Callum Tennent oversees how we test and review VPN services. He's a member of the IAPP, and his VPN advice has featured in Forbes and the Internet Society.
The best VPNs for Korea will assign you a South Korean IP address and unblock geo-restricted Korean streaming services including Wavve, Kakao TV, SBS Korea, and Korean Netflix.
We’ve tested 65 free and paid VPNs and selected the three best VPNs for Korea based on the number of Korean servers they offer, international speeds, and access to Korean streaming sites.
What’s the Best VPN for Korea in 2024?
Based on our latest tests, the best VPNs for South Korea are:
The best VPN for Korea in 2024 is ExpressVPN, with an overall rating of 9.3/10. It has multiple VPN servers in Seoul, unblocks 100% of the Korean streaming services we tested it with (including Netflix Korea), and offers secure and fast connections into Korea from abroad.
Top VPNs for Korea Compared
The table below compares our VPN picks for Korea based on crucial data, including each VPNs cost, average international speed, and ability to unblock Korean streaming sites.
Why Trust Us?
We’re fully independent and have been reviewing VPNs since 2016. Our ratings are based on our own testing results and are unaffected by financial incentives. Learn who we are and how we test VPNs.
VPN Recommendations for Korea (Detailed Analysis)
1. ExpressVPN: Best VPN for Korea Overall
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for unblocking Korean TV and Korean Netflix, with multiple IP addresses available in Seoul and fast international speeds for buffer-free streaming.
This rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Korea VPN testing methodology.
8.5/10
9.9/10
9.7/10
9.6/10
9.2/10
ExpressVPN is the best VPN for connecting into South Korea. It maintains servers in Seoul and unblocks 100% of the Korean streaming services that we tested it with including Kakao TV, MBC, SBS Korea, Wavve, TV Chosun, Netflix Korea, and more.
ExpressVPN has a server location in Seoul, South Korea. Connecting to this will give you a Korean IP address from wherever you are in the world.
ExpressVPN has IP addresses in Korea.
We used ExpressVPN’s Korean server to seamlessly unblock every Korean streaming site we tested it with, including Kakao TV, MBC, SBS Korea, Wavve, TV Chosun, Netflix, and Tving.
Through these channels you can stream popular shows like Saturday Night Life and Hello Counselor. We also found that ExpressVPN worked flawlessly with Korean Netflix.
We used ExpressVPN’s browser extension and app to access sites like Wavve.
However, going forward we’d like to see ExpressVPN add more Korea servers in different locations to avoid congestion and better serve those who want to connect into Korea.
This would improve the gaming experience even further. That said, ExpressVPN is still the best VPN for gaming in Korea, so you can use it to play games like PUBG.
Furthermore, the exact number of servers ExpressVPN maintains in Seoul is undisclosed, so it’s impossible to compare the quantity to rival VPNs.
We accessed all Korean streaming sites with ExpressVPN, including Kakao TV.
Available on Desktop, Mobile, Router, Browser & More
ExpressVPN can be used on every single device, with easy-to-use custom apps available for macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android – all of which have the option to change the language settings to Korean.
If you want to watch Korean shows on large screen devices, ExpressVPN also has well-designed apps for Fire TV and Android TV. You can connect to a Korean server in the exact same way as ExpressVPN’s desktop and mobile apps.
We’ve also tested ExpressVPN’s Chrome and Firefox extensions, and they work in the same way as the fully-encrypted VPN apps. These are useful if you need to quickly change your real IP address to a Korean one and unblock content via your web browser.
Unfortunately, ExpressVPN’s Smart DNS solution Media Streamer does not work to access Korean sites: it only works to access US services and a select few British streaming services.
Fast Speeds & Secure Connections into Korea
ExpressVPN delivers very fast speeds connecting into Korea, including from countries as far away as the US and India. Our ExpressVPN speed tests show that its average long-distance download speed is 85Mbps, with an overall speed rating of 9.7/10. This means that you’ll be able to stream and even game despite potentially thousands of miles of distance.
ExpressVPN passed all of our security checks, too. It uses the best available encryption technology to secure your connection (AES-256), and has even developed its own security protocol to do this: Lightway.
ExpressVPN’s best price deal is $6.67 per month, which is more expensive than most competing services.
We think this level of streaming, speed, and security performance is worth the price, which is why it’s our 1 VPN overall and for Korea. However, CyberGhost might be more appealing if you’re on a budget.
This rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Korea VPN testing methodology.
8.5/10
8.3/10
8.5/10
8.6/10
9.5/10
CyberGhost is three times cheaper than ExpressVPN at $2.03 per month, but it’s still a great VPN for Korea. It comes with 23 servers in Seoul, it’s able to unblock the majority of Korean streaming sites, and it offers multiple free trials for different devices.
In our tests, CyberGhost successfully accessed 85% of Korean streaming sites, including:
Kakao TV
MBC
SBS
Wavve
TV Chosun
Tving
Despite working to unblock the majority of sites we tested it with, CyberGhost does not have dedicated streaming servers for Korean sites and it still does not access Netflix Korea. You should stick to ExpressVPN if you want to watch Korean Netflix.
We used CyberGhost to stream live TV on SBS Korea.
You can stream content from these platforms on all of CyberGhost’s apps, including its Fire TV and Android TV apps for TV-based devices.
However, CyberGhost falls behind ExpressVPN’s level of compatibility because it doesn’t have a router app. You have to install CyberGhost on a router if you want to stream Korean shows on devices that aren’t compatible with VPNs, like your Xbox or PlayStation.
Like ExpressVPN, CyberGhost’s Smart DNS has no configurations for Korean streaming. It is only able to access US, Japanese, and European streaming sites.
23 Servers in Seoul
CyberGhost has the most South Korean servers of any VPN, with 23 servers in Seoul.
However, these Korean servers are absent from CyberGhost’s browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox. This is unfortunate as extensions offer a quick way to change your IP address within your current browser window.
CyberGhost has servers in Seoul.
CyberGhost’s extensions haven’t been updated in a while either, so we suggest sticking to CyberGhost’s apps.
Connecting into South Korea from abroad, CyberGhost delivers an average download speed of 81Mbps. This is behind ExpressVPN’s performance, but it’s still fast enough to stream Korean shows buffer-free from as far away as North America or Europe.
Cheap Price, Free Trial & Extended Refund Period
You cannot use CyberGhost for free indefinitely like TunnelBear Free, but it does offer a free trial that enables you to access Korean streaming sites free of charge. The free trials on offer from CyberGhost include:
1-day free trial on macOS and Windows devices
7-day free trial on iOS
3-day free trial on Android
Alongside its free trials, CyberGhost offers one of the longest refund guarantees of any VPN – 45 days. That’s well over a month of free access to Korean IP addresses.
If you are able to purchase a subscription, CyberGhost is one of the cheapest VPNs available. It only costs $2.03 per month, giving it a price and value rating of 9.4/10.
This rating is calculated based on the following category ratings. To learn more, read our Korea VPN testing methodology.
5.0/10
6.7/10
8.8/10
5.8/10
5.1/10
TunnelBear Free is the best free VPN for Korea. It’s safe to install, fast connecting into Korea, and unblocks 57% of Korean streaming services. However, it fails to unblock major Korean sites like Wavve and Korean Netflix, and the service is limited to only 500MB of data per month.
Data Cap
500MB
Korea Servers
Undisclosed
Korea Server Locations
Seoul
Kakao TV
Yes
Netflix Korea
No
Average International Download Speed
85Mbps
Logging Policy
No Identifying Data
Completely Free VPN with Korean Server
TunnelBear Free has a VPN server in Seoul which allows you to access the Korean internet for free.
The big drawback is that TunnelBear Free is heavily restricted by a 500MB per month data cap. This will limit the amount of Korean streaming you can do to around 30 minutes at Full HD. For light web browsing, you should be able to get around 10 hours.
On the positive side, unlike free VPNs like Windscribe Free, TunnelBear’s free data accumulates if it goes unused. It does not refresh from scratch each month. In the screenshot below, you can see that we’ve accumulated over 10GB of free TunnelBear data.
Our free TunnelBear data has accumulated to over 10GB.
This is only 15% slower than our normal internet connection, despite thousands of miles of distance between our physical location and South Korea.
Unblocks Most Korean Streaming Services
TunnelBear Free unblocked 57% of the streaming sites we tested it with. Unfortunately, popular sites like Korean Netflix and Wavve detected TunnelBear and they remained blocked.
Despite the streaming limitations presented by detection and a harsh data cap, TunnelBear Free is still able to unblock Kakao TV, TV Chosun, and SBS Korea. It also remains a useful VPN for light browsing of the Korean web from overseas.
TunnelBear Free works with most Korean streaming sites, including TV Chosun.
Unlike with CyberGhost, TunnelBear’s free browser extension has a Korean server and makes for an even quicker way to get a Korean IP address.
Poor Device Compatibility & Customer Support
TunnelBear Free is identical to the paid version with the exception of the data cap. That means you get the same level of security, including best-in-class AES-256 cipher.
TunnelBear has fun and well-designed apps, but it’s only available on the most popular desktop and mobile devices, including macOS, iOS, Windows, and Android. It has no apps for Fire TV, Android TV, or Apple TV, and there is no way to manually set up a VPN on your router. For device range and ease-of-use, both ExpressVPN and CyberGhost are a lot better.
Furthermore, TunnelBear is behind when it comes to customer support. For any sort of assistance or answers, you have to be a subscriber and, even then, live chat is not available.
To get a Korean IP address, you need a VPN with servers in Korea. Here’s how to do it:
Subscribe to a VPN with servers in Korea. We recommend ExpressVPN.
Download the VPN application to your chosen device.
Launch the VPN software and log in with your account details.
Open the VPN’s server menu and select its Korea server location. The VPN will start to establish a connection to its Korean server. Once complete, you will have been assigned a Korean IP address.
Confirm the authenticity of the connection by using our IP address checker tool. It should match the Korean location of the server you selected.
We follow the same steps in the video below, connecting to ExpressVPN’s Seoul server to get a Korean IP address:
You can get a Korean IP address in a matter of seconds using ExpressVPN.
EXPERT ADVICE: Want a North Korean IP address? The only VPN that offers it is HideMyAss (HMA).
How to Watch Korean Netflix From Anywhere Using a VPN
VPNs allow you to change your location and make it look like you are using the internet from a different country. By using a VPN to get a Korean IP address, you can watch Korean Netflix and unblock other Korean websites from anywhere.
However, you’ll need to use the right VPN, as not all VPNs unblock Korean Netflix.
In the video below, we used our #1 pick for Korea, ExpressVPN, to stream a geo-restricted movie. You can see how easy it is:
We easily and quickly unblocked Korean Netflix with ExpressVPN
Which VPNs Have Servers in Korea?
We maintain an up-to-date database of each VPNs server network. With this at our disposal, we know which VPNs have servers in South Korea and which do not.
Here is the definitive list of popular VPNs with servers in Korea, including free VPNs:
Astrill
Avast SecureLine VPN
AVG Secure VPN
Bitdefender
CyberGhost
ExpressVPN
FastestVPN
Hide.me
HideMyAss (HMA)
Hotspot Shield
IPVanish
Ivacy
Kaspersky
NordVPN
PrivadoVPN
Private Internet Access (PIA)
PrivateVPN
Proton VPN
PureVPN
SkyVPN
StrongVPN
Surfshark
TorGuard
TunnelBear
TunnelBear Free
VPN Unlimited
VPNArea
VyprVPN
Windscribe VPN
X-VPN
ZoogVPN
Our records show that there are lots of VPNs with servers in Korea. However, TunnelBear Free is the only completely free VPN with Korean servers.
Which VPNs Do Not Have Servers in Korea?
Popular paid and free VPNs that do not have servers in Korea include:
AirVPN
Atlas VPN
Atlas VPN Free
Avira Phantom VPN
Avira Phantom VPN Free
Betternet Free
FreeVPN by FreeVPN.org
Hide.me Free
Hola Free VPN
Hotspot Shield Free
IVPN
Kaspersky VPN Free
McAfee Safe Connect
Mozilla VPN
Mullvad VPN
Norton Secure VPN
Perfect Privacy
PrivadoVPN Free
Proton VPN Free
Psiphon Free
SnapVPN
SuperVPN Free VPN Client
Thunder VPN
Touch VPN
Turbo VPN
VPN360
VPN Proxy Master
VPN.ac
VPNBook
VPNhub Free
Windscribe Free
VPNs You Should Avoid for Korea
After testing 65 VPNs for Korea, a number fell below our expectations. VPNs we do not recommend for Korea include:
VPN Korea
VPN Korea is not safe to use.
What we don’t like: Despite its name, VPN Korea is a bad VPN for Korea. It is buggy, riddled with ads, and unsafe to use.
Hide.me
Hide.me doesn’t unblock most Korean streaming sites.
What we don’t like: We give Hide.me an impressive overall rating of 9.0/10. But when it comes to Korea specifically, it’s not the best choice because it doesn’t work with Korean Netflix, NBC, Kakao TV, or Wavve.
IPVanish
What we don’t like: IPVanish is similar to Hide.me in that it is a top VPN in general. However, it also fails to unblock a sufficient number of Korean streaming sites which isn’t acceptable when there are competitors that do.
IPVanish unblocks only 43% of Korean streaming sites.
Mullvad
What we don’t like: Despite its impressive privacy credentials, Mullvad has no servers in South Korea so you cannot get a Korean IP address.
Mullvad does not have a Korean server.
ProtonVPN Free
What we don’t like: Although Proton VPN Free is the best free VPN in general, it offers no Korean servers and therefore it cannot unblock Korean sites from abroad.
Proton VPN Free has no Korean IP addresses.
Why Do You Need a VPN for Korea?
You need a VPN for Korea if you want to watch popular K-Dramas and K-Pop from countries like the US, India, Philippines, and Thailand.
VPNs bypass the internet blocks that stop you accessing Korean TV and streaming services from abroad. A VPN enables you to freely stream shows like:
Amazing Saturday
Crash Landing on You
Descendents of the Sun
Goblin
Happy Together
Hello Counselor
Hotel del Luna
I Can See Your Voice (ICSYV)
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Kingdom
King of Masked Singer
Running Man
Saturday Night Life
While You Were Sleeping
We used a VPN to access lots of blocked Korean TV.
Is It Legal to Use a VPN in Korea?
It is legal to use a VPN in South Korea. There are no laws prohibiting the use of VPNs in South Korea. However, it’s important to note that using a VPN does not exempt you from doing anything unlawful.
On the other hand, it is not legal to use a VPN in North Korea. North Korea is one of the few countries in the world where VPNs have been made illegal, a result of the totalitarian government in the country. Even foreign diplomats are not allowed to use them.
How We Test VPNs for Korea (Methodology)
As an independent VPN review website, we aim to combat misinformation about VPNs by using honest and reproducible testing methodologies.
In the case of South Korea, we tested each VPN in five key testing categories. Each of these sub-ratings contributes to an overall Korea VPN rating. Here’s the breakdown:
You can see how each VPN scored in the table below:
Here is how we decided each sub-rating and how much of the overall score it represents:
1. Korea Server Locations: 30%
The most crucial requirement when it comes to a VPN for Korea is that the VPN has at least one Korean server location. This way you can get a Korean IP address and access Korean websites.
We maintain a database of every major VPNs server network, so we know which VPNs have Korean servers and which do not. We examine each server list and check the authenticity of the IP addresses with the help of our IP address checker tool.
Our team of VPN experts regularly monitor and update the server list of every major VPN.
We’ve only encountered VPNs offering servers in Seoul, so we grant more points to the quantity of individual servers and cap those that do not disclose the number.
2. Korea Streaming: 30%
We conducted multiple tests on seven Korean streaming services to work out which VPNs offer quick and consistent access to geo-blocked Korean sites. These are the streaming services we tested:
Kakao TV
MBC
SBS Korea
Wavve
TV Chosun
Netflix Korea
Tving
The more streaming services the VPN unblocked, the higher the rating. Below you can see the comprehensive results of our Korean streaming tests:
3. Speed: 20%
All VPNs slow down your internet, but some slow your internet down only slightly. The fastest VPNs only slow down your internet by 1%, even when connecting into Korea from as far away as the US.
We manually test the connection speeds of 65 VPNs and gather an average international speed figure. This method offers accurate, real-world data into how each VPN will perform when connecting into Korea from anywhere in the world. The faster the VPN, the higher the score.
4. Security & Technical Features: 10%
We run every VPN through a series of security tests to ensure that the VPNs we recommend are safe to use, free of malware, and are working to protect your data.
We use Wireshark to check if the VPN is actually encrypting your traffic. We then run each VPN through our leak test tool to inspect for any IP, DNS, or WebRTC exposures. We also test each VPN’s kill switch to ensure that it actually works.
Extra points are given to VPNs that have additional technical features, like rotating IP addresses, Double VPN (multi-hop) servers, and ad-blockers.
5. Privacy & Logging Policy: 10%
Privacy is the core value of our work. As such, we only recommend VPNs that offer evidence of a private logging policy, are trustworthy, and do not sell your data.
To ensure we only recommend private VPNs, we have a very strict testing criteria for evaluating a VPN’s privacy standards. We examine each logging policy in detail, assess each VPN’s company history for any scandals or data breaches, evaluate the privacy protections of the country it’s incorporated within, and assess any evidence it has to support its privacy claims, such as court cases or independent audits.
Korea VPN FAQs
What’s the Best VPN for Connecting to Korea?
The best VPN for connecting to Korea is ExpressVPN. It maintains reliable and fast server connections into Korea, unblocks every major Korean streaming site, and offers a wide array of user-friendly apps with around-the-clock support.
Which VPN Has the Most Servers in Korea?
The VPN with the most servers in Korea is CyberGhost. It has 23 servers in Seoul.
However, it’s important to note that a VPN’s server quantity can fluctuate and many VPNs do not disclose the exact number of Korean servers they have. This makes it hard to know which VPN truly has the most servers in Korea.
Which Free VPN Has Servers in Korea?
The only free and safe VPN that has servers in Korea is TunnelBear Free.
While there are free VPNs that advertise themselves as a VPN for Korea, such as VPN Korea, they are not safe to use.
There are also a number of VPNs with servers in Korea that offer free trials and generous money-back guarantees, such as NordVPN. These can also function as a free VPN for Korea.
Can You Get a VPN for North Korea?
VPNs are banned in North Korea, so you cannot get a VPN within the country.
However, if you want a VPN to connect into North Korea, you can get HideMyAss (HMA), which is the only VPN that offers a virtual North Korean IP address.
