Worried about how to get around South Korea on crutches? I was too. However accidents happen, and there should be nothing stopping you from still having a great time in South Korea!
Getting around South Korea on crutches is hard, but doable. You will get stared at, even more so than a foreigner would have been stared at before.
One time a little boy ran up to me and pointed at my foot in shock, then touched my crutches, seemingly amazed by them. It was then that I realized that I hadn’t seen anyone else on crutches in Seoul, or even anyone who had an apparent injury.
Getting Around Korea on Crutches
Being injured in South Korea made me stand out more than I already did. Being a 6’0 foot, white, female American in homogeneous Korea had already garnered me lots of stares. Throw in some crutches with that and wow – it was intense.
On crutches, activities are obviously more limited. However, this shouldn’t discourage you!
When I got injured, it was the last week of my study abroad program in Seoul. I was really disappointed, thinking I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the last week like everyone else. Really, I shouldn’t have worried too much. Yes, whereas some things like amusement parks were a bit out of my reach, if I put in the effort I could go most everywhere!
Subways
At first, crutches were a nightmare in Seoul, as Seoul is very much a city of walking. They have amazing public transportation, but even getting to the subway without crutches was around 15 minutes. With crutches, this became 45.
Tip! – Avoid the early morning subway rush so you don’t get too jostled around. Also there are seats on the subways specifically for injured people (among others), so try to aim for those as they have more room.
Walking With Crutches
Crowds can be an issue, as South Korea has more than 50 million people in a relatively small country. The solution? Have the people you’re traveling with make a path for you!
A Note – For those of you traveling solo, the least amount of crowds on the weekdays will be during the middle of the day. On the weekends, it’ll be in the morning, so plan accordingly!
If you’re going sightseeing, lots of historical places will have wheelchairs for you to use. Sometimes they’re 100% worth it, other times the ground is too bumpy for it to be practical. You’ll just have to feel it out.
Taxis
When it came to getting around on crutches in Korea, my family’s solution was to take taxis. It was just easier, since drivers usually tried to work with us on how to get my crutches in with me.
Warning – Taxis can be tricky. Some taxi drivers in South Korea aren’t used to foreigners and won’t stop for you or will deny you entry once they find out you don’t speak Korean. Some will even try to scam you if they see you’re injured, giving a set price that is too high for the journey instead of using the meter.
To be fair, I rarely had a bad experience with a taxi and when I did, I reported his license plate to our hotel and they took care of it.
I warn you about taxis only so you’re careful. If you’re injured I still think they’re the best way to get around. Also, I had many great experiences with the drivers who liked to practice their English with me and they gave me great tips on places to go in Seoul.
If you’re worried, you can always call and hire a taxi and let them know about your injury beforehand. They even have international taxis that can speak different languages.
This link can help you find different kinds of taxis:
https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TRP/TP_ENG_7.jsp
Airports
This is where being on crutches in Korea was almost like a perk!
When you go to the check in counter, they’ll likely ask you if you need assistance. If they don’t ask, just mention that you need help and a wheelchair will be brought out for you. In addition to the wheelchair, an airline worker will be assigned to you and will take you and your travel companions through a special security line. We skipped a 30 min + line due to this!
Afterwards the worker will need to stay with you until you get to the gate, from there they’ll tell the airline attendants about you and the airline will have you board first.
Not too shabby!
To Conclude
Bottom line, being injured is hard – especially in a foreign country.
In South Korea, whereas some people might not make concessions for you, other people are more than ready to help you with your injury and make things easier. Kind people exist everywhere, you just have to ask for help.
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Any questions? Contact me or comment below!