🇰🇷 Republic of Korea (한국)
Visiting: SafeLGBT visiting: Reasonable
South Korea is safe to visit. There is no conflict at all, ranking 1st, and violent crime is close to non-existent, the 11th-lowest homicide rate. Where it lags is LGBT rights, which are limited, placed 74th, though that is still inside the top half. Freedom is well protected, road deaths are low and women's safety is good, all ranking between 28th and 43rd.
Homicide
Intentional homicides per 100,000 people — lower is better.
South Korea: 0.5
Ranked 11th in the world for the lowest homicide rate.
Why this rank?
Half a killing per 100,000 people a year is well under the one-per-100,000 mark where the safest countries sit.
Is it safe to visit?
As safe as it gets. Strangers are rarely involved.
Road Fatalities
Road-traffic deaths per 100,000 people per year — lower is better.
South Korea: 6.9
Ranked 42nd in the world for the safest roads.
Why this rank?
Under seven deaths per 100,000 people a year is low but close to seven and a half, which is half the world average.
Is it safe to visit?
Safe by world standards.
Conflict — world number one
Conflict deaths inside the country in the last twelve months, as recorded by the Uppsala conflict database, civilians killed on purpose, and any UN sanctions or court order over a war. The worst of those sets the colour. Lower is better.
South Korea: 1.00
Ranked 1st least conflict-affected country in the world.
Why this rank?
Nothing on record. The Uppsala conflict database has never recorded a conflict death in South Korea since its records began in 1989.
Is it safe to visit?
Safe. Nothing armed is recorded in five years. Daily life carries on as if the border did not exist.
Freedom
Six freedoms rated 0–4 by Freedom House — protest, speech, press, religion, movement and due process. The weakest rating sets the colour, and the total places the country inside it — higher is better.
South Korea: 8.69
Ranked 28th freest country in the world.
Why this rank?
In South Korea the lowest are press and due process at 3. Total 22 of 24.
Is it safe to visit?
A robust democracy with regular handovers of power and civil liberties generally respected. Bans on pro-North Korean activity limit some political expression, and journalists can face pressure over coverage of party figures.
LGBT Rights
LGBT equality in law and daily life — higher is better.
South Korea: 4.6
Ranked 74th most equal in the world for LGBT people.
Why this rank?
Legal in civilian life with no recognition, and the military criminalises sex between servicemen. The law index sits at 53 and public opinion at 39.
Is it safe to visit?
Reasonable. Seoul Pride draws tens of thousands and equally large church counter-protests. The young are far ahead of the politics.
Women's Safety
Women's safety — feeling safe out at night, political violence against women, a fair hearing in court, and how normal violence at home is, with the night figure setting a floor on the colour — higher is better.
South Korea: 8.13
Ranked 43rd safest country in the world for women.
Why this rank?
Most women feel safe out alone at night and the courts rate high. Attitudes to violence at home are the one weak figure.
Is it safe to visit?
For a woman travelling alone, South Korea is safe.