Before Departing Your Country

Passport & Visa

• - Valid passport and Korean Visa are needed for all visitors to Republic Korea.
• - Exemption :
  Visitors with round-trip tickets from countries that have a special agreement with Korea can stay in Korea up to 30days, or 90 days, depending on the type of agreement between the two countries.
• - For more information, Click here.

Time Difference

• - Korean Standard Time: UTC/GMT +9 hours (Daylight Saving Time is not applied in Korea)
• - What time is it in Korea now? Click here.

Climate

Korea's climate is regarded as a continental climate from a temperate standpoint and a monsoonal climate from a precipitation standpoint. The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter.

Check Today’s Weather in Korea, Click here

Language

Korean (Official Alphabet: Hangeul)

- Basic Characters: 14 consonants & 10 vowels

Consonants
ㄱ (g, k)	ㄴ (n)	ㄷ (d, t)	ㄹ (r, l)	ㅁ (m)	ㅂ (b, p)	ㅅ (s)
ㅇ (ng, silent)	ㅈ (j)	ㅊ (ch)	ㅋ (k)	ㅍ (p)	ㅌ (t)	ㅎ (h)

Vowels
ㅏ (a)	ㅑ (ya)	ㅓ (eo)	ㅕ (yeo)	ㅗ (o)
ㅛ (yo)	ㅜ (u)	ㅠ (yu)	ㅡ (eu)	ㅣ (i)

Learn Korean

Helpful Korean Phrases

• Basic Expressions
• At Accommodations
• At Restaurants
• At Stores
• While Traveling
• Emergencies
• Phone Calls / Internet / Post Office

Korean Currency

Korea’s official monetary unit is the won.

Bills

Coins

Traveler’s Checks

Traveler's checks can be exchanged for cash at banks or exchange booths. A number of stores still accept the checks instead cash, nonetheless, the form of credit cards, debit cards have become more preferred means by travelers. Thus trading checks is hardly observed nowadays as there is seemingly decreasing number of stores that offer this service.

Credit Card

Most of the businesses in Korea widely uses and accepts payment by credit cards at major hotels, department stores, large restaurants, and stores. Visa, Master, American Express and other credit cards can be used; however do check the service availability before making purchase as some stores may not be subject to this service.

Exchanging Money

When you need to exchange your foreign currency into Korean won, visit a bank, exchange service center, or an authorized exchange. (Bank business hour: 09:00-16:00, closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.)

Currency Coveter

www.xe.com/currencyconverter (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)

Tipping and Value-added Tax (VAT)

• - Tipping is not a regular practice in Korea.
• - Value added tax and service charges are usually included in the consumer price. However, service charges and VATs may not be included in the fees charged by some hotels and luxurious restaurants.
• - Tax Refunds for Non-residents and Foreigners:
  For more information, Click here.

Electricity & Voltage

After Arriving in Korea

Business Hours

Banks

Weekdays: 09:00 – 16:00
Weekends and National Holidays: Closed

Government Offices and Organizations

Weekdays: 09:00 – 18:00
Weekends and National Holidays: Closed

Post Offices

Weekdays: 09:00 – 18:00
Public Holidays: Closed
Nationwide list: www.koreapost.go.kr
List of post offices in Seoul: english.seoul.go.kr

Foreign Diplomatic Missions

Weekdays: Hours vary, please see the following link for more information >> Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Weekends and National Holidays: Closed

Department Stores

10:30 – 20:00
* Typically, one day a month (usually a Monday) department stores are closed to the public. However, closings will vary according to each store.

Food in Korea

In Korea, there is no end to what people can see and experience, but trying Korean food is on the top of most to-do lists that visitors cannot wait to cross off! The Korea Tourism Organization has chosen the following 14 best dishes that are rated “must-eat” items by locals as well as international visitors. So let’s explore these fourteen bests that are sure to impress you with Korea’s true flavor!

Helpful Numbers

Emergency Medical Information Center, 1339

At Emergency Medical Information Center, trained medical personnel (doctors, nurses and paramedics) are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in 12 locations nationwide. Upon receiving an emergency call, a medical staff member gives basic first aid instructions over the phone or calls an ambulance to transport patients to a medical center for further emergency measures.

Information Service – International Call 00794

International service “00794” is a telephone operator service that provides any information related to making international calls including foreign subscription number, national codes, area codes, etc.

International Call Service 00799

International call service “00799” is a telephone operator service used to make international calls from Korea. The Service features station-to-station calls (forwarding the receiver’s number to the operator for direct connection), collect or reverse charge calls (charging the receiver for the international call) and interpretation calls (having interpretation during the international call).

Local telephone number guide – Local area code + 114

In order to obtain the contact and location information of a business, dial an area code followed by “114” and say the name of the business.

Tourist Complaint Center 1330

Tourist Complaint Center strives to resolve complaints from tourists in Korea as well as to improve tourism services by informing and providing consultation to relevant agencies. Complaints and inquiries can be filed via email or fax.

Medical Facilities

There are some hospitals where some English is spoken. International clinics at large general hospitals like Jeju National University Hospital and Cheju Halla General Hospital are recommended.

Jeju National University Hospital

Aran 13gil 15(Ara-1Dong) Jeju-si, Jeju Self-Governing Province, Korea, 63241
Website: http://en.jejunuh.co.kr/index.do
International Clinic Tel: +82-64-717-1654 (English) / + 82-64-717-1935 (Chinese)
Clinic Hours:
Please refrain from visiting after 9 p.m. for stability and sound sleep of patients.
• General Ward 11:30~13:30 / 17:00~20:00
• Internal/Surgical Intensive Care Unit 09:00~09:30 / 19:00~19:30
• Infant Intensive Care Unit 09:00~09:30 / 19:00~19:30

Cheju Halla General Hospital

65, Jeju-si Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Korea, 63127
Website: https://www.hallahosp.co.kr/han/en/
International Clinic Tel: + 82-64-740- 5000

Seogwipo Medical Center

47, Jangsu-ro, Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, Korea, 697864
Website: http://www.jjsmc.or.kr/board/gcontent/contentview.php?content_id=insa_en
International Clinic Tel: +82-64-730-3105 (Emergency +82-64-730-3109)
Clinic Hours:
• Weekday (Mon~Fri): 08:20 ~ 17:20
• Weekends (Sat, Sun): Emergency room treatment 24 hours shifts of total 6 treatment doctors