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 General
Information |
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Tourist information and assistance are available at all major
tourist sites and airports including KNTO's (Korea National Tourism
Organization) Tourist Information Centers. KNTO is also running
a tourist information site on the web. ( www.tour2korea.com)
Since around a quarter of the Republic of Korea's resident population
may be on the move to visit hometown and family during traditional
national holidays, it is advisable to make travel and accommodation
arrangements at least three months in advance for those periods.
The busiest holidays are Lunar New Year's Day, summer vacation
(the last week of July through the third week of August), and
Chuseok (The 15th day of the Eighth Month by the lunar calendar).
During national holidays offices and banks are closed, whereas
palaces, museums, most restaurants, markets, department stores,
cinemas and amusement facilities are usually open.
A variety of local events, festivals and special performances
such as sandaenori (mask dance) and nongak (farmers' music) are
held in many locations all year-round, welcoming foreign visitors.
Reservations for hotels in any part of the country can be made
in Seoul through travel agencies. Foreign tourists can get an
instant assistance by dialing 1330 anywhere in Korea.
Guided Tour Services Guided
tours around Seoul's scenic attractions
and historic sites are offered
regularly by various travel agents.
A wide variety of tours are available,
including morning, afternoon and
night tours as well as nationwide
tours of a week or more in duration. |
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Currency |
Korea's currency unit is won which comes
in 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 won bills, and 10,
50, 100 and 500 won coins. Generally, banks
are open between 09:30-16:30 Monday to Friday.
Automated teller machines are in operation
24 hours a day. Most larger stores, hotels
and restaurants in Korea will accept major
international credit cards. However, it is
advisable to carry some cash, since many smaller
establishments and stores are unlikely to accept
any credit cards. |
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Visas |
Most foreigners who want to visit Korea just
for a short-term tour or transit are permitted
to enter Korea with no visa according to the
principles of reciprocity or priority of national
interest with a tourist/transit visa status
(B-2, 30 days). Special status is awarded to
Canadians (6 months) and Australians (90 days).
In the case of a special long-term visa, visitors
are required to apply for alien registration
at a local immigration office within 90 days
of arrival. |
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Animal and Plant Quarantine
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All imported animals, plants and their products
are subject to quarantine at airports and ports
of arrival at the time of entry. |
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| Transportation |
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| By Subway |
The
subway is the most efficient and convenient
way for foreign travelers to get around in
Seoul. Station names, ticket counters, and
transfer signs are all clearly marked in
English as well as Korean, the different
lines are color-coded, and all trains have
announcements in English and Korean.
The subways themselves are clean and efficient, air-conditioned, and
have automatic ticket dispensers and convenient bus connections.
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| Fares are inexpensive, but do vary with service areas, so check
the cost for your destination before purchasing a ticket from
the ticket counter or dispenser. |
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Eight subway lines serve the whole of Seoul and its suburbs,
merging with the surface electric train line of the state-run
Korean Korean
National Railroad(K.N.R), linking Seoul to its major
satellite cities of Incheon, Suwon, Uijeongbu, and Ansan. And
a color-coded system is used for routing such as red for Line
1, green for Line 2, orange for Line 3, blue for Line 4, and violet
for Line 5. |
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| - Tickets & Fares |
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Beginning July 1, the Seoul Metropolitan Government will
introduce the newly adjusted public transportation fare
system. Based on this new system, bus and subway passengers
will be charged a base fare of 800 won for 12 kilometers
and then 100 won for additional six kilometers.
For the new fare system, the city government commissioned the Seoul Development
Institute in September 2002 to develop an effective fare system for public transportation.
The system was then revised in May 2004 by organizations operating buses and
subways, including the Seoul Metropolitan Subway Corporation and the National
Railroad Administration.
Under the current system, people are charged a transportation charge each time
they transfer from bus to subway and vice versa. However, under the new system,
passengers will not be required to pay an additional fare.
With the new fare system, passengers will be able to save up to 100 won when
traveling between 10 kilometers and 18 kilometers, and up to 200 won for journeys
over 20 kilometers.
For example, people will pay 1,200 won from Seoul City Hall to Incheon City Hall
(30.7km) and 1,400 won to Suwon station (40.9km). |
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How to purchase tickets
Tickets can be purchased from the vendor's window or or at the vending machines
located in all subway stations. There are two types of machines; one that only
accepts coins while the other accepts both coins and notes. |
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| - Transit fares by distance |
Distance
(km) |
1-12 |
12-18 |
18-24 |
30-36 |
36-42 |
42-54 |
54-66 |
Fare (Won) |
800 |
900 |
1,000 |
1,200 |
1,300 |
1,400 |
1,500 |
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| - Transit fares by distance |
Type of
passenger |
Fare
(when using transportation card) |
Adults
(over 20) |
Inside
Seoul |
Less 12km
: 800 won
12km - 42km : extra 100 won for additional 6km
over 42km : extra 100 won for additional 12km |
Outside
Seoul |
Lee 10km
: 800 won
10km - 35km : extra 100 won for additional 5km
over 35km : extra 100 won for additional 10km |
Students
(14 to 19) |
20%
discount (640 won) |
Children
(8-13) |
50%
discount (400 won) |
Senior members,
The handicapped &
Men of national merit
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100%
discount (Free) |
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| By Taxi |
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Taxis are plentiful, clean, safe and inexpensive in Korea.
There are taxi stands in most of the city areas, and taxis
can also be hailed on the streets and at taxi stands. In
addition, certain taxis can be requested by phone, though
the fare for these special call taxis (82-2-3431-5100) is
somewhat higher than regular taxis.
Most taxi drivers do not speak English, so it is advisable to tell him or her
the names of the different landmarks (e.g. major hotels or attractions) near
your destination.
Vacant taxis have red indicator lamps in front of the front passenger seat and
on the roof. |
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| - Regular Taxi |
The fare system is based
on both the distance and the time taken. Fares are 1,600
won for the first 2 kilometers and 100 won for each
108m.
If the taxi is going less than 15 kilometers per hour, 100 won for each 41 seconds
is charged. Fares increase by 20% after midnight until 4 a.m.
- Deluxe taxi
Deluxe taxis, called "mobeom" taxi in Korean, are black with a yellow
sign on the top and the words "Deluxe Taxi" |
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written on the sides. They offer more passenger space
and a higher standard of service. Fares are 4,000 won for
the first
3 kilometers and 200
won for each additional 205 m or 50 seconds if the
speed drops below 15 km per hour. There is no late-night
surcharge. Deluxe taxis can be taken at stands located
at hotels, stations, bus terminals, and on major
city streets. By calling 82-2-3431-5100, you can take a
deluxe taxi quickly and conveniently wherever you
are with extra fare 1,000 won. Also, you can make a reservation
on the phone for a ride anywhere, at any time. |
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| - Van Taxi |
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This mini-van sized taxis
capable of accommodating up to nine passengers at a
time provides various services, including a call system,
simultaneous interpretation, automatic teller machines
and the issuing of receipts.
The basic fare has been set at 4,000
won, the same amount for "deluxe" taxis,
and passengers will be charged 200 won for every additional 205 meters or 50
seconds of travel. |
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However, this taxis is not charge
an extra 20 percent between midnight and 4 a.m. as regular
and deluxe taxis
do. Those who want to use the mini-van
taxis can call either 82-2-992-7000
or 82-2-888-2000 with extra fare 1,000won. |
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| - Visitor's Guide Taxi |
Visitor's
Guide Taxis were intended to lessen foreign travelers'
inconvenience
upon their arrival in Korea. Visitor's
Guide Taxis are black with a yellow sign on the roof
and a label reading "VISITORS
GUIDE" on both sides of the vehicle. The English-speaking
and Japanese-speaking drivers were trained,
tested, and finally selected from drivers
of deluxe taxis, or
'mobeom' taxis in Korean. |
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| - Free Interpretation Service |
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A
special interpretation service is provided
in some taxis on a request basis. Three-way
simultaneous communications are possible
between the passenger, driver and an
interpreter in English, Japanese and
Chinese through a special wireless
phone installed in the taxi. If you
need information, call 017-200-3000.
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| City Buses |
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The public transportation system of Seoul was completely changed
on July 1st, 2004. Buses used to be classified as city bus, city
express bus, local bus, and community shuttle bus, but they are
newly classified into arterial bus, local bus, downtown circular
bus, and inter-city express bus. In addition, bus routes have
completely changed as well.
The revised bus system will resolve the problems of the bus system of Seoul such
as complicated routes, irregular bus intervals, and violent driving. Under the
new system, bus routes are straighter and shorter, and bus operation time and
bus intervals have been reduced. |
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The arterial bus runs from the outskirts of the city to the
downtown area, and the local bus operates within local districts
and stops at subway stations and arterial bus stops.
The inter-city express bus connects satellite cities such as Anyang, Ansan, Ilsan,
Bundang, and Uijeongbu to downtown Seoul, and the downtown circular bus goes
round downtown Seoul. |
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- Arterial Bus <Blue Bus>
There are a total of 80 arterial bus (blue
bus) routes, and 726 buses are in operation. This is more than
a 50% decrease from the number of former long-distance bus routes,
which amounted to about 200.
The complicated bus routes are simplified into a route that penetrates Seoul
along a South-North axis and an East-West axis, and has dramatically shortened
the bus routes.
Among the new bus routes, about 20 bus routes are simplified from the old complicated
bus routes. |
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- Local Bus <Green Bus>
Around 2450 buses operate in the 292 local bus (green bus) routes
located in areas where arterial bus routes don¡¯t pass through.
The local bus runs along a short route for passengers transferring to arterial
buses or the subway, and is similar to the city bus and community shuttle bus
Among 292 routes, 136 routes are not revised from the old ones, 68 routes are
shortened, and 19 routes are extended from the old routes. Especially, 48 new
local bus routes are introduced, adding to the convenience to citizens. |
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- Inter-city express bus <Red
Bus>
The inter-city express bus is a bus that connects
satellite cities to downtown Seoul. Passengers who wish to get
to downtown areas in Seoul such as City Hall or Euljiro from
satellite cities such as Bundang and Ilsan may take this bus.
A total of 43 bus routes are operated and most
of the routes are not revised from the old ones, but the running
time of the buses are shorter with lesser bus stops. |
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- Downtown Circular Bus <Yellow
Bus>
The yellow bus circles a short route in downtown
areas of the city. Shoppers and business people are main passengers
of this bus. The downtown circular bus routes are introduced
to areas with heavy daytime traffic, such as Gangnam and Yeouido.
In the case of the Gangnam area, five buses operate
in one route which runs from Express bus terminal ~ Gangnam Station
~ COEX ~ Apgujeong-dong. In Yeouido, a total of 16 buses operate
in two routes which runs from Daebang Station ~ MBC ~ National
Congress ~ 63 Building ~ COEX ~ Apgujeong-dong ~ KBS annex building. |
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| Cultural
Tips |
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Greeting |
In Korea,
bowing is a normal form of greeting, particularly
when meeting those who are senior to you,
either in age or in a given social or work-related
hierarchy. In addition, it is a customary
Confucian tradition to perform the jeol,
a deep bow on bent knees, chest touching
the floor and the arms stretched forward
to show respect to parents or older relatives
on special holidays.
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Body Contact |
| Unlike in English-speaking communities, in Korea
it is perfectly acceptable for members of the same
sex (not homosexual) to place an arm around another's
shoulder or to hold hands. Such gestures are considered
merely acts of close friendship. On the contrary,
it is deemed bad manners, even offensive, for those
of different sexes to express affection in public. |
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At home in Korea |
Koreans
traditionally live in homes with heated
floors, and it is normal not to wear shoes
inside. Even those who use beds instead
of sleeping on the "ondol" floor
never go to bed with shoes on. Because
of this, it is bad manners to visit someone's
home barefoot, as is the case in English-speaking
countries.
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Table manners and other forms of Etiquette |
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The basic
Korean meal consists of bap, or boiled
rice; either guk or tang (soup); gimchi;
and other side dishes. While the main dish
is bap, other dishes made of flour such
as bread and noodles can also be eaten
in its place. Although Koreans have developed
a large number of side dishes, gimchi is
the most popular and the most indispensable
of all. In other words, gimchi and Koreans
are inseparable.
Members of some households eat bread, milk, and eggs for breakfast,
as Westerners do, while others eat porridge or drink health beverages.
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However, there are a large
number of families who continue to eat a traditional
meal of rice, soup and side dishes for breakfast,
just as they do for lunch and supper.
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It
is just as impolite to blow your nose at
the table as it is to belch. Yet another
sign of bad manners is holding the rice
bowl in your hand. The arrangement of bowls
and silverware is crucial at the Korean
table. The rice bowl and the soup bowl
should be arranged side-by-side, rice on
the left and the soup on the right. The
spoon should always be placed to the left
of the chopsticks; otherwise the arrangement
indicates a ritual meal for the dead. Also
it is inappropriate to leave either the
spoon or chopsticks stuck in the steamed
rice, as it indicates a ritual for the
dead as well.
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Drinking Etiquette |
Koreans
offer glasses of liquor to each other rather
than pouring their own. When someone offers
you an empty liquor glass, you are expected
to hold it out and receive a fill-up, drink
it empty, and in likewise fashion return
into to the person who offered it to you.
This drinking tradition helps promote close
ties around a drinking table.
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It
is a rule of courtesy for juniors to pour
liquor for their seniors. The juniors have
to keep paying attention not to leave a
senior's glass empty When a senior offers
a junior a glass, the junior should receive
it with two hands and drink with head turned
aside, not facing the senior. It is also
the custom to cup the right sleeve with
the left hand when pouring drink for a
senior.
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Bathing |
Most Korean
houses have shower facilities, and there
are public bath facilities in every neighborhood.
It is quite common for Koreans to bathe
together and wash each others' backs. The
public bath has separate sections for women
and men, and some places run family bath
facilities. Most public baths are equipped
with saunas, and some have fitness or Jjim-jil-bang
or steam room facilities as well.
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| Exploring
KOREA |
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Seoul |
Located
along the Hangang River, Seoul, the capital
city of Korea, has grown into a teeming
metropolis with a population of more than
10 million. While maintaining and restructuring
the city, which has greatly expanded in
the process of urbanization and industrialization,
it continues to grow as the prosperous
and thriving center of the country's political,
economic, cultural and educational activities.
Seoul is the world's 10th-largest city; its past and
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present coexist in a fascinating way. Centuries-old
palaces, gates, shrines, gardens and priceless
art collections in museums attest to the illustrious
past of the city, while the glistening facades
of soaring skyscrapers and the bustling traffic
represent its vibrant present.
Old Seoul was encircled by
four inner mountains and four outer mountains.
The four inner mountains, Mt. Bugaksan in the
north, Mt. Naksan in the east, Mt. Inwangsan
in the west, and Mt. Namsan in the south, refer
to those which were originally inside the castle
walls of the ancient capital of the Joseon
Dynasty (1392-1910). The four outer mountains
are Mt. Bukhansan in the north, Mt. Yongmasan
in the east, Mt. Deogyangsan in the west, and
Mt. Gwanaksan in the south. Each mountain has
a unique beauty of its own while boasting natural
scenic landscapes and spectacular views overlooking
the city of Seoul. There are also numerous
mountain springs that are clean to drink from
and resting spots for people hiking along these
mountain areas.
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Insa-dong
is one of the most visited places
by foreigners.
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In
Seoul, the must see attractions are the
ancient royal palaces dating back to the
Joseon Dynasty: Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung,
Changdeokgung, and Changgyeonggung. Jongmyo Shrine,
the royal ancestral shrine of Joseon, along
with Huwon (the Rear Garden), adjacent
to Changdeokgung, are noted for their beautifully
landscaped gardens and classical structures.
One of the most popular areas for foreigners
is Insa-dong, located near downtown Seoul,
which is lined with antique shops, art
galleries, traditional teahouses, and restaurants
as well as bookstores. It is a place that
beckons both casual shoppers and the serious
collectors.
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Other attractions highly recommended for foreign
visitors include the National Museum, the National
Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts,
the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the
Ho-Am Art Hall and Korea House. The National
Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, a southern
satellite town, also deserves a visit.
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From Mt. Namsan Park, in the heart of
Seoul, visitors can enjoy a panoramic
view of the entire city from Seoul Tower,
or view a recreation of traditional village.
There are an abundance of parks within
and around Seoul, such as Olympic Park,
Seoul Grand Park and Citizens' Forest,
providing not only places to relax, but
also a variety of walking, riding and
cycling opportunities. These parks are
among the hidden treasures of Seoul,
enjoyed by residents but often missed
by tourists.
Another experience visitors should definitely not pass up is
a Korean dinner, either at a modern restaurant or a courtly Korean-style
restaurant.
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Citizens
enjoying pastime at the theme
park Lotte World in Seoul.
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Excellent Chinese and Japanese
food is also available, as well as French, Italian,
Mexican, Pakistani and many other cuisines.
Seoul also has an active nightlife
with bars, cafes, and rooftop nightclubs. The
fantastic night scenery of Seoul can be experienced
through a river cruise along the Hangang River
which meanders through the heart of the city.
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