Capital – Seoul
Government – Republic
Currency Won (₩)
Area total: 98,480 km²
land: 98,190 km²
water: 290 km²
Population 49,044,790 (July 2007 est.)
Language Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school
Religion No organized affiliation 31.5%,Christian 40% (Protestant majority), Buddhist 38%, Confucianism 0.2%, other 1% (2010 est.)
Electricity 220V/60Hz(Western Europe plug type)
Country code +82
Internet TLD .kr
Time Zone UTC +9
Abortion is illegal in Korea except in cases of rape or incest.
South Korea, formally the Republic of Korea is a country in East Asia. South Korea occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea to the north, China across the sea to the west and Japan a short ferry ride to the southeast.
History
Early history and founding of a nation
Archeological finds of prehistoric toolmaking on the Korean Peninsula date back to 70,000 BC, and the first pottery is found around 8000 BC. Comb-pattern pottery culture peaked around 3500-2000 BC.
Legend has it that Korea began with the founding of Gojoseon (also called Ancient Chosun) by the legendary Dangun in 2333 BC. Archeological and contemporaneous written records of Gojoseon as a kingdom date back to around 7th-4th century BC. Gojoseon was eventually defeated by the Chinese Han Dynasty and its territories were governed by four Chinese commanderies. The political chaos following the fall of the Han Dynasty in China allowed native tribes to regain control of Korea and led to the emergence of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, namely Goguryeo, Silla and Baekje. Despite repeated attempts by China, namely the Sui Dynasty and later the Tang Dynasty, to conquer the Korean Peninsula, northern-based Goguryeo managed to repel them. Eventually, Goguryeo fell to a Silla-Tang alliance, which had earlier defeated Baekje. This unified Korea under the Silla dynasty. Even though Tang later invaded, Silla forces managed to drive them out, thus maintaining Korea’s independence.
Unified Silla was replaced by the Goryeo (also called Koryo) dynasty, from which the modern name “Korea” derives. One highlight of the Goryeo dynasty was that in 1234 the world’s first metal movable type was invented by a Korean named Choe Yun-ui (200 years before Gutenberg’s printing press). Goryeo was replaced by the Joseon (also called Chosun) dynasty, after a coup by one of its generals. The Joseon dynasty ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910, being one of the longest actively ruling dynasties in world history. It was during the early part of the Joseon dynasty that Korean technological inventions such as the world’s first water clock, ironclad ship, and other innovations took place. During the rule of King Sejong the Great, the world’s first rain gauge was invented and the Korean alphabet known as hangul was created.
Japanese occupation and division
In the late 16th century, Korea experienced the first invasions by the Japanese. However, an alliance between the Joseon dynasty and China’s Ming dynasty eventually defeated the invaders, and this, in addition to the untimely death of Hideyoshi, forced the Japanese to pull out of Korea.
Korea’s status as an independent kingdom under the Chinese sphere of cultural influence ended in 1895 after China’s defeat in the Sino-Japanese War and the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Under the terms of the treaty, Qing Dynasty of China was to recognize the severing of the several centuries-old, nominal elder-younger brother relationship between China and Korea, bringing Japan the window of opportunity to force Korea into its own growing sphere of influence. Although the elder-younger brother relationship between China and Joseon was a voluntary diplomatic formality assumed by Joseon’s rulers in order to receive the benefits of advanced Chinese culture and trade, it was a symbolic victory for Japan to achieve the breakage of this link. It put Japan in a position extend its imperialism into Korea without fear of Chinese intervention. In 1910, Japan officially annexed Korea, thus beginning a 35-year occupation of the country. Despite numerous armed rebellions, assassinations and intellectual and cultural resistance, suppression and a cultural assimilation policy that included forcing Koreans to take Japanese names and forbidding them to speak the Korean language allowed Japan to maintain colonial control.
After Japan’s defeat in World War II, Soviet forces occupied the northern half of Korea while US forces occupied the southern half. North and South each declared independence as separate states in 1948, with Kim Il-Sung establishing a communist regime with the support of Soviet Union in the north, and Syngman Rhee establishing a capitalist regime with the support of the United States in the south. The disastrous Korean War, which destroyed much of the country, began in 1950 when Kim Il-Sung attacked the south. US and other UN forces intervened on South Korea’s side, while the Soviet Union and China supported the North. An armistice was signed in 1953 splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone, with no significant territorial gains made by either side. But a peace treaty has never been signed, and the two Koreas remain technically at war with each other to this day.
Republic of Korea
Despite initially being economically outdone by its northern rival, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth starting in the 1960s under the leadership of former military general President Park Chung Hee. As one of the East Asian Tigers, the South Korean economy’s industrialization and modernization efforts gained traction in the 1980s and 1990s, with per capita income rising to 20 times the level of North Korea. In 1996, South Korea joined the OECD or “the rich nations club”. Today, South Korea has been recognized as an industrialized, developed economy with some of the world’s leading high technology corporations such as Samsung and LG.
Demands for greater freedom of press and human rights fomented to nationwide demonstrations that led to democratic elections in 1987, just prior to the South Korean capital of Seoul hosting the 1988 Summer Olympic Games.
South Korea is now a liberal democracy and an economic powerhouse. In June 2000, a historic first summit took place between the South’s President Kim Dae-jung and the North’s late leader Kim Jong-il (leading Kim Dae-jung to be awarded the first Nobel Peace Prize for South Korea), but the peace process has moved at a glacial pace.
In recent years, a phenomenon known as the “Korean Wave” (or Hallyu) in which the popularity of South Korean film, television, music, food and other culture aspects has swept most of Asia and many other parts of the world has brought increased attention to the country. The country elected its first female president in 2012.
People
South Korea is a very homogeneous country, with nearly all native residents identifying themselves as ethnically Korean and speaking the Korean language. The largest resident minority are the Chinese, numbering around 20,000-30,000. However, there is a number of foreign laborers from China, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia and other parts of world as well as English teachers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. In addition, about 30,000 American military personnel are stationed throughout the country, especially near the DMZ. South Korea’s large and growing economy has attracted people from all over the world and Seoul’s status as a leading financial center has brought many financial workers from North America, Europe and Japan. Today, over one million foreigners reside in South Korea.
It is one of the most densely populated countries in the world, but also has one of the world’s lowest birthrates (1.21 children per woman). Dealing with this very low birthrate will be one of the major problems for this country in the 21st century. Confucian attitudes about the importance of a male heir have led to a strongly skewed sex ratio, with about 112 men for every 100 women encouraging many Korean men in rural areas to seek wives from other countries such as China, Vietnam and the Philippines. About 85% of South Koreans live in urban areas.
Though East Asian tourists have been visiting Korea in droves since the turn of the millenium due to the Korean Wave, it is still largely off the radar of most Western tourists. Although most Koreans have been educated in English since elementary school and most companies set a premium on possessing a certain level of fluency, in general the people will find it difficult to understand or speak it. However, some city dwellers can speak at a basic level. Tourists will normally find Koreans to be quite friendly and helpful when trying to find their way around
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Culture
Having been in the cultural sphere of China for much of its history, substantial Chinese influences are evident in traditional Korean culture. Nevertheless, many fundamental differences remain and Korea has managed to retain a distinct cultural identity from its larger neighbor. Koreans are fiercely proud of their heritage and their resistance to outside domination.
During the Joseon dynasty, Korea’s dominant philosophy was a strict form of Confucianism, perhaps even more strict than the Chinese original. People were separated into a rigid hierarchy, with the king at the apex, an elite of officials and warriors and a small group of nobility below him, a middle class of merchants below them, and then a vast population of peasants. The educated were superior to the uneducated, women served men, and everybody stuck to a defined role or faced severe consequences. Korea adopted its own version of the imperial examination system invented by and used in China to select officials, creating somewhat of a premodern meritocracy for government like its Chinese counterpart. Buddhism was suppressed largely due to the widespread corruption and greed of monks and temples during the waning stages of the Goryeo dynasty. While the Joseon dynasty ceased to exist in 1910, its legacy lives on in Korean culture: education and hard work are valued above all else, and women still struggle for equal treatment.
Koreans believe that the things that set them the most apart from other Asian cultures are their cuisine, their language and their hangul script. Outsiders will note their extreme modernity, tempered by a well-developed artistic and architectural joyfulness. Nothing goes undecorated if it can be helped, and they have a knack for stylish interior design. South Korea also has a vibrant film and TV industry, and the country is one of only a few countries in the world in which local films have a greater market share than Hollywood films.
Korea has a significant number of Christians (31%) and Buddhists (22%), with churches dotting the towns and temples and monasteries on hills. However, slightly less than a third of the country professes to follow no particular organized religion but most, if not all, are strongly influenced by traditional Korean Buddhist and Confucian philosophies that have been seeped into the Korean cultural background.
Sports
Baseball was brought to Korea by American missionaries in 1905 and is the most popular sport in the country, with some Korean players becoming famous MLB players in the United States. Football (soccer) gained popularity when the South Korean national team reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2002. Other popular sports include golf (golf particularly has a strong following, with membership fees for Korea’s top golf clubs being more expensive than those in neighbouring Japan or even the United States. Also, many of the world’s top female golfers originate from Korea or are of Korean descent) and basketball. Badminton, table tennis and bowling are also popular and facilities for the public are widely available in cities. Korean martial arts such as taekwondo are also popular.
As for winter sports, speed skating (especially short track) and figure skating are extremely popular due to the repeated success of Korea in the Winter Olympics.
Books
A long and complicated relationship, contact between the West and Korea have lead to a plethora of books on the Korean experience. Here’s a list of books that would be available in the two major book centres in Korea as of June 2008.
History
Battle for Korea: The Associated Press History of the Korean Conflict by Robert J. Dvorchak (1993) – great journalistic photography accompanied by short descriptive narratives
Korea Old and New: A History by Carter Eckert and Lee Ki-Baik (1991) – simply stated writing, good overview of Korea’s history
Korea Witness: 135 years of war, crisis and new in the land of the morning calm by Donald Kirk and Choe Sang Hun (2006) – compilation of articles from foreign correspondents starting from 1871, notably from Jack London, a war correspondent from 1903-4
True Stories of the Korean Comfort Women by Keith Howard (1996) – unflinching look at the atrocities committed during the Japanese occupation period
Culture
The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies by Michael Breen (1999) – anectodal accounts and insights of a British journalist on the country he spends half the year in, informative and entertaining
Social Change in Korea published by Jimoondang (2008) – compilation of articles written by academic experts on Korea
The Discovery of Korea: History-Nature-Cultural Heritages-Art-Tradition-Cities by Yoo Myeong-jong (2005) – amazing scenic views on Korea
Holidays
Korea’s traditional holidays follow the lunar calendar, so they fall on different days each year. The two biggest, Seollal and Chuseok, are family holidays and entail everybody returning to their hometowns en masse, meaning that all forms of long-distance transport are absolutely packed.
Shinjeong, means New Years day: on the 1st day, January
Seollal, on the 1st day of the 1st month in the lunar calendar, is also known as “Korean New Year”. Families gather together, eat traditional foods-especially Ddugguk and perform an ancestral service. The public holiday lasts for 3 days, which includes the eve and second day. Many shops and restaurants close for the 3 days, so this might not be an ideal time to visit.
Sameeljjeol: 1st March, in commemoration of the March 1st resistance movement against the invading Japanese Imperial Army in 1919.
Orininal: means children’s day, 5th May
Buchonnim osinnal or sawolchopa-il: means Buddha’s birthday, 8th day of the 4th month in the lunar calendar
Hyeonchung-il: means memorial day, 6th June. In commemoration of people who gave their lives to the nation.
Gwangbokjjeol: means independence day, 15th August. In commemoration of the liberation of Korean peninsula from the Japanese rule with the end of the second world war.
Chuseok, often dubbed “Korean Thanksgiving”, is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the year (usually September-October). Koreans celebrate by eating traditional foods, notably a rice cake called songpyeon and playing folk games. The public holiday lasts for 3 days.
Gaecheonjeol: 3rd October. In commemoration of the first formation of the nation of ancient Korea.
Christmas has become a major holiday in Korea due to the large number of Christian converts in recent times. As such, it is an ideal time to visit and soak up the festive mood, and maybe listen to a couple of Korean renditions of popular Christmas songs.
Climate
Korea has four distinct seasons:
Spring is a great time of year to be in Korea. The temperatures are warm but not hot and there’s not too much rain either. However, spring is also the time when yellow dust blows over from China. Some days can be horrible to breathe because of this. Beautiful cherry blossoms bloom.
Summer starts with a dreary rainy season in June and turns into a steambath in July-August, with extreme humidity and the temperature heading as high as 35°C. Best avoided unless heading to the beaches. Summer is a suitable season for go swimming to the beach in Korea. Moreover, trees in summer are in leaf.
Autumn, starting in September, is perhaps the best time to be in Korea. Temperatures and humidity become more tolerable, fair days are common and the justly renowned fall colors make their appearance.
Winter is a good time to go skiing or hot-spring hopping, and the Korean invention of ondol (floor heating) helps defrost any parts that froze outside. However, January and February can be bone-biting cold due to Siberian winds from the north. Snow is fairly common.
Electricity
South Korean households and hotels use the same dual round sockets for their electrical outlets as are found in most of Continental Europe. Anyone bringing an electronic device is advised to bring some adapter should their charger’s plug be something other than the dual round type.South Korean electrical outlets accept appliances with a voltage rating of 220V at 60Hz.
Regions
Gyeonggi – surrounding Seoul and covered in its urban sprawl. Notable Places: Korean Demilitarised Zone, Suwon.
Gangwon – natural wonderland; Seoraksan National Park, east-coast beaches and ski resorts. Notable Places: Chuncheon
North Chungcheong – landlocked province filled with mountains and national parks. Notable Places: Danyang, Cheongju.
South Chungcheong – central western part of the country. Flat area made up of rice paddies. Point where main train lines and highways converge and known for its hot springs. Notable Places: Daejeon, Gongju, Boryeong.
North Gyeongsang – largest province and richest area for historical and cultural sites. Notable places: Andong, Gyeongju and the islands of Ulleungdo.
South Gyeongsang – known for its gorgeous seaside cities and most respected temples. Notable Places: Busan, Haeinsa Temple, Jinju.
North Jeolla – Great Korean food. Notable Places: Jeonju
South Jeolla – Lots of beautiful small islands and landscape, fantastic food (especially seafood along the coast) and good for fishing. Notable Places: Gwangju, Boseong, Yeosu.
Jeju – Korea’s honeymoon island, built by a volcano. Great scenery with wild flowers and horseback riding. One of the few places you may need a car.
Cities
Seoul — the dynamic 600 year old capital of South Korea, a fusion of the ancient and modern
Busan — the second largest city and a major port city of Korea.
Incheon — second busiest port in the country, location of the country’s largest international airport
Daegu — a cosmopolitan city, rich with ancient traditions and sights
Daejeon — a large and dynamic metropolis located in Chungnam province
Gwangju — the administrative and economic centre of the area, the largest city in the province
Gyeongju — the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom
Jeonju — once the spiritual capital of the Joseon Dynasty, now a leading center of the arts filled with museums, ancient buddhist temples, and historical monuments
Chuncheon — capital city of Gangwon province, surrounded by lakes and mountains and known for local dishes, dakgalbi and makguksu
Other destinations
Seoraksan National Park — spread out over four cities and counties, the country’s most renowned national park and mountain range
Andong — historically rich in Confucious traditions and home of living folk village
Guinsa — spectacular mountain headquarters of the Buddhist Cheondae sect
Panmunjeom — the only tourist site in the world where the Cold War is still reality
Boseong — rolling hills blanketed with green tea leaves where you can stroll along a wooded path and stop at a nearby spa to drink the home grown tea and take a seawater bath.
Yeosu — one of the country’s most picturesque port cities especially at night, nominated to host the 2012 World Expo. Famous for its seafood and beaches, you can visit some of the islands in Hallyeo Ocean Park with cruise or watch sunset from its fabulous Dolsan Bridge or romantic cafes near marinas.
Jindo — commonly associated with the dog native to that area, the Jindo, every year people flock to the area to witness the parting of the sea and participate with the accompanying festivities
Ulleungdo — scenic remote island off the east coast of peninsula
Get in
Caution. Please note that the South Korea Immigration authorities have recently started fingerprinting and taking digital face pictures of visitors on arrival. These fingerprints and images may well find their way to your country’s authorities or other non-state agencies.
Visas. The nationals of 109 countries and territories, including all the usual suspects, will receive a visa on arrival valid for 30 to 90 days; see Hi Korea for the latest details. Rules for visiting only Jeju are even more lenient, allowing in everybody except citizens of 11 countries. Don’t overstay, even by a single day — this incurs heavy fines and possible jail time, and you’ll probably be banned from re-entering.
Military personnel travelling under the SOFA for South Korea are not required to possess a passport for entry, provided they hold a copy of their travel orders and a military ID. On the other hand, dependents must hold a passport and A-3 visa for entry.
Most foreigners staying longer than 90 days must register with the authorities within 90 days of entry and obtain an Alien Registration Card. Contact your local authorities for further information.
By plane
South Korea has 7 international airports: Busan (Gimhae Airport), Cheongju, Daegu, Jeju, Muan, Seoul (Gimpo Airport and Incheon International Airport). South Korea experienced an airport building frenzy and today many of the smaller international airports do not have regular services.
Incheon International Airport, about 1 hour west of Seoul, is the country’s largest airport, with good connections throughout the world. This is also one of the the best run and best designed airports in the world – a pleasure to use, although if you arrive late watch out for pushy taxi drivers lying about the hotel buses and trying to get you to pay 3x the normal fare. There are direct inter-city buses to many locations throughout South Korea just outside the international arrival hall. You can buy the tickets at the airport. The airport has a new express train that goes directly to Seoul Station. (In fact you can check in to your flight in Seoul station).
Seoul Incheon is served by many international airline. The (not complete) list includes Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair, Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines from Europe. Hawaiian Airlines, United, Singapore Airlines and Delta serve Seoul-Incheon from the United States, although many flights on Delta and United stop over in Tokyo-Narita. Singapore Airlines flies from Singapore. Cathay Pacific flies from Hong Kong. JAL and ANA connect many South Korean and Japanese cities.
Busan’s Gimhae airport has international connections to China, Japan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. There is also a Lufthansa flight from Munich, Germany via Incheon but the flight has no Eighth Freedom rights to transport passengers between Busan and Seoul. Gimhae also has a few flights a day directly from Seoul Incheon, which is much more convenient than changing to Seoul Gimpo Airport after a long international flight.
Jeju has flights from most South Korean cities, as well as international flights to nearby major Taiwanese, Japanese and Chinese cities including Hong Kong.
Seoul Gimpo airport offers domestic flights to most South Korean cities, and the international “city shuttle” services from Tokyo-Haneda, Beijing, Shanghai-Hongqiao and Taipei-Songshan are quite convenient. You can connect from Incheon airport either by train or by limousine bus.
Korean Air and Asiana are the principal carriers to and from South Korea. There are a growing number of budget airlines including Air Busan, Jin Air, Eastar Jet and Jeju Air that fly both domestic and international routes.
By train
Travel from North Korea (and hence anywhere else in Asia) to South Korea by train remains impossible
By boat
Busan Port International Passenger Terminal is the largest seaport in Korea and offers fairly frequent ferry rides mostly to and from Japan. JR’s Beetle hydrofoil service from Busan to Fukuoka manages the trip in just under three hours with up to five connections a day, but all other links are overnight slow ferries, such as Pukwan Ferry Company’s services to Shimonoseki cost from US$ (one-way). A Busan-Osaka ferry is operated by Panstar Line Co., Ltd..
Incheon’s International Ferry Terminal 1 (Yeonan Budu, 연안부두) has services to several cities in China, such as Weihai, Dandong, Qingdao and Tianjin. The largest operator is Jinchon [1], but Incheon Port has full listings on their website [2]. The Chinese ports of Rizhao, Rongcheng and Lianyungang, all in Shandong province, can also be accessed by ferry from Pyeongtaek.
There are also weekly departures from Sokcho (Gangwon-do) to Vladivostok from US$270 operated by Dong Chun Ferry Co. Ltd.
By land
Due both to its location at the end of the Korean peninsula and the political situation with North Korea, entering South Korea overland is practically not possible. The border between North and South Korea is considered the most heavily fortified border in the world, and while some crossings have occurred at the truce village of Panmunjeom, one of the cases (a Soviet defector in 1984) was shot at by both sides and, although he survived, you might not be so lucky. In the 80’s and the early 90’s most of those who crossed the border either way would be arrested and prosecuted for reasons mostly referred to as ‘threatening national security’
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Get around
South Korea is fairly compact and you can get anywhere very fast if you fly, and reasonably fast even if you don’t. Subways are available in most of the cities including metropolitan Seoul. Larger cities currently have service or are developing subways. Travel by bus or taxi is easily available, though bus service is more economical.
By plane
South Korea is small enough that flying is more of a luxury than a necessity, with the notable exception of connections to the island of Jeju. The long-standing domestic flight duopoly of Korean Air and Asiana was broken in 2005 by the arrival of low-cost competitors Hansung Airlines and Jeju Air, which offers flights not only to Jeju, but also serves the Seoul-Busan sector with lower fares than the KTX express train.
By train
National train operator Korail connects major cities in South Korea. Neglected for a long time, a large amount of money has been plowed into the network in recent years and trains are now quite competitive with buses on speed and price, and much safer and more comfortable to boot. The main problem is that the network is still a little limited and services in rural areas are limited, with trains only once every few hours.
Particularly useful are the high-speed Korea Train eXpress (KTX) services between Seoul and Busan via Daegu, Daejeon and often Ulsan, which use French TGV technology to zip along at up to 300 km/h. The fastest non-stop trains cover the distance in just over two hours. The KTX trains have 18 cars with the first 3 being first class and the rest reserved economy seating except the very last car (number 18) which is open seating. There are drink vending machines on board and an attendant that comes by with a snack cart which includes reasonably priced beer, soda, cookies, candy, sausages, hardboiled eggs, and kimbap (rice rolls).
Seoul to Busan by train
Non-KTX trains are poetically ranked as Saemaeul (“New Village”), Mugunghwa, “Rose of Sharon”) and Tonggeun, corresponding roughly to express, semi-express and local services. Saemaeul trains are a little pricier than buses, while Mugunghwa are about 30% cheaper. However Saemaeul trains are extremely comfortable, having seats that are comparable to business class seats on airplanes. Though with the introduction of the KTX, there are much fewer Saemaeul and Mugunghwa services, they are worth trying them out. Tonggeun, formerly Tonggil, are cheapest of all, but long-distance, non-aircon services have been phased out and they’re now limited to short stopping commuter services. Most longer-distance trains have an entertainment car with a small cafe/bar, computers with internet access (W500 for 15 minutes) and a few trains even have private compartments with coin-operated karaoke machines!
Smoking is not permitted on any Korean trains or stations (including open platforms).
Seoul also has an extensive commuter train network that smoothly interoperates with the massive subway system, and Busan, Daejeon, Daegu, Gwangju and Incheon also have subway services.
Tickets are much cheaper than in Japan but more expensive than other Asian countries – although the damage can be lowered by travelling on local trains rather than KTX. Buying tickets is fairly easy – self-service terminals accepting cash and credit cards are in multiple languages and are very simple to use. Station staff can usually speak basic English. Most stations are clean, modern and have good signposting in Korean and English, and compared to China or Japan, Korea’s rail system is very user-friendly.
Pre-booking any train tickets a day prior (be they KTX or mugunghwa) is recommended for weekend trips, as all trains can be booked out for hours on end. On Sunday in particular, all but local trains have begun to completely book out regularly. Failure to reserve tickets in advance when departing busy hubs such as Seoul or Busan may see your options reduced to “unallocated seating” on the slowest local trains (sitting on the floor in the unairconditioned space between carriages, or standing in the toilet for much of the trip. You are, however, free to sit on any seat that seems free until someone with the ticket to that seat shows up. If you are confident in your Korean, you can ask to reserve seats on sections that are available and travel standing up the rest of the way.).
By Rail Cruise
Korail Tourism Development provides a rail cruise tour which enables the customers to travel to all the major sight-seeing destinations in Korea with just one luxury train ride.
KR Pass. The KR Pass is a special rail pass introduced in 2005 for non-resident foreigners only, allowing unlimited travel for a set period on any Korail train (including KTX) and including free seat reservation. The pass is not valid for first class or sleeping cars, but you can upgrade for half price if you wish. The regular pass costs 58,200/84,600/127,000/160,400/185,100 won for 1/3/5/7/10 days, with additional discounts of 10-20% for youths (age 13-25), students and groups of 2-5 traveling together. The pass must be purchased at least five days before travel (preferably before arrival in Korea), and already took an incredible amount of travel (eg. Seoul-Busan roundtrip) to pay off, even prior to the 2011 jacking-up of prices. Serious limitations on usage apply during Korean holidays and peak travelling periods including Lunar New Year in February and Chuseok in September.
Joint KR/JR Passes between Korea and Japan also exist, however, considering how much of a discount the JR Pass offers, and how strikingly little the KR Pass does by comparison, such a combination in all practicality simply deducts value from the JR Pass. Do the maths.
By bus
Buses remain the main mode of national transport, connecting all cities and towns. They’re frequent, punctual and fast, sometimes dangerously so, so fasten the belts you’ll often find in the seats. There is a somewhat pointless division of long-distance buses into express buses and inter-city buses, which often use separate terminals to boot. In addition, local inner-city bus networks often connect directly neighbouring cities. The express vs. intercity bus differentiation comes down to whether the nation’s toll expressways are traversed. In practical terms, express buses are marginally faster on long runs, but inter-city buses go to more places. For additional comfort, look for Udeung buses which have just three seats across instead of the usual four; these cost about 50% extra. A fourth layer of bus exists, which is the airport limousine bus, a seperate network of express buses that ferry people directly to and from Incheon International Airport. Note that the airport limousines typically run from seperate pickup points again to the intercity or express bus terminal.
No Korean buses have toilets, and rest stops are not standard on trips of less than 2 hours duration, so consider thinking twice about that bottle of tea at the terminal.
Korean Express Bus Lines Association. Timetables and fares of the Express bus routes in South Korea
By boat
Ferry boats surround the peninsula and shuttle out to Korea’s many islands. The main ports include Incheon, Mokpo, Pohang, and Busan. The most popular destinations are Jeju-do and Ulleungdo. However even at peak times, the mostly undiscovered and scenic islands off of Incheon can seem almost deserted. Foreigners as well as locals will opt for the warmer shores of the South and East.
By car
An International Driving Permit (IDP) may be used to drive around South Korea. In general, road conditions are good in South Korea and directional signs are in both Korean and English. Car rental rates start from ₩54400 a day for the smallest car for about a week. Traffic moves on the right in South Korea.
However, if traveling in the big cities, especially Seoul, driving is not recommended as the roads are plagued with traffic jams, with parking expensive and difficult to find, and many drivers tend to get reckless under such conditions, weaving in and out of traffic.
By taxi
Taxis are a convenient, if somewhat pricey way of getting around the cities, and are sometimes the only practical way of reaching a place. Even in the major cities, you are extremely unlikely to get an English-speaking taxi driver, so it will be necessary to have the name of your destination written in Korean to show your taxi driver. Likewise, get your hotel’s business card to show the taxi driver in case you get lost.
Note that whilst technically illegal, cab drivers, particularly the lower-flagfall white cabs on busy Friday or Saturday nights, may deny service to short-distance fares. A very handy technique to counter this is to have your destination (hotel name or just gu and dong, in Korean of course) written in thick black ink on a large sheet of paper and hold it to the traffic. Passing cab drivers responding to long distance call outs, or with space in their cab in addition to an existing fare in that direction will often pick you up en route.
When hailing a cab in particular, ensure you follow the local custom and wave it over with your hand extended but all your fingers extended downwards and beckoning as opposed to upwards in the Western fashion (this style is reserved for animals)
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Talk
Koreans speak Korean, and knowing a few words of this will come in very handy. Unfortunately the language is rather drastically different from any Western language in its grammar, and pronunciation is rather difficult for the English speaker to get right (though not tonal). Depending on which part of the country you go to, various different dialects are spoken, though standard Korean, which is based on the Seoul dialect, is understood and spoken by almost everyone.
Written Korean uses a unique phonetic writing system called hangul where sounds are stacked up into blocks that represent syllables. It was designed by a committee and looks like, at first glance, all right angles and little circles, but it is remarkably consistent and logical and quite fast to pick up.
Learning to read hangul before you arrive in Korea will make traveling much easier, as many signs and menus are written in hangul only. The spelling of Korean words in Roman letters can be quite inconsistent, Nearly all Koreans under the age of 40 have taken English lessons as part of their education, and the English level of the country is being improved by government policy and investments. However, due to lack of practice (as well as fear of mispronunciation), most Koreans have little more than a very basic grasp of English phrases in actual conversation. If you’re in a pinch and need someone who speaks English, your best bet would generally be the high school or university students. Reading and writing comes much easier however, and often people will be able to read and understand a considerable amount of English even without any practice with real conversation. Many employees at airlines, hotels and stores catering to international tourists are likely to speak at least basic English. Consequently, travelers can get by in major cities with English only, but it goes without saying that learning basic Korean phrases will make your travel experience more convenient and enjoyable.
A common experience for western travellers in South Korea is to be approached by children interested in practicing their English skills. They will often take a picture of you, as proof they really talked to you.
Older folks may also still speak some Japanese. However, many Koreans (especially older ones) still resent the Japanese for the atrocities committed during the occupation, so try not to address a Korean in Japanese unless you have no other choice. Thanks to the “Korean wave” (hallyu) of Korean pop music and soap operas throughout East Asia, many shopkeepers in touristy areas speak some Japanese, Mandarin or Cantonese.
See
As South Korea is being a more popular tourist destination, it is hard to list many sightseeing spots here, it would be best to visit pages on specific cities/provinces. However a trip to South Korea is not complete without a visit to the capital, Seoul, and its famous sites, such as the palaces Kyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Secret Garden, Gwanghwamun, Seodaemun, as well as the Seoul Tower accompanied by the famous Teddy Bear Museum. The Banpo bridge turns into beautiful colours at night, and the Yeouido Island, apart from the famous 63 Building has splendid parks for rollerblading/biking. You can never miss the Han River if you cross the bridges connecting Kangbuk and Kangnam of Seoul whilst taking a taxi, subway train or bus.
The Haeundae beach in Busan is very beautiful. Families usually go there in the summer, where the view of the sea is best.
Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) – On July 27th 1953, The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) was established as a cease-fire agreement with a boundary area of 2km between North and South Koreas. It is also said that there are still a lot of landmines buried in DMZ. In addition, Panmunjeom is the only ‘truce village’ of the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) where tourists could view North and South Koreas without much hostility. It is probably the only unique area without any troops around as the other area separating the two Koreas is the most heavily armed in the world. The Third Tunnel of Aggression, created by North Korea, was discovered in 1978. This tunnel is not more than an hour or 44km away from Seoul and it is 1.7 km long, 2 m high, 2 m wide and about 73m below ground. Black coke was painted on the wall as a camouflage to look like a coal mine.
Visit the World Heritage cultural sites in Gyeongju and the natural sites on Jeju Island,
Do
Alike above, there is actually too much to list here on a single page. As South Korea is increasingly becoming a popular tourist destination, you might want to visit pages talking about specific provinces/cities, although an excellent starting point is Seoul.
Karaoke, or noraebang is popular and hard to miss wherever you go in metropolitan cities. You can also learn martial arts such as the famous taekwondo, hapkido, and the dance-like martial art taekkyeon.
Jeju-do, in particular Hallasan, and other mountains within the mainland, such as Jirisan, Seoraksan etc are excellent places for hiking/trekking and taking pictures. In autumn the leaves turn into beautiful colours, so the best seasons to go there are autumn and spring.
You can also go snowboarding/skiing in the Kangwon-do province. The province is very beautiful when it snows.
The city of Boryeong in Chunchungnam-do hosts a Mud Festival that has become a fun (and slightly notorious) pastime in mid-July. Participants drench themselves in mud and take part in everything from mud wrestling to body painting. The nearby beach becomes something of a party apocalypse. Inquire about lodging at least a few weeks in advance.
The Gyeonggi-do & Kangwon-do province has plentiful water amusement parks, such as Caribbean Bay (the park seen from the actual music video by 2PM and Girls Generation Cabi)in Yongin-si(beside Everland which is most biggest amusement park), Ocean World in Hongcheon, with a more Ancient Egyptian setting, and Ocean 700 in Pyeongchang. Tourists and locals usually go there in the summer.
Buy
The currency of South Korea is the won (￦), written 원 in hangul. As of September 2012, the exchange rate was approximately 1120 won to the US dollar.
ATM are ubiquitous, but most Korean ATMs don’t accept foreign cards, only Citibank ATMs [12] and special Global ATMs do. These can be found at airports in some areas frequented by foreigners in major cities, including Hongdae, some subway stations, and in many Family Mart convenience stores. Sometimes however even the Global ATMs may not accept your foreign card so it’s wise to have a second source of money for those times. Be sure to stock up on cash before heading to the countryside, and if you plan on staying in Korea for a longer time, you’ll probably want to set up a local account at eg. Woori Bank, which can then be used at the bank’s ATMs throughout the country (even some non-local accounts can do this- for example, Woori Bank accounts set up in China come with an ATM card that can be used with all its ATMs in Korea).
Credit card acceptance, on the other hand, is very good, and all but the very cheapest restaurants and motels will take Visa and MasterCard.
Costs
Korea is fairly expensive compared to most Asian countries, but is a little cheaper compared to other modern developed countries such as Japan and most Western countries. A frugal backpacker who enjoys eating, living and traveling Korean-style can easily squeeze by on under ￦60,000 per day, but if you want top-class hotels and Western food even ￦200,000/day will not suffice. Seoul has been particularly expensive in recent years, by some measures even more so than Tokyo, but the current financial crisis has caused a big decline for the Won against the U.S. Dollar and Yen, making South Korea considerably less expensive for Western and Japanese tourists.
Tipping. As a rule, tipping is not necessary anywhere in Korea, and is not practised by locals, although bellhops, hotel maids, taxi drivers and bars frequented by Westerners will not reject any tips you care to hand out.
Shopping. At certain retail outlets with a “Tax Free Shopping” or a “Tax Refund Shopping” sign, you can obtain a voucher and get a large percentage of your taxes refunded. When you leave Korea, go to customs and have it stamped then go to the “Global TaxFree” or “Global Refund Korea” counters near the duty-free shops. However to get a refund you must leave within 3 months of purchase.
Bargaining is common at outdoor markets and applies to everything they may have to offer. However stating a monetary amount would be a mistake. Normally what you would say is ssage juseyo. That means “cheaper, please.” Doing this once or twice would suffice. The drawback is you will rarely be discounted more than a few dollars.
Ginseng: Korea is the ginseng capital of the world. Thought to have medicinal properties, it is found everywhere in Korea. In addition to ginseng tea and various foods flavored with ginseng, there are even ginseng-based beauty products. There are many grades of ginseng, with the best grades fetching millions of US dollars in auctions. A good place to check out the different types of ginseng include Gyeongdong Herbal Medicine Market in Seoul.
Traditional items: Visitors looking for things to bring home can find a wide variety of choices. You can find a blue-jade celadon from the Goryeo Dynasty, handmade traditional costumes, paper kites and ceramic pieces that depict human emotions in their designs at the numerous markets and souvenir shops. Insadong in Seoul would be the first place to shop around. After a while one store might start to look like every other store but chances are you’ll find what you need.
Fashion: Keeping up with the latest trends, shoppers and boutique owners alike flock the streets and markets every weekend. Centred largely in Seoul with popular places such as Dongdaemun, Mok dong Rodeo Street and Myeong dong, fashion centres can be divided into two large categories; markets and department stores. Markets are affordable and each shop will have trendy similar type clothing that appeal to the masses. Also, be aware that you cannot try on most tops. So better to know your size before shopping there. Though department stores will have areas or floors that have discounted items, they are considered overpriced and catering mostly to an older, wealthier crowd.
Antiques: For all things considered antique, such as furniture, calligraphic works, ceramics and books, you can go to Jangangpyeong Antique Market in Seoul. Be careful, as items over 50 years old cannot leave the country. Check with the Art and Antique Assessment Office at 82-32-740-2921.
Electronics: They are widely available, especially in larger cities like Seoul and Busan. Korea has most of the latest gadgets available in most Western countries, and much more. In fact, when it comes to consumer technology, South Korea is probably second only to Japan. However, you would probably have to contend with having the instruction booklets and functions being written in Korean.
Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs): Korea’s greatest contribution to the gaming world. While they may not have been invented in Korea, Korean MMORPG’s were a key factor in making the genre popular worldwide. Unlike in Japan, where their comics or manga are often made into cartoon serials or anime, popular Korean comics, known as manhwa in Korean are often made into MMORPG’s. However, all games sold will be in Korean and for console games, the regional coding for Korea is NTSC-J, which is used for Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and most of the rest of East Asia, so you might not be able to play them on your European/Australian(PAL), North American(NTSC-U/C) or mainland Chinese(NTSC-C) consoles.
Pop culture: South Korea is the origin of the hallyu (“Korean wave”) phenomenon that took East Asia by storm at the beginning of the 21st century, so you might want to buy some of the latest Korean drama serials or movies when in Korea. Fans of K-pop may also like to buy the latest Korean music CDs by popular singers such as DongBangShinKi and Super Junior. However, drama serials and movies sold in Korea are for the Korean market and usually do not have subtitles. In addition, South Korea is in DVD region 3 so the discs bought here would work well in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, but may not be playable by players bought in North America, Europe, mainland China, Japan or Australia. If you wish to buy, ensure that your DVD player can support it.
Eat
Korean cuisine is becoming increasingly popular outside of Korea, especially in other parts of East Asia and the U.S. However, those unfamiliar with Korean cuisine will have to be wary for the many spicy and fermented dishes in Korean cuisine. Nevertheless, it is addictive once you get used to it and Korean food is definitely in a class of its own, mixing spicy chillies and copious amounts of garlic with delicate ingredients like raw fish. Although Korean food is quite low in fat, a fact attested to by the observation that very few South Koreans are overweight, those with sodium-limited diets should beware, as Korean cuisine can be heavy in salt.
A Korean meal is centered around rice and soup and likely a fish or meat dish, invariably served with a vast assortment of side dishes known as banchan. The humblest meal comes with three types while a royal banquet may well feature twenty types of banchan. In addition to kimchi (see below), typical side dishes include bean sprouts (kongnamul), spinach (shigeumchi), small dried fish, and much more.
Kimchi: The ubiquitous kimchi (gimchi), made from fermented cabbage and chili, accompanies nearly every meal and may be a bit of an acquired taste for visitors as it can be quite spicy. In addition to the common cabbage type, kimchi can also be made from white radish (ggakdugi), cucumbers (oi-sobagi), chives (buchu gimchi) or pretty much any vegetable that can be pickled. Many different dishes are made using kimchi for flavoring, and kimchi is served as a side dish as well. It is not uncommon to find Korean tourists carrying a stash of tightly packed kimchi when travelling abroad.
Two more condiments found in almost every dish are doenjang (a fermented soybean paste akin to Japanese miso, and gochujang (a spicy chilli paste).
A common perception amongst Koreans is that foreigners simply don’t like spicy food, so you might have to spend some time convincing people otherwise if you really want to eat something hot. Also, while Korean food undoubtedly has the neighboring bland-dieted Japanese and northern Chinese breathing fire, if you’re accustomed to (say) Thai or Mexican food you may wonder what the fuss is about.
Be aware that eating is deemed a group activity in Korea, and some restaurants may charge a little bit extra or up to double the stipulated price for a lone patron, or on rare occasions, be uneasy with serving them at all.
Etiquette. Koreans use chopsticks with a twist: alone among the peoples of Asia, they prefer chopsticks of metal. Typically, restaurants have stainless steel chopsticks, but fine silver ones are also available. Unfortunately for the chopstick learner, these thin and slippery sticks are not the best implements to practice with, but if you can eat with wooden or plastic chopsticks you’ll manage with some fumbling. When eating as a group, communal dishes will be placed in the center and everybody can chopstick what they want, but you’ll still get individual portions of rice and soup. Unless you are eating royal cuisine, most dishes are served family style.
In many traditional households, children were taught that it was impolite to speak during meals. Don’t be surprised if there’s complete silence while eating. People, particularly men, will use mealtimes to quickly eat up and move on to other things. This can be attributed to the short mealtimes during military service that most young Korean men must perform.
Some etiquette pointers: Do not leave chopsticks sticking upright in a dish, especially rice. This is only done when honoring the deceased. Similarly, a spoon sticking upright into a bowl of rice is also not a good sign.
Do not start eating unless the eldest at the table has begun to eat.
Do not lift any plates or bowls off the table while eating, as Koreans consider this to be rude.
You can use your spoon to eat your rice and soup. Koreans will normally use a spoon to eat their rice and use chopsticks to eat the other dishes.
Don’t be self-conscious of whether you’re doing something right or wrong. Just use your common sense of politeness and good manners, and everything will be fine.
Restaurants. Going hungry in South Korea would be difficult. Everywhere you turn, there is always somewhere to eat. Korean restaurants can be divided into a few categories:
Bunsik are snack eateries that have cheap, tasty food prepared quickly.
Kogijip, literally meaning “meat house”, are where you’ll find grilled meat dishes and fixings.
Hoejip, “raw fish house”, serve slices of fresh fish akin to Japanese sashimi, known as hwe in Korean, and complementary side dishes. You’ll normally find these restaurants cluttering the shores of any waterway.
Hansik. The full course Korean meal, short for hanjeongsik, this Korean haute cuisine originated with banquets given at the royal palace. The course starts with a cold appetizer and porridge juk. The main dish includes seasoned meat and vegetable dishes that can be either steamed, boiled, fried or grilled. After the meal, you are served traditional drinks such as sikhye or sujeonggwa.
Barbecues. “Korean barbecue” is probably the most popular Korean dish for Westerners, split in Korea itself into bulgogi, which uses cuts of marinated meat, and galbi, which uses ribs, usually unmarinated. In both, a charcoal brazier is placed in the middle of the table and patrons cook their choice of meats, adding garlic to the brazier for spice. The cooked meat from both of these is placed on a lettuce or perilla leaf along with shredded green onion salad (pa-muchim), raw (or cooked) garlic, shredded pickled radish (muchae) and some chili-soya paste (ssamjang) and then devoured. All are optional, so be creative.
The cost of a barbecue meal depends largely on the meat chosen. In most Korean restaurants that serve meat, it is sold in units (usually 100 grams). Pork is by far the most common meat ordered. It’s much cheaper than beef and according to diners tastier. You’ll rarely see filet mignon, instead common cuts of meat include ribs, unsalted pork bacon (samgyeopsal) and chicken stir-fried with veggies and spicy sauce (dakgalbi). Unmarinated meats tend to be higher quality, but in cheaper joints it’s best to stick with the marinated stuff.
Rice dishes. Bibimbap literally means “mixed rice”, which is a pretty good description. It consists of a bowl of rice with all sorts of condiments on top (vegetables, shreds of meat, and an egg), which you mash up with your spoon, stirring in your preferred quantity of gochujang (chili sauce), and then devour. Particularly tasty is dolsot bibimbap, served in a piping hot stone bowl (watch your fingers!) that cooks the rice to a crisp on the bottom and edges.
Another healthy and tasty option is gimbap, sometimes dubbed “Korean sushi”. Gimbap contains rice, sesame seed, a Korean variety of spinach, pickled radish, and an optional meat, such as minced beef or tuna, all neatly wrapped in dried seaweed, topped with sesame oil and sliced. A single roll makes a good snack or meal depending on one’s appetite, and they travel well. Basically what differentiates Korean gimbap and Japanese sushi is how they prepare rice: Korean style gimbap usually use salt and sesame oil to flavor the rice, while Japanese style uses sugar and vinegar.
More of a snack than a meal is tteokbokki (which resembles a pile of steaming intestines at first sight, but is actually rice cakes in a sweet chili sauce that’s much milder than it looks.
Soups and stews. Soups are known as guk or tang, while jjigae covers a wide variety of stews. The line is fuzzy, and a few dishes can be referred to with both (eg. the fish soup-stew dongtae jjigae/dongtaetang), but in general, jjigae are spicier while tang/guk are milder. Both are always eaten with plenty of white rice on the side.
Common versions jjigae include doenjang jjigae, made with doenjang (Korean miso), vegetables and shellfish, and gimchi jjigae, made with — you guessed it — kimchi. Sundubu jjigae uses soft tofu as the main ingredient, usually with minced pork added, but there’s also a seafood version called haemul sundubu jjigae where the meat is replaced by shrimp, squid and the like.
Guk are mostly side dishes like the seaweed soup miyeokguk (미역국) and the dumpling soup manduguk, but a few like the scary-looking pork spine and ox blood soup haejangguk, a popular hangover remedy, are substantial enough to be a meal.
Noodles. Koreans are great noodle lovers too, and the terms kuksu and myeon span a vast variety of types, sold in fast-food noodle shops for as little as W3000-4000. Wheat-based noodles are a staple of Korea.
Naengmyeon are a Korean speciality, being thin, chewy buckwheat noodles served in ice cold beef broth, and hence a popular summer dish — although it’s traditionally winter food! They’re also a classic way to end a heavy, meaty barbeque meal. The key to the dish is the broth (yuksu) and the recipes of well known restaurants are usually closely guarded secrets.
Japchae is made from yam noodles, which are fried along with some vegetables (commonly cabbage, carrots, onions) and sometimes beef or odeng (fishcake). Mandu dumplings are also very popular and are served up in steamed or fried as an accompaniment to other foods, or boiled in soup to make a whole meal.
Ramyeon is Korea’s variant of ramen, often served with kimchi (what else?). Korean ramyeon is well known for its overall spiciness, at least when compared to Japanese ones. Try shin ramyeon for example.
Jajangmyeon is the Korean version of the northern Chinese zhajiangmian, a wheat noodle dish served with a black sauce that usually includes minced pork, onions, cucumber, and garlic — kind of like a tomatoless spaghetti bolognese. Its sauce contains some caramel and therefore makes the overall dish sweet. Finally, u-dong are thick wheat noodles, similar to the Japanese udon.
Seafood. Since Korea is a peninsula, you can find every type of seafood, eaten both cooked and raw. Restaurants where you pick your own fish — or bring it from the fish market next door — are popular, but can be very expensive depending on what you order.
Hwe, pronounced roughly “hweh”, is raw fish Korean-style (similar to sashimi), meaning it’s served with spicy cho-gochujang (Korean hot pepper sauce with vinegar) sauce. Chobap is raw fish with vinegared rice, similar to Japanese sushi. If ordering fish as hoe/chobap, the bony parts not served raw are often made into a tasty but spicy soup called meuntang.
Another cooked specialty is haemultang, a spicy red hotpot stew filled with crab, shrimp, fish, squid, vegetables and noodles..
Other
Jeon, jijimi, jijim, bindaetteok and buchimgae are all general terms for Korean-style pan-fried pancakes, which can be made of virtually anything. Pajeon is a Korean-style pan-fried pancake laden with spring onions (pa). Haemul pajeon, which has seafood added, is particularly popular. Saengseonjeon is made of small fillets of fish covered with egg and flour and then pan fried, and nokdu bindaetteok is made from ground mung bean and various vegetables and meat combined.
If barbequed meat is not to your taste, then try Korean-style beef tartar, known as yukhoe. Raw beef is finely shredded and then some sesame oil, sesame, pine nuts and egg yolk are added, plus soy and sometimes gochujang to taste. It’s also occasionally prepared with raw tuna or even chicken instead.
Sundae (pron. “soon-deh”) are Korean sausages made from a wide variety of ingredients, often including barley, potato noodles and pig blood.
A squirmy delicacy is raw octopus (sannakji) — it’s sliced to order, but keeps wiggling for another half hour as you try to remove its suction cups from your plate with your chopsticks. Sea squirts (meongge) are at least usually killed before eating, but you might be hard-pressed to tell the difference as the taste been memorably described as “rubber dipped in ammonia”.
Dog Meat. Yes, it’s true — Koreans eat dog. While theoretically illegal, in practice the law is not enforced and dog meat soup (bosintang or yeongyangtang) remains popular dish eaten as medicinal food among older men looking to improve sexual virility and for invigoration during the hottest days of summer. It is not regularly consumed as a common food item and is sold in specialty dog only restaurants. It is most commonly consumed a a spicy soup or stew or as suyuk, which is just meat boiled with spices to eliminate smell and make the meat tender. Aside from the cultural taboo, there are some issues regarding how the dogs are raised, butchered, and processed. These days, dogs are generally not beaten to death to improve the taste, but calling the conditions in which dogs are raised and butchered humane would also be an exaggeration. Even in Korea, where many people are pet owners, people get quite opinionated on this matter. So take anything you hear with a grain of salt. In any case, you’re unlikely to end up chewing on Snoopy by accident, as dog is only served by speciality restaurants, and as they rarely advertise you will have to actively seek them out. If you do make the effort, a bowl can go for under W10,000 and you’ll find that dog tastes broadly like beef or veal, if perhaps a tad gamier.
Dietary restrictions. Vegetarians will have a tough time in Korea. As in most of East Asia, meat is understood to be the flesh of land animals, so seafood is not considered meat. If you ask for “no gogi” they will probably just cook as usual and pick out the big chunks of meat. One good phrase is to say you are chaesikjuwija, a person who only eats vegetables. This may prompt questions from the server, so be prepared!
Most stews will not use beef stock, but fish stock, especially myeol-chi (anchovy). This will be your bane, and outside of reputable vegetarian restaurants, you should ask if you are ordering any stews/hotpots or casseroles.
Spicy (red) kimchi will almost certainly have seafood, such as salted tiny shrimp, as an ingredient. Since it disappears into the brine, you will not be able to visually identify it. Another type of kimchi, called mulgimchi (“water kimchi”) is vegan, as it is simply salted in a clear, white broth with many different vegetables.
On the bright side, vegans and vegetarians are perfectly safe at Korean monastery cuisine restaurants, which uses no dairy, egg, or animal products, except perhaps honey. There has been a recent vogue for this type of cuisine, but it can be rather expensive. There is an increasing number of vegetarian restaurants in Korea – most are in the larger or medium-sized places. Some of these are run by Seventh-Day Adventists or Hindus.
Drink. Drinks are cheap and Koreans are among the heaviest drinkers in the world. Due to the strict social norms in effect at the workplace, the drinking hall tends to be the only place where inhibitions can be released and personal relationships expressed. Significant business deals are closed not in the boardroom, but in the bar. Promotions, grants, and other business advancements are secured over drinks at singing rooms, late night raw fish restaurants, and restaurant-bars. Many Korean men are what would be considered heavy drinkers in the west, and as alcoholism is being recognized as an ailment, public moves have begun to attempt to curb alcohol intake. Don’t be surprised to see businessmen in suits lying around sleeping it off, and be careful not to step in the puddles of vomit common on the sidewalks in the mornings. The drinking age in South Korea is 19.
Nightlife. Compared to Western drinking habits, Koreans have adopted slightly different ways to enjoy their night out. Sure, you can find Western style bars easily, but going to a Korean style bar can be an interesting experience. Hofs (originally German, but hopeu in Korean) are just normal beer places, which serve beer and side dishes. Customers are supposed to order some side dish to go along their drinks at most drinking establishments in Korea. Recently, due to growing competition, many hofs have started to install various gadgets for entertainment.
Booking clubs are the Korean version of night clubs. What makes them interesting is the “booking” part of the name. It’s basically a way to meet new people of the opposite sex by introduction of the waiters (who usually bring women to visit tables of men, but increasingly vice-versa). Booking clubs are slightly more expensive than normal bars and hofs, but can be extremely fun. These can be different from American-style clubs, in that in addition to a cover charge, you are pretty much expected to order booze and side dishes (which can be quite pricey in W200,000-W500,000 range and up). But other than that, the dancing and atmosphere is about the same.
One of the customary things to do at a booking club is to “dress-up” your table or booth by purchasing expensive liquors and fruit plates, which signals your ‘status’ to the other patrons of the club (especially your gender of interest). Scotch whisky is especially marked up a great deal in Korea, so don’t be surprised to pay very high prices for that innocuous bottle of Johnnie Walker. On the other hand, it is a better value overall to buy a bottle of liquor or a “liquor set” than to purchase drinks individually.
On the other end of the spectrum, many locals go out to drink and eat with their friends at the many Korean grillhouses found throughout the city. It is not uncommon for people to consume several bottles of soju (see below) each, and mixing beer and hard liquor is encouraged. Group bonding over liquor and food is a cultural feature across South Korea.
For those who love singing as well as drinking, karaoke is popular and therefore widely available in South Korea, where it’s called noraebang. In addition to Korean songs, larger establishments may include some Chinese, Japanese and English songs.
Etiquette. There are a few etiquette rules to observe when drinking with Koreans. You’re not supposed to fill your own glass; instead, keep an eye on others’ glasses, fill them up when they become empty (but not before), and they’ll return the favor. It’s considered polite to use both hands when pouring for somebody and when receiving a drink, and to turn your head away from seniors when drinking. Younger people often have a difficult time refusing a drink from an older person, so be aware when asking someone younger than you if they want to drink more as they will often feel unable to say no to you. Of course, this works both ways. Often times, if an older person feels you are not keeping up with the party, he may offer you his glass, which he will then fill and expect you to drink. It is considered polite to promptly return the empty glass and refill it.
Soju. The national drink of South Korea is soju, a vodka-like alcoholic beverage (usually around 20%). It’s cheaper than any other drink — a 350ml bottle can cost slightly over W3000 at bars (as little as W1100 at convenience stores!) — and also strong. Usually this is made by fermenting starch from rice, barley, corn, potato, sweet potato, etc, to produce pure alcohol which is then diluted with water and other flavors. The manufacturing process leaves in a lot of extraneous chemicals, so be prepared for a four-alarm hangover in the morning, even after drinking a comparatively small amount.
Traditionally, soju was made by distilling rice wine and aging it, which created a smooth spirit of about 40%. This type of traditional soju can still be found, for example Andong Soju — named after the town of Andong — and munbaeju. These can be expensive, but prices (and quality) vary considerably.
Also, there are soju cocktails such as “socol” (soju + coke), ppyong-gari (soju + pocari sweat – ion drink), ‘so-maek (soju + maekju(beer) which adds a bit of a kick to beer) and such, all aimed at getting you drunk quicker and cheaper.
Rice wine. Cheongju vs. sake. There are two major differences between Korean rice wine and Japanese rice wine. The first is that Korean wine uses nuruk, while Japanese wine uses koji. While both can be considered yeasts, nuruk contains various kinds of fungi and other microorganisms, while in koji a more selected breed of fungi does its job. The treatment of rice is also different: traditionally rice for making cheongju is washed “a hundred times” (paekse, but for sake, the rice is polished until the grain size is as little as 50% of its original size. Therefore, some people comment that in general cheongju tastes more complicated and earthy, while sake tastes “cleaner” and “sweeter”.
Ginseng wine. One expensive but tasty type of alcohol you can find in Korea is Korean ginseng wine (insamju), which is believed to have medicinal properties and is particularly popular among the elderly. It is made by fermenting Korean ginseng, just as the name implies.
Beer. Western-style lagers are also quite popular in Korea, with the three big brands being Cass, Hite and OB, all of which are rather light and watery and cost around 1500 won per bottle at a supermarket. Korea’s version of the beer pub is the hof (hopeu), which serve pints of beer in the W2000-5000 range, although imported beers can be much more expensive. Note that you are expected to order food as well, and may even get served grilled squid or similar Korean pub grub without ordering, for a charge of W10000 or so.
Tea and coffee. Like their neighbors, Koreans drink a lot of tea (cha), most of it green ( nokcha). However, the label cha is applied to a number of other tealike drinks as well:
boricha (roasted barley tea, often served cold in summer, water substitute for many household. insamcha (ginseng tea. oksusucha (옥수수차), roasted corn tea. yulmucha, a thick white drink made from a barley-like plant called Job’s tears
Coffee (keopi) is also widely available, especially from streetside vending machines that will pour you a cupful for as little as W300, usually sweet and milky. Latte snobs will also be glad to know that Starbucks and assorted copies are spreading like wildfire. Starbucks is particularly widespread in Seoul and the drinks served taste exactly as they do in Starbucks locations in the United States, so make sure you hunt around for a decent cup.
Other drinks. Some other traditional drinks worth keeping an eye out for: sikhye, a very sweet, grainy rice drink served cold, sujeonggwa, a sweet, cinnamon-y drink made from persimmons served cold.
Smoking. Whilst not as popular as in Japan or China, many Korean men and an increasing number of Korean women smoke, and it’s fairly cheap compared to much of Europe and America. A 20-pack costs around ₩2500 (domestic cigarettes) or ₩2700 (foreign cigarettes), and cigarettes can be bought from all convenience stores. Koreans favour mild cigarettes (around 6mg tar) so Korean-made cigarettes may taste bland and flavourless compared to those from America or Europe, and even the Korean-produced Western cigarettes are much lighter than the originals (e.g. Full-strength Marlboro Reds in Korea have only 8mg tar, the same as Marlboro Lights in the US). If you prefer stronger cigarettes it’s wise to bring some duty-free cigarettes with you. However, there are a few vendors in Itaewon and Gunsan that do sell American cigarettes, although you will probably need to look around a bit to get the brand you like. Fortunately, the ubiquitous American military personnel in both cities can usually point you in the right direction.
Smoking is forbidden in most public buildings, public transport and restaurants, although it’s permitted in most bars. araoke parlours, DVD-bangs, hotels etc give you a choice of smoking or no-smoking rooms. Effective since July 2013, most Internet cafes(except with completely sealed smoking room) are non-smoking areas legally. Also, make sure you familiarize yourself with the local ordinances on smoking. Smoking in public is prohibited in certain places of Korea, and although police will generally let foreigners off with a warning, you still run the risk of getting fined.
Sleep
There’s plenty of accommodation in all price brackets in South Korea. Note that prices in Seoul are typically about twice that of anywhere else in the country.
Some higher-end hotels offer a choice of both Western-style and Korean-style rooms. The main feature of Korean rooms is an elaborate Korean-invented floor-heating system known as ondol, where hot steam (or, these days, water or electricity) heats stone slabs under a layer of clay and oiled paper. There are no beds; instead, mattresses are laid directly on the floor. Other furniture is typically limited to some low tables (you’re also expected to sit on the floor) and maybe a TV.
Motels. Some of the cheapest accommodation in South Korea are in what are locally termed motels (motel) or yeogwan, but these are rather different from motels in the West and closer to Japan’s “love hotels”. Motels in South Korea are generally very cheap hotels targeted at young couples aiming to spend ‘time’ together away from their elders, complete with plastic beds, occasionally vibrating, with strategically placed mirrors on the ceiling, with a TV and sometimes a computer. However for the budget traveller, they can simply be inexpensive lodging, with rates as low as W30,000/night.
The easiest way to find a motel is to just look for the symbol “♨” and gaudy architecture, particularly near stations or highway exits. They’re harder to find online, as they rarely if ever show up in English-language booking sites, but Hotel365 (Korean only) has comprehensive listings for the entire country. Pretty much every train station or bus terminal in the country has a selection of motels within a 5 minute walk.
When you walk in there will be a frosted window with someone behind it. If it’s late at night they might be sleeping, but you can wake them up. You pay for your room in advance (W30,000 – W50,000, cash only) when you enter, and will be given a room key and a kind of ‘welcome pack’, consisting of a toothbrush, other toiletries and condoms. When you leave, just leave the key at the window. There are no receipts or records of names, the system is designed to be discreet and anonymous.
Hotels. Full-service hotels can be found in all larger towns in Korea. Cheaper hotels blend into motels with rooms from ₩40,000, while three and four star hotels are closer to ₩100,000-200,000 and five-star luxury hotels can easily top ₩300,000. Outside peak season you can often get steep discounts from the rack rates, so be sure to ask when reserving.
Hostels/Guesthouses. While not as common in South Korea as in other parts of Asia or the world, hostels and guesthouses can be found. Major cities, such as Seoul, will have a few dozen, while smaller cities may have a handful. Prices can vary widely, even within one hostel. In Seoul, mixed dorms average ₩15,000 to ₩25,000 per person; private rooms with a shared toilet and shower average ₩20,000 to ₩30,000 per person; and private ensuite rooms average ₩25,000 to ₩40,000 per person. Many hostels will have a common room with free TV, games, computers, and internet; some will have a public full kitchen and other amenities.
Minbak. In rural areas in and near national parks, you can find a minbak. Most of these are just a room or two in someone’s home – others are quite fancy and may be similar to yeogwans (motels) or hotels. Generally, they have ondol rooms with maybe a TV and that’s about it. You don’t usually get your own bathroom in your room, although some of the fancier ones do have an en suite. Minbaks usually run around 20,000 won off-season though the price may go up quite a bit during high season.
Homestay. Very similar in concept to a Minbak, these aren’t limited to just rural areas or near national parks. Since the World Cup in 2002, many families around the country have opened their doors and hearts to foreigners looking for a good place to sleep and a breakfast included in the price. These can run between 30,000 and 35,000 won per night. Try eg. Homestaykorea or LABO.
Jjimjilbang. For the budget traveller public bath houses known as jjimjilbang (찜질방) can offer a great way to sleep. Entrance costs around ₩5,000-10,000 to get in, and includes a robe or pajamas to wear. Inside the facilities can be expansive, including showers, public baths, restaurants, computer/video game rooms, a room with DVD movies, and places to sleep, although this often means little more than a quiet, warm room with maybe some wooden blocks to rest your head on. These places are more often meant for families or couples coming in for the day and as such are not perfectly catered to travelers. When you leave you have to take everything with you, and pay to get back in. There is no secure place to leave your things except a single locker. Aside from these drawbacks, jjimjilbang offer a very relaxing place to sleep and bathe.
Temples. Jogye, Korea’s largest Buddhist sect, runs a popular Temple Stay program where visitors get to spend 24 hours living at a Buddhist temple. Korean ability helps but is not necessary at some temples, but you will be expected to work at the temple and get up at 3 or 4AM to participate in morning prayer. In exchange for three meals and a basic bed for the night, a “donation” of W50,000-80,000 is expected. Reservations are necessary and can be made at the Temple Stay site or via Korea Travel Phone, tel. +82-2-1330
Learn
Education is taken very seriously in South Korea, and the country is home to several world class universities, many of which have exchange agreements with various foreign universities, and are a good way for foreigners to experience life in the country. The most prestigious comprehensive universities are Seoul National University, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Yonsei University and Korea University.
Others
Taekwondo — If you’re interested in martial arts, you should learn Taekwondo. Taekwondo is originally from Korea, and you can study at any of the numerous schools all over the country. Taekwondo is a very courteous sport.
Chang or Pansori — If you like music, this will be good for you. It’s a unique traditional Korean form of singing. If you want to learn about Pansori through film, “Seo Pyen Je” would be an excellent choice.
Korean — Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University (in Seoul) provide Korean language programs. You can meet people from all over the world while studying Korean.
Korean Traditional Dance — You can go to a dance studio and learn Korean traditional dance. You will wear “Han Bok” – Korean traditional clothes.
Baduk — Korean name for the ancient board game called Go in English. Many Koreans play the game, and among them are some of the world’s finest players. There are even schools that specialize in Baduk.
Janggi — Also known as Korean chess, a board game similar to Chinese chess, with which it shares its origins, though the rules have diverged significantly from Chinese chess.
Work
Work as an English teacher is available through various companies, with the desired minimum level of education being a Bachelor’s degree. Schools prefer native English speakers, and many prefer North American accents. In most instances, native English speakers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the UK are the only applicants that can be considered because the South Korean government usually (information has been inconsistent) just accepts those from the aforementioned pre-approved English-speaking countries.
Native speakers of English who have four-year university degrees may find it easy to obtain employment in one of Korea’s many private academies (hagwon). These schools have proliferated in response to perceived failings of the public education system, although there are also hagwons aimed at adult instruction. Often, people interested in these teaching positions find them via professional recruiters. There are pros and cons to teaching ESL in the hagwon system. On the plus side, the money can be quite good. As of late 2005, the average monthly salary is approximately 2 million KRW, and housing is usually provided. It’s possible to live comfortably on half of one’s salary, and to save the rest. However, it is important to evaluate each prospective employer before accepting an offer; tales of unscrupulous academy owners and incompetent directors abound.
University employment is also possible. Those who have a graduate-level degree, preferably in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second or Other Language) may find professional opportunities at the postsecondary level preferable to teaching in private academies.
Caution: Korean employers tend to be more discriminatory towards people of color, especially Blacks and Indians. Korean job applications usually require you to attach a photo of yourself, along with other information usually considered private in the Western world, such as height, weight and marital status; if you are a person of color, your application will be more likely to be denied. Discrimination based on race is legal in Korea. Please be advised when looking for jobs. However, the public schools typically are more colorblind in regards to accepting applicants compared to hagwons.
Year-long public school positions are avaialble though the government-funded EPIK Program in most provinces (now including Seoul as a subsidiary) and the rapidly contracting GEPIK Program in Gyeonggi, with a small number also handled by recruiter companies. Alternately, the TALK Program runs 6-month and 1-year rural public school positions for those who have completed a 2-year university degree or have completed 2 years of study for a 3-4 year degree.
Stay safe
Crime. South Korea is a very safe country, with reported crime rates much lower than in Western countries. It is safe to walk around at night even in the major cities. The threat of violent crimes is relatively low. Nonetheless, one should always be wary. There are documented cases of foreign women being stalked, followed and raped. While it is not a common occurrence, it is not unheard of either. Please exercise caution. Local South Korean organized crime groups, collectively known as the Kkangpae, have been made popular in countless Korean as well as Western movies. They operate in largely all major cities in South Korea, but pose no risk to tourists or the general population. Don’t provoke or harass them and they won’t bother you.
Racism. Korea is one of the world’s most homogeneous countries and for many Koreans, this is a point of pride. As a result, children of mixed ethnicity are often subject to discrimination and bullying in local schools. If you can afford it, sending your child to an international school will reduce the risk of bullying. This too, however, has become a social issue and is changing gradually. While the average visitor to Korea is extremely unlikely to encounter any problems at all, the odds of trouble slightly go up if you are dark-skinned or taken as an American near military bases (a major bone of contention given the poor behavior of some American soldiers). Harassment is usually only verbal and can be ignored, but there are rare cases of violence, usually fueled by alcohol. After having been to the country many times, however, I can say that verbal harassment or violence almost never happens. The worst that will happen to you if you are dark-skinned is some staring.
Traffic. With one of the highest rates of traffic deaths, Korean motorists will speed through pedestrian crossings, jump red lights and come within a hair-width distance to pedestrians and other cars alike. Even when the light turns, drivers will not stop. So, beware. Motorcyclists are particularly reckless weaving in and out on crowded sidewalks. It is up to you to avoid them.
Pedestrian crosswalks stay green for a very short period of time. When the walk signal is yellow and you are still at the curb do not cross. Instead, you should wait and be ready for the light to turn green. The moment it turns green, wait for about 3 to 5 seconds and see if other pedestrians start to cross, and if all the traffic has indeed stopped, then walk briskly to cross safely. It is safer to take underground passageways at busy intersections.
Don’t expect the cars to stop for you at the zebra crossings and it is important for you to stay alert while crossing the roads.
Civil Unrest. In the heart of the political centre of Seoul, near Gwanghamun, Yeouido (National Assembly) and City Hall, you may witness political activists of one sort or another in the city center. Rarely, demonstrations may get heated when crowds grow to tens of thousands. You’ll have to use discretion as violence during political demonstrations is rare, but large crowds may pose safety issues.
Local Laws. Ignorance of the law here is no excuse for breaking them and can even be seen as a reason for harsher punishment. Penalties concerning drug offenses may seem particularly harsh to westerners. They include heavy fines, lengthy jail sentences and immediate deportation. Submitting fraudulent documentation for obtaining visas can result in the same and detainment as well. Even giving somebody an English lesson can get you deported (you have to get a special visa to be allowed to teach English, and then only at your place of employment).
Natural Hazards. South Korea is considerably less prone to natural disasters than its neighbours. Earthquakes are rare occurences, though minor ones occasionally occur in southwest of the country. While typhoons do not occur as often as in Japan, Taiwan or the Philippines, they are nevertheless an almost yearly occurance, and are occasionally known to be deadly and cause major property damage.
Conflict with North Korea. Though an armistice was established between the two Koreas in the 1950’s, the two countries are still, officially, at war. Recent events have made the tension between the two countries very high. A re-ignition of the war between the North and South is potentially calamitous and would result in many casualties, military and civilian alike. Be aware of current events in the region before traveling.
Under no circumstances whatsoever are you to display any symbols that represent North Korea in anyway. They can only be present in historical museums/war memorials. If you do attempt to praise North Korean figures, in particular Kim Jong-il/Kim Jong-un in public or on South Korean websites, assume that a citizen could inform the police immediately.
Emergency Numbers. Police: 112 from a phone and region code-112 from a cellular phone. Fire and ambulance services: 119 and region code-119 from a cellular.
Emergency-service English interpreters are available 24 hours a day.
Stay healthy
The quality of healthcare will vary depending on where you are, but is generally very high, but is also expensive. The sheer number of hospitals and specialized clinics in the country will also offer you plenty of choice. Treatment is high-quality; Korean healthcare is known worldwide for its excellence in both research and clinical medicine.
Most Korean doctors can communicate in English, being the most highly educated in the country. However, you may find them a little difficult to understand due to their Korean accent, so do ask them to slow down and go through things with you clearly.
Although health care in South Korea is not free, it is heavily subsidized by the government and is very cheap more so in the clinics compared to the United States. For expatriate workers who have a medical insurance card (this is required), it is even less expensive (although it is still not free).
In addition to Western medicine, oriental medicine is quite popular in Korea. Herbal supplements can be bought in most pharmacies as well as from shops which produce their own. The most popular herbal supplements (such as Ginseng) can even be bought in convenience stores in the form of energy drinks, tea, gum, and alcohol.This is not to be ignored, as Oriental Medicine has deep roots and a university degree is a prerequisite to practice, (unlike psuedo-oriental-clinics in western countries where the owner may not have proper qualifications). Though such herbal medicines can be effective, they should not be taken instead of modern medicine.
Pharmacies are usually located near hospitals, as hospitals in Korea are not allowed to dispense take-home prescriptions. Prescriptions are dispensed in small paper packages.
Although there are no official vaccinations that are required or recommended for visitors, Hepatitis A attacks the liver and is transmitted through food and water. It is an issue all over the country. But once infected time is the only cure. The Center for Disease Control designates the prevalence of infection in Korea to be intermediate.
A good basic rule to follow when travelling is when it comes to food, do what the locals do especially when it comes to water. Most will have it filtered or boiled before drinking. Although tap water in Korea is perfectly safe to drink, you may want to follow the local habits, if only to get rid of the chlorine smell. However, as Kangwon-do is predominantly rural, it has the safest drinking water in the whole country. There are usually signs around water sources that imply that the water is safe to drink.
Respect
Koreans are reserved and well-mannered people. Korea is a land of strict Confucian hierarchy and etiquette. As a visitor, you will not be expected to know every nuance, but making an effort will certainly be appreciated. Following these rules will impress the locals:
Koreans bow to each other to show their respect when they meet. They may also shake hands. However, with people you know well, quick nod of the head and a simple annyeong haseyo, meaning “hello,” should suffice the direct translation is “do you have peace”.
When meeting for the first time, older Koreans will tend to ask about your age, your parents’ jobs, your job, and your education level. If you feel uncomfortable about the questions, just provide short answers and discreetly try to change the topic if possible.
When picking something up or taking something from somebody older, always use two hands. If you have to use one hand, you can simply support your right arm with your left hand. Likewise, when shaking hands with somebody older support your right arm with your left hand.
It is customary to take off your shoes in houses and in many traditional restaurants.
Koreans in general have very strong nationalistic views and would view any criticism of their country with varying degrees of hostility. To avoid getting into the bad books of your hosts, it is advisable to praise the country or, at least, to avoid bringing up anything negative about it.
Avoid bringing up the Japanese occupation, Dokdo, the Korean war of the early 1950s and US foreign policy, or engage in other political discussions (unless mentioned to you) as these delicate topics are likely to get you on someone’s bad side and can lead to intense debates, use of negative epithets, or even violence. Also, do not attempt to compliment North Korea in any way.
South Korean households may have strict rules about recycling, for example one bin may be for paper only, as to another in the kitchen for food/drink containers.
Do not pour your own drink, but do pour for others. When dining with Koreans, the oldest always eats first. It is common to hear people talking loudly in restaurants, as a sign of being happy and enjoying the food. Also, slurping noodles is actually expected, as it shows that you enjoy the food and you are appreciating the cooking well.
Alike other Asian countries, when giving tips in restaurants, it is polite to fold the bill and hand it into the waiter’s hands secretly and quietly, rather than leaving it on the table or displaying/waving the bill in full shape like the social norm in Western countries. Similarly, in households, when giving money to younger people, it is more acceptable to fold the money and place it in a piece of a paper, preferably an envelope.
The further you are away from metropolitan areas the more conservative the people are.
Religion. Swastikas are commonly seen in Buddhist temples. They are a religious symbol and do not represent Nazism or anti-Semitism, so visitors should not feel offended when encountering them.
Homosexuality. Homosexuality is a mixed bag in South Korea. While there are no laws against homosexuality in South Korea, same-sex relationships are not recognised by the government. Gay clubs and bars exist in the larger cities, though openly displaying your sexual orientation in public is still likely to be met with disapproval. Conversely platonic displays of physical affection between same-sex friends are very common, particularly when alcohol has been consumed, and holding hands with a same-sex romantic partner may be viewed in this light.
Note that it is common to see pairs of same-sex people publicly walking arm-in-arm. Usually, if not nearly always, this is an expression of platonic friendship.
Contact
By phone. International dialling prefixes in South Korea vary by operator, and there is no standard prefix. Check with your operator for the respective prefixes. For calls to South Korea, the country code is 82.
Mobile phone coverage is generally excellent, with the exception of some remote mountainous areas. The country has three service providers: KT, SK Telecom and LG Telecom. They offer prepaid mobile phone services (pre-paid service, PPS) in South Korea. Incoming calls are free. Phones and prepaid services can be acquired at any retail location found on any street. Second-hand phones are also available at selected stores in Seoul, also you can rent korean phones at the international airports.
South Korea uses the CDMA/ WCDMA standard and does not have a GSM network, so most 2G mobile phones from elsewhere will not work. Even quad-band GSM phones are useless. However, if you have a 3G phone with a 3G SIM card, you can probably roam onto the UMTS/W-CDMA networks of KT or SK Telecom; check with your home operator before you leave to be sure. 4G has recently been made available in Korea; again, check with your provider.
If you have a phone that supports the 2100Mhz WCDMA frequency, you should be able to buy a prepaid SIM for it using olleh. All newer unlocked GSM iPhones (iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, GSM iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5) will work. The Verizon iPhone 4 and the original 1st generation iPhone won’t work. However, all iPhone 5’s regardless of model (both GSM or CDMA) will work if unlocked, and as it’s a world phone, any unlocked iPhone 4S will work. You must have been in Korea for more than 3 days to buy a SIM card.
All the carriers offer mobile phone rental services, and some handsets also support GSM SIM roaming. They have outlets at the international airports in Incheon, Seoul (Kimpo) and Busan (Kimhae). You can find service centers for KT SHOW and SK Telecom at Jeju airport as well. Charges start from W2000/day if you reserve in advance via the visitkorea website for a discount and guaranteed availability. Also avalible for rent are the 4G WiBro eggs. However 4G WiBro coverage is weak, and almost non existent outside of the bigger cities and motorways.
The 1330 Korea Travel Phone service is a very useful service provided by the Korea Tourism organization. It is a 24 hour service and offered in four different languages (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese). The operator will answer questions on bus schedules, accommodation, museum hours, etc.
By net. South Korea is the world’s most wired country and Internet cafes, known as PC bang (PC ron. BAH-ng), are ubiquitous through the country. Many customers are there for gaming but you’re free to sit and type e-mails as well, typical charges are about W1000 to W2000/hour. Like anything, it may be more expensive in more “luxurious” places. Also, snacks and drinks are available for purchase in most PC bangs. PC bangs are often divided into smoking and non-smoking areas.
By mail. Korea Post is fast, reliable and reasonably priced. Postage for a postcard anywhere in the world is W370, while letters and packages start from W480. If you want actual traditional stamps, be sure to ask for them, or else you will just get a printed label. On request, fancy “tourist” cancellations (Gwangwang Tongsin Ilbuin) for your stamps are available at selected post offices without additional charge. Korea Post accepts Visa and MasterCard for purchases over W1000.
Most post offices are open weekdays only from 9 AM to 6 PM. Larger post offices also open Saturday mornings, and central offices in the main cities stay open late and are open on Sundays as well.
Media. Korea has several English language media sources for daily news and other information.
