How to Get a South Korean IP Address in 2024

Without a South Korean IP address, you can’t access South Korean content. Whether you’re traveling abroad because of business or a vacation, or living abroad as an expat, if you don’t have that critical South Korean IP address, SK content will be blocked.

But, there’s good news: A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can get you an IP address from South Korea, granting access to all of the SK content you can handle.

How Does a VPN Help Me Get a South Korean IP Address?

An IP address identifies a device on a network. It lets other devices on the network know where a request came from and where a response needs to be sent to, much like how a home address lets a mail person know where a package came from and needs to go.

Unfortunately, because IP addresses vary by country, it also lets the internet world know where you’re physically located.

But when you connect to a VPN’s servers in South Korea, you can get a shiny new (temporary) South Korean IP address, no matter where you happen to be around the world.

But which VPN should you choose? I’ve made the decision easy for you. In this article, I review and rank the top best VPNs for getting an IP address in South Korea, helping you decide which one is the best for your needs.

How to Get an IP Address in South Korea

Getting an IP address from South Korea isn’t difficult. All you have to do is follow the steps below:

1. Buy a subscription to a VPN service (I recommend NordVPN).
2. Install the provider’s app(s) on your device(s).
3. Find a server in South Korea and connect to it.
4. Visit a South Korean site or service that you normally can’t access.
5. Enjoy your favorite South Korean content!

TRY A TOP VPN RISK-FREE: The best VPN services offer a 30- or 45-day money-back guarantee, which means you can try the VPN service, and if you realize that you don’t want to continue your subscription, you can always get a no-questions-asked, full refund.

Best VPNs for Getting a South Korean IP Address

After rounds of rigorous testing, I’ve discovered that the best 5 VPNs for getting a South Korean IP address are the ones I’ve listed below.

In case you don’t have a lot of time, here’s a quick summary.

Best VPNs for Getting a South Korean IP Address:

1. NordVPN: NordVPN is my #1 VPN for getting an IP address in South Korea. Phenomenal connection speeds, above-average security and privacy protections, and superb multi-platform support make this provider shine. Comes with a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Surfshark: This provider is an excellent choice for users on a budget. The provider offers a high level of service for a low multi-year price. Its optimal content-unblocking ability, wide global server coverage, and an unlimited simultaneous connections allowance all combine to make for an excellent service.
3. ExpressVPN: Premium VPN for South Korean IPs. ExpressVPN is well-known for its massive global server network, including plenty of servers in South Korea. Its fast connection speeds and superior multi-platform support also make it great for streaming.
4. CyberGhost: Great rookie VPN option. CyberGhost offers easy-to-use apps, making it a great choice for users who are new to VPNs. The provider’s fast connection speeds, reliable customer support and above-average multi-platform support add to the appeal.
5. PrivateVPN: Reliable SK IP addresses. While this provider’s global server count is the lowest of any VPN on this list, the servers are located in 63+ countries, including South Korea. The provider also provides comprehensive connection protection, fast connections, and top-notch privacy protection.

How to Choose the Best VPN for an IP Address in South Korea

When deliberating which VPNs should make it onto this list, I was sure to consider the following criteria:

• Offers servers in South Korea (seems important)
• Provides above-average connection speeds
• Delivers high-end security and privacy protections
• Provides wide multi-platform support
• Offers great customer support options

Find out more information about the criteria I used in the testing methodology section found later in this article.

Here are my reviews of the best VPNs around for getting an IP address in South Korea.

1. NordVPN

Apr 2024

NordVPN is the #1 provider on my list, earning that spot because of its phenomenal security and privacy protections, breakneck speeds, and comprehensive multi-platform support.

NordVPN’s server network is large, comprising 5,600+ servers in close to 60 countries, including South Korea.

During my most recent connection speed tests, NordVPN scored as the one of the fastest VPN providers on the market. Those speeds will prove to be perfect for streaming, gaming, file sharing, and enjoying any other online activity.

You’ll never have to worry about your security when using NordVPN. The provider offers top-notch protections, including a kill switch, AES 256-bit encryption, IPv6 and DNS leak protections, and ad and malware blocking.

NordVPN offers industry-standard privacy protections, including a no-logs policy and a Bitcoin payment option.

The provider is moving to an entirely owned-and-operated server network, as it keeps outside contractors away from your personal information. Plus, all NordVPN servers are run solely from RAM. This means that no data is ever written to a physical hard drive, ao all data is completely wiped from the servers when they are rebooted, shut down, or even unplugged.

NordVPN’s app support is likely to meet your needs, as it includes all of the most popular device platforms, including Windows, macOS (with native M1/M2 Mac support), iOS, Android, Linux, Android TV, and Amazon Fire. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browsers are available to protect your browsing sessions, and there’s excellent router support, too.

You can connect up to six devices to the VPN service at once on a single account.

Should you ever need to contact customer support, they’re always available thanks to 24/7 live chat. There’s also an email support option and a searchable support library.

BEST VPN FOR A SOUTH KOREAN IP ADDRESS:Those looking for the best overall VPN to get a South Korean IP address will want to check out NordVPN. The provider’s breakneck connection speeds, above-average security and privacy protections, support for multiple device platforms, and excellent content-unblocking ability make this VPN exceptional. A risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee is available.

Read my full review of NordVPN.

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2. Surfshark

The budget-minded have a reason to celebrate: Surfshark is a low-priced provider that offers excellent privacy and security protections, unlimited simultaneous connections, and more.

Surfshark’s server coverage has steadily grown over the past year or so, to the point where they now offer 3,200+ servers in 100+ countries across the globe, including South Korea.

Surfshark’s connection speeds are more than enough to handle most any online activity you can throw at them, including streaming, gaming, and file sharing.

“Ideal” is the best word to use to describe Surfshark’s security features. The provider offers government-level, AES 256-bit encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, ad and tracking blocking, and malware and phishing protections. That’s in addition to the provider’s “MultiHop” option, which routes your connection through two VPN servers instead of one, doubling your anonymity.

A no-logs policy keeps your internet privacy intact, and a cryptocurrency payment option is available, if that’s how you roll.

Surfshark has joined the growing ranks of VPN providers that run their servers solely from RAM, with no data being written to an actual hard drive. All data is wiped when the servers are restarted, turned off, or unplugged. Surfshark also says it manually wipes the servers “occasionally.”

Multi-platform support is strong with this one, as Surfshark offers native apps for Android, Windows, macOS (with native Apple Silicon support), iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire device platforms. Chrome, Edge, and Firefox browser extensions are available, and the provider offers support for numerous router makes and models.

In addition to comprehensive VPN services, Surfshark also offers virus protection, data breach alerts, and truly safe search.

Surfshark also abides by an unusual unlimited simultaneous connections policy, allowing you to connect as many devices as you want to the provider’s servers on one account.

If you ever need to reach out to customer support, Surfshark has you covered with around-the-clock live chat, as well as an email support option and a searchable knowledge base.

BEST FOR BUDGET:Surfshark offers comprehensive security and privacy protections, unlimited concurrent connections, plenty of app support and, of course, IP addresses in South Korea, all at a surprisingly low price. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available.

Read my full review of Surfshark.

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3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN’s fast speeds, great multi-platform support, powerful content-unblocking ability, and servers in South Korea make it the optimal VPN for streaming SK content.

ExpressVPN offers over 3,000 servers, spread amongst South Korea and 93+ other countries.

If you’ve got a need for speed, ExpressVPN is your service. The provider’s speeds give you the ability to stream in HD or 4K, game without lag and share large files. ExpressVPN never imposes any bandwidth limitations or daily or monthly data caps.

Security-minded users will appreciate ExpressVPN’s protections, which include high-end strong encryption, a kill switch, and IPv6 and DNS leak protections.

ExpressVPN takes your privacy seriously, following a strict no-logs policy and welcoming Bitcoin as a privacy-friendly subscription payment option.

The provider runs its entire server network 100% from volatile RAM, meaning no data whatsoever is written to a physical hard drive. This ensures that all data is completely and securely wiped from an ExpressVPN server when it is unplugged, rebooted, or shut down.

ExpressVPN offers apps for most popular device platforms, including macOS (with native support for M1/M2 Macs), Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, and Chromebook. You can protect just your browser thanks to extensions for Firefox, Chrome, and Edge, and you can protect all of your devices at once through a single point of access thanks to ExpressVPN’s router compatibility.

You can connect up to five devices simultaneously on one account.

ExpressVPN offers customer support in the form of 24/7 live chat, email support, a trouble ticket submission system, and a searchable knowledge base.

STREAMING FANS REJOICE:ExpressVPN is a great choice for streaming lovers thanks to its high-speed connections, apps for numerous devices, and ability to access tons of content. South Korean TV will start streaming quickly on many device platforms. A 30-day money-back guarantee is available.

Read my full review of ExpressVPN.

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4. CyberGhost

CyberGhost is a wise choice for users who are new to the VPN world and want a VPN provider that doesn’t complicate its apps with a bunch of bells and whistles.

CyberGhost boasts an extremely wide server network, including 9,000+ servers in 90+ countries, South Korea included.

The provider’s connection speeds are swift, ensuring you’ll enjoy a pleasant experience while streaming, gaming and file sharing. You’ll never have to worry about bandwidth limitations or data caps, which is true of all providers on this list.

CyberGhost offers all-around great security protections, including military-grade encryption, a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and ad, malicious website and online tracker blocking. The apps can also optionally force websites to serve up HTTPS versions of their web pages.

If you’ve got privacy on your mind, no problem. CyberGhost keeps no logs of your online activities and accepts the privacy-friendly Bitcoin cryptocurrency as payment.

Easy-to-use apps are available for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Android TV, and Amazon Fire device platforms. If you just want to protect your browser, there are extensions for Chrome and Firefox. If you want to protect all of your devices through a single access point, router support is available.

Alongside its excellent VPN services, CyberGhost also offers a password manager and data breach alerts. Windows users will appreciate the provider’s virus and malware protection, privacy customizations, and more.

It’s always good to know customer support is available when you need it. CyberGhost offers 24/7 live support chat, a trouble ticket tracking system and a searchable knowledge base to its users.

NEWBIES WELCOME:CyberGhost is a top-notch choice for VPN beginners looking for apps that are both easy-to-use and highly secure. With this VPN, it will be easy to grab a South Korean IP address and enjoy the provider’s fast speeds and ability to access plenty of SK content. A 45-day money-back guarantee is available.

Read my full review of CyberGhost.

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5. PrivateVPN

PrivateVPN has an admittedly low server count when compared to the competitors on this list. That said, the provider does well in all other service areas, except for app support.

The provider has 200+ servers spread thinly among close to 65 countries around the globe (including South Korea). Those servers provide reliable access to content, both in South Korea and in many locations around the world.

PrivateVPN keeps its customers’ online connection safe with a combination of 256-bit encryption, DNS/IPv6 leak protection, and a kill switch (on the Windows app only).

It accepts Bitcoin as a subscription payment, while also following a strict no-logging policy to keep your information private.

PrivateVPN app support is almost as skimpy as its network, as apps are only available for Windows, Android, macOS, and iOS devices. No browser extensions make the scene. Manual installation is required for Linux systems and select routers.

Should you need any assistance, live chat is available, as is email support, and an FAQ section.

SMALL BUT MIGHTY VPN:PrivateVPN is a privacy-conscious VPN with strong security and privacy measures, fast speeds, and a powerful, if small, global server network. The provider could do better in the app support column as well. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read my full PrivateVPN review.

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Methodology for Assessing VPNs for a South Korean IP Address

You’ll find that not all VPNs can provide reliable access to an IP address based in South Korea. Below, you’ll find the VPN features I researched to determine the best VPN providers for providing an IP address located in South Korea:

• Server network: Make sure to confirm that the VPN service you’re considering can reliably provide an IP address in the country you’re looking to connect to. Also, look for a VPN provider with multiple servers in the countries it serves, as this helps prevent any single server from being overloaded by too many users.
• Connection speed: Fast download speeds are a must when considering a VPN, because the faster the connection, the more enjoyable your favorite online activity. VPNs that restrict their users’ usage by imposing data caps or connection throttling should be dropped from consideration immediately.
• Value: The true value of any VPN service can be calculated by comparing the set of features it offers to its asking price. All of the providers on this list offer an excellent return on investment.
• Ease of use: Look for a VPN that offers support for as many device platforms as possible, while also offering easy-to-use apps. NordVPN offers apps for popular device platforms, alongside comprehensive router support and browser extensions for the Chrome, Edge, and Firefox platforms.
• Security and privacy: Online security and privacy is an important consideration when choosing a VPN provider. Government-grade encryption, a kill switch, and other online security and privacy protections are a must. Never use a VPN that doesn’t have a “no logs” policy.
• Streaming: Any VPN worth consideration should offer reliable unblocking of streaming sites. Any VPN that I recommend for streaming boasts top-notch unblocking abilities for streaming sites like BBC iPlayer, Netflix, Hulu, and numerous others.

My research doesn’t end here. In fact, the factors above are just a small part of what I consider as part of my comprehensive VPN testing methodology. My data-driven approach allows me to better understand the VPNs and their services, meaning I can recommend only those that are a good fit for my readers’ needs.

Why Are International Users Banned From Some South Korean Websites and Services?

First of all, it’s not out of spite that you can’t access South Korean content from outside of the country.

It’s because of the contracts that content providers have to sign with TV and movie studios.

In those contracts, there’s almost always the stipulation that South Korean content providers have to limit the access to the content to residents of South Korea, and block everyone else.

That way, those TV and movie producers can make more money by selling access to their content to multiple providers in multiple regions.

While that makes sense, that doesn’t mean we have to be happy about it.

And video streaming content isn’t even the half of it. South Korean music streaming, gaming servers and content, and other content and services are limited to users inside the country, meaning users outside the country can’t access their favorite SK content.

Let’s be sure not to forget financial services. For your own security, most financial institutions will take note of your physical location. If you start accessing your account from a foreign location, or even a location within the same country but far away, the institution will get suspicious that some unauthorized person may be accessing your account.

VPN providers can help with this, giving you a local SK IP address to keep financial institutions happy, but to be safe, always contact your bank before leaving the country.

How Is Content Geographically Blocked?

The way that content providers are able to know your location is by checking your IP address.

What is an IP address? An IP address is what identifies your device on the internet. It lets other devices on the network know where a request came from and where a response needs to be sent to, much like how a home address lets a postal carrier know where a package came from and where it needs to go.

An IP address is similar to a home address in another way: An IP address reveals your physical location.

All a streaming or other kind of provider needs to do then is check your IP address’s location information, and then you’ll have no access to international content.

How Can I Access Blocked South Korean Content From Overseas?

It’s not too difficult to access South Korean content when you’re abroad. All you have to do is use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Only when you use a VPN, which will give you a new IP address in another location, can you access your favorite South Korean content.

The process goes like this:

1. Subscribe to the VPN provider that’s best for you. (NordVPN is my #1 provider)
2. Log into the service and download the appropriate app(s) to your device(s).
3. Open up the app on your device and select a server located in South Korea.
4. Visit your favorite SK sites and services.
5. Boom! Access granted.

What Else Can a VPN Do?

VPNs aren’t one-trick ponies, and they actually offer a multitude of additional benefits.

A VPN covers your internet connection in a blanket of encryption, which hides your online activities from any prying eyes. Then, hackers, governments, Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and the like will have no ability to monitor your internet travels.

This encryption is good for quite a few things. For one thing, it can protect you while you’re using a public WiFi hotspot. WiFi hotspots in cafes, airports and hotels are often unencrypted, making users easy targets for hackers. But with a VPN, your online activities will be protected from any infiltration or interference.

In addition, the encryption on your internet connection will prevent your ISP from throttling your connection speeds. ISPs have been known to throttle the connection speeds of users engaging in “unapproved” activities, such as file sharing and streaming from certain sites. Since a VPN hides your online activities, your ISP can’t throttle your connection.

Can I Use a Free VPN Provider to Gain Access to South Korean Content?

I get this question a lot, and the answer may not be what you want to hear. But, it’s something you need to hear.

Although a free VPN can sound enticing, you never want to use one. The inconvenience, privacy violations and limits on your connection make them a terrible idea.

Let’s start with inconvenience. For one thing, free VPNs often make you wait in a queue before allowing you to connect, so if you’re interested in instant access, you’ll be disappointed.

Once you’re finally allowed to connect, expect a paltry list of servers to choose from, if you’re even given a choice at all. And if there’s no choice of a server in South Korea, then the free VPN has wasted your time.

Another unfortunate thing about free VPNs is the fact that they often throttle your connection speeds in order to save bandwidth for their paying customers. That’s in addition to the daily and monthly data caps the free provider will likely impose.

Most importantly, free VPNs are a hazard to your online privacy.

Freebie VPNs like to monitor your online activities and sell that information to interested third parties, such as advertisers. You will likely also find unwanted ads and tracking cookies inserted into your browsing sessions as well.

Once you know all of this, free VPNs start looking a lot less attractive.

South Korean IP Address FAQs

Conclusion

There’s no better VPN for gaining protected access to an IP address in South Korea than NordVPN.

NordVPN offers plenty of servers in South Korea, apps for a multitude of devices, responsive customer support, the fastest connection speeds you can find from any provider, and ideal security and privacy protections.

For more information or to subscribe to NordVPN, visit their website.