What to pack for Seoul in May

UV index hits 9.6, high enough to burn exposed skin in minutes.

Fourteen hours of daylight reflects off water and pavement.

May brings insects active enough to ruin an evening outdoors.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Urban travel means minor cuts and scrapes from unfamiliar streets.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Fourteen-hour days drain a phone battery before sunset.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Overhead bins fill fast on international routes to Seoul.

Day trips to national parks require gear that fits on your back.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Humidity at 69% and eight rain days mean sweat clings to skin.

UV hits 9.6 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

The sun stays strong through May at this latitude.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

Eight rain days and urban walking leave you thirsty constantly.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International airports and crowded transit stations are theft hotspots.

Eight days of rain means clothes need sorting and drying space.

Rain falls eight days this month, not in gentle mist.

Humidity breeds mildew in wet fabric within hours.

City noise and transit sounds follow you from airport to guesthouse.

Lips crack faster in wind and low humidity than most travelers expect.

Tap water is safe, but hands touch a thousand surfaces daily.

Bites itch worst when sunburned skin is already inflamed.

A dead power bank means no navigation through unfamiliar districts.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Customs checks happen at the border, not in your hotel room.

Shared dorm lockers and airport baggage claim need securing.

Shared bathrooms mean your toiletries need their own waterproof space.

Long flights and fourteen-hour days exhaust the neck and shoulders.