Do Türkiye passport holders need a visa to visit South Korea?

Türkiye ordinary passport holders can visit South Korea visa-free for up to 90 days, but must obtain a Korea Electronic Travel Authorization (K-ETA) online before boarding — Türkiye is NOT on the K-ETA exemption list. Under a long-standing bilateral visa-exemption agreement (in force since 3 May 1972), holders of Türkiye ordinary passports do not need a visa for tourism or short visits to South Korea of up to 90 days. However, since the K-ETA system became mandatory, Türkiye is not among the countries temporarily exempted from K-ETA (the exemption runs 1 April 2023 to 31 December 2026 and covers a different set of nationalities). Therefore Turkish travelers must apply for and receive an approved K-ETA before they board a flight or vessel to Korea — airlines will deny boarding without it. The K-ETA costs KRW 10,000 (plus a small payment-processing fee), is normally approved within 72 hours, is valid for up to 3 years (or until passport expiry) and allows multiple entries, though each stay cannot exceed the 90-day visa-free limit. From 2026, all foreign arrivals must also complete an electronic e-Arrival Card before entry. The passport should be valid for the duration of the intended stay (six months' validity is widely recommended). This verdict was verified against the South Korean visa policy and the official K-ETA portal as of 30 May 2026.