5 best VPNs for Korea to defeat government censorship

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Key notes

  • If you're living or traveling to Korea, you can use a VPN to defeat government censorship, access blocked websites, unblock streaming services like Netflix US, and more.
  • Discover the best VPNs for Korea to help improve your online privacy and security. Find out how to use a VPN to maintain your Internet anonymity.
  • Visit our Security VPN area to find out how else you can enhance your digital security.
  • Check out our Traveling Hub to see how a VPN can make your journeys better.
best VPNs for Korea

VPNs add security and privacy to your Internet connections, which is particularly helpful when traveling to a foreign country like North or South Korea.

With the best VPNs for Korea, you can unlock more possibilities on the Internet, like accessing blocked sites or watching Netflix US. But first, you should get a bit familiarized with the Internet censorship views in Korea.

If you’re in South Korea and can’t access specific websites, you would think there’s something wrong with the Internet connection. And you’re right.

But it’s not necessarily a technical issue since you might face Internet censorship in South Korea. This occurs when you try to access pro-North Korea or adult-oriented websites, for example.

Nevertheless, it’s perfectly legal to use a VPN in South Korea, as long as you’re not doing it to bypass the country’s laws.

If you happen to be in North Korea, you probably don’t need a crash course in Internet censorship since NK takes the top spot.

Everything is controlled by the North Korean government, which makes it illegal to use a VPN, even if you’re just a tourist.

How do I use VPN in Korea?

PIA is connected to a US VPN server
  • Sign up for a VPN subscription plan (we suggest PIA).
  • Download, install and launch the VPN app.
  • Choose a VPN server outside of Korea (like Europe or the US).
  • Connect to the VPN server.
  • Enjoy unrestricted Internet content!

What are the best VPNs for Korea?

Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access is the best VPN for Windows 10 laptops

Private Internet Access (PIA) is a top VPN for Korean residents and tourists, one of the best services for traveling. Made by Kape Technologies, the tool features more than 3,300 VPN servers in 48 countries.

You can use PIA to access blocked sites, defeat government censorship, and watch Netflix US by connecting to its high-speed VPN servers. It uses OpenVPN to secure your network traffic.

Furthermore, PIA supports WireGuard, private DNS, and SOCKS5. You can redirect your VPN connection to another location through Shadowsocks to strengthen your online privacy.

More about PIA:

  • 10 simultaneous connections
  • No logs or leaks
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
Private Internet Access

Private Internet Access

Use this fast and secure VPN when traveling to Korea to stay anonymous online.
$2.85/mo. Buy it now

CyberGhost VPN

use CyberGhost VPN for your Windows 10 laptop

If you want to test the VPN for free in Korea to decide if it’s worth the money, go with CyberGhost VPN. Created by Kape Technologies, the app has the most impressive network of servers on this list: over 6,500 VPN servers spread across 89 countries.

You can use CyberGhost VPN to gain access to websites with restricted content, circumvent government censorship, and unblock the most popular Netflix libraries, including Netflix US, UK, and Canada.

CyberGhost VPN features OpenVPN, exclusive DNS, split tunneling, trusted Wi-Fi networks, and a kill switch. You can quickly connect to the Best Location without selecting a VPN server.

More about CyberGhost VPN:

  • 7 simultaneous connections
  • No logs or leaks
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • Up to 45-day money-back guarantee
  • 1-day free trial for Windows and macOS
  • 7-day free trial for Android and iOS
CyberGhost VPN

CyberGhost VPN

Gain Internet freedom and secure your network connections using the best free VPN for Korea.
$2.75/mo. Buy it now

NordVPN

use NordVPN for Windows 10 laptops

Internet privacy is the biggest issue when using a VPN in Korea. But you can turn to NordVPN for help since it puts emphasis on maintaining your online anonymity.

Developed by Tefincom & Co., NordVPN offers you more than 5,100 servers in 59 different countries, second only to CyberGhost. It supports OpenVPN and a kill switch.

Plus, can join the Tor anonymous network using Onion-over-VPN servers to raise your security level. Or you can use Double VPN mode to stay connected to two VPN servers at once.

More about NordVPN:

  • 6 simultaneous connections
  • No logs or leaks
  • 24/7 live chat support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee (no free trial)
NordVPN

NordVPN

Take care of your online privacy and security in Korea by using this reliable VPN.
$3.49/mo. Buy it now

Surfshark

use Surfshark for your Windows 10 laptop

Surfshark is one of the best VPNs for Korea, featuring security features similar to NordVPN. The major difference is that Surfshark is cheaper and protects unlimited devices.

Produced by Surfshark LTD, this app uses WireGuard and OpenVPN with up to 256-bit encryption to create a secure tunnel for Internet traffic. It has over 1,700 servers in more than 63 countries.

It also has multi-hop VPN connections and obfuscation mode to hide the fact that you’re using VPN. This comes in handy for accessing websites that reject VPN connections.

More about Surfshark:

  • Unlimited simultaneous connections
  • 24/7 live chat and email support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 7-day free trial for Android and iOS
Surfshark

Surfshark

Get this affordable VPN to remain anonymous on the web when traveling to Korea.
$1.99/mo. Buy it now

ExpressVPN

use ExpressVPN for work

Last but not least, ExpressVPN is a great VPN for Korea, especially when it comes to overcoming Internet blocks. It even works in China, where there are strict online censorship laws.

Created by Express VPN International LTD, this app is one of the fastest VPNs for streaming, and you can use it to unblock Netflix US and other similar services.

ExpressVPN protects your data by applying the OpenVPN protocol and by running zero-knowledge DNS servers to protect your online identity. It features a split-tunneling mode and a kill switch.

More about ExpressVPN:

  • 5 simultaneous connections
  • No logs or leaks
  • 24/7 live chat and email support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • 7-day free trial for Android and iOS
ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN

Don't take your online privacy and security for granted! Use this dependable VPN when visiting Korea.
$8.32/mo. Buy it now

To summarize, using a VPN is legal in South Korea and illegal and North Korea. As such, we can’t encourage you to use VPN, Tor, or any other Internet circumvention tool in NK.

However, you can safely use a VPN in South Korea to access blocked websites, bypass government censorship, and unblock streaming content like Netflix US.

More about the topics: VPN