Seoul

Is Seoul safe?

Yes. Seoul is one of the safest big cities we score, at 87 out of 100. South Korea's homicide rateHomicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary was 0.48 per 100,000 in 2023 (UNODC), less than a tenth of the US rate, and the UK Foreign Office calls crime against foreigners rare. People leave laptops on café tables, women walk home from Hongdae at 2am, and the subway feels as safe at 11pm as at noon.

Seoul sits a few points below Tokyo because of air quality, summer floods and a nightlife scene that has had its own serious problems. For entry rules, North Korea and travel outside the capital, see our South Korea page.

What happened in Itaewon, and is it safe now?

On 29 October 2022, 159 people died in a crowd crush during Halloween celebrations in Itaewon, most of them young people in a narrow, sloping lane next to World Food Street. There was no official organiser, so neither police nor the district had a crowd plan, and warning calls to police in the hours before were not acted on.

Since then, Seoul treats big crowds very differently. On Halloween weekend in 2025, police and Yongsan district staff put temporary barriers down World Food Street to force one-way walking, guided people through Itaewon Station and patrolled from early evening. Similar measures apply in Hongdae, Gangnam and other popular areas.

On a normal night, Itaewon, Hongdae and Gangnam are safe to go out in. On peak nights (Halloween, New Year's Eve, the Seoul fireworks festival, big concerts), stay out of narrow alleys, follow the one-way routes and leave early if the crowd stops moving.

Theft, scams and nightlife

Pickpocketing is uncommon, though the FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary asks visitors to watch passports and cards in crowded areas and names Itaewon. Lost phones and wallets are often handed in at subway lost-and-found offices.

The scams visitors meet are small ones:

• Taxis from Incheon Airport or around Myeongdong that skip the meter or quote a flat fare. Use the official taxi rank, Kakao T or the airport limousine bus.
• Bars in Itaewon and Hongdae where a stranger orders drinks on your tab. Pay as you go.
• Street stalls with unmarked prices. Ask first.

The FCDO also notes assaults, including sexual assaults, around bars and nightlife areas. Keep an eye on your drink and get a registered taxi home rather than accepting a lift.

Hidden cameras and personal safety

Illegal filming (molka) is a long-running problem in South Korea, with thousands of cases reported to police each year. Most happen in public toilets, changing rooms and on public transport, and some cases involved cameras hidden in cheap motel rooms. Seoul's district offices check public toilets for devices, and penalties now include prison.

For a visitor, sensible habits are enough. Stay in established hotels, look for small holes or odd objects facing the bed or toilet, and report anything suspicious on 112. If someone films you on the subway, shout and tell staff; police take it seriously.

Drug laws are strict. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says British nationals have been detained solely on drug test results, even for small amounts of cannabis taken before arrival.

Roads, air and summer weather

Roads are safe for a big city: about 2.3 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024, slightly above Hong Kong. The risks for pedestrians are delivery motorbikes riding on pavements and cars that turn across crossings without stopping. Back streets in Hongdae, Itaewon and Jongno often have no pavement, so walk facing traffic.

Air is the main health issue. Annual PM2.5PM2.5Tiny airborne particles 2.5 micrometres across or smaller. They reach deep into the lungs and are the air pollutant most linked to early death.More in the glossary was 17.5 µg/m³ in 2024, Seoul's lowest in eight years but more than three times the WHO guideline. March to May is the bad season, when yellow dust from China and Mongolia adds to local fine dust. If you have asthma, check a dust app daily and carry KF94 masks, sold in every convenience store. Hospitals in Seoul are excellent and many large ones run international clinics.

Summer brings the jangma monsoon from late June to late July, followed by heat. Short, intense storms can flood underpasses, low streets in Gangnam and riverside paths along the Han within an hour. When heavy rain alerts arrive on your phone, keep out of underground passages and riverside parks. Earthquakes are rare in Seoul.

Where to stay

Jongno and Insadong (near the palaces), Myeongdong, Seoul Station and Gangnam are central, well lit and well served by the subway. Hongdae and Itaewon are fine for a young, late-night stay, though noisy at weekends. No district in central Seoul is one a visitor needs to avoid.

How we scored it

Violent crime (95) is the strongest factor, with theft (88) and walking at night (88) close behind; night safety loses points for illegal filming and crowd risk. Traffic (86) is good but not Tokyo's level. Health and environment (78) and natural hazards (78) are the weakest, because of fine dust, summer floods and heat.