If you want to access South Korean websites from abroad, scrape local content, or unblock your IP, a Korean proxy server might be just what you need. It will give you a new IP address to make it look like you’re connecting from Korea. Here are some of the best South Korean proxy providers you can use today.
Contents
What is a Proxy Server?
A proxy server acts as an intermediary between your device and the internet. When you connect through a proxy, your traffic gets routed through the proxy server first before reaching the destination website.
The proxy assigns you an IP address from its pool of IPs. As a result, the website you access will see the proxy IP instead of your real one. This allows you to mask your identity and location.
Proxy servers are located all over the world. Connecting through a Korean proxy gives you a Korean IP address. The website has no way to tell you aren’t actually based in Korea.
Why Use a Korean Proxy?
Here are some of the benefits of using a Korean proxy:
- Access Korean websites and services blocked outside the country due to geo-restrictions.
- View Korean internet content as if you were located in Korea.
- Get Korean prices and promotions when shopping online.
- Access more eCommerce sites based in Korea.
- Use multiple Korean IPs to manage social media accounts without getting blocked.
- Hide your identity and real location when browsing the Korean web.
- Overcome internet censorship and unblock websites.
For businesses, Korean proxies enable market research, price monitoring, ad verification, brand protection, etc.
Overall, the proxies make it simple to access the Korean internet anonymously.
How We Selected the Best Korean Proxy Providers
Our evaluation process for picking the top Korean proxy services was rigorous. We signed up for over 10 providers to extensively test their proxy networks.
The key criteria we used are:
- Performance – Fast connection speeds and reliability are vital. Slow proxies negatively affect your browsing experience.
- Features – Support for all major protocols, numerous customization options, APIs, etc. expand a proxy‘s capabilities.
- Targeting options – Precise location and IP-type targeting enables accessing local content easily.
- Pricing – Affordable plans and flexible payment models make proxies accessible to all users.
- Ease of use – Simple setup and management allow quick deployment of proxies.
- Customer support – Responsive and knowledgeable support is key when issues arise.
Based on these criteria, we picked the 4 top-rated Korean proxy services below.
Smartproxy
Smartproxy is a great choice for beginners due to affordable prices and ease of use. Its proxies have all the main features and perform very well despite their price.
Pros:
- Residential IPs
- No connection limits
- Good pricing
- Browser extension
Cons:
- No SOCKS5 protocol
- Limited city targeting
Rating: 9.2 / 10
[CTA button]Smartproxy balances strong performance with approachable pricing. The residential IPs ensure access to most Korean sites. While advanced targeting options are lacking, it meets the needs of casual proxy users well.
Oxylabs
Oxylabs has the some of the best performing proxies we‘ve tried, granular targeting options, and a dedicated account manager. It‘s best for business clients with larger needs.
Pros:
- Residential IPs
- Great performance
- City & ASN targeting
- Unlimited connections
Cons:
- Too pricey for home use
Rating: 9 / 10
[CTA button]Oxylabs is a premium solution with advanced features for large-scale data extraction and analysis. Though expensive, its proxies are very reliable and fast. The precise targeting ensures you always get Korean IPs.
Bright Data
Bright Data is the largest proxy provider with the most features and proxy management tools. It competes with Oxylabs and is best suited for people with funds and experience.
Pros:
- Residential & mobile IPs
- Powerful proxy controls
- City & ASN targeting
- Pay-as-you-go plans
Cons:
- Expensive
- Hard to use for beginners
Rating: 9 / 10
[CTA button]Bright Data has one of the most capable proxy networks out there. The fine-grained targeting gives you many options to get the perfect IPs. If you can afford it, Bright Data is a top choice.
PacketStream
PacketStream buys traffic from people and sells it to clients. As a result, its proxies are very cheap. But their performance and the size of the proxy pool is hit-and-miss.
Pros:
- Residential IPs
- Very cheap
- Pay-as-you-go pricing
Cons:
- Small proxy pool
- Less reliable than others
Rating: 8.4 / 10
[CTA button]If you‘re on a tight budget, PacketStream is worth considering. Just be prepared for slower speeds and proxy blocking on some Korean sites. The pay-as-you-go model helps avoid waste.
Choosing the Best Korean Proxy Servers
Our vetting procedure for selecting the best Korea proxy providers included multiple technical tests. Our goal was to check on the proxies‘ viability and strength in offering access to Korean sites.
We started by measuring the stability of their servers by constantly pinging the proxy network for new IPs. We then evaluated their speed and ability to access multiple high-profile websites. This revealed if the IP addresses were not abused.
Finally, we measured how well the Korea proxy providers were able to handle big loads by running up to 500 parallel connections at the same time.
Aside from the technical characteristics, we also looked at their pricing, features, and customer support. The list above contains the providers that displayed the best results.
Reasons to Get a Proxy in Korea
With a Korean proxy IP, there are several benefits you stand to gain, primarily when online shopping. Korea is home to several online stores. A local IP address will let you scrape them for data or buy goods at local prices, which may be cheaper.
For marketers, a Korean proxy allows managing multiple social media IPs without getting blocked. This wouldn’t be possible with a single IP or just a VPN.
For home users, proxies help overcome geographical restrictions. So, you can watch local Korean content as if you were located in Korea. They can also provide an additional privacy layer by hiding their IP address.
How to Use Korean Proxies
The Korean providers may have different configuration instructions, but they work in more or less the same way: you buy a plan, sign in, and get access to Korean IP addresses.
The proxies use the standard IP:port format. This means they’re compatible with almost all devices, whether it’s your mobile phone, laptop, or desktop. They also support different applications and web browsers.
While the Korean proxies may have different features, pricing plans, and organization, the result is the same – unrestricted access to Korean sites.
Don’t Use A Free Korean Proxy List
A free Korean proxy server may sound like a great idea when you look at the high costs of some of the paid proxy providers. After all, you get access to Korean sites for free. However, you should really bite the bullet and go paid. Here’s why.
Free proxies are available to anyone, so it’s very likely they’ll be slow and already blocked on your target websites. Even if you manage to find performant IPs, you can’t be sure who’s behind them. Their provider can show you malicious ads through the proxies or even steal your personal data.
A reputable proxy provider will never compromise your data. That said, you should note that Bright Data and Oxylabs will monitor your activities for legal reasons, and they will let you know about it when signing up. The monitoring may not sit well with some, especially if you want maximum privacy when using the proxies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to use Korean proxies?
Yes, you can legally buy and use Korean proxies. It’s not a crime unless you use the proxy for the wrong reasons. If you have inquiries on the legality of using proxies with specific websites, you can always consult your attorney to be safe.
Keep in mind that having a foreign IP address doesn’t make you untraceable if you commit a crime. Law enforcement agencies have other ways of tracking you down, such as browser fingerprinting.
Can I use IPs in South Korea to view local content?
Yes. With a Korean IP address, you can access local content, which would otherwise be blocked. You can sign up for social media platforms and access online shopping platforms to purchase goods at local prices.
A proxy is very helpful for market intelligence, where you understand the pricing of products and their demand in the country.
How many connections do I need?
This depends on your use case. If you‘re an individual user who just wants to access some Korean websites, one proxy with 1-2 connections is enough.
For web scraping or managing multiple accounts, you‘ll need multiple proxy connections. Proxies like Oxylabs and Bright Data offer unlimited connections on higher plans. Start with what you need immediately – you can always scale up later.
Can I use Korean proxies on my phone?
Yes, proxies are compatible with mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The provider will give you configuration instructions to manually set up the proxy on your device.
Alternatively, many providers offer browser extensions that simplify proxy configuration. These work on mobile browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Opera, etc. The extensions automatically route your mobile‘s traffic through the proxies.
