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South Korea

Geocaching HQ encourages geocachers to find at least 20 geocaches before hiding their own. The greater the variety of geocaches that someone finds, the better they will understand how to create an enjoyable experience for other geocachers.

Find additional guidance about hiding caches in the Geocaching Help Center.

For publication, geocaches must follow the Geocaching Guidelines.

For caches placed in South Korea, the items listed below also apply.

General Information

The Help Center

Maybe what you are looking for is in the Geocaching Help Center. Just click here to go to the center and ask your question.

When will my Geocache be published?

In South Korea, we have two volunteers who review and publish geocaches. We strive to begin reviewing geocaches within seven days, but it is typically much sooner. If one reviewer has published some of your geocaches and some are still unpublished, please be patient. The other reviewer will get to them as schedules permit. If, for some reason, one reviewer gets behind, another reviewer may help out. 

Include a complete Reviewer Note about your geocache

We ask all cache hiders to provide basic information about their cache in a Reviewer Note. Please clearly and completely describe your cache in detail in your Reviewer Note. Please include three information categories: WHERE, WHAT, and HOW.

WHERE - Always explain the property your cache is placed on - both the ownership and the property use. Any cache should have permission as described in the Guidelines here. Just because the property has no obvious trespassing signs does not mean it's open to geocache placement without permission. For example, temples and churches have green space trails or parks. We expect you to comply with the Guidelines, include documented permission from the location management in your Reviewer Note, and include in the cache description that permission has been granted. 

WHAT - Clearly and completely describe the cache container, including physical dimensions, material, shape, contents, and how it is identified as a geocache. Just saying a "plastic container" or a 'Metal box" is incomplete.  Some containers are self-explanatory, like a 30 Cal ammo can, a bison tube, a preform, a key container, or a magnetic nano. Still, others need a complete description in your Reviewer Note. We want to know precisely what you've placed in case there are some questions in the future from law enforcement or a property owner.

HOW - Explain how and where your cache is hidden. Please be specific about camouflage and attachment methods to objects or the ground. For example, it might be a bison tube hung with a wire hook over a pine tree's branch about 2 meters off the ground. If your cache is on a signpost or near a sign, please tell us what the sign says.

If you need to include a picture, please upload the image to a Reviewer Note as additional information. Photos are not a substitute for a written Reviewer Note.  The image will be archived and not publicly visible when the cache is published.

No Precedent 

Be aware that geocaching guidelines are subject to change. There is no precedent for placing geocaches, so the past publication of a similar geocache is not a valid justification for the publication of a new geocache. If a geocache has been published and violates any guidelines listed, you are encouraged to report it. However, if the geocache was placed before a guideline was issued or updated, it is likely to be grandfathered and allowed to stand as is.

Boy Scout Merit Badge Information 

For a geocache to be published in South Korea for the BSA Merit Badge for Geocaching, the following will be required:

Please provide the name, address, phone number, and email address of the person in charge of the Geocaching Merit Badge program for that troop.

When maintenance is needed, this contact person will be notified of any issues with the geocache. They will ensure maintenance to keep the geocache active for the required minimum time (90 days). The email address will also be left on the geocache page so people who cannot find the geocache can follow up with the merit badge counselor or scoutmaster directly.

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Cache Owner Responsibilities

Please note - YOU are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of your cache as outlined in the Guidelines. If you cannot visit and maintain your cache as required regularly, please do not submit these caches. All geocachers will greatly appreciate your prompt attention to any log that indicates things could be amiss. The rule is: if you can't fix it immediately, then "Disable" it until you can.

As the Cache Owner, you may NOT ask “the community” to maintain caches on your behalf. In certain circumstances, you may designate other cachers to assist in maintaining the caches. These other cachers must be active local cachers in the area where the cache is placed. However, as the cache owner, you remain primarily responsible for all maintenance.

Maintain Your Cache

To keep the online cache page up-to-date, the cache owner must:

• Monitor logs for reported problems.

• Post an Owner Maintenance log after doing maintenance.  

• Update the cache page if conditions or coordinates change.

• Disable a cache page when it is unavailable, or you need time to fix reported problems. A cache page can stay disabled for a reasonable amount of time—generally up to four weeks.

• Occasionally mark trackables as missing if they are not in the geocache.

• Delete logs that appear to be false or inappropriate.

To keep the geocache in proper working order, the cache owner must:

• Visit the geocache regularly.

• Fix reported problems (such as replacing full or wet logbooks and replacing broken or missing containers).

• Make sure the location is appropriate and change it if necessary.

• Remove the geocache container and any physical stages within 60 days of archiving the cache page.

Cache owners who do not maintain their existing caches in a timely manner may temporarily or permanently lose the right to list new caches on Geocaching.com.

Health Score

To help improve the overall caching experience, Geocaching HQ created an algorithm to calculate a hidden Health Score for each geocache.

A low Health Score provides an indication that the cache may need attention from the owner.

The goal is to improve the overall geocaching experience and avoid frustrations due to missing or broken caches.

The algorithm isn't perfect; it cannot read and interpret the text within a cache page - however it does take the following aspects of a page into consideration:

1.    Did Not Find logs (DNF)

2.    Needs Maintenance logs (NM)

3.    Needs Archived logs (NA)

4.    Last find date

5.    Difficulty and terrain rating

If the Health Score of a cache is calculated below a dynamic threshold, an automatic alert email is sent to the cache owner by Geocaching HQ.

A Community Volunteer Reviewer may follow up to perform further actions on the cache page.

Neither Geocaching HQ or the Community Volunteer Reviewer can assess the true status of a cache; it is the responsibility of the cache owner, as part of cache maintenance.

If there are a multiple DNFs logs on a cache - the community may not know if the cache is missing or is simply hard to find.

If a cache page has several posted DNFs - and the cache owner knows that the cache is in definitely in place - they should reassure the community by posting a Note log.

e.g. "There have been a few DNFs, however it is a clever hide! I checked on it this morning. Check the hint!"

If a Community Volunteer Reviewer does not see a posted response from a cache owner on their cache page after several DNF/Maintenance requests, it may be Disabled.

• If a cache owner knows with certainty that their cache is in place and ready to be found, they may Enable the cache page, with an explanatory note.

• If a cache owner is unable to definitively confirm the status of their cache, the cache page should remain Disabled and a Maintenance visit should be scheduled.

An Owner Maintenance log should only be posted after a maintenance visit has occurred.

Only when a cache is confirmed to be in place and ready to be found should a cache page be Enabled.

The number of "false positives" flagged with this process are minimal compared to the number of abandoned caches that this process will remove from the game.

Disabled Caches 

If the cache owner intends to keep the cache in the game, they should:

• At least monthly post ongoing status updates on the cache page using a Write Note log

• Confirm when a maintenance visit has been completed using an Owner Maintenance log

• Use the Enable option when it has been confirmed the cache is ready to be found

A Reviewer may Archive the cache if the cache owner has not posted an update within 14 days.

Requirements for Different Cache Types

Multi-Caches

A Multi-Cache can have physical or virtual stages. When you submit a multi-cache for Review, include a Reviewer Note stating the process of how your multi-cache could be completed.

Puzzle/Mystery/Wherigo Caches

• We need to know how your puzzle/mystery cache is solvable, please include this information in a Reviewer Note.

• When using a third-party coordinate checker (Certitude, for example), please include the keyword or coordinates needed to pass the checker along with a screenshot of the "success" screen.

• Jigidi has expressed concern with the use of their platform for the presentation of complex puzzles in geocaching puzzle caches because geocachers are seeking ways to shortcut the solution in manners not allowed by Jigidi's Terms of Use. When you incorporate a Jigidi (or other online puzzle) as part of your puzzle cache, please include two screenshots with your Reviewer Note - one showing the puzzle at least 90% (but less than 100% completed) using the number of pieces that your submitted cache uses, and the second showing the completed puzzle with the completion message and the side panel with the details.

• Please do not put your 'posted' coordinates in areas where people should not search such as freeways, private residences, railroads, off-limits locations, or other areas where access is restricted.  Lakes and street corners are fine.  I know your cache page says the cache is not at the posted coordinates, but people do search those coordinates.  We have many new cachers who are using cell phones and may not look at the cache page.  If you have any questions about a location, feel free to ask one of us.

Challenge Caches

Before submitting a Challenge Cache, please click here to read the article in the Geocaching Help Center.

The challenge requirements should be simple, and easy to explain, follow and document. A long list of rules or restrictions may prevent publication.

A challenge cache needs to appeal to and be attainable by a reasonable number of cachers. South Korea's Reviewers consider the "reasonable number of cachers" to be FIVE (in addition to the cache owner); qualifying cachers must reside within South Korea. Please provide a name list of the geocachers who qualified in a Reviewer Note.

Challenge cache owners must demonstrate that there are plenty of qualifying caches to meet the challenge at the time of publication.

Please do not submit a challenge cache in an area where a very similar or identical challenge cache already exists.  

Event Caches

Events are social gatherings of geocachers and are not just an excuse to get a “smiley". Events that are requested in areas where there are no local geocachers or only geocachers that are with the CO's party, may be declined as private events to gain a new smiley.

CITO Event Caches

Cache In Trash Out® (CITO) events are a way for the geocaching community to take care of the natural areas we enjoy while geocaching. At CITO events, geocachers and community groups work together to improve parks and other outdoor environments. They clean up litter, plant trees, remove invasive species, build trails, and more.

Side Events During Mega Events

Side-Events are events that take place near a Mega-Event, on the days before and after the Mega. The following rules shall be applied to side-events:

• There can be one additional event (hosted by the event team; not a CITO) on the same day of the Mega, but it cannot overlap in time with the Mega.  This Event can be close in location to the Mega. No other events will be allowed within 100 km of the Mega on the same day as the Mega.
  
  
  

• Other side-events may be hosted by the Mega event team or by other players and take place on the days before or after the Mega. Events submitted for one day before the Mega and one day after, will be limited to two events per day within 100 km of the Mega. These side events must be separated in time by at least 5 hours.
  
  
  

• For side-events that take place two days or more before or after the Mega, the event-stacking “5/50 Rule”, as defined above, will be applied. The number of such events is not limited and the 100 km distance from the Mega location is not applicable.

Power Trails

Please note - YOU will be the one responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of your cache as outlined in the Guidelines. If you are not going to be able to regularly visit and maintain your cache as required then please do not submit these caches.  Your prompt attention to any log that indicates things could be amiss will be greatly appreciated by all geocachers.  The rule is; if you can't fix it straight away then "Disable" it until you can.

You, as the Cache Owner, may not ask “the community” to maintain caches on your behalf.  In certain circumstances, you may designate other cachers to assist in maintaining.  These other cachers must be active local cachers, local to the area where the cache is placed.  However – you – as the cache owner - remain primarily responsible for all maintenance.

Plan your power trail wisely.  Check for minimum distance.  Geocaches must be at least 0.1 miles (528 feet or 161 meters) apart.

Most common issues that prevent a cache from being published

Too Close to Another Cache

Geocaches and ANY physical stages of different geocaches must be at least 161 meters apart.

You should check your location first before placing a cache to see what is there. You can use the planning map which shows you caches on a map with a 161 meter red circle around them. You won't be able to see where hidden stages are (and the reviewers won't tell you!). You'll need to go and find those caches yourself.

Click here to read the article about the planning map in the Geocaching Help Center.

Commercial Content

Commercial caches are not allowed. This means you cannot mention a business by name however trivial or even a seemingly innocent mention such as, park next to Starbucks or the path starts at the 7-11 make reference to a business. Oblique references may also not be allowed. For example, "bus stop where I'm lovin' it" is clearly a reference to McDonald. Commercial requirements also apply to non-profit businesses as well.

For Event caches, it's okay to mention the event location in the cache page.

Click here to read more explanation of commercial guidelines in the Geocaching Help Center.

Vacation Caches

Caches need to be maintained, and that may be hard to do if the cacher lives far away. If the cache disappears, gets wet or damaged, needs a new logbook, etc.... the cachers need to fix the problem in a timely manner.  

Before vacation caches can be listed on the website, the reviewer needs to know how the cache(s) will be properly maintained.  Be sure to document a maintenance plan in a Note to REVIEWER and include the maintainer's geocaching username on your CACHE PAGE DESCRIPTION

At a minimum, in a note to the reviewer, include the following;

1. Local maintainer's geocaching username

2. Geocacher's contact information

3. Written consent
   
   

Physical caches placed on islands the cache owner can visit only by ferry or plane from the mainland requires a maintenance plan.

Agenda

Cache pages perceived to promote an agenda or highlight a cause will not be published. Geocaching is a fun, family-friendly game, not a platform for promoting a cause. In geocaching, an agenda is content that highlights a cause, promotes a cache owner's personal opinion or hidden intention. Also, cache pages cannot require or encourage players to place more caches.

In short, a cache page cannot:

• tells geocachers how to think or feel

• ask geocachers to do something

• raise awareness of a cause

• requires or encourages finders to place caches

Click here to read more explanation of agenda guidelines in the Geocaching Help Center.

Restricted Areas

This listing is not all-inclusive as some land managers may have instituted policies we are not yet aware of or may have amended their posted policies. If you have additional information, please send an email with your contact information to a local reviewer.

Airports

Geocache listings with coordinates/waypoints (physical or virtual) will not published near or at Airports.  Generally - should some one seeking a cache be visible from the Airport is considered to be "too close".

Apartment Buildings/Complexes 

Geocache listings with coordinates/waypoints (physical or virtual) will not published near or on apartment building property.  

Bathroom/Bathhouse Structures

Geocache containers and waypoints/stages (physical or virtual) are not allowed within 20 meters of a bathroom or bathhouse.

Cemeteries

Geocaches (physical or virtual) are not permitted within 50 meters of cemeteries or their boundaries, which include tombs, gates, walls, fences, or bushes.

Churches & Temples

Written permission is required for caches placed within the church or temple property or boundary (the boundary includes any wall, gates, statues, parking area, bushes, or fence) before caches can be placed.  Permission is also needed for waypoints (physical or virtual) of locations within the church or temple boundary.

Cheongwadae (The Blue House)

Geocaching on the streets around and mountain behind the Presidential Mansion is not allowed.  The military patrols the area.

The Blue House Restriction Zone

Foreign Embassies and Consulates

No geocaches allowed on or near Foreign Embassies and Consulate property

Guardrails, Road/Traffic Signs & Mirrors

Physical or virtual waypoints/stages at certain types of traffic devices, such as guardrails, road/traffic signs, mirrors, or other similar structures, will only be published when there is legal pedestrian access to the waypoint/stage. 

Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)

Geocaches hidden within this DMZ Boundary must include detail information on how and where the cache is placed, including information about the container in the form of a reviewer note.  All containers must be clearly labeled "Geocache".  The reviewer may ask for a photograph of the cache and hiding place.  DMZ Boundary Base Map

No geocaches on or near DMZ fences, markers, and signs.

Lamp Pole Cache (LPC) & Skirt Lifter Cache

아이스케키(가로등 기둥 캐시) 및 받침대 올리는 캐시

No geocaches allowed hidden under any type of pole skirt/cover (no matter the size) without written permission from the utility company owning/maintaining the pole or whatever the device the cover is attached to.  

기둥을 또는 덮개가 부착된 장치를 소유/유지하는 공익기업의 서면 허가 없이는 모든 유형의 기둥 받침대/커버(크기에 관계 없이) 아래에 지오캐시를 숨길 수 없습니다.

Little Free Libraries

The libraries are privately owned and permission must be obtained from the library owner.  

Military Bases

No geocaches allowed on or near all Military Bases (Foreign and Domestic).

Cache listings can be published when;

A major roadway is in between the military installation and the geocache container. A major roadway is defined as a road with at least four traffic lanes.

There’s at least 75 meters / 246 feet buffer between a geocache container and the military base’s boundary when a major road does not exist.

National Parks

Geocaches are allowed with documented permission only from the Korea National Park Service. Documented permission must be obtained BEFORE placing a cache inside the National Park. The dated document must include all of the following information.

1. Name of approving official

2. Position of approving official

3. Signature of approving official

4. Office Telephone Number and Address

List of National Parks
National Park Boundary Lines

National Treasures of Korea

No physical geocaches (waypoints) on or near sites, monuments, and buildings that have been designated as a national treasure of South Korea.

List of National Treasures

Panmunjom Joint Security Area (JSA)

No geocaches (physical or virtual) allowed in Panmunjom. Republic of Korea (ROK) Citizens are restricted by their government to enter Panmunjom. When this restriction is lifted, geocaches can be placed with written permission from the United Nations Command Security Battalion-Joint Security Area (UNCSB-JSA) Commander.

Playground Equipment

Playground equipment is off limits. Coordinates (physical or virtual) must be at least 25 meters +/- from all equipment.

School (K-12) Grounds and Proximity

We will not publish caches with coordinates/waypoints (physical or virtual) that are on or adjacent to school grounds or school property without express written permission on file from that school administrator. A statement of permission must be placed on the cache page, along with any restrictions for that location.  Generally - should some one seeking a cache or attending an event be visible from the school, parking areas, and/or playing fields - We consider the location to be "too close".

Universities and Colleges

Generally geocaching is allowed on University and College campuses where the general public is allowed to visit unrestricted.  Geocaches with coordinates/waypoints (physical or virtual) are not allowed to be placed near or on student housing property.

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