There are many reasons why you might want to use a South Korea VPN, from accessing geoblocked content to ensuring online security when you’re completing sensitive online activity. Plus, if you’re on a budget, you might be looking for the best free Korea VPN. However, many free services rarely offer the security features and privacy of the best VPNs.
Key Takeaways:
- South Korea enjoys a mostly free internet, but a few laws threaten the privacy of an average user.
- A virtual private network (VPN) can help by encrypting your connection so no one can intercept your internet traffic or monitor your online activities, but free VPNs often provide few of the protections you’d expect, or they restrict your service somehow.
- Windscribe is the best free VPN for South Korea (you need an upgrade to access the South Korean server), but we have four more free VPN alternatives, too.
While South Korea is far from being censorship-heavy, the South Korean government still regulates content that violates laws or social norms on the orders of Korean Communications Standards Commission (KCSC). The government also blocks pornography and pirated material.
South Korea is also home to some of the best content in the world, from Squid Game to BTS songs. However, many shows might be available only in the U.K. or U.S. libraries of streaming services. If South Koreans want to bypass these geoblocks, they’ll need a VPN.
No matter the reason, if you want to use a VPN for free in South Korea, we have four of the best free VPN options available — and we will also explain where these completely free VPNs fall short in terms of security, privacy, features or having servers in South Korea.
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You can get a free VPN by downloading the app for your device from the service’s website. For example, if you want to use Windscribe, you can go to windscribe.com and download the app for your operating system — Windows, Mac, Android, iOS and more.
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TunnelBear is the only good VPNs that have a South Korean server that can assign you a free Korean IP address. However, you don’t need a South Korean IP address unless you want to access a service that’s geoblocked outside of South Korea while your VPN connection is active. All local services can be accessed by turning off the VPN.
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Yes, VPNs are completely legal in South Korea. Note that if you’re caught doing something illegal using a VPN, you can still be convicted for the illegal act (though not for using a VPN in the process).
The Top Free VPNs for South Korea
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What Makes the Best Free Korea VPN?
The best South Korea VPN should be able to get past geo-restrictions and offer excellent security, online privacy and connection speed. Here are the best free Korea VPNs on the market.
- Windscribe — Fastest free VPN for South Korea
- ProtonVPN — Free VPN that offers unlimited data
- TunnelBear — Offers a South Korea IP address on the free plan
- Hide.me — Offers almost all features on the free plan
- PrivadoVPN — Free VPN with torrenting servers
Of these four services, three — Windscribe, Hide.me and ProtonVPN — offer a South Korean server only once you upgrade, while TunnelBear offers a South Korean server on the free plan. We explain more about these services below, but here are things you should be mindful of as you select a free VPN for South Korea.
Security & Privacy
Securing your connection and keeping you anonymous over the internet is one of the primary uses of a VPN. Unfortunately, some services fail to get the fundamentals right, especially the free ones.
Look for a secure encryption protocol like OpenVPN or WireGuard, and the AES 256-bit cipher for top-notch VPN security. Also, ensure that the VPN isn’t based in any country like India that requires logging user data.
Speeds
Even with a secure connection, you should be able to load webpages and stream content at a decent speed. Many free VPNs fail to deliver good speeds, so look at a service’s performance before you settle on a free South Korean VPN.
Streaming Capabilities
Fast speeds are only helpful if you can access content in the first place. Websites like Netflix ban VPNs and many services fail to get past Netflix’s geo-restrictions. Other services like Amazon Prime Video and Hulu are catching on fast too. Make sure you select a VPN service that can effectively bypass geoblocks.
Free South Korea Server
South Korean servers means the VPN can offer you a South Korean IP address, as well as secure your connection while you access local websites or content. While it’s helpful, not many free VPNs offer South Korean server options, unless you switch to the paid plan. However, a few free VPNs like TunnelBear do offer South Korean servers on the free plan.
The 4 Best Free VPN Korea Choices
We found four free VPNs for South Korea based on the points mentioned in the previous section.
1. Windscribe
More details about Windscribe:
- Pricing: Free, $5.75 per month
- Provider website: www.windscribe.com
Pros:
- Fast connection speeds
- Unblocks top streaming apps
- Excellent security & privacy
Cons:
- Limited free server locations
- 15GB free monthly data
Windscribe is the best free VPN because it checks all the right boxes. It offers fast connection speeds (it’s one of the fastest services as per our speed tests) and easily gets into geoblocked streaming sites like Netflix. This translates to a pleasant, high-quality streaming experience even on the free version.
The high speed isn’t at the expense of security either. Windscribe offers excellent security with protocols like OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard, plus AES-256 bit encryption. It has a strict no-logs policy, which means the VPN won’t have any data on your activity to give to the government or the internet service provider if they request to see what you’re doing online.
Windscribe also comes with all the essentials. It offers a kill switch to cut off the internet connection when the VPN connection drops and split tunneling that allows the routing of internet traffic of a specific app via the unencrypted tunnel.
Generous Free Plan
Windscribe offers a generous free plan, given that its performance matches some premium VPNs. You get up to 15GB of free data each month — if you verify your email and Tweet about Windscribe.
The free plan lets you connect to servers in up to 10 countries — not including South Korea — and you have limited access to R.O.B.E.R.T., Windscribe’s browser extension and ad blocker.
While Windscribe has an excellent free plan, the paid plan gives you access to all server locations, removes the data cap and gives you complete access to R.O.B.E.R.T. The paid plan costs $5.75 per month, but you can get more creative with the build-a-plan option.
With the build-a-plan option, you can select three server locations (for $1 per month each), or two server locations and unlimited data plus access to R.O.B.E.R.T (again, for $1 per month each). With either option, you’ll need a minimum checkout value of $3 per month. So if you needed a South Korea IP address, you could add the server for $1 per month.
You also get a three-day money-back guarantee if you want to test Windscribe before you commit. Learn more about Windscribe in our Windscribe review.
- Up to 15 GB free with email confirmation and Tweet
- 15GB
- Unlimited
- Unlimited GB
- Unlimited
- Yes
2. ProtonVPN
More details about ProtonVPN:
- Pricing: $4.99 per month
- Provider website: www.protonvpn.com
Pros:
- Unlimited data on free plan
- Excellent security
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Slow
The VPN offers excellent security with three security protocols — OpenVPN, IKEv2 and WireGuard. ProtonVPN is one of the most feature-rich VPNs, as we explain in our ProtonVPN review, and also includes essentials like a kill switch and split tunneling.
Moreover, ProtonVPN effectively bypasses geoblocks on major streaming sites like Netflix, BBC iPlayer and Hulu. You can access South Korean content or another country’s library from anywhere in the world.
Unlimited Data
ProtonVPN offers unlimited data on the free plan. None of the other free VPN services offer this. On the surface, ProtonVPN sounds like a better deal than Windscribe, but there’s a catch.
ProtonVPN indirectly caps your data usage by throttling your speed. When you use the free plan, you’ll notice that connection speeds aren’t ProtonVPN’s strongest suits. That puts ProtonVPN a spot below Windscribe. Plus, ProtonVPN offers free servers in just three countries: the U.S., Japan and Netherlands.
The paid version starts at $4.99 per month for the two-year plan. That’s more expensive than some premium VPNs like NordVPN and Surfshark. However, if you like ProtonVPN for its intuitive, feature-rich app, you do get 10 simultaneous connections. You can also try out ProtonVPN risk-free using the 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Unlimited GB
- 1
- Yes
3. TunnelBear
More details about TunnelBear:
- Pricing: $3.33 per month
- Provider website: www.tunnelbear.com
Pros:
- 40+ server countries
- Free plan accesses all servers
- Strong security features
Cons:
- Poor streaming performance
- 500MB free monthly data cap
TunnelBear is an excellent pick if you’ve never used a VPN before. It has a simple interface with a dropdown menu featuring server locations. Just pick a preferred location and TunnelBear will connect you to a server in that country.
Though minimalistic on many fronts, TunnelBear doesn’t slack when it comes to security. You get OpenVPN combined with AES-256 bit encryption — currently the golden standard for security.
While it’s not as feature-packed as ProtonVPN, it offers all the essentials like a kill switch (called VigilantBear on the app) and split tunneling (called SplitBear), though split tunneling is only available on the Android and iOS app.
You also get a few handy features like GhostBear, which tries to conceal VPN usage. The feature helps you use TunnelBear even if you’re located in a country like China or another country with heavy censorship.
TunnelBear has a rather restrictive data cap of 500MB on the free plan. You probably won’t be able to stream movies in high quality, but you can view videos on social media or securely surf the web with another country’s IP address. Learn more about TunnelBear in our comprehensive TunnelBear review.
Servers in 40 Countries, Including Korea
TunnelBear offers servers in over 40 countries, including South Korea, and the free plan can access all server locations. This means you can get a South Korean IP address with TunnelBear’s free plan.
TunnelBear’s three-year plan is its best value and costs $3.33 per month. You can get better VPNs like Surfshark for a lower monthly price, but if you need a minimalist VPN that does the job, TunnelBear might be a good choice.
- 2GB
- 2GB
- 5
- Unlimited GB, five devices, priority customer service
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
- Unlimited GB, five devices per user, centralized billing, account manager, price per user per month
- Unlimited GB
- 5
- Yes
4. Hide.me
More details about Hide.me:
- Pricing: $2.64 per month
- Provider website: www.hide.me
Pros:
- Access to almost all features
- Offers 10GB of free data
- Includes a kill switch
Cons:
- Doesn’t get into Netflix
- 5 free server locations
Hide.me offers access to almost all features, even on the free version. For example, you get the browser extension on the free plan, so you can protect yourself against WebRTC leaks. Hide.me is a secure VPN that offers four security protocols — OpenVPN, IKEv2, SSTP and SoftEtherVPN — and AES 256-bit encryption. WireGuard is also available, but only to paid users (unless you’re on Linux).
With Hide.me, you get 10GB of free data per month. You can access eight server locations with this data — Germany, Canada, France, Singapore, Spain, the Netherlands, U.S. East, U.S. West and the U.K — making it one of the best free UK VPNs.
Fallback VPN Protocol
Hide.me allows you to select the fallback protocols. It’s essentially a backup protocol. Whenever your current VPN protocol stops working, Hide.me automatically switches to the fallback protocol to ensure you’re always safe online.
Hide.me isn’t expensive, and it is an excellent VPN that offers a broad range of features on the free version. You can also just try the paid version first if you’re interested, using the 30-day money-back guarantee. Get the full details in our Hide.me review.
- 5 servers
- 10GB
- 1
- The 3-year plan comes with 3 extra months free.
- Unlimited GB
- 10
- Yes
5. PrivadoVPN
More details about hide.me:
- Pricing: 10GB free plan; $4.99 per month (one-year plan)
- Provider website: privadovpn.com
Pros:
- Unlimited speeds on the free plan
- Based in Switzerland
Cons:
- No advanced features
- No free servers in South Korea
- Poor customer support
Although PrivadoVPN has VPN servers in South Korea, you can’t access them for free. Thankfully, you can use its 30-day money-back guarantee to access Korean content for a month at no cost. It’s a secure VPN that comes with basic features, like a kill switch and split tunneling, as well as unlimited bandwidth and speed.
In terms of advanced features, the only thing on offer are its P2P servers, dedicated to torrenting tasks. Its free plan also allows for only one simultaneous connection, while the paid plan comes with 10.
Swiss Privacy & Security
PrivadoVPN is based in Switzerland, which has the best privacy laws in the world and follows a strict no-logs policy. Plus, it uses only reliable and secure VPN protocols, such as IKEv2, OpenVPN (the gold standard for VPNs) and the fast and modern WireGuard.
PrivadoVPN comes with a 10GB free plan, though it offers monthly and annual plans as well. The monthly plan costs $7.99, while the yearly subscription costs $4.99. Read our full PrivadoVPN review for more information.
How to Get a Korean IP Address Free
To offer a South Korea IP address, the VPN needs to have physical South Korean servers within the country. Unfortunately, most of the VPN service options on this list do not include their South Korea servers in the free plan.
Two options, however, do offer South Korean servers. You can use TunnelBear to get a South Korean IP address for free.
However, it’s important to note that there might be free VPN services out there that offer a South Korean server. However, we only list trusted VPNs. You might be able to get a Korean IP address with another, less secure VPN, but TunnelBear is a safe bet.
Free VPNs vs Paid VPNs vs Proxies
Proxies are the least secure of all three. Free VPNs can offer both speed and security, but most free VPNs are insecure and unreliable, so you’ll need to choose carefully.
Even then, a free VPN won’t match a paid VPN service’s performance in most cases. Paid VPNs are your best bet. If you’re looking for pocket-friendly options, you can always choose a service like Surfshark. It costs less and offers unlimited simultaneous connections, so you can bring the cost down to a negligible amount.
Why Do I Need a VPN in South Korea?
Several South Korean laws restrict freedom of expression online, and a few criminalize online activities.
For example, the 1948 National Security Act has a provision allowing the government to sentence a citizen to prison if they express sympathy with the North Korean regime online or offline.
Plus, the NIS, police, public prosecutors’ offices and other investigative agencies can request access to a user’s metadata and communication data from service provided without a warrant.
A secure and private VPN will ensure that none of your data is accessible to anyone, anywhere, and that nothing you do online can be traced back to you.
What Are the Risks of Using a Free VPN for South Korea?
Free VPNs are often insecure and unreliable. For example, free VPNs often tend to log user data. Such services often defeat the purpose of a VPN altogether. They compromise your privacy in the name of offering you another country’s IP address.
In South Korea, this could lead to the government tracking your online activity back to you. You should still always ensure your online security and privacy by using a secure VPN.
Final Thoughts: Best Free VPNs for Korea
South Korea enjoys excellent internet connectivity. While censorship isn’t a big concern for South Korean netizens, a few laws can still put your privacy at risk. Using a VPN can ensure online privacy and security.
Free VPNs are typically not a good idea since they’re often insecure and log data. However, a few free VPNs can help you stay safe, and we suggested four of the best free VPNs for the job, with Windscribe taking the lead — though TunnelBear is the best option if you need a Korean IP address.
If you hit a snag when accessing Korean content, be sure to check out our guide about how to get a South Korean IP address.
We’ve discussed the four best ones in this guide. Do you know of other free VPNs? How was your experience using them? Let us know in the comments, and as always, thank you for reading.
The post The Best Free Korea VPN in 2023 appeared first on Cloudwards.
