South Korea is known to be one of the most internet-connected nations in the world with over 80 percent of its citizens having access to the internet. It is also known to have extremely high broadband speeds (the usual speed goes up to 100 Mb/s). South Korea is considered a democracy and the government encourages freedom of speech, however, when it comes to the internet, netizens in South Korea face a high rate of online censorship. With a high rate of online censorship comes a high rate of online surveillance to insure that all online laws are being followed.
Accordingly, internet users in South Korea have been seeking a safe alternative for these online complications. The most reliable solution in this case is investing and acquiring a strong VPN service. The main purpose of a VPN service is that it allows users to connect to the internet through its countless servers around the world in order to bypass online restrictions in the users’ location and at the same time provide the users with shared IP’s to hide their online identities. The second purpose is that most VPNs use high level encryption to secure their networks to ensure online security and privacy. The third main purpose is that the reliable VPNs do not keep logs on their servers to keep all their users’ online activities private. These 3 purposes are exactly what is needed for the online situation in South Korea. According to these features we were able to shine the light on the top 3 VPNs for South Korea.
Best VPNs for South Korea
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN started operating back in 2009 from the British Virgin Islands. Over the years it has expanded and upgraded its features and security measures to take a leading position in the VPN market today. It has provided hundreds of thousands of users with top of the line online security services and online restrictions bypassing capabilities. This is why it has been ranking very high among its competitors in several challenges and this is the same reason it is highly recommended for South Korea.
Level of Security
- Network of servers is SSL secured with a 256-bit encryption
- Multiple security protocols are supported (OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and SSTP)
- An additional security feature is the Network Lock Kill Switch
Network of Servers
- More than 1000 servers in 145 cities, spread across 94 countries around the world
- Each server provides the users with countless shared IP’s for the purpose of online anonymity
Additional Features
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server switching
- Zero-logging of online traffic
- Up to 3 simultaneous connections
- 30-day money back guarantee
PureVPN
PureVPN has been officially operating since 2007. It is based in Hong Kong and today it has become one of the most well trusted VPN providers in the VPN industry. It started with servers in as little as 2 locations and expanded to a massive network that provides its thousands of users with state of the art online security and privacy features and measures. In more than one occasion it has proved its reliability and due to this, it is a very considerable option for South Korea.
Level of Security
- PureVPN uses an AES 256-bit encryption to secure its entire network
- Multiple advanced security protocols supported (OpenVPN, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, SSTP, and IKEv2)
- Additional security features include Automatic Protocol Selection, Wi-Fi Security, Internet Kill Switch, NAT Firewall, and DDoS Protection
Network of Servers
- Over 750 servers spread across 141 countries around the world
- This network provides its users with more than 88,000 shared IP’s and the availability of obtaining a dedicated IP
Additional Features
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server switching
- Up to 5 simultaneous connections
- Split Tunneling
- No online activity logs kept
- 7-day money back guarantee
BVPN
BVPN has been operating from the Netherlands since 2014. In a very few years it has proved to be one of the strongest VPN service providers in the field. It has continuously overcome online challenges around the world with its unique and powerful security features and measures. It is quickly climbing up the ranks among its competitors and hence it came as no surprise to be one of the recommendations for South Korea.
Level of Security
- The entire BVPN network is secured with a military grade 256-bit encryption
- Advanced and unique security protocols supported (OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, L2TP/IPSec, SSTP, and its very own Smoke Tunnel)
- Additional security features include Wi-Fi Security, Internet Kill Switch, and IPv6 Leak Protection
Network of Servers
- More than 20 strategically placed server locations around the world
- This network is continuously updated and expanded
- Network provides users with countless shared IP’s
Additional Features
- Unlimited bandwidth
- Unlimited server switching
- Up to 6 simultaneous connections
- No logs kept
- 7-day money back guarantee
Conclusion
Even though South Korea is not considered the riskiest online situation compared to other countries in the South East Asia region, yet all this online censorship comes as a massive inconvenience to all the residents, whether they are citizens or expats. This is why it is wise to use a VPN service while accessing the internet in South Korea to stay secure and ensure complete online freedom. Every day the level of online censorship increases in South Korea and so if users do not start using a VPN, soon there won’t be much left of the internet to access.
