All visitors to Korea
will need a visa. The
Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade just writes misleading text. Let me explain...
Nationals of certain countries DO NOT need to apply for a visa before arriving on Korean soil. What happens is that they will automatically receive a tourist visa upon arrival. It will be stamped automatically by immigration in their passport. Everyone (bar Korean passport holders) must have a visa of some type before entering Korea.
Straight from the
Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
- Any foreign visitor wishing to enter the Republic of Korea should have a valid passport and a visa.
- Certain nationals can enter Korea without visas on business or travelling purposes.
Even though point 2 above says some countries do not require a visa, it is in fact wrong. I have travelled to Korea and they did stamp in my passport a tourist visa.
Working as a volunteer is still illegal on a tourist visa. Reason being is that whilst you are not receiving money, you are in fact receiving remuneration of some type. Be it by free accommodation, insurance or whatever. If an accident did occur on the workplace, you would need to be covered by insurance, and without the correct visa, no insurance company will cover you.
Does this clarify or confuse things for you??