16 Things to Know Before Travelling to Korea 한국 여행 전 알아야 할 16 가지 사항

Visiting South Korea for the first time? Arm yourself with these useful tips and travel information.

한국을 처음 방문한 적이 있습니까? 이 유용한 팁과 여행 정보로 자신을 무장하십시오.

Travelling on a vacation to a country for the first actual time can be very thrilling. You have a whole new adventure anticipating you, but the concept of making plans and being in a overseas land can be a chunk distressing. You've got completely no concept what’s watching for you – the kind of humans, the lifestyle and the legal guidelines governing the united states you're touring. That's why, I’ve decided to collect my manual to journeying Korea based on my own revel in, hoping it'll shed a few light and preempt you of what to anticipate when you go to Korea for the primary time

1. How many days is sufficient for a Korea vacation ride?
   My experience became truely 8 complete day. In this journey, we joined the k travel excursion from US Travels for 3 days, it delivered us along the direction from Seoul to Busan, hopping cities like Buyeo, Jeonju or even Gwangju! We had 2 days in Busan, and any other 3 days in Seoul.

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I realize I’ve overlooked out quite lots, like the famous Jeju Island which takes quite a few time to reach, and many other iconic locations. I think, in the end, it relies upon on your primary purpose of go to. Ask yourself if you are travelling for the surroundings, cultural stories or greater of buying. I discover 8 days enough, but 10 days could have been higher so that i'm able to contact on extra locations like Gamcheon culture Village in Busan and Bukchon Hanok Village in Seoul. If you’re right here entirely for shopping, eight days are more than enough

The reliable nearby language is of path Korean. But, be prepared that most of the providers do no longer communicate English, even in touristy areas. In case you’re a chinese language, you could nonetheless understand a touch as they realize some chinese language characters like the charge of their merchandises. If you’re no longer, you could have to begin performing some hand language with them.

Unluckily, most of the locals can simplest understand a touch bit of English and they can hardly speak with you in English.

1. Cash subjects
   each KRW1,000 is about SGD1.2. My pal taught me to honestly upload an additional 20% of the Korean received and take away the three zeros at the back of. KRW10,000 could be of course around SGD12. Going with the aid of denominations of one,000 could make your calculation less complicated.

Maximum places accept credit playing cards too. My alternate fee that point turned into SGD1 = KRW842. I changed money at Raffles location Arcade.

1. Public transport

trains arrive on time and on a common foundation. In case you buy the Korea T-money card, that's our ez-hyperlink card equivalent, each experience might generally price KRW1, 250 (~SGD1.50) except you go barely similarly, then it will upload every other KRW100-three hundred. You need to faucet inside and outside of the gantries whilst you board the educate.

I used to be told that that cabs right here are quite cheap too. But keep away from black cabs here as they may be pretty expensive. Take the ones orange/silver ones. To position into angle, I cabbed from Taejongdae Park to Haeundae seaside for 1/2 hour for KRW20,000, together with toll prices. I’ve met an unethical cab driver who wanted to extort a fare of virtually 5 times of the everyday fare and i got off the cab right away. So be careful in this thing.

1. Public toilets and hygiene
   There are pretty a number of public lavatories anyplace we go, and to my high-quality surprise they're generally smooth. You may also often discover rest room paper in public toilets. However, it is extremely hard to find dustbins round so you may additionally have to bring your trash for pretty a distance before you locate one bin.

2. Climate

The duration whilst i was right here, from past due July to early August, may be critically hot. The authorities even introduced a warmth wave caution. So my advice is to return all through spring, which is between April and June. September’s cooling climate is wonderful too.

In case you’re here in July like me, ensure you convey masses of sunblock and aloe vera gel to protect yourself against the merciless solar! You could slightly open your eyes if you don’t put on a cap, the solar become in order that evident.

1. Drinking water

My buddy Carolyn also mentioned that the faucet water right here in Korea is drinkable. Attempted and tested, I experienced no illness after ingesting from their tap water. In case you nonetheless do now not sense secure about it, you should purchase bottles of water from their comfort shops or vending machines. They must no longer fee greater than KRW1,500 until you are in vacationer regions.

1. To join or now not?

Really a yes if you would like to discover the outskirts of metropolis facilities like Seoul. There are numerous elements of Korea which can be quite inaccessible if you do no longer have a manual or a excursion bus to carry you round. For components of my tour, we took the okay travel tour from US Travels which has a fluent English-speakme tour guide.

Also examine: All You want to know approximately the ok-shuttle in Korea

Having a excursion bus to pressure you round saves you a whole lot of time to plot and the energy needed to force around. You get to rest at the bus from one destination to the next, which saves you strength to explore your next vacation spot.

I’ll be doing my Korea Itinerary on this element soon so look out for it.

1. Tour and Korea metro apps
   For first time guests, journey apps are certainly useful. The train maps would possibly look daunting as it’s so complicated, and it truly doesn’t help whilst there are Korean phrases on it, making it look even scarier. You’ll be glad to know that educate line map apps like Seoul Metro and Busan Metro Map will shop your lifestyles right here in Korea. For more travelling and food suggestions, additionally they have a VisitKorea app that is pretty beneficial too!

1. Tax claims and obligation unfastened shops on the airport
   I read from TripAdvisor that the tax claims counter refunds your taxes nearly immediately at the airport. To claim taxes, you need to spend greater than KRW30,000 (that is ~SGD37) on the beauty shops in Myeong Dong, one of the well-known purchasing districts in Seoul Korea.

But, I do warn that claiming taxes on the airport can be sincerely tough and no longer economically worth it in case you’re no longer buying very high-fee items. I spent a lot on cosmetics and the quantity I could claim from tax-loose global turned into slightly SGD30, so I idea it wasn’t really worth the trouble. You could examine my Myeong Dong purchasing manual for tips on the way to claim your tax refund.

The duty loose stores at Incheon international Airport (Korea) show their charges is US greenbacks. You may of route nevertheless pay together with your remaining KRW bucks. Simply be privy to the us greenback rate tags.

1. The locals
   The locals can be both exceptional and rude, I don’t deny. Be warned that some of the locals, specially the older era, can be truly aggressive. I wish someone had warned me approximately this ahead due to the fact i was quite greatly surprised and disenchanted after I skilled humans shoving me aside at a crowded location, elbowing me simply due to the fact I sat too close to him on the teach and plenty of different incidents. What I do realize is that it’s a custom that the Korean older generation clearly expects the more youthful generation to appreciate them, however I don’t think this is the way to ask for it.

In all honesty and equity, there are many extra pleasant Koreans out there. Commonly we met first-rate Koreans who trade conversations with us, a taxi driving force who turned into satisfied to have us as his first Singaporean passengers and a kind soul who helped us flag a cab after chatting with us. I’m grateful for a lot of these great people, so here’s a shout out to you men in Korea!

1. Mobile data in Korea

I were given my sim card of 1GB information from EG Sim for KRW29,900 which expires in 60 days. My pal who went to Korea after me rented a wi-fi egg alternatively and it costs KRW5,000 per day with limitless information. All in all, it relies upon if you would really like to share the wireless device along with your buddy, or would really like to apply it for yourself best. The 2 distinctive facts plans are notable in extraordinary eventualities.

1. Traveling to and fro Seoul and Busan

ou can take the Korea’s high-velocity train (KTX) to tour to and fro Busan and Seoul, which takes handiest approximately 2 hour and 45 mins. Visitkorea internet site has very full-size information on this. All in all, it changed into a breeze and very cozy to take the KTX, and there’s even wi-fi on board.

They do sell snacks on the educate, but you also are loose to shop for your snacks earlier than boarding and experience them whilst on board.

Additionally read: 24 amusing things to do in Seoul in your very first visit

1. Buying places in Seoul
   I simplest understand a few shopping places in Seoul, and they are:

Myeongdong: pleasant purchasing vicinity for ladies and fashionistas. Plenty of cosmetics shops.
Namdaemun: For wholesale purchasing. Not much brand new gadgets right here even though.
Dongdaemun: extra of affordable apparel, street market fashion like Bangkok.
Insadong: Cultural place, more for souvenirs.
Garosugil: state-of-the-art cafe streets. High quit clothier garb.
Explicit bus terminal underground shopping: a ramification of both reasonably-priced and high priced apparels.
Maximum of these shopping districts close at 10pm.

1. Shopping tips in Korea
   i might say my purchasing experience right here in Korea is quite limited. There wasn’t an awful lot haggling unlike that during Bangkok because the fees are quite a great deal fixed. The only times once I desired to get something are when the stuff are already pretty reasonably-priced.

Maximum of the store owners hardly ever communicate English, even those in touristy regions. This indicates you can have to use hand language to talk with them, or they will use a calculator to talk the pricing with you.

I had compiled a protracted listing of buying tips in Korea, specifically Myeong Dong. Have a read in case you would love to recognize some tips!

1. A few locations to visit

Seoul:

Gyeongbokgung Palace
Bukchon Hanok Village
Myeong Dong
Namdaemun
Dongdaemun (& Dongdaemun Design Plaza)
Express Bus Terminal Underground Shopping
Garosugil Shopping Street
Seoul Tower
Ewha Womans University shopping place