How to Get a South Korean IP Address in 2020: Safe in Seoul

If you’re a hardcore Hallyu fan or have an interest in Korean film, you’ll want to watch it as you travel or work outside of South Korea. Unfortunately, because of geoblocks, you may end up getting several error messages when trying to access the content. With a South Korean IP address, though, you can access streaming services and watch the content you want. We’re going to show you how to get one.

By changing your IP address, you’ll spoof your location and bypass the geoblocks to access the content you want. For instance, if you want to watch your favorite Korean series on Netflix, you can only do so with a South Korean IP address. 

Netflix provides different content libraries based on the country where it’s available. This is because of language and cultural differences, as well as territorial licensing. Read our Netflix VPN ban piece for more details.

How to Get a South Korean IP AddressSimilarly, if you want to access your South Korean bank account or online services that you use back home, you won’t be able to because of region-based restrictions. With a South Korean IP address, you can get unfettered access to these services.

How to Get a South Korean IP Address

The two common routes you can use to change your IP address are using a proxy or a virtual private network. Proxies replace your IP address by letting you connect to a server in a different location before moving to the internet (read our best free proxy guide). 

While proxies are free to use, they are also unreliable and don’t offer security for your connection. That leaves your IP address exposed, and your connection can be traced back to you.

We recommend using a VPN to get a South Korean IP address. VPNs encrypt your connection, allowing you to tunnel virtually anywhere in the world (read our encryption guide for more information).

They also have no-logs policies, which mean they don’t keep records of your online activity and the various VPN security features that hide your true IP address. Learn more in our online privacy guide or VPN vs. Proxy vs. Tor piece.

Choosing a VPN that has servers in South Korea is important, otherwise you won’t be able to get a South Korean IP address. If your priority is streaming content from Netflix, pick one that can bypass its smart filters and detectors, as very few can do so reliably. Our Netflix proxy error article has more details.

ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is the best VPN around. It’s a good choice for getting a South Korean IP address because of its large server network spread across 94 countries, including South Korea. It has a well-earned reputation for fast server speeds, strong security and reliability, which is why it ranks first in our fastest VPN services and most secure VPN guides. 

It can also reliably bypass Netflix’s geoblocks, which is why it earned first place in our best VPN for Netflix guide.  

ExpressVPN is easy to use and install on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. You can also download its browser extensions for Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Safari. 

If you need help with installation or other queries, customer support is available 24/7. The staff gives helpful and thorough responses via email and live chat. Read our ExpressVPN review for more.

Although ExpressVPN is pricey, its excellent service ensures you get your money’s worth. It also provides a seven-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free.

NordVPN

NordVPN is another good choice for getting a South Korean IP address. It has a network of more than 5,000 servers covering 60 countries, with 10 in South Korea, so you shouldn’t have a problem accessing content from there. 

Security is top-notch, with a killswitch, double-hop servers that encrypt your connection twice and a no-logs policy to honor your privacy. NordVPN also offers unlimited bandwidth and good speeds. 

It can slow down when connecting over long distances, though, but it makes up for that with its fast server switch time. It’ll get you into Netflix South Korea and torrents, too, which is why it came first in our best VPN for torrenting guide. 

You can install it simply and connect quickly on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. Customer support is also available via live chat, email and a helpful knowledgebase. 

NordVPN offers an affordably priced monthly rate, but you’ll save money if you subscribe to a longer plan. It provides a 30-day refund window, so you can try it out first. Read our NordVPN review to learn more.

VPNArea

VPNArea can also get you an IP address for South Korea. The security is good, and you get double-hop servers for added security, just like NordVPN. Its servers cover 65 countries, so you have a variety of locations to choose from, including South Korea. There’s also a no-logs policy for extra privacy.

Its speeds are quite slow, but you get to enjoy unlimited bandwidth, and it can get into streaming services like Netflix. Read our VPNArea review for more details.

You can use it on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS, with up to six devices connected simultaneously. Customer support is available via email or live chat 24/7 and a knowledgebase. The service is inexpensive, but if you want to test it before subscribing, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

The Dangers of Using a South Korean IP Address

There’s no danger in getting or even using a South Korean IP address, as you can read in our best VPN for South Korea guide. However, you need to know a few specific rules about internet usage in the country.

According to advocacy body Freedom House, internet freedom in South Korea is partly free. The South Korean government exercises some intense internet and media censorship efforts to regulate what can and cannot be done online. 

It blocks specific types of content, like porn and gambling sites, pro-North Korea comments and websites, and any dissenting political opinion, especially concerning the president.

Internet users are also required to identify themselves if they add any publicly visible post or comment to uncensored sites, or want access to pages considered inappropriate for minors. Their identities are then verified using a copy of the user’s passport or, for South Korean nationals, a resident registration number.

These restrictions have a fairly wide reach, due in part to the cyber defamation law, which makes it a crime to reveal any kind of information with the intention of harming a person’s reputation. The law has been used to crack down on anti-establishment or critical discussions of the government.

Final Thoughts

We hope you now know how to get a South Korean IP address. A VPN is the most secure and effective way to do so. Our three VPN providers can get you an IP address for South Korea while keeping your connection secure and protecting your identity. 

We’d love to hear your experience and recommendations for getting an IP address for South Korea. Share them in the comments section below. Thank you for reading.