Updated on: October 11, 2024
Only 3 Steps (Quick + Easy) to Getting a South Korean IP Address in 2024:
- Pick a VPN. Choose a secure VPN that has at least 1 server in South Korea — I recommend ExpressVPN because it works with South Korean sites, allows torrenting, maintains very fast speeds, and provides high-end security and privacy features.
- Install the VPN. VPNs usually take 1–2 minutes to download and install (you only need to follow the installation wizard).
- Connect to a South Korean server. In the VPN’s app, find the list of server locations, scroll down the list, and select a South Korean server. That’s it! Now you can enjoy the internet as if you were browsing in South Korea.
The easiest and safest way to get a South Korean IP address is to use a VPN, which is an online service that lets you connect to different VPN servers in different parts of the world. Once connected, the VPN server will change your IP address to a new IP address that matches the location you’re connected to (in this case, South Korea). That way, you can surf sites as if you were actually located in South Korea.
But not all VPNs provide good value. Many don’t have servers in South Korea, while others have servers there but have slow speeds, poor streaming support, and buggy apps.
That said, all the VPNs on my list are great for getting a South Korea IP. My favorite one is ExpressVPN because it’s very fast, it’s excellent for torrenting, and it’s very secure. Editors' Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
Best VPNs for Getting a South Korean IP Address in 2024
🥇1. ExpressVPN — Best VPN for Getting a South Korean IP Address
ExpressVPN is my favorite VPN for getting a South Korea IP address — it provides the best security, speeds, and overall performance out of all VPNs we’ve tested (which is why it’s ranked #1 on our list of the best VPNs in 2024).
One of the things I love the most about ExpressVPN is how fast it is — in my speed tests, sites always loaded instantly, HD and 4K videos didn’t buffer, my Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls never dropped or froze, and I was able to download 30 GB files in 10 minutes.
I’m also a big fan of ExpressVPN’s streaming and torrenting support. It works with top streaming sites like Netflix and Disney+, allows torrenting on its South Korean servers, and is compatible with top P2P apps like uTorrent and Vuze.
Also, it’s very simple to get a South Korean IP address with ExpressVPN. Its apps are very intuitive and easy to navigate, and there’s a search field for instant access to a South Korean server (it usually only took me 2–3 seconds to find and connect to it). The Shortcuts feature is also a great addition — it lets you create 1-click shortcuts for specific apps and websites that show up on your screen after you connect to one of ExpressVPN’s servers.
And I like that ExpressVPN has advanced security features like RAM-only servers (every server reset wipes all data) and perfect forward secrecy, which changes encryption keys for each VPN connection to stop hackers from compromising past or future encryption keys to spy on your data. Also, ExpressVPN has a strict no-logs policy that has been independently audited and verified, and the audit’s results are public. What’s more, it has a great ad blocker, and it can also block trackers and protect you from malware-ridden websites.
I also ran 10+ leak tests to check ExpressVPN’s full leak protection claims — and I can confirm they’re true. I never saw my real IP address in the leak test results, only ExpressVPN’s South Korean IP addresses.
ExpressVPN has a few paid plans, with pricing starting at $4.99 / month. I think ExpressVPN is worth the money because it provides excellent value. Also, it backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full ExpressVPN review
🥈2. CyberGhost VPN — Very Good Security + Convenient Automation
CyberGhost VPN has very intuitive apps that make it really simple to find and connect to its South Korean servers. Plus, I like the Smart Rules feature that lets you automate VPN connections. For example, you can configure the provider’s VPN app to automatically connect you to a South Korea server and open a specific app on launch.
You also get good speeds with CyberGhost. In my tests, sites loaded instantly, HD videos loaded instantly and didn’t buffer, and 4K videos took just 3 seconds to load and there were no quality drops when I skipped through them.
The VPN also comes with strong security features since it has an audited no-logs policy, RAM-only servers, full leak protection, and perfect forward secrecy. It also has Content Blocker, which is really good at keeping you safe from shady sites, and it offers good streaming support — it has dedicated streaming servers that can access popular sites, including one for Netflix Korea.
CyberGhost VPN has affordable plans that start at only $2.19 / month. It backs all long-term plans with a 45-day money-back guarantee and the shortest plan with a 14-day money-back guarantee.
Read our full CyberGhost VPN review
🥉3. NordVPN — Provides Very Strong Security & Privacy
NordVPN is great for securely accessing the web with a South Korean IP address. It protects your data with Threat Protection, which is an ad blocker that gets rid of annoying ads, protects you from malicious sites, stops ad trackers from spying on your traffic, and even keeps you safe from malware-infected files. What’s more, you don’t even have to be connected to the VPN for this feature to run!
The VPN also has advanced security features, including full leak protection, perfect forward secrecy, and RAM-only servers. What’s more, its no-logs policy has passed several independent security audits.
I also like the Dark Web Monitor feature, which sends you alerts if your NordVPN login credentials have been compromised. This helps you also secure your accounts for South Korea sites that use the same login details. You can use it for streaming, too — NordVPN works with top sites like Netflix and Amazon Prime.
NordVPN provides really good online speeds. In my tests, all sites I visited loaded in 2 seconds, HD videos loaded instantly and didn’t buffer, 4K videos took 3 seconds to load and there was only minor buffering at the start, and I didn’t experience high ping while playing online games.
NordVPN has affordable plans that start at $2.99 / month. It also backs all purchases with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Bonus. Surfshark — Very Affordable Plans + Easy-to-Use Apps
Surfshark has some of the cheapest prices on the market. This makes it a great choice for anyone who’s looking to get a South Korean IP address and is also interested in saving money.
What’s more, the provider is also beginner-friendly. Its apps are really simple to navigate, there are helpful explanations for all features, and it doesn’t take more than 5 seconds to find and connect to the VPN’s South Korean servers. Also, I think it’s great that Surfshark supports unlimited connections, as this allows everyone in your family to surf the web with a South Korean IP address.
Surfshark also comes with good security features — it has RAM-only servers, perfect forward secrecy, and an audited no-logs policy. It lacks full leak protection like ExpressVPN and the other VPNs on my list, but I still never experienced any leaks in my tests.
And the provider is also pretty fast. In my tests, South Korean sites took 3 seconds to load, HD videos loaded in 2 seconds, and 4K videos loaded in 4 seconds and there was only minor buffering when I skipped through them. Plus, it can access lots of top streaming services, including Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Netflix.
Surfshark’s plans start as low as $1.99 / month. Also, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee for all purchases.
Read our full Surfshark review
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
Quick Comparison Table
Editors' Note: Intego, Private Internet Access, CyberGhost and ExpressVPN are owned by Kape Technologies, our parent company
How to Choose the Best VPN for Getting a South Korean IP Address in 2024
- Pick a VPN with servers in South Korea. If the VPN doesn’t have South Korean servers, it can’t provide you with a South Korean IP address — all the VPNs on this list have at least 1 South Korean server.
- Select a VPN with formidable security. My recommended VPNs offer vital security features like 256-bit AES encryption, kill switches, no-logs policies, and defenses against potential IPv6, DNS, or WebRTC leaks, all of which helps to ensure your privacy and security.
- Opt for a VPN with fast speeds. All VPNs will slow down your connections because they encrypt your traffic — but the best VPNs minimize the speed loss. All my top picks provided me with fast speeds for browsing, torrenting, and gaming (ExpressVPN has the fastest speeds).
- Choose a VPN that provides excellent support for streaming and torrenting. The VPNs I recommend here can access your favorite streaming sites without any issues. Moreover, all the VPNs mentioned in this list enable torrenting on their South Korean servers.
- Select a VPN that’s user-friendly. All the VPNs on this list have apps for all major platforms that don’t take more than 1–2 minutes to install. Also, their apps are very user-friendly, so it’s very easy to get a South Korean IP address with them.
- Select a VPN offering good value for money. My recommendations include additional features, support for multiple simultaneous device connections (like Surfshark’s unlimited connections), cost-effective plans, and generous money-back guarantees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a free VPN to get a South Korean IP address?
Maybe, but I advise against it. Most free VPNs don’t have South Korean servers. And the ones that do come with many drawbacks, such as slow speeds, poor streaming support, and monthly or daily data caps.
Instead, it’s better to get an affordable top VPN like ExpressVPN, which has servers in South Korea, provides very fast speeds, and is excellent for streaming.
What can I do with a South Korean IP address?
If you have a South Korean IP address, you can surf South Korean sites as if you were actually located in South Korea (some sites might not work abroad).
The best way to get a South Korean IP address is to use a VPN that has servers in South Korea — I recommend ExpressVPN because it provides blazing-fast speeds, works with South Korean sites, and has excellent security and privacy features.
Can I torrent with a South Korean IP address?
Yes, you can use a South Korean IP address while torrenting to get more privacy — the best way to do that is to use a good torrenting VPN that has South Korean servers. I recommend ExpressVPN because it allows torrenting, works with top P2P apps like uTorrent and Deluge, provides very fast downloads, and comes with high-end security and privacy features.
