Korea's K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) is normally required in advance for visitors from many visa-waiver countries. As part of an ongoing push to boost tourism, the government has repeatedly extended a temporary exemption from this requirement for a substantial list of nationalities — including the United States, United Kingdom, and most of the EU — with the current exemption period running through December 31, 2026.
This means many visitors can currently enter Korea on the strength of their existing visa-waiver eligibility alone, without separately applying for and paying for a K-ETA beforehand.
Why this is worth double-checking anyway
This exemption has been extended more than once already, and whether it's renewed again past its current end date isn't guaranteed. See our visa & entry guide for how we handle this kind of fast-changing rule, and confirm your specific nationality's current status on Korea's official immigration site shortly before you fly rather than assuming this article is still accurate by the time you travel.