Best VPN for South Korea – Stay Anonymous [Updated 2023]

South Korea’s rising popularity is quickly overshadowed by the amount of censorship and restrictions imposed by the government. This is worsened by the constant government monitoring and snooping from ISPs that compromise your online privacy. Geo-restrictions also limit your access to region-specific platforms. You will need the best VPN for South Korea to overcome this censorship and government surveillance.

A reliable VPN service is sure to get the job done – it will conceal your original IP address and change it to another location’s IP address. This will allow you to bypass any restrictions in your way. You will also have a greater level of security and privacy as Korea VPN services encrypt your data. This will effectively stop all attempts of government surveillance or attacks from hackers.

A paid or free VPN Korea is the ultimate tool that will help you regain your online freedom and gain freedom of speech online. You will be able to access every restricted site, stream any TV Show or movie, and freely surf every corner of the internet. Sounds exciting? Then don’t stop reading to find out more about the best VPN for South Korea.

Best VPNs for South Korea – at a Glance

The table below is a brief look into the features of the best VPN for South Korea:

VPNs
Website	ExpressVPN.com	Surfshark.com	NordVPN.com	CyberGhost.com	Privateinternetaccess.com
Ranking	1	2	3	4	5
Average Speed (Mbps)	100+ Mbps	100+ Mbps	100+ Mbps	100+ Mbps	100+ Mbps
Streaming Platforms Unblocked	Netflix, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and more	Netflix, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and more	Netflix, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and more	Netflix, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and more	Netflix, Paramount Plus, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, Hulu, HBO Max, YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and more
Simultaneous Connection	8 Connections	Unlimited Connection	6 Connections	7 Connections	Unlimited Connections
Activity Logs	No	No	No	No	No
Best Price	KRW 8973.46 /mo (US$ 6.67 /mo )	KRW 3349.91 /mo (US$ 2.49 /mo )	KRW 5367.93 /mo (US$ 3.99 /mo )	KRW 3080.84 /mo (US$ 2.29 /mo )	US $2.03/mo

5 Best VPNs for South Korea in 2023 [In-depth Analysis]

With hundreds of VPN services, all promising to be the best, how do you know which VPN service is the right fit? This can be hard to decide, but we have simplified it for you. We tested over 150+ VPN services and created a list featuring the best VPN for Korea. You can choose any of these services and experience an incredible time accessing the restricted internet.

The following list contains the best VPN for South Korea:

1. ExpressVPN – The Best VPN for South Korea

ExpressVPN is the best VPN for South Korea because of its premium quality features. Offering more than 3000 + servers in over 94 countries with 1 server in South Korea, the internet will become your playing field if you choose ExpressVPN. Every online activity like streaming, torrenting, and even browsing, will become smooth and seamless.

We were able to unblock South Korean shows on Viki using ExpressVPN Korean servers.

We tried to access Tving using the South Korean server and global sites like Hulu and Netflix with ExpressVPN by automatically selecting the fastest server in the region. Our tests proved to be extremely successful; the blazing-fast speed, HD quality, and consistent and uninterrupted streaming connection proved that ExpressVPN is best for VPN for streaming.

The DNS MediaStreamer is what ensures that you can access geo-restricted sites on VPN-incompatible devices, like ExpressVPN on Firestick or gaming consoles. ExpressVPN is also beyond capable of accessing region-specific streaming platforms that may not be available in your location, like Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Hulu, ESPN Plus, Netflix, Disney Plus, etc.

With a download speed of 89.42 Mbps and an upload speed of 84.46 Mbps over a 100 Mbps internet connection, our ExpressVPN speed test leaves no doubt that this VPN provider is the fastest out there – you won’t ever have to suffer through interruptions while streaming again. The unlimited bandwidth also ensures a consistent HD or Ultra HD experience.

Blazing speeds for seamless browsing and streaming!

With the simultaneous connection of up to 8 devices, sharing your subscription account with family and friends at the same time becomes easy. Moreover, ExpressVPN on Android, Linux, iOS, FireOS, Windows, macOS, etc. are just some of the operating systems that suit the VPN service. You can also use ExpressVPN on Kodi, gaming consoles, PCs, tablets, Roku, Smart TVs, smartphones, laptops, and every other device.

Protecting users from hackers and cyberattacks is ExpressVPN’s utmost priority, and it accomplishes this by implementing premium security protocols like AES 256-bit encryption, no logging policy, WebRTC leak protection, Threat Manager, automatic kill switch, IPv6 leak protection, DNS and IP leak protection, and more.

ExpressVPN DNS and IP leak test results were promising.

The ExpressVPN free trial is also a good way to assess the service – the 7-day free trial can give a glimpse into these exclusive features before the final purchase. The 30-day money-back guarantee is perfect for a full refund for new users if they cancel ExpressVPN within 30 days. ExpressVPN’s 24/7 live chat support is also available with all these features at KRW 8973.46 /mo (US$ 6.67 /mo ) (Get 49% Off + 3 Months FREE on its 12-Month Plan) – invest now and watch how your online experience transforms.

ExpressVPN is a top choice for best streaming experience specially for live sport. Cricket fans are all excited to catch up on going Asia Cup on Hotstar and other platforms. Not to forget watching India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup Final 2023 in South Korea easily once you have this reliable VPN subscription.

Check out our ExpressVPN review if you are hungry for more exclusive information on these features!

2. Surfshark – The Budget-Friendly VPN for South Korea

Surfshark is a budget-friendly VPN for South Korea at a low price of KRW 3349.91 /mo (US$ 2.49 /mo ) (Get 84% + 2 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan). Even at an affordable price, this VPN service offers high-quality amenities. Offering more than 3200 servers across 65 countries with 1 server in South Korea, Surfshark proves that it is the best cheap VPN service for every online activity, including torrenting and gaming.

Our tests consisted of connecting to the South Korean server to access Korean TV outside South Korea, like Coupang TV and Kakao TV. We also tried to access Netflix with Surfshark with USA servers. The HD quality, incredible speed, and stable connection results shined a light on the fact that Surfshark is the right VPN service for the job.

We were able to unblock Coupang Play with Surfshark Korean servers.

Its DNS feature, called Smart DNS, is just what you need to bypass geo-restrictions on VPN-incompatible devices, like Surfshark on Samsung TV. Surfshark can also easily access other international streaming sites, like Amazon Prime Video, ESPN Plus, BBC iPlayer, Comedy Central, Disney Plus, Peacock TV, and Hulu with Surfshark.

Our Surfshark speed test showed exceptional results, with a download speed of 81.32 Mbps and an upload speed of 76.12 Mbps on a 100 Mbps base connection. This proves that every online experience with Surfshark will be interruption-free. Moreover, the unlimited bandwidth is what allows constant $K UHD streaming only.

Amazing speeds for seamless browsing with Surfshark VPN.

Offering a simultaneous connection of unlimited devices, Surfshark can be used on multiple devices together, even with family and friends on one account. It also supports major operating systems, like Windows, iOS, FireOS, Linux, macOS, etc. Every kind of device, including tablets, Smart TVs, PCs, laptops, gaming consoles, Kodi, Firestick, Roku, and smartphones is easily compatible with Surfshark.

Taking caution on the internet and protecting users from prying eyes and hackers is essential, and Surfshark employs multiple security measures to ensure this. This includes WireGuard or Shadowsocks VPN tunnel, no logging policy, ad blocker, camouflage mode, multi-hop, automatic kill switch, OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec, WebRTC leak protection, DNS/IP leak protection, AES 256-bit encryption method, etc.

Surfshark successfully passed our DNS and IP leak testing.

You always have the 30-day money-back guarantee in case you cancel Surfshark and want a full refund within 30 days of purchase. The 7-day Surfshark free trial is the perfect opportunity to ensure the service is right for you before buying it. Its 24/7 live chat support will give quick responses to any questions or issues users may face. You won’t find a better affordable option than Surfshark.

A little peek at our Surfshark review will resolve any questions you may have about the VPN service.

3. NordVPN – The Largest Network of Servers VPN for South Korea

NordVPN is the largest network of servers VPN for South Korea – these servers offer some of the fastest and most consistent connections you’ll find. With more than 5600 servers in around 59 countries with 1 server in South Korea, NordVPN makes streaming or browsing seem fun yet seamless. It also has an incredibly robust security protocol and is the best no-log VPN that ensures user safety.

Using the South Korean server, we attempted to access Tving from outside South Korea. Another test we ran consisted of torrenting with NordVPN. Each trial was successful and gave fruitful results. NordVPN cemented its place as the top-notch VPN for South Korea with consistent connection, a high-speed level, and Ultra HD quality.

We were able to unblock Tving with NordVPN Korean servers.

NordVPN has a DNS feature called Smart Play that will allow you to utilize NordVPN on Firestick and gain access to geo-restricted and censored websites. You can also bypass restrictions on region-specific content with ease using NordVPN, including Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Comedy Central, Starz, Hulu, and more.

Offering a download speed of 83.82 Mbps and an upload speed of 44.64 Mbps over a 100 Mbps base connection, our NordVPN speed test shows that every online experience with this VPN service will be free of lags or delays. Featuring an unlimited bandwidth, NordVPN ensures that every TV Show or movie you stream will be in HD or Ultra HD quality.

We got excellent streaming speeds with NordVPN’s South Korea servers.

The simultaneous connection of up to 6 devices by NordVPN means that you can utilize NordVPN’s services on six devices all at the same time. NordVPN is suitable with every operating system, like iOS, Windows, Android, macOS, and FireOS, but NordVPN on Linux works exceptionally well. You can use NordVPN with every device, including Kodi, smartphones, laptops, Smart TVs, Roku, tablets, etc.

NordVPN devotes a lot of its time and energy to ensuring the safety of users and maintaining their privacy. NordLynx is a tool by NordVPN that will protect users from the likes of hackers and third-party sites. Other security protocols include multi-hop, multi-factor authentication, DoubleVPN, obfuscated servers, DNS and IPv6 leak protection, IKEv2/IPsec, AES 256-bit encryption, no logging policy, OpenVPN, kill switch, camouflage mode, etc.

No leaks were detected when testing NordVPN servers in South Korea.

The 7-day NordVPN free trial is a must before you buy the service – it can act like a test run so you can assess its features for yourself. The NordVPN 30-day money-back guarantee will always give new users full refunds if they cancel NordVPN within 30 days. With the 24/7 live chat support, you can present any queries or problems with the service and get advice from experts. Only for KRW 5367.93 /mo (US$ 3.99 /mo ) (Get 57% Off + 3 Months FREE on 2-Year Plan), this VPN service should be your go-to.

Our NordVPN review will give you a more detailed look into these features if you still have questions!

4. CyberGhost – The User-Friendly VPN for South Korea

CyberGhost is a user-friendly VPN for South Korea that offers an effective and prompt customer support team with a user-friendly interface. This VPN service supports all operating systems, like iOS, Windows, macOS, FireOS, Android, and Linux. Offering over 6000+ + in around 88 countries with 24 servers in Seoul, this VPN service is just right for bypassing any geo-restrictions you face.

We were able to access Kokoa TV alongside CyberGhost.

We could easily access South Korean local content using its South Korean servers. We could also stream popular streaming platforms, such as Disney Plus and Hulu with its US servers. It was a delight to know that every trial was a success and delivered great results of high speed, HD quality, and a consistent connection.

CyberGhost’s DNS feature, My Smart DNS, is exactly what you need if you have a VPN-incompatible device – it will easily access any restricted or censored site. Other popular streaming platforms, that are region-specific, also become available with CyberGhost, including Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Comedy Central, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Disney Plus, and Netflix with CyberGhost.

Through our CyberGhost speed test, we encountered an incredible download speed of 75.47 Mbps and an upload speed of 69.34 Mbps over a 100 Mbps internet connection. This proves that CyberGhost can offer good speed levels that ensure you’ll have an interruption-free experience. The unlimited bandwidth offered by CyberGhost ensures a consistent UHD quality.

CyberGhost provided excellent streaming speeds with its South Korean servers.

It is great to know that you can connect up to 7 devices simultaneously with CyberGhost all at the same time, by yourself or with family. Some of the tests with CyberGhost proved that it is the best VPN for iPad, however, it also works well with other devices. This includes gaming consoles, Kodi, smartphones, Smart TVs, PCs, tablets, laptops, Firesticks, etc.

CyberGhost features some of the best security protocols in the industry, this makes sure every user’s online data and activity is kept away from hackers and third-party sites. These protocols include Obfuscated servers, WireGuard, AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, malicious website and ad locking, IKEv2, multi-factor authentication, OpenVPN, DNS and IP leak protection, IPv6 leak protection, no logging policy, and more.

CyberGhost successfully passed our DNS and IP leak testing.

You can take CyberGhost on a test drive with the 7-day CyberGhost free trial. CyberGhost also offers a 45-day money-back guarantee that will ensure a full refund if you cancel CyberGhost within 30 days of purchase. CyberGhost also has 24/7 live chat support through which users can ask questions and get prompt responses. Available for only KRW 3080.84 /mo (US$ 2.29 /mo ) 79% Discount, CyberGhost is the right choice!

Take a look at our CyberGhost review for a more in-depth look!

5. PIA – The Reliable VPN for South Korea

PIA, or Private Internet Access, is a reliable VPN for South Korea. It features a vast network of servers that is perfect for seamlessly bypassing geo-restrictions and censorship. Offering over 35000 servers in more than 84 countries with nearby servers in China, Hong Kong SAR China, Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, etc. this VPN service is what you need for all kinds of online activities.

Although PIA does not offer servers in South Korea, we used nearby servers like China and Taiwan to access content, like iQiyi, during our testing stage. We also used the UK server to access Netflix. What resulted was an above-average level of speed, high quality, and incredible connection.

We were able to successfully unblock iQiyi using Private Internet Access’ China server.

The DNS feature called SmartDNS by PIA is the perfect solution for accessing restricted websites on VPN-incompatible devices, like Chromecast and Apple TV. We also tested this VPN service on other region-specific platforms and received great results, including Hulu, BBC iPlayer, HBO Max, Peacock TV, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, etc.

The PIA speed test results were incredible. With an 81.09 Mbps download speed and a 62 Mbps upload speed, PIA makes sure that your online experience won’t be interrupted by pestering lags or buffering. It also offers an unlimited bandwidth to ensure HD or Ultra HD quality in every streaming experience.

While not the fastest, we still got acceptable speeds with PIA’s nearby servers.

PIA offers a simultaneous connection of unlimited devices; you’ll be able to access restricted or censored content on multiple devices altogether. PIA works exceptionally with every operating system, like Linux, Windows, FireOS, macOS, iOS, and Android. PIA is also available on every device you can imagine, this includes smartphones, Roku, PCs, laptops, Smart TVs, Firestick, tablets, etc.

PIA features some of the best security protocols. It takes user security and privacy with great seriousness and devotes great effort to it. Its security measures include a no-logging policy, ad-blocker, multi-factor authentication, AES 256-bit encryption, kill switch, split tunneling, and DNS/IP leak protection.

PIA’s 30-day money-back guarantee is the perfect solution if you want to cancel the subscription and get a full refund – all within 30 days of purchase. PIA offers a 7-day free trial that will act as a window into the internet you will unlock with PIA. If you ever experience an issue with PIA, head over to its 24/7 live chat support for an effective and quick solution. At just US $2.19 per month, PIA’s incredible features can easily be yours.

Are you still curious? Have a look at our PIA review for a vivid picture of what you can do with this VPN service.

How to find the best VPNs for South Korea: Testing methodology

Not every VPN service is worth your money or time. It took a great deal of time and effort to narrow down hundreds of VPN services to just a few. But this was achieved by analyzing every VPN service on a few essential factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, speed performance, number of servers, security features, unblocking abilities, etc. These were the factors that determined the best VPN for Korea.

The following list holds a brief look into the factors analyzed to finalize the best VPN for South Korea:

Number of Servers

If a VPN service does not have enough servers at its disposal, users will only face constant inconvenience. Fewer servers will lead to overcrowding, poor connection, and inability to access restricted sites. This is why a VPN service must have multiple servers in every country. Our list contains VPN providers with a vast network of servers for user satisfaction.

Speed Performance

A good level of speed is essential if the VPN provider wants to give users a good online experience.  If a VPN service has bad speed performance, users will be plagued with constant interruptions like lags or buffering. We ensured that our list contains VPN providers with high-speed performance, like ExpressVPN with a download speed of 89.42 Mbps and an upload speed of 84.46 Mbps over a 100 Mbps base connection.

Security and Privacy

Protecting user data and online activity should be every Korea VPN service’s top priority. This is because cyberattacks and other threats increase every day; it is important to protect users from, hackers, and prying eyes. Some bare minimum security protocols a VPN provider should have are AES 256-bit encryption, DNS/IP leak protection, no logging policy, and a kill switch.

Unblock Geo-Restricted Channels

Every VPN provider should be able to unblock geo-restricted and censored websites – that is their primary task. If a VPN provider can only access a few restricted sites, that too with a slow speed or bad connection, then it is not worth your time. We made sure to test every VPN service on multiple websites and streaming platforms.

Price

Not every expensive VPN is the best VPN out there. Many VPN services offer an affordable price with some of the most incredible features in the industry. This was also proven in our testing stage. We made it a priority to include affordable and higher-end options in our final list so that every demographic is catered to.

Why do I need a VPN in South Korea?

Some of the main reasons you need a VPN in South Korea are to access geo-restricted websites or streaming platforms and to bypass government surveillance and censorship. Geographical restrictions are the reasons you can’t access content that is not available in your location.

Moreover, the constant threat South Korea faces from North Korea has led to very high government surveillance of citizens. ISPs in South Korea record user activity and share it with the government. Although this is to ensure South Korea’s safety, it is jeopardizing user’s online freedom and privacy.

A VPN is a simple and easy solution. It will change your IP address to another location’s IP address, making it seem like you are in another country. This means that if you connect to a South Korean server, you’ll be able to access restricted South Korean content from abroad. And if you connect to another country’s server, you’ll be able to bypass restrictions on that specific country’s online content – you’ll need the best VPN for Korean Netflix. You can also overcome government monitoring and censorship as all the traffic to and from your device will be encrypted.

How do I get a South Korean VPN?

Getting a VPN for South Korea can seem scary if you are a first-time VPN user. However, it is one of the most simple and quick processes out there. The following steps are all you need to get the best VPN for South Korea:

South Korean content you can watch with a VPN

Now that you know how to set up a Korea VPN, it’s time to decide the type of content you want to unblock using the service. Do you simply want to browse restricted sites? Or maybe stream your favorite TV Show or movie on a geo-restricted platform? Either way, the skyrocketing popularity of South Korean media in today’s age makes sure that there is a little bit of something for everyone.

Some of the fun online content you can unblock with the best VPN for South Korea is:

Can I Use a Free VPN for South Korea?

Free VPNs may seem convenient, but we advise that you stay away from them. The app is usually outdated because of low investment and has a low number of servers. This leads to constant overcrowding, bad connections, and the inability to bypass geo-restrictions and censorship.

Free VPNs also have very few, in any at all, security protocols in place and usually leave users open to cyberattacks and hackers. They are also notorious for recording user data and selling it to third-party sites, like marketers for targeted ads, for revenue.

However, paid VPN services are a whole other story – these services will always give you your money’s worth if not more. They have state-of-the-art security protocols that are always on guard and ready to protect you online from harmful entities, your online security and privacy are also safe due to their no-logging policies.

Moreover, premium yet paid VPNs feature an abundance of servers with fast connections and incredible unblocking abilities. A great example is ExpressVPN – it can give you access to any censored sites while maintaining your security and privacy.

FAQs: Best VPN for South Korea

Wrapping Up

Whether you are traveling out of South Korea, or are currently in the country, you will need the best VPN for South Korea to access many online activities. This is because geo-restrictions make sure certain content is only available in a few locations. Moreover, the South Korean government is constantly monitoring its citizen’s online activity and censoring content due to threats from North Korea. This has led to compromising user’s online freedom.

You can face these issues head-on only if you have a premium VPN service by your side – it will change your IP address, making it look like you are in a different country. This will allow you to access geo-restricted streaming platforms and websites – you’ll be free to watch any TV Show or movie on Netflix US, for example. You will also have protection from government surveillance or cybercrime with a VPN’s high-tech security features. Invest in a premium and the best VPN for South Korea, like ExpressVPN, you won’t regret it!