Free public Wi-Fi in Korea: Seoul's SEOUL_Secure and SEOUL networks, national Public WiFi, and how to connect
Numbers checked against the official source on 2026-10-19
Seoul's public Wi-Fi is free (the Seoul page is titled "Seoul free Wi-Fi") and the pages describe no sign-up step. On Seoul's official page the recommended network is SEOUL_Secure: choose it once, type seoul as both the ID and the password, and the phone reconnects automatically in other Seoul hotspots. The simpler open network SEOUL works through a web page where you tap a general-access button every time. The national Public WiFi Free network used on many buses, markets and community centres cuts each session off after 1 hour, and you can reconnect as often as you like.
Network names (SSIDs) at a glance
| SSID | Run by | Where | How to connect | Time limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEOUL_Secure | Seoul Metropolitan Government | Streets, traditional markets, parks and streams, bus stops, tourist sites, cultural and welfare facilities, city and village buses | Select it, enter seoul as ID and as password once; later it connects by itself | None stated on the Seoul page |
| SEOUL | Seoul Metropolitan Government | Same places | Select it; on the page that opens press the general-access button, every time | None stated on the Seoul page |
| Public WiFi Free | Ministry of Science and ICT with NIA and the three mobile carriers | Community centres, welfare facilities, traditional markets, city buses and similar public places | Select it, open a web browser, press the button on the "Public WiFi" screen | 1 hour per connection; reconnect with no limit on the number of times |
| Public WiFi Secure | Same | Only areas where the name appears | Select it, enter wifi as user name and password | Not stated |
| Public WiFi Free_(route number) | Same | Buses with the promotion poster | Select the route-numbered name, open a browser, press the bus Wi-Fi button | Not stated on the bus page |
How to connect in Seoul
Secure connection (the city's recommended way)
- Turn on Wi-Fi on your phone or laptop and look at the network list.
- Select SEOUL_Secure.
- Enter seoul for the ID (user name) and seoul for the password.
- Connect once. The city says that after this single setup the device connects automatically anywhere in Seoul's network.
The city adds that, depending on what your device supports, SEOUL_Secure automatically uses the newest security standard (WPA2 or WPA3 Enterprise).
The city's bus-stop announcement (revised 24 Aug 2021) gives the detailed device settings:
- Android: EAP method "PEAP"; CA certificate "do not verify / none"; ID "seoul" and password "seoul"; phase-2 authentication "none".
- iPhone: user name "seoul", password "seoul", then set the certificate to "trust".
General connection
- Select SEOUL.
- A page opens automatically. Press the general-access button on it.
- Repeat this every time you reconnect; the city notes it is a manual connection each time.
How to connect on the national network
Where you see "Public WiFi" signs outside Seoul's own network (and on buses and in community centres), the Ministry of Science and ICT's service works like this:
- Search for nearby Wi-Fi in your device settings.
- Select Public WiFi Free and open a web browser (the default browser is recommended).
- On the "Public WiFi" screen, press the button next to "use Public WiFi" to start. The button position differs by device: top button on Android, iPhone and Windows 10, left button on Windows 11.
For the encrypted version, select Public WiFi Secure and enter user name wifi and password wifi. After connecting you can use the internet directly, without the Public WiFi screen. Secure is not available in every area and only works where the name appears. On Android choose PEAP and enter wifi / wifi; the bus page lists "2nd-stage authentication: none" and "CA certificate: none". On iOS enter wifi / wifi and press trust on the certificate.
On a bus
The national bus page says buses with the promotional poster offer free Wi-Fi: select Public WiFi Free_(route number), open a browser, and press the bus Wi-Fi button on the screen. For the secure option use Public WiFi Secure with wifi / wifi. Seoul's own page lists city and village buses among its installation sites.
The 1-hour limit
The ministry's FAQ answers the question "is Public Wi-Fi time-limited?" directly: Public WiFi Free limits each connection to 1 hour, a measure taken to prevent one user monopolising the network and for security. After the hour the connection is cut automatically; you can reconnect any number of times by repeating the connection steps. The Seoul public Wi-Fi page does not state a time limit for SEOUL or SEOUL_Secure.
Where the credentials differ
| Network | ID / user name | Password | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEOUL_Secure (Seoul) | seoul | seoul | Seoul public Wi-Fi page, revised 16 Oct 2026 |
| Public WiFi Secure (national) | wifi | wifi | Ministry / NIA safe-use page and FAQ |
These are two different networks, not an official contradiction: type seoul / seoul for SEOUL_Secure and wifi / wifi for Public WiFi Secure. The Seoul bus-stop announcement is dated 2021; the city's current page gives the same ID and password but a shorter description.
Staying safe
- The ministry says to avoid financial transactions and important personal information on public Wi-Fi, and to use only networks whose provider you can identify.
- Networks without security settings can expose your activity and personal data; avoid banking, work log-ins and forms that ask for personal information on them.
- Secure SSIDs encrypt data only between your device and the access point; personal information can still be stolen through phishing and similar routes, and the encryption can slow the connection slightly.
- A saved public Wi-Fi network can reconnect automatically without a notice.
- Residences, offices and private businesses are not covered by the service.
Who to call
| Problem | Number |
|---|---|
| Seoul public Wi-Fi integrated management centre | 02-2133-0022 |
| Seoul Digital City Bureau, Information and Communications Division (page contact) | 02-2133-1352 |
| National public Wi-Fi main customer centre (NIA) | 1899-4876 |
| Faults and outages: SK Telecom / KT / LG U+ | 080-011-6000 / 1588-9010 / 1544-8585 |
Common questions
Is Seoul's public Wi-Fi free for tourists?
Yes. The Seoul page is titled "Seoul free Wi-Fi" and lists streets, traditional markets, parks, bus stops, tourist sites and buses as installation places; its summary (marked on the page as AI-generated) says anyone can use it free. The national service's own guide says anyone can use it free. Neither distinguishes between residents and visitors.
What is the password for SEOUL_Secure?
Seoul's page says to enter seoul for both the ID and the password. The national Public WiFi Secure uses wifi for both.
Does public Wi-Fi replace a SIM card?
It can cover short stops, but the national free network disconnects every hour and the official advice is not to use it for banking or other sensitive log-ins. See buying a SIM card or eSIM in Korea for a connection that does not depend on hotspots.
The Seoul page was revised 2026-10-16; the national site's pages print no revision date and were read on 2026-10-19. Not covered: the hotspot map, other cities' network names, and carrier apps.
Official sources
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — Seoul public Wi-Fi (SEOUL_Secure) — SSIDs, how to connect, installation places, contact numbers; page revised 2026-10-16 (checked 2026-10-19)
- Seoul Metropolitan Government — bus-stop public Wi-Fi announcement — Android and iPhone secure-connection settings for SEOUL_Secure; page revised 2021-08-24 (checked 2026-10-19)
- Public WiFi (Ministry of Science and ICT / NIA) — service guide — what the service is and how to connect to Public WiFi Free; no revision date printed (read on 2026-10-19) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Public WiFi — safe use — Public WiFi Secure steps, cautions about personal data; no revision date printed (read on 2026-10-19) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Public WiFi — FAQ — 1-hour limit on Public WiFi Free, who the service is for; no revision date printed (read on 2026-10-19) (checked 2026-10-19)
- Public WiFi — using bus Wi-Fi — bus SSID Public WiFi Free_(route number) and secure bus option (checked 2026-10-19)
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