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South Korea · Safety report last updated
As of October 2026, Busan scores 89/100 on the IsMyTripSafe composite safety index — verdict: yes — very safe. Yes. Busan is a very safe city for travelers, with low crime rates and strong institutional stability. The main risks for visitors are tourist-targeted scams.
Safety Report
IsMyTripSafe.com
South Korea · Assessed 13 October 2026
89
/ 100
What drives this score
01 · Official Guidance
No advisory against travel
“Global travel impacts due to escalation in the Middle East Escalation in the Middle East has caused widespread travel disruption, including airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights. Your travel plans may be affected, even if your destination is not in the Middle East.”
Updated 2026-10-07T11:30:40Z
Full advisory →Exercise normal security precautions
“Canada's official risk level for South Korea: exercise normal security precautions.”
Updated 2026-09-24T08:53:34.4605512-04:00
Full advisory →02 · Evidence Signals
Mugging & robbery risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Pickpocketing & theft risk
City SignalCity Web Research
Visitor safety sentiment
City SignalCity Web Research
Urban scale factor
City SignalCity Geocoding
Homicide rate
Robbery / mugging
LowRisk of mugging or armed robbery is very low for visitors.
Pickpocketing
LowPickpocketing and bag-snatching are uncommon but can occur in very crowded tourist spots.
03 · Environment
04 · Institutions
05 · Field Research
Traveller sentiment score
Mostly positive
87/100
Travel reports generally indicate a high level of safety and comfort for visitors, with many feeling secure even when walking alone at night, though a notable percentage express caution.
Yes. Busan is a very safe city for travelers, with low crime rates and strong institutional stability.
Busan offers a high level of personal safety, with extremely low rates of violent crime and a strong rule of law. While petty theft is uncommon, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings, particularly in crowded tourist areas.
Recent developments
Common scams
Full briefing
Busan is a very safe city for travelers, with low crime rates and strong institutional stability. The city's overall safety index is high, reflecting minimal risk from violent crime and a robust legal framework. Official advisories from Canada and the UK recommend exercising normal security precautions, aligning with the city's low-risk profile.
Recent reports indicate that while serious crimes are rare, they do occur. In August 2026, a robbery-murder incident led to a jail sentence for a student, and a separate case involved the death of a missing Chinese student. Tourists should be aware that these incidents, though infrequent, underscore the need for general vigilance. Additionally, a tourist transport, the Danubi Train, experienced a collision in July 2026, highlighting the importance of being mindful of local transport safety.
Petty crime like pickpocketing is uncommon but can happen in crowded areas such as markets or popular tourist attractions. Visitors should keep their belongings secure. While the majority of travelers report feeling safe, a notable percentage express caution when walking alone after dark, suggesting that standard travel precautions are advisable. The city's air quality is good, and there are no active natural disaster alerts.
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06 · Neighbourhoods
Our field research rated 7 Busan districts for visitors: 5 safer, 2 needing caution. See them plotted on the Busan safety map.
Busan Station AreacautionHigh foot traffic can increase petty crime risk; be aware of surroundings.
North PortcautionOccasional shark sightings reported, exercise caution near the water.
Haeundae DistrictsaferPopular beach area with low crime and good tourist infrastructure.
Gwangalli DistrictsaferKnown for its vibrant nightlife and scenic bridge views, generally safe.
Seomyeon DistrictsaferBustling commercial and entertainment hub, safe with standard city precautions.
Nampo DistrictsaferHistoric port area with markets, safe for visitors.
Dongnae DistrictsaferKnown for hot springs, considered safe.
07 · After Dark
54% of people in South Korea say they feel safe walking alone at night in their area (UN SDG survey, 2022).
Risk of mugging or armed robbery is very low for visitors.
After dark, be most careful around Busan Station Area, North Port. Stick to busy, well-lit streets and licensed taxis or ride-hail late at night.
08 · Questions
Yes. Busan is a very safe city for travelers, with low crime rates and strong institutional stability. Busan offers a high level of personal safety, with extremely low rates of violent crime and a strong rule of law. While petty theft is uncommon, visitors should remain aware of their surroundings, particularly in crowded tourist areas. (Assessed 13 October 2026.)
Safety is not one number, and this Busan report does not pretend it is: the score is re-weighted for who is travelling. A woman travelling alone, a family with children and a solo backpacker face different street-level risks, so the headline score shifts and the report leads with the findings that matter for that group. Personalize this report in one click to see the 2026 score and safety briefing for your specific travellers.
No districts were flagged as no-go areas for visitors at the last assessment.
Busan ranks #4 of 9 South Korea destinations we've assessed, scoring 89/100. See the South Korea safety overview for the full list.
The score blends 11+ public data sources — government advisories, UNODC/World Bank crime statistics, FBI crime data for U.S. cities, WHO health data, live air quality and disaster alerts — with AI field research over current local reporting. The databases carry the bulk of the weight; the traveller-sentiment score from field research carries the rest. Full methodology.
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Raw data: busan.json (CC BY 4.0).
