Geography of South Korea

South Korea is located in East Asia, on the southern half of the Korean Peninsula jutting out from the far east of the Asian land mass.

The only country with a land border to South Korea is North Korea, lying to the north with 238 km of border running along the DMZ. South Korea is mostly surrounded by water and has 2,413 km of coast line along three seas. To the west, is the Yellow Sea, to the south is the East China Sea, and to the east is the Ulleung-do, and Liancourt Rocks (Dokdo in Korean) in the Sea of Japan (also called East Sea).

Weather and Climate in South Korea

The climate in Korea is temperate with four very distinct seasons. Summers are very hot and humid, while in winter temperatures plummet to below freezing. Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons, also the best time to visit South Korea. Most of the rain falls in summer during a monsoon season known as 'jangma'.

The Best Time to Visit South Korea

Autumn and spring.

Accommodation in South Korea

Some of the best 5star hotels in South Korea are Capital Hotel Seoul, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Millenium Hilton and The Westin Chosun Beach etc.

Staying in a hanok, or traditional-style C-shaped house, is an affordable and ideal way to sample Korean life. There are usually around four to 10 rooms and you sleep and eat Korean-style at ground level, on floors heated and cooled by ongol, a traditional Korean system, and relax watch an evening performance of Korean music.

Hotels

Modern tourist hotels in major cities and tourist areas are registered with the government and graded: super deluxe (5-star), deluxe (4-star), first class (3-star), second class (2-star) and third class (1-star). A service charge of 10% and 10% VAT are included in hotel bills; tipping is not necessary.

Guest Houses

This is an inexpensive way to experience Korean culture and meet other tourists. Modest in style and decor, many are re-modelled family homes and so often have a shared bathroom.

Self Catering

Pensions are a relatively new concept, often European-style villas, and usually found in tourist areas. They are especially popular with couples and families. Condominiums are apartment-style lodgings usually situated near ski resorts, famous mountains, parks and beaches. Also developing in cities is the concept of ‘serviced apartments', suitable for longer stays and business travellers.

Cabins

Situated in forests and amusement parks, log cabins are ideal for families and groups. Mountain huts and shelters (daespiso) are located in national parks and are great for hikers. They are equipped with basic beds, light meals, clean drinking and bathing water.

Homestay Accommodation

Supported by the Korea Tourism Organisation, this registered nationwide home-stay placement service offers visitors the chance to live in a Korean home, giving a unique perspective on local life.

Camping/Caravanning

Campsites are located throughout the country in national parks, recreational forests and amusement parks. Services such as 'tent rent' are provided as well as shower facilities and bathrooms.

Youth Hostels

There more than 70 youth hostels located across the country.

Budget

The Korea Tourism Organisation can provide a list of yogwans, reasonably-priced motels where rooms usually consist of a small mattress and a firm pillow on the ondol, Korea's traditional floor-heating system. Some may have Western-style rooms too.

Unique Accommodation

Korea's temple stay programme (www.templestaykorea.com) gives visitors a glimpse of Buddhist life.

On Kolalo, you can find different styled accommodation, ranging from South Korean style, Western style, low budget, unique lodgings to longer stays.

Money and Costs in South Korea

Korea is a developed country, but you can get by on a modest budget. Accommodation is always the main travel expense, and comfortable, en suite rooms cost around W30,000 (approximately US$33) in smart new motels or W5000 less in older-style yeogwan (motel). Top-end hotels are rare outside major cities, but their rack rates are generally heavily discounted to around W200,000 to W250,000. Midrange hotels are being squeezed by the new high-rise motels, and their normal W150,000 rates are sometimes discounted below W100,000.

HOW MUCH?

Local newspaper: W700
Food-court lunch: W5000
Cinema ticket: W7000
Steak dinner: W25,000
Motel room: W30,000

Transport, Korean meals, alcohol, saunas and admission prices to sights and national parks are still relatively cheap, so careful-spending duos travelling around Korea can manage on W70,000 a day, while W100,000 a day allows for some luxuries – classier rooms, more taxi rides and bulgogi (sliced beef) instead of samgyeopsal (sliced fatty pork). The ultra-thrifty could hope to reduce their costs to W50,000 a day, by staying in youth hostel dormitories or rather grotty rooms, taking advantage of hospitable Koreans they meet, and living on a diet of gimbap (rice rolled in dried seaweed), bibimbap (vegetables, meat and rice) and ramyeon (instant noodles). Staying in Seoul is cheaper than touring the country. Splashing out on luxury hotels, top-class meals and duty-free shops ups the budget to W400,000 a day or more.

Visa to South Korea

Visa is not required by nationals from Britain, Australia, Canada, USA and Other EU for stays of 30 days to up to six months.

Types of Visa and Cost

Single-entry (up to 90 days): US$30. Single-entry (more than 90 days): US$50. Multiple-entry: US$80. For US citizens, multiple entry visa fee is US$45. The same fees apply for both business and tourist visas. Nationals of Italy, Spain, Sweden and UK can obtain a visa valid for up to six months free of charge.

Validity

30, 60 or 90 days.

Time Zone of South Korea

South Korea Standard Time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9).

Voltage in South Korea

The standard voltage in Korea is 220 volts. The outlet has two round holes and is the same type used in France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Turkey, and many other countries.

If you do not have a multi-voltage travel adapter, you can borrow one from your hotel’s front desk. If you want to buy one in Korea, you can do so at a duty-free shop, convenience shop at Incheon International Airport, or Yongsan Electronics Shopping Town.

Transportation in South Korea

South Korea, located in East Asia occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula and is an emerging tourist destination.

A number of cities such as Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Gyeongju, Jeju, Jeonju and Suwon offer an exotic vacation to the international visitors. The splendid locales, rich culture and old civilization offer unbelievable experiences to those visiting the city. Travel within the country is fairly simple and South Korea offers a number of options to those who wish to travel within the country. The tourist may chose from air, train and road transport to reach one city from the other.

By air

South Korea Air Travel is used more by tourists than the natives. The city offers good domestic air connectivity and the major operators who offer such flight services are Korean Air and Asiana. A number of other low cost flight operators such as Hansung Airlines and Jeju Air have also made a foray into commercial air travel within South Korea.

By train

South Korea Train Travel is primarily offered by Korail. In recent times the Korail services have been upgraded and train travel within the country is cost effective, fast and safe. With the introduction of the Korea Train eXpress (KTX) offers a high speed service but other trains are reasonably good and offer fairly good connectivity.

By taxi

South Korea Taxi Service is the favored means of South Korea transportation among tourists and visitors. Taxis offer speed, flexibility and offer value for money especially in case of group or family travel.

By bus

South Korea Bus Travel is by far the best means of transportation in South Korea. The busses of the country are fast and stick to the schedule. Inter city travel is quite comfortable and inexpensive. This is the natives' favorite means of transportation.

By subway

South Korea Subways are used by the commuter trains of the large cities in the country. An extensive network of metro rails has been approved and is under construction in South Korea.

With the launch of these services, intra city transportation in the major tourist destinations of South Korea will have taken a giant stride. South Korea is well equipped with 8 international airports. South Korea Airports are well maintained and well managed air bases.

Eating in South Korea

A diverse array of foods and dishes can be found throughout Korea. Koreans have cultivated rice as their staple food since ancient times. These days Korean cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of meat and fish dishes along with wild greens and vegetables. Various fermented and preserved food, such as kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage), jeotgal (seafood fermented in salt) and doenjang (fermented soy bean paste) are notable for their specific flavor and high nutritional value. The prominent feature of a Korean table setting is that all dishes are served at the same time.

South Korean Specialties:

1. Bap (steamed rice) and Juk (porridge)
2. Guk (soup)
3. Jigae (stew)
4. Jim and Jorim (simmered meat or fish)
5. Namul (vegetables or wild greens)
6. Jeotgal (seafood fermented in salt)
7. Gui (broiled/barbecued dishes)
8. Jeon (pan-fried dishes)
9. Mandu (dumpling).

Emergency Phone Numbers in South Korea

If you're planning a trip to foreign country, it always helps to keep a note of the emergency phone numbers valid in the country. Often while visiting a new country, one may come face to face with situations requiring assistance. Be it a call for medical help or the police, keeping a list of emergency phone numbers is a good idea.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Crime Reporting & Police 112
Fire and Medical Service 119
Medical Referral Service 1339
Information Service - International call 00794
International Call Service 00799
Local telephone number guide – Local area code + 114
International Telegram Service 00795
Tourist Complaint Center 02-735-0101
International Emergency Rescue 02-790-7561
Korea Travel Phone 1330

Health Issues in South Korea

There are many hospitals where some English is spoken. International clinics at large general hospitals like Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Center or Samsung Medical Center are recommended.

Do's and Don'ts in South Korea

South Koreans are very proud of their heritage, so respect their pride and country's history by reading up on their etiquette. You will fit in much better and show respect for the people of South Korea. Below is a list of etiquette to help you out.

What to wear

1. DO dress modestly and conservatively for business occassions. Men should wear dark suits with white shorts and women should wear subdued colors as well.
2. DON'T wear jewelry if you're a man, aside from a wedding ring or watch.

Food/Drinks

1. DON'T sit until told where to sit.
2. DO note that the eldest are served first, and they also begin eating first.
3. DON'T use your chopsticks to point at something and never pierce food with your chopsticks.
4. DON'T cross your chopsticks when putting them on the chopstick rest.
5. DON'T eat with your hands.
6. DO try a little bit of everything. If you don't know what something is, ask!
7. DO refuse the first offer of second helpings, out of politeness.
8. DO eat everything served to you.
9. DON'T ever place your chopsticks parallel across the bowl. You can indicate that you're done eating by putting the chopsticks on the chopstick rest or simply on the table.
10. DON'T criticize Korean cuisine. South Koreans are very proud of their food and will be insulted if it's criticized.

Tipping

1. DON'T tip. It's not customary.

Gift Giving and Accepting Gifts

1. DON'T give someone an expensive gift if you know that they can't reciprocate. Gifts are always reciprocated in South Korean culture.
2. DO wrap gifts nicely. Red, yellow, or pink paper are preferred colors for wrapping paper. Red and yellow are royal colors and yellow and pink are considered happy colors.
3. DON'T wrap gifts in green, white, or black.
4. DON'T give gifts in multiples of 4, as it's considered unlucky. 7 is a lucky number, though.
5. DON'T open a gift upon receipt. You may open it later.
6. DO give gifts using both hands.
7. DON'T sign a card associated with a gift in red ink.

Greetings

1. DO shake hands upon meeting. A bow is also a traditional South Korean greeting. The person of lower status bows to the person of higher status, however the person of higher status will initiate a handshake.
2. DO say "man-na-suh pan-gop-sumnida" when initiating a bow. It means "pleased to meet you."
3. DO bid farewells to everyone individually accompanied with a bow when you leave a social setting.

Visiting Someone's Home

1. DO bring fruit, flowers, or chocolates for your host.
2. DON'T arrive more than a half hour late.
3. DO take your shoes off before going inside a home.
4. DO expect to be walked out, as it's seen as insulting to say good-bye to your guests inside.
5. DO send your hosts a thank you note the following day.

Business

1. DO try to have a third party to initiate business. South Koreans prefer to do business with someone they are already connected to. Business relationships grow through social gatherings that are informal and include food and drink.
2. DO be direct. South Koreans are direct, so be direct in return.
3. DO schedule meetings at least 3 weeks in advance.
4. DON'T be late.
5. DO send an agenda and other materials in advance. All materials should be printed in both English and Korean.
6. DON'T expect much business to be conducted in the first meeting, as the first meeting will primarily be to get to know each other.
7. DON'T take your jacket off until the person with the most seniority does.
8. DO have one side of your business card translated into Korean.
9. DO use both hands to present your business card and present it with the Korean side facing up.
10. DO treat business cards with utmost respect. When receiving it, examine it closely and don't write on it. Store business cards carefully.

Conversation

1. DO feel comfortable discussing the following: sports (particularly soccer), South Korea's economy and international achievements, the health of one's family, kites, and personal hobbies.
2. DON'T discuss politics, the Korean War, socialism, communism, or personal family matters.
3. DON'T confuse South Korea with other Asian countries.
4. DO be modest if someone compliments you.
5. DON'T be surprised if you're asked personal questions, such as your age or salary.

Language in South Korea

The official South Korea language is Korean. In fact, the Korean language is the official language in South Korea and North Korea.

The Korean language is spoken by about 80 million people all over the world, making it the 14th most widely spoken languages of the world.

Both the written and the spoken language in South Korea, that is the Korean language has imbibed strains from Chinese, with as much as 60% of the vocabulary comprising of Sino-Korean words. Only 35% of the words in the Korean language have a Korean lineage, while the rest 5% have come from different languages of the world, primarily English.

Adding to the complexity and the richness of the Korean language is the presence of the many South Korean dialects. The conventional South Korea language is founded on the dialect that is spoken in and around Seoul, while there exists an entirely different dialect in Jeju. The Korean language in the north of the country is based on the dialect that is prevalent around Pyongyang.

The South Korea language flaunts ancestry and aristocracy and is recognized as the language that has given rise to some of the greatest and richest literature, music and poetry.

Basic Korean Phrases

Hello / Good Morning / Good Afternoon / Good Evening / How are you? -
Ahn yawng hah seh yoh?

Hello (Answering telephone, Getting someone's attention) -
Yaw boh seh yoh?

Goodbye (Say to someone leaving) -
Ahn yawng hee kah seh yoh.

Goodbye (Say when you are leaving) -
Ahn yawng hee kyeh seh yoh.

Nice to meet you -
Mahna beh bahn gahp sum nee dah.

Thank you -
Kam sahm nee da.

You're welcome -
Chawn mahn neh yoh.

Yes -
Yeh/Neh.

No -
Ah nee yoh.

Food

Noodles -
Myon/kuksu

Rice -
Bap

Fish -
Saengson

Beef -
Sogogi

Chicken -
Takkogi

Pork -
Taejigogi

Beans -
K’yong

Black pepper -
Huch’u

Salt -
Sogum

Butter -
Pot’o

Ketchup -
K’ech’op

Sugar -
Solt’ang

Water (cold) -
Ch’an mul

Tea -
Ch’a

Coffee -
Kop’i

Juice -
Chyusu

Milk -
Uyu

Beer -
Maekchu