What to Pack for Busan: A Student's Packing List
Also in: Tiếng Việt · Bahasa Indonesia · Bahasa Melayu · اردو · বাংলা
Busan has four real seasons. Here is what to bring, what to leave at home, and what you can easily buy after you arrive.
Busan weather at a glance
| Month | Average temperature |
|---|---|
| January (coldest) | About 2°C, can drop below 0°C |
| April | About 14°C |
| July (rainiest) | About 26°C, very humid |
| August (hottest) | About 27°C |
| October | About 17°C |
Typhoons can come between July and early October. Winters are dry and windy, so a warm padded jacket is essential.
Bring from home
- Passport, admission letter and copies of all visa documents
- Passport photos (3.5 × 4.5 cm, white background) for your ARC
- Personal medicine with the prescription, in original packaging
- Plug adapter: Korea uses type C/F plugs, 220V
- Some favorite dry spices (without meat)
- A few days of clothes for the season you arrive in
Buy in Korea
- Winter jacket and bedding (cheaper and made for Korean winters)
- Toiletries and kitchen items
- Rice cooker and small appliances (220V)
Arriving with two big suitcases? If you spend your first night in Seoul, the Incheon Airport limousine bus is the easiest ride into the city: your bags go under the bus, and you get off near your hotel. See all options in your first 30 days in Busan.
Book the airport limousine bus →
Do not bring
- Meat, sausages, dried meat, eggs and dairy. These are effectively banned. Undeclared farm and livestock products can lead to heavy fines.
- Some medicines, such as strong sleeping pills or cough medicine with codeine, need special permission.
- Fresh fruit and vegetables must be declared.
You can bring up to about a 3-month supply of normal personal medicine with a prescription.
Next: your first 30 days in Busan.
