In the impression of many people, The Republic of Korea is a country with little historical and cultural heritage but has always been a trendsetter. In fact, South Korea also has many historical attractions, such as Changdeokgung Palace, Suwon Hwaseong Castle, Gyeongju Historical Area, etc. At the same time, it also actively develops Korean culture, K-POP, and E-Sports have always been the reasons for travelers to go to South Korea. South Korea’s tourist attractions are mainly concentrated in Seoul and Jeju Island, and then scattered throughout the country.
Time Zone: UTC+9
Climate Preference
Most of South Korea’s tourist attractions are concentrated in Seoul and Jeju. Seoul has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. March and May are spring, cherry blossoms, azaleas and other flowers bloom all over the city. Summer is from June to September, and it is also the time with the heaviest rainfall. Autumn is from October to November, when autumn leaves bloom all over the city, and the mountains and large parks in the city are covered with autumn colors. Seoul will be windy and dry in winter, and the temperature will feel colder. However, there are many entertainment activities in Seoul in winter, such as Han Jeung Mak (Korean Spa), which is very suitable for experience.
The climate of Jeju Island is a temperate humid climate, with mild winters and hot and rainy summers. Spring and autumn are mild transitional seasons that are quite comfortable. Jeju Island receives heavy rainfall throughout the year, so it is generally humid.
Visa
Many nationalities can enter visa-free for short stays, but it’s essential to verify this before your trip. Korean visas range from 30 days to 6 months. For details, please refer to the official visa website.
https://www.korea-etravels.com/en/arrivals#visa
Power Plugs / Sockets
Power voltage in Korea is Type C and Type F 220V / 50Hz / 60Hz.
SIM Card & Transportation card
It should be noted that the “day” of most Korean SIM cards is calculated on a natural day, that is, it expires at 23:59; however, some cards are calculated on a 24-hour day. Be sure to pay attention to the product instructions when using it. When purchasing Korean SIM cards, be sure to pay attention to the expiration date. The closer to the expiration date, the cheaper it will be.
Korea eSIM | Daypass/Data Package | 1-30 days | QR code
eSIM South Korea with a high-speed and stable Internet connection
When traveling in Korea, a transportation card is a must-have. Not only is the ticket price cheaper than a single ticket, but it also offers discounts when transferring to buses. In addition, starting in 2024, many bus routes in Seoul will no longer accept cash and can only be ridden with transportation cards. There are nearly 10 types of transportation cards in Korea, and we have selected 3 of them that are suitable for travel.
T-Money Card
T-Money is the most common transportation card in Korea, with the highest market share and penetration rate. It can be used on all buses and subways in Korea and can also be used at convenience stores. The card types are diverse, and the patterns are super cute. There are also many purchasing points. You can buy and top up T-money cards at subway stations, convenience stores or airports, which is very convenient for tourists. There is no expiration date and you can use it again during your next trip.
Cashbee
Cashbee is the second-largest transportation card in Korea. It can be used on buses and subways in Korea. The fare and transfer discounts are also applicable. This card has no expiration date and can be used as a souvenir or reused when visiting Korea.
Wowpass card
The Wowpass card has the functions of both a transportation card and a debit card, which is very convenient. The most attractive thing about WOWPASS is that you can store value in foreign currency directly through more than 90 locations across Korea (subway stations, hotels, airports, etc.). You can instantly exchange foreign currency cash into Korean won and recharge it to the card. And the exchange rate It’s also quite good. Many users have reported that the exchange rate is better than the exchange rate at exchange shops.
Money Exchange / Cash
The development of electronic payment in South Korea is quite mature. Some stores no longer accept cash but use credit cards, transportation cards, Alipay, and other electronic payment methods. However, for the tourists, exchanging cash is also necessary. Even if you are a credit card believer, it is recommended to exchange a small amount of cash for emergency reserves.
WOW Exchange
Yes, it’s the WOWPASS just mentioned. WOW Exchange is a common money exchange machine in Seoul. There are more than 70 locations in Korea. If you have too much Korean won cash when you leave Korea, you can also exchange foreign currency at this machine. In addition, you don’t need to exchange too many Korean won at this machine, the currency exchange shop in Myeong-dong is recognized as having the best exchange rate in Korea.
Myeong-dong
When exchanging cash in Korea, the best exchange rate is of course the exchange shop in Myeong-dong. However, the exchange shop in Myeong-dong originally mainly served Chinese people, so there may not be many foreign currency options. US dollars can be exchanged, but you need to ask the store for other currencies. Here are three of the money exchange stores in Myeong-dong.
Dae Sin Exchange
Address: 105 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 09:00 – 22:00 (times vary)
大使館換錢所
Address: 26 Myeongdong 2-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Opening hours: 09:00 – 19:00 (times vary)
한총환전
Address: 105 Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul
Applications
Google Translate
is indispensable.
Maps: NAVER Map, KAKAO Map
Google Maps cannot be used in Korea, so you need to download NAVER Map and KAKAO Map, and both support English.
설정 = Setting
언어 = Language
영어 = English
South Korea subway
It is the most used transportation app among Koreans. Provides information on cities with subways, such as Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, etc. There is a wealth of subway information in the app, including real-time timetables, routes and times, estimated fares, etc.
Safety
South Korea’s public security is very good, there are also tourist police patrolling the tourist area. However, South Korea has been in a state of truce with North Korea. Although the North Korean government has officially given up on unification in 2024, please also pay attention to the government’s text message reminders during travel.
Simple Korean for traveling
Hello = 안녕하세요 ann yeong ha se yo
Thank you = 감사합니다 gam sa hab ni da
Good / Great = 네ne
Delicious / Yummy = 맛있어요ma siss seo yo
How much is it = 얼마예요eol ma ye yo
How to go to this place = 어디에 eo di e
Tax Refund
General tourists can apply for a tax refund when shopping in South Korea. Although the consumption tax is a 10% surtax, the amount of the tax refund is 5-7% of the purchase amount. Moreover, each tax refund company has different calculation methods, and there are several processing methods and locations. There are currently 5 tax refund companies in South Korea. The following are the tax refund amounts for 2 of them.
There are three tax refund methods in Korea. Each tax refund process is slightly different, but they are all very simple:
Tax-Free Store
Store type: Store with Tax-Free
When shopping in such stores a designated amount, show your passport and the tax refund will be deducted from the total payment at checkout, or the staff will refund the tax refund after checkout.
Seoul Downtown counter
It is the most convenient and common way to get tax refunds. The tax refund amount must be less than 75,000 won. The tax refund amount will be refunded in cash, but the tax refund amount will also be deducted from the credit card as a guarantee, and the refund can be obtained three weeks after leaving the country. If you use this tax refund method, the tax refund form needs to be kept at the airport, go to the tax refund machine or tax refund counter, and have it stamped by customs.
Airport
The tax refund amount is less than 75,000 won: You can use the KIOSK self-service tax refund machine at the airport. There is no need to go through customs inspection of the goods when leaving the country, and the goods can be placed directly in the checked baggage.
The tax refund amount is more than 75,000 won: the goods need to be inspected by customs. Carry-on baggage should be inspected by customs and tax refunded after leaving the country. For baggage that needs to be checked in, you need to inform the staff at the check-in counter for customs inspection. Bring your boarding pass and luggage to the customs counter for inspection and tax refund.
Emergency Number: 112
Please inform your translation requirements in English. Starting in July 2023, the Korean Police Agency will provide English translators for 112 calls, so travelers can express their emergencies more smoothly when encountering a crisis.
Emergency assistance service hotline for foreigners: 0800-085-095
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