FDFA advises against no travel
The four readings on record agree: no restriction on the whole country — France still flags orange areas.Our comparison reading: 15 September 2026
Every country has its own scale, so we ask them all the same question: is the whole country advised against?
An advisory covering only areas of the country does not raise the answer: it stays “No”, and the area is shown in the relevant column.
The level shown on this page — and across this site — is the one published by the U.S. State Department, from 1 (normal precautions) to 4 (do not travel). France and the United Kingdom publish their own advisories, with their own rules: they add to that level, they do not replace it.
Level 1/4 — Exercise Normal Precautions
Checked on 16 September 2026 · U.S. State Department
Country briefing
Get the PDF
The comparator
What is your current insurance?
The verdict
No area exclusion at this level — but three written limits: deductible and prior approval, 90-day cap, advance under conditions.
Exact wording (official French text): « Des Voyages vers des pays où Votre gouvernement a conseillé de ne pas voyager » — general exclusion n° 11, applying to ALL travel covers.
Travelling only once? Below three trips a year, this contract is probably not for you.
Where, exactly?
What the national level does not tell you
The level is national. Risk areas are in the state advisories below.
U.S. State Department — the full advisory details the regions concerned and the reasons (crime, terrorism, kidnapping, civil unrest)
(read the advisory)
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (United Kingdom) — the United Kingdom advises against no travel to this country · reviewed 14 May 2026 Last announced change : « Updated information about submitting e-Arrivals cards when arriving in Korea (‘Entry requirements’ page). » (read the advisory)
France Diplomatie — France classifies SOME AREAS of the country as orange (advised against except for imperative reasons) — the advisory is geographic, check it for your exact destination (read the Security advisory)
No major event in progress is located in this country at this morning's check.
What we do locate on the map are events in progress — earthquakes and disasters reported by USGS and GDACS (UN / European Commission), which do have real coordinates. Hover a dot for details, click to open it in this briefing.
What is happening in South Korea right now
Live alerts and level changes, each with its official source. Continuously updated.
No level change recorded for this country since the log opened. The live alerts above are updated continuously.
What public sources give around Séoul: hospitals and clinics, nearest evacuation airport. In an emergency, one reflex: +41 22 ••• •• ••.
The closest to the city centre is Medikoseu (메디코스), 0.4 km away. A medical evacuation would depart from Aéroport International de Gimpo (김포국제공항) (GMP), 16.3 km from Séoul.
🏥 Medical network — Séoul
Medikoseu (메디코스)emergency department0.4 km from the centre of Séoul
명동성모안과emergency department0.4 km from the centre of Séoul
Lime Dentist (라임나무 치과병원)emergency department0.6 km from the centre of Séoul
Bonjung Korean Medicine Clinicemergency department0.9 km from the centre of Séoul · tel. +82-2-6952-6213
Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital (인제대학교 서울백병원)emergency department0.9 km from the centre of Séoul
Kangbuk Samsung Hospital (강북삼성병원)emergency department1.0 km from the centre of Séoul · tel. +82 1599 8114
Seoul Red Cross Hospital (서울적십자병원)emergency department1.0 km from the centre of Séoul · tel. +82 02-2002-8114
Haejeong Hospital (해정병원)emergency department1.2 km from the centre of Séoul
✈️ Aéroport International de Gimpo (김포국제공항)GMP16.3 kmNearest evacuation airport from Séoul — unlimited medical evacuation and repatriation included.
💱 Currency: KRW ₩ · 🗣 Language: Korean In an emergency from Séoul, your reflex remains +41 22 ••• •• •• — Full number in your client area.
None of these facilities is a Maximum Insurance “partner”, and none is presented as waiving upfront payment: this list is a reading of public map data, nothing more. A direct payment guarantee is arranged CASE BY CASE by our assistance desk, facility by facility and when the need arises — one number, +41 22 ••• •• ••.
Frequently asked questions — travel insurance South Korea
What is the official risk level in South Korea today?
Level 1/4 ("Exercise Normal Precautions") according to the U.S. Department of State, retrieved on 16 September 2026. Maximum Insurance checks this official source every day.
What does Maximum Insurance do in South Korea?
The Pack VIP ($990 for twelve months, unlimited trips) covers CHF 1.5M emergency medical expenses, unlimited evacuation and repatriation, the direct payment guarantee in hospital, and a nominative certificate in the format visa applications require, Schengen included. The Pack VIP Extreme adds crisis management & security and Kidnap & Ransom (subject to eligibility).
Do I need an insurance certificate for a South Korea visa?
Many consulates require proof of international medical cover before issuing a visa — Schengen included for non-European travellers. Maximum Insurance issues the official named certificate on payment, accepted for these procedures.
What should I do if hospitalised in South Korea?
One reflex: call +41 22 ••• •• •• (24/7). Within our worldwide medical network — 45,000 medical providers — the insurer sends its direct payment guarantee: the hospital is settled directly, no deposit advanced by the traveller.
Is an Amex, Visa or Mastercard enough in South Korea?
These are travel-insurance options, with a public notice. At level 4/4 (Do Not Travel), several notices rule the trip out (Amex, exclusion no. 11; Mastercard Fortuneo, art. 5.5). Below that, the area exclusion generally does not apply — 90 days max, reimbursement afterwards, no visa certificate remain. The VIP Pack runs 12 months, pays the hospital, and issues the certificate on payment.
Are a health plan or a travel policy enough in South Korea?
A health plan treats you at home: the hospital here asks for a guarantee before admission. A travel policy has its own terms — often a territorial clause at level 4/4, and 90 days. Without the document (IPID number or PDF), we cannot say. Ask a Maximum Insurance expert to call you back.
The displayed level comes from the State Department, checked every morning. Before departure, always cross-check your country of residence's advisory: that is what your policy cites.
The level shown is the official U.S. Department of State level, checked daily. Maximum Insurance is an insurance distributor — general information, not personal advice.