Civilization VI · Civilization Guide

Korea

Korea is built to out-tech the map through a small number of highly developed cities — but its unique district works backwards from every other specialty district in the game, which trips up players who assume more neighbors is always better.

Default LeaderSeondeok
FocusScience
Unique UnitHwacha
Unique InfrastructureSeowon

Unique Ability

"Three Kingdoms": increases the Science yield of Mines and the Food yield of Farms placed adjacent to the Seowon, Korea's unique district.

Unique Unit: Hwacha

A Renaissance era ranged unit replacing the Field Cannon, faster and cheaper to build with lower maintenance — though like the unit it replaces, it generally needs to set up before attacking.

Unique Infrastructure: Seowon

A unique Campus replacement that must be built on Hills. Unlike every other adjacency district in the game, the Seowon starts at a flat +4 Science and loses 1 Science for every adjacent district (including the City Center) — the opposite of the usual "more neighbors, more bonus" rule. It costs about half as much Production as a standard Campus.

How to Play Korea

  • Keep the Seowon isolated from other districts — surround it with Mines and Farms instead, since neighboring districts actively subtract from its adjacency bonus rather than adding to it.
  • Settle with Hills in range from the start — Seowons cannot be built anywhere else, so a hill-less start is a real problem for Korea specifically.
  • Promote a small number of Governors rather than spreading titles thin — Hwarang rewards promotion levels directly, and pairs naturally with a tall, science-focused game.

Related Guides

Browse more civilizations

See the full civilization database, or find a nation that matches how you like to play.

All Civilizations