Its own version of the Great Firewall of China dedicated to eliminate its citizens abilities to gain access to forbidden websites including those with pornography, online gambling, anything referring to sexual violence, and other subjects that fall short of the country’s moral code of conduct.
How does South Korea’s New Censorship Works
It still flies in the face of Internet freedom movements which many Western countries enjoy. The SNI monitoring is the equivalent of a national firewall, with pre-established laws on which sort of websites are allowed into South Korea. This also gives South Korea’s government the ability to block all things North Korea, which it has done for years, at least in terms of praise for the North Korean government. In essence when Korean users try to access a website located outside Korea, the system will compare the link to an existing block list. If the website matches something on the block list, the user is denied access. If it clears, they proceed to the website.
South Korean Web User Statistics
Seoul has grown to be one of the larger cities in Asia outside of China and India and has become a hub for expats. It started with US military personnel but now there are lots of multinational companies in the city.
How a VPN Works in South Korea
A VPN can mask your internet connection by providing an encrypted tunnel between your computer and a remote server located in your home country outside South Korea. Once you have that connection in place, the remote server will layer your IP address with one of its own. When you send requests to the internet to view websites that South Korea deems inappropriate, the website will come to your device of choice through the encrypted tunnel, which its filters cannot read. Keep in mind that the protection of a VPN doesn’t give you the right to commit illegal acts. My team and I don’t condone breaking the law, so please remember to research the local rules and regulations before you enter South Korea.
Best VPNs for South Korea in 2023
You’ll need heavy-duty security to ensure you are safe while accessing your online accounts. VPNs come in all shapes and sizes, but the best have iron-clad security for just this sort of situation. Here are three great choices:
1ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has world-class security thanks to 2048-bit encryption, an automatic kill switch, built-in leak protection, and a strict no-logs policy. It’s really versatile in that it lets you make up to 5 simultaneous connections and also is great for torrent fans with its P2P functionality and port forwarding capabilities. It does not have a huge supply of servers, but it provides solid encryption and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Get it Now
2CyberGhost VPN
CyberGhost VPN will keep you safe when you’re in South Korea. First and foremost, it has a no-logs policy to keep you safe when you’re browsing. It also offers unlimited speed and unlimited bandwidth as standard. The kill switch, the most important part of any defensive strategy, is also in place for this VPN. Get it Now
3Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN
Private Internet Access (PIA) VPN is based in the US and has a very nice security package as well. It starts with a kill switch and includes DNS leak protection, top-rated encryption, SOCKS5 compatibility, and support for almost every type of protocol. It offers up to 10 connections at once and has more than 35000 servers ready to serve you. Get it Now
