Solo female travel in Korea: my honest safety review after 3 trips

I have traveled solo as a woman in Korea three times totaling about 6 weeks. Overall safety: excellent. I walked alone at 2 AM in Hongdae, Myeongdong, and Gangnam feeling completely comfortable. Streets are well-lit, CCTV coverage is extensive, and there are convenience stores every 100 meters that feel like safe havens. The subway has women-only cars during rush hour which is a nice touch. Motel rooms have solid locks and security. Emergency number 112 has English operators 24/7. The 1330 tourist helpline is also amazing — they will even do three-way translation calls for you. Korea is one of the safest countries for solo female travelers in the world, right up there with Japan and Singapore. I always recommend it as a first solo trip destination.