South Korea

Please contact a local embassy, consulate or representative for more information. Alternatively, there are specialist companies that provide visa and immigration support to the media industry who may be able to assist.

Film Location Permits

Generally speaking, it isn’t really possible to completely control city traffic, so the best approach is to film on less busy side streets, particularly during the weekend.

Filming in the subway is possible but takes about two weeks to permit.

B-roll filming doesn’t require permits.

Drone filming in Seoul is also possible and takes about three weeks to permit.

Customs

For productions looking to bring in film equipment, South Korea is an ATA carnet country.

When to Film

When to Film

South Korea has a moderate four season climate.

The hottest part of the year is during the rainy season, between July and August, and the coldest is December to February with snowfall common. Spring and autumn are mild, mainly dry and are generally considered the best times to shoot.

In South Korea, Christianity and Buddhism are the main religions.

Public Holidays

Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in South Korea.

Costs & VAT

South Korea is a relatively expensive place to shoot, certainly compared to the rest of Asia. South Korea has a similar price point to Japan, the US and Western Europe.

The standard VAT rate in South Korea at the time of writing is set at 10%.