'''South Korea''' (??, ____ ''Hanguk'') [http://english.visitkorea.or.kr], formally the '''Republic of Korea''' (????, ________ ''Daehan Minguk'') is a country in East Asia. South Korea occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea to the north, China across the sea to the west and Japan a short ferry ride to the southeast.

Regions

  • North Chungcheong — landlocked province filled with mountains and national parks
  • South Chungcheong — central western part of the country. Flat area made up of rice paddies. Point where main train lines and highways converge. Notable Places: Daejeon, hot springs, Mt. Gyeryongsan.
  • Gangwon — natural wonderland; Seoraksan National Park, east-coast beaches and ski resorts.
  • Gyeonggi — surrounding Seoul and covered in its urban sprawl
  • North Gyeongsang — largest province and richest area for historical and cultural sites. Notable places: Andong, Gyeongju and the islands of Ulleungdo.
  • South Gyeongsang — known for its gorgeous seaside cities and most respected temples. Notable Places: Busan, Haeinsa Temple.
  • Jeju — Korea's honeymoon island, built by a volcano. Great scenery with wild flowers and horseback riding. One of the few places you may need a car.
  • North Jeolla — Great Korean food.
  • South Jeolla — Lots of beautiful small islands, good for fishing.
  • Cities

    <!-- Keep this list limited to the 9 most important cities for tourists --> <!-- Keep this list limited to the 9 most important cities for tourists --> <!-- Keep this list limited to the 9 most important cities for tourists -->

  • Seoul(??) — the dynamic 600 year old capital of South Korea, a fusion of the ancient and modern
  • Busan(??,___R) — the second largest city and a major port city of Korea.
  • Daegu(??,____) — a cosmopolitan city, rich with ancient traditions and sights
  • Daejeon(??,___c) — a large and dynamic metropolis located in Chungnam province
  • Incheon(??,_m__) — busiest port in the country, location of the country's largest international airport
  • Jeonju(??,_S_B) — once the spiritual capital of the Joseon Dynasty, now a leading center of the arts filled with museums, ancient buddhist temples, and historical monuments
  • Gwangju(??,___B) — the administrative and economic centre of the area, the largest city in the province
  • Gyeongju(??,_c_B) — the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom
  • Chuncheon(??,_t__) — capital city of Gangwon province, surrounded by lakes and mountains and known for local dishes, dakgalbi and makguksu
  • Other destinations

    <!-- Keep this list limited to the 9 most important other destinations for tourists --> <!-- Keep this list limited to the 9 most important other destinations for tourists --> <!-- Keep this list limited to the 9 most important other destinations for tourists -->

  • Ulleungdo — scenic remote island off the east coast of peninsula
  • Andong — historically rich in Confucious traditions and home of living folk village
  • Guinsa — spectacular mountain headquarters of the Buddhist Cheondae sect
  • Seoraksan National Park — spread out over four cities and counties, the country's most reknowned national park and mountain range
  • Panmunjeom — the only tourist site in the world where the Cold War is still reality
  • Jindo — commonly associated with the dog native to that area, the Jindo, every year people flock to the area to witness the parting of the sea and participate with the accompanying festivities
  • Boseong — rolling hills blanketed with green tea leaves where you can stroll along a wooded path and stop at a nearby spa to drink the home grown tea and take a seawater bath.
  • Somaemuldo — an hour off the coast of the South Gyeongsan province there's a hidden island surrounded by aquamarine waters and a breathtaking view that will stop you in your tracks
  • Yeosu — one of the country's most picturesque port cities especially at night, nominated to host the 2012 World Expo
  • Understand

    History

    Archeological finds of prehistoric toolmaking date back to 70,000 BC, and the first pottery is found around 8000 BC. Comb-pattern pottery culture peaked around 3500-2000 BC.

    Korea's history begins with the founding of '''Gojoseon''' (also called ''Ancient Choson'') by the legendary Dangun in 2333 BC. Archeological and contemporaneous written records of Gojoseon as a kingdom date back to around 7th-4th century BC. Gojoseon was eventually defeated by the Chinese Han Dynasty and Korea was governed as four commanderies of the Han. The political chaos following the fall of the Han Dynasty in China eventually allowed native tribes to regain control of Korea, eventually becoming the '''Three Kingdoms''' of Korea, namely Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla,(Although Gaya Kingdom -100 ~ 1 B.C. - 562 A.D. existed, It was conquered by Silla) which vied for control of the peninsula. Despite repeated attempts by the Chinese Sui Dynasty and later, the Tang Dynasty to conquer the Korean peninsula, Goguryeo managed to repel them. Eventually, Goguryeo fell to a Silla-Tang alliance, which had earlier defeated Baekje, when it was attacked simultaneously from the north and south, thus unifying the peninsula under Silla. Even though the Tang later invaded, Silla forces managed to drive them out, thus maintaining Korea's independence, but at the same time serving as a tributary to the Tang. After the fall of Goguryeo, a man from Goguryeo, Dae Joyeong, formed an army of the Goguryeo and Malgal people(a Tungusic tribe) and settled eventually near Jilin in Manchuria, and there founded Balhae'''Unified Silla''' was replaced by the '''Goryeo''' (also ''Koryo'') dynasty, from which the modern name "Korea" derives. Goryeo was then replaced by the '''Joseon''' (also ''Choson'') dynasty after a coup by one of its generals, which ruled Korea from 1392 to 1910, one of the longest actively ruling dynasties in world history. It was also during the Joseon dynasty, during the late 16th century when Korea experienced the first of many invasions by the Japanese, then led by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, leaving their mark in the form of Japanese-style fortresses in the Gyeongsang region. However, an alliance between the Joseon dynasty and the Chinese Ming dynasty eventually defeated the Japanese, and this, in addition to the untimely death of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, forced the Japanese to pull out of Korea, though they would return with a vengence some 300 years later. Throughout most of its history from the Three Kingdoms period up till 1895, the various Korean states were tributary states to China, resulting in heavy Chinese influences in Korean culture, but at the same time preserving native Korean elements.

    Korea's status as a Chinese protectorate ended in 1895 after China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese War and the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Under the terms of the treaty, Qing Dynasty China was to recognize the independence of Korea, which eventually became a puppet state of Japan.

    In the early 20th century, Japan invaded Korea, thus beginning a 40-year occupation of the country, first, as a protectorate beginning in 1905, and through formal annexation beginning in 1910. There were numerous rebellions, but through means such as suppression of resistance and a cultural assimilation policy that included forcing Koreans to take Japanese names and forbidding them to speak the Korean language, Japan maintained control of the Korean peninsula as a colony until the end of World War II.

    After Japan's defeat in World War II, US-occupied southern half and Soviet-occupied northern half each declared separate states in 1948. The '''Korean War''' (1950-53) began with North Korea's attack, and when US and other UN forces intervened on South Korea's side, China supported the North. An armistice was signed in 1953 splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel, but a peace treaty has never been signed.

    Thereafter, despite initially being economically outdone by North Korea, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth under the leadership of former dictator and president Park Chung Hee, with per capita income rising to roughly 20 times the level of North Korea, also earning it a place among the East Asian Tigers. South Korea is now a liberal democracy and the 10th largest economy in the world. In June 2000, a historic first summit took place between the South's President Kim Dae-jung and the North's leader Kim Jong-il (leading Kim Dae-jung to awarding first Nobel Peace Prize for South Korea), but the peace process has moved at a glacial pace.

    People

    South Korea is a very homogeneous country, with nearly all inhabitants identifying themselves as ethnically Korean and speaking the Korean language. However, there are a significant number of foreign workers from Mongolia, China and Southeast Asia, and about 30,000 American military personnel stationed throughout the country, especially near the DMZ. The largest resident minority are the Chinese, numbering around 20,000-30,000. Koreans tend to equate nationality with ethnicity, and the concept of a multi-racial nation such as Mauritius, Singapore or the United States would seem contradictory to most Koreans. Government, businesses, and educational institutions tend to discriminate against foreigners and against Koreans of mixed descent, and the government is still reluctant to grant citizenship to its Chinese minority despite them having lived in Korea for generations.

    Although it is the 12th most densely populated country, South Korea now has the '''world's lowest birthrate''' (1.16 children per woman nationwide and even less in Seoul), and dealing with this will be one of the major problems of the 21st century. The sex ratio is skewed strongly male, with about 112 men for every 100 women. About 85% of South Koreans live in urban areas.

    Though East Asian tourists have been visiting Korea in droves since the turn of the millenium due to the Korean wave or ''hallyu'', it is still largely off the radar of most Western tourists, and Western visitors remain very much a rarity even in Seoul. As such, having locals stare or listen to your conversations is a common experience among Westerners. Children in particular will approach you or shout a "Hi!" in passing. Much of this is done out of curiousity and the eargerness to hear English spoken by native speakers. Although most Koreans have been educated in English since elementary school and most companies set a premium on possessing a certain level of fluency, in general the people will find it difficult to understand or speak it. However, most in the city will be able to read and write it. Tourists will normally find Koreans to be quite friendly and helpful when trying to find your way around.

    Culture

    Having been a part of China briefly, and a tributary state of China for much of its history, heavy Chinese influences are evident in traditional Korean culture. Nevertheless, some fundamental differences remain and Korea has managed to retain a distinct cultural identity from China. Koreans are fiercely proud of their heritage and their resistance to both Chinese and Japanese domination.

    During the Joseon dynasty Korea's dominant philosophy was a strict form of '''Confucianism''', perhaps even more strict than seen in China. People were separated into a rigid hierarchy, with the king at the apex, an elite of officials and warriors below him, a small middle class of merchants below them, then a vast population of peasants and a hereditary class of slaves. Men were superior to women, educated were superior to the uneducated and everybody stuck to his defined role or faced the severe consequences. Buddhism and its supposedly dangerous notions of equality and individual spiritual pursuit were suppressed.

    While the Joseon Dynasty ceased to exist in 1910, its legacy lives on in Korean culture: education and hard work are valued above all else, and women still struggle for equal treatment.

    Koreans believe that the things that sets them the most apart from other Asian cultures is their cuisine, their language and their ''hangeul'' script. Outsiders will note their extreme modernity, tempered by a well-developed artistic and architectural joyfulness. Nothing goes undecorated if it can be helped, and they have a knack for stylish interior design. They have a vibrant film industry, and South Korea is one of only a few countries in the world in which local films have a greater market share than Hollywood films.

    Korea has a significant number of '''Christians''' (26%) and '''Buddhists''' (26%). Some 46% of the country profess to follow no particular religion. Christianity is the dominant religion in Seoul and other major urban centres, while in more rural parts of the country, people generally practise a mix of Buddhism, Shamanism and other folk beliefs.

    Sports

    '''Baseball''' was brought to Korea by American missionaries in 1905 and at one point was the most popular sport in the country. However, this has been surpassed by '''football''' (soccer) since the South Korean national team reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2002. Nevertheless, baseball still retains a strong following, with many Korean players becoming famous MLB players, and the Korean baseball team is regarded as one of the strongest in the world.

    Badminton, table tennis and bowling are also popular and facilities for the public are widely available in cities. Korean martial arts such as Taekwondo are also popular. Golf also has a strong following, with membership fees for Korea's top golf clubs being more expensive than those in neighbouting Japan or even the United States, with many of the world's top female golfers either originating from Korea or being of Korean descent.

    Books

    A long and complicated relationship, contact between the West and Korea have lead to a plethora of books on the Korean experience. Here's a list of books that would be available in the two major book centres in Korea as of June 2008.

    '''History'''

  • '''Battle for Korea: The Associated Press History of the Korean Conflict''' by Robert J. Dvorchak (1993) - great journalistic photography accompanied by short descriptive narratives
  • '''Korea Old and New: A History''' by Carter Eckert and Lee Ki-Baik (1991) - simply stated writing, good overview of Korea's history
  • '''Korea Witness: 135 years of war, crisis and new in the land of the morning calm''' by Donald Kirk and Choe Sang Hun (2006) - compilation of articles from foreign correspondents starting from 1871, notably from Jack London, a war correspondent from 1903-4
  • '''True Stories of the Korean Comfort Women''' by Keith Howard (1996) - unflinching look at the atrocities committed during occupation period
  • '''Culture'''

  • '''The Koreans: Who They Are, What They Want, Where Their Future Lies''' by Michael Breen (1999) - anectodal accounts and insights of a British journalist on the country he spends half the year in, informative and entertaining
  • '''Social Change in Korea''' published by Jimoondang (2008) - compilation of articles written by academic experts on Korea
  • '''The Discovery of Korea: History-Nature-Cultural Heritages-Art-Tradition-Cities''' by Yoo Myeong-jong (2005) - amazing scenic views on Korea
  • Holidays

    Korea's traditional holidays follow the lunar calendar, so they fall on different days each year. The two biggest, Seollal and Chuseok, are family holidays and entail everybody returning to their hometowns en masse, meaning that '''all forms of transport''' are absolutely packed.
  • '''Shinjeong'''(??),means New Years day : on the 1st day, January
  • '''Seollal''' (??), on the 1st day of the 1st month in the lunar calendar, is also known as "Korean New Year". Families gather together, eat traditional foods-especially ''Ddugguk'' (??) and perform an ancestral service. The public holiday lasts for 3 days, which includes the eve and second day.
  • '''Sameeljjeol'''(???,3.1?) : 1st, March, in commemoration of the March 1st resistance movement against the invading Japanese Imperial Army in 1919.
  • '''Orininal''' (????) : means children's day, 5th, May
  • '''Buchonnim osinnal''' or '''sawolchopa-il''' : means Buddah's birthday, 8th, 4th month in the lunar calendar
  • '''Hyeonchung-il'''(???) : means memorial day, 6th, June. In commemoration of people who gave their lives to the nation.
  • '''Gwangbokjjeol'''(???) : means independence day, 15th, August. In commemoration of the liberation of Korean peninsula from the Japanese rule with the end of the second world war.
  • '''Chuseok''' (??), often dubbed "Korean Thanksgiving", is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month of the year (usually August-September). Koreans celebrate by eating traditional foods, notably a rice cake called ''songpyeon'' (??) and playing folk games. The public holiday lasts for 3 days
  • '''Gaecheonjeol'''(???) : 3rd, October. In commemoration of the first formation of the nation of ancient Korea
  • '''Christmas''' (???) has become a major holiday in Korea due to the large number of Christian converts in recent times. As such, it is an ideal time to visit and soak up the festive mood, and maybe listen to a couple of Korean renditions of popular Christmas songs.
  • Climate

  • '''Spring''' is a great time of year to be in Korea. The temperatures are warm but not hot and there's not too much rain either. Although, spring is the time when yellow dust blows over from China. Some days can be horrible because of this.
  • '''Summer''' starts with a dreary rainy season (???,jangma-cheol) in June and turns into a steambath in July-August, with extreme humidity and the temperature heading as high as 40°C. Best avoided unless heading to the beaches.
  • '''Fall''', starting in September, is perhaps the best time to be in Korea. Temperatures and humidity become more tolerable, fair days are common and the justly renowned '''fall colors''' make their appearance.
  • '''Winter''' is a good time to go skiing or hot-spring hopping, and the Korean invention of ''ondol'' (floor heating) helps defrost any parts that froze outside.
  • Get in

    The nationals of 109 countries and territories, including all the usual suspects, will receive a visa on arrival valid for 30 to 90 days. Rules for visiting only Jeju are even more lenient, allowing in everybody ''except'' citizens of 11 countries. See the the Hi Korea web-site[http://www.hikorea.go.kr] for the latest details. Don't overstay, even by a single day — this incurs heavy fines and possible jail time, and you'll probably be banned from re-entering.

    Military personnel travelling under the SOFA for South Korea are not required to possess a passport for entry, provided they hold a copy of their travel orders and a military ID. On the other hand, dependents '''must hold a passport and A-3 visa for entry'''.

    By plane

    South Korea has 7 international airports: Busan(Gimhae Airport),Cheongju, Daegu, Jeju, Muan, Seoul(Gimpo Airport and Incheon Int. Airport).

    Incheon International Airport, about 1 hour west of Seoul, is the country's largest airport, with good connections throughout the world. This is also arguably ''the best run and best designed airport in the world'' - a pleasure to use, although if you arrive late watch out for pushy taxi drivers lying about the hotel buses and trying to get you to pay 3x the normal fare. There are direct inter-city buses to many locations throughout South Korea just outside the international arrival hall. You can buy the tickets at the airport.

    Busan's Gimhae airport and Jeju field significant numbers of international flights, links from the rest being limited to nearby major Japanese and Chinese cities. The "city shuttle" services from Seoul's otherwise mostly domestic Gimpo Airport to Tokyo-Haneda and Shanghai-Hongqiao are quite convenient though.

    [http://www.koreanair.com/ Korean Air] and [http://www.flyasiana.com/ Asiana] are the principal carriers to and from South Korea. Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Finnair, Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines serve Seoul-Incheon and Busan(Munich-Seoul-Busan) from Europe(including Russia). United, Northwest and Delta all serve Seoul-Incheon from the United States, although many flights stop over in Tokyo-Narita. [http://www.singaporeair.com Singapore Airlines] has nonstop flights from San Francisco and Vancouver.

    By train

    Travel from North Korea (and hence anywhere else in Asia) to South Korea by train remains impossible in practice. There have been a few test runs on the newly rebuilt railroad connecting the two, but it will likely remain more of a political statement than travel option for some time to come. However, for travelers coming from or continuing on to Japan, special [http://www.korail.go.kr/2003/eng/html/sche/f_sche_007.html through tickets] are available, giving discounts of 30% on KTX services and 9-30% on Busan-Fukuoka ferries as well as Japanese trains.

    By boat

    [http://www.busanferry.co.kr/service?id=en_index Busan Port International Passenger Terminal] is the largest seaport in the country and offers ferry rides mostly to and from Japan. There are fairly frequent ferry connections from Busan to Japan. JR's Beetle hydrofoil service from Busan to Fukuoka manages the trip in just under three hours with up to five connections a day, but all other links are overnight slow ferries, such as [http://www.pukwan.co.kr/ Pukwan Ferry Company]'s services to Shimonoseki from cost from $US60 (one-way). A Busan-Osaka ferry is operated by Panstar Line Co., Ltd. [http://panstarline.com].

    Incheon's International Ferry Terminal 1 (Yeonan Budu, ????) has services to several cities in China, such as Weihai, Dandong, Qingdao and Tianjin. The largest operator is '''Jinchon''' [http://www.jinchon.co.kr/], but Incheon Port has full listings on their website [http://www.incheonferry.co.kr/]. The Chinese ports of Rizhao, Rongcheng and Lianyungang, all in Shandong province, can also be accessed by ferry from Pyeongtaek.

    There are also weekly departures from Sokcho (Gangwon-do) to Vladivostok from US$270 operated by Dong Chun Ferry Co. Ltd. [http://www.dongchunferry.co.kr].

    By land

    Due both to its location at the end of the Korean peninsula and the political situation with North Korea, entering South Korea overland is practically not possible. The border between North and South Korea is considered the most heavily fortified border in the world, and while some crossings have occurred at the truce village of Panmunjeom, one of the cases (a Soviet defector in 1984) was shot at by both sides and, although he survived, you might not be so lucky. In the 80's and the early 90's most of those who crossed the border either way would be arrested and prosecuted for reasons mostly referred to as 'threatening national security'.

    Get around

    South Korea is fairly compact and you can get anywhere very fast if you fly, and reasonably fast even if you don't. Subways are available in most of the cities in metropolitan area including Seoul and other big cities have serviced or been on the way to make its subways. And you can easily get on buses or taxis. But it would be much cheaper and better to ride a bus.

    By plane

    South Korea is small enough that flying is more of a luxury than a necessity, with the notable exception of connections to the island of Jeju. The long-standing domestic flight duopoly of '''Korean Air''' [http://www.koreanair.com/] and '''Asiana''' [http://www.flyasiana.com/] was broken in 2005 by the arrival of low-cost competitors '''Hansung Airlines''' [http://www.hansungairlines.com/] and '''Jeju Air''' [http://www.jejuair.net/], which offers flights not only to Jeju, but also serves the Seoul-Busan sector with lower fares than the KTX express train.

    By train

    <TABLE width=100%><TR><TD>'''KTX network map'''</TD><TD width=30></TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#00ff00">   </TD><TD>Shared track (KTX)   </TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#0000ff">   </TD><TD>Gyeongbu Line (KTX)  </TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#000088">   </TD><TD>Gyeongbu Line (normal)  </TD> <TD BGCOLOR="#880000">   </TD><TD>Honam Line (normal)</TD> </TR></TABLE>

    National train operator '''Korail''' [http://www.korail.go.kr] connects major cities in South Korea. Neglected for a long time, a large amount of money has been plowed into the network in recent years and trains are now quite competitive with buses on speed and price, and much safer and more comfortable to boot. The main problem is that the network is still a little limited and services in rural areas are limited, with trains only once every few hours.

    Particularly useful are the high-speed '''Korea Train eXpress''' ('''KTX''') [http://ktx.korail.go.kr/] services between Seoul and Busan via Daegu and Daejeon, which use French TGV technology to zip along at up to 300 km/h. The full trip currently takes 160 minutes, a figure which is expected to improve to 116 minutes by 2010 when the second stretch of high-speed track is taken into use. The KTX trains have 18 cars with the first 3 being first class and the rest reserved economy seating except the very last car (number 18) which is open seating. There are drink vending machines on board and an attendant that comes by with a snack cart which includes reasonably priced beer, soda, cookies, candy, sausages, hardboiled eggs, and ''kimbap'' (rice rolls).

    <div style="float:right; margin-left:15px; margin-right:15px; text-align:center"> {| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" ! Type !! Time !! Price </div>

    Non-KTX trains are poetically ranked as ''Saemaeul'' (???, "New Village"), ''Mugunghwa'' (???, "Rose of Sharon") and ''Tonggeun'' (??), corresponding roughly to express, semi-express and local services. Saemaeul trains are a little pricier than buses, while Mugunghwa are about 30% cheaper. However Saemaeul trains are extremely comfortable, having seats that are comparable to business class seats on airplanes. Though with the introduction of the KTX, there are much fewer Saemaeul and Mugunghwa services, they are worth trying them out. Tonggeun, formerly ''Tonggil'', are cheapest of all, but long-distance, non-aircon services have been phased out and they're now limited to short stopping commuter services.

    Seoul also has an extensive commuter train network that smoothly interoperates with the massive subway system, and Busan, Daejeon, Daegu and Incheon also have subway services.

    KR Pass

    The '''KR Pass''' [http://www.korail.go.kr/2003/eng/html/sche/f_sche_004.html] is a special rail pass introduced in 2005 for non-resident foreigners only, allowing unlimited travel for a set period on any Korail train (including KTX) and including free seat reservation. The pass is ''not'' valid for first class or sleeping cars, but you can upgrade for half price if you wish. The regular pass costs US$76/114/144/168 for 3/5/7/10 days, with additional discounts of 10-20% for youths (age 13-25), students and groups of 2-5 traveling together. Note that the pass ''must be purchased before arrival in South Korea'', either via a travel agent or online, and you'll need to do quite a lot of traveling to make it pay off.

    By bus

    Buses (?? ''beoseu'') remain the main mode of national transport, connecting all cities and towns. They're frequent, punctual and fast, sometimes dangerously so, so fasten the belts you'll often find in the seats.

    There is a somewhat pointless division of long-distance buses into '''express buses''' (???? ''gosok beoseu'') and '''inter-city buses''' (???? ''si-oe beoseu''), which often use separate terminals to boot. Express buses are marginally faster on long runs, but inter-city buses go to more places. For additional comfort, look for Udeung buses (?? ??) which have just three seats across instead of the usual four; these cost about 50% extra.

  • [http://www.kobus.co.kr/eng/index.jsp Korean Express Bus Lines Association]
  • :Timetables and fares of the Express bus routes in South Korea

    By boat

    Ferry boats surround the peninsula and shuttle out to Korea's many islands. The main ports include Incheon, Mokpo, Pohang, and Busan. The most popular destinations are Jeju-do and Ulleungdo. However even at peak times, the mostly undiscovered and scenic islands off of Incheon can seem almost deserted. Foreigners as well as locals will opt for the warmer shores of the South and East.

    By car

    An International Driving Permit (IDP) may be used to drive around South Korea. In general, road conditions are good in South Korea and directional signs are in both Korean and English. Car rental rates start from ?54400 a day for the smallest car for about a week. Traffic moves on the right in South Korea.

    However, if traveling in the big cities, especially Seoul, driving is not recommended as the roads are plagued with traffic jams and many drivers tend to get reckless under such conditions, weaving in and out of traffic. Drivers would often try to speed past traffic lights when they are about to turn red, though they would still stop if the light turns red before they reach the junction. Driving habits in Korea, while not the best, are still significantly better than in China. Note that road courtesy is almost non-existent in Korean cities and it is best to read up on Korean road culture before attempting to drive.

    Talk

    Koreans speak '''Korean''', and knowing a few words of this will come in very handy. Unfortunately the language is rather drastically different from any Western language in its grammar, and pronunciation is rather difficult for the English speaker to get right (though not tonal). However Hanguel has contributed to Korea having '''the lowest illiteracy rate in the world'''.(Since 1989, UNESCO gives a '''King Sejong Award''' to the persons who make a distinguished contribution to helping illiterate people in the memory of King Sejong, who developed Hanguel).

    Depending on which part of the country you go to, various different dialects are spoken, though standard Korean, which is based on the Seoul dialect, is understood and spoken by almost everyone. Most notably among the dialects, the '''Gyeongsang dialect''' spoken around Busan and Daegu is considered to be rather rough and aggressive compared to standard Korean, and the '''Jeju dialect''' spoken on Jeju island is known for being almost incomprehensible to speakers of standard Korean.

    Han-geul is a phonemic writing system, and it consists of letters for consonants and vowels. Unlike general phonemic writing systems such as the Roman Alphabet, it was uniquely designed to combine consonant letters and vowel letters into syllabic units. For example, a word, _e??(man)_f is written like_e??_fnot like _e?????_f. The syllable as a letter is divided into three positions: the initial sound, the medial sound, and the final consonant?. Any one among 19 consonant letters can be an initial sound._e?_famong those 19 letters does not have a sound. For example, in case of _e??(milk)_f, two_e?_fs are just there filling the space without making any sound in _e?_fand _e?_f. Any one among 21 vowel letters can be a medial sound. One out of 16 single consonant letters(This is called Hotbatchim ;?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)? and 11 double consonant letters(This is called Gyeopbatchim ; ?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?,?)? can fill the final consonant location. In Korean language, there are largely three levels of politeness depending on who you are talking to. Generally when you are talking to your friends or people who are younger than you, you can use _einformal forms_f(??! /Hi!); when you need to be very polite or in a formal setting, you have to use _eformal polite forms_f(??????? / Hello!); In most daily conversations, you can use _einformal polite forms_f (?????? / Hello!). The degree of formality and politeness is like the following: ???.(Thank you!) < ????.(Thank you!)< ?????. (Thank you!)

    Many Korean words can also be written with much more complex Chinese characters, known as ''hanja'' (??,____) in Korean, and these are still occasionally mixed into text, but are increasingly few and far between. Nowadays, ''hanja'' are mainly used for disambiguation if the meaning is ambiguous when written in ''hangul''. In such instances, the ''hanja'' is usually written in parentheses next to the ''hangul''. Hanja are also used to mark ''janggi'' (??,____) or Korean chess pieces, in newspaper headlines as well as in personal names on official documents.

    Learning to read hangeul before you arrive in Korea will make traveling much easier, as many signs and menus are written in hangul only. Even basic pattern-matching tricks come in handy: for example, if you know that a circle at the bottom of a block is read ''-ng'', you can already distinguish Pyongyang (??) from Seoul (??). Further, the Korean words for many common products -coffee, juice, computer- are often the same as the English words, but will be written in Hangul. If you can read hangul, you'll find survival Korean surprisingly easy.

    The spelling of Korean words in Roman letters can be quite inconsistent, so don't be too surprised to see adjacent signs for ''Gwangalli'' and ''Kwanganri'' — it's the same place. In 2000, the government officially standardized on the Revised Romanization system also used in Wikitravel, but you will frequently encounter older McCune-Reischauer spellings and just plain weird spellings. Notably, words beginning with ''g, d, b, j'' may be spelled with ''k, t, p, ch'' instead, and the vowels ''eo '' and ''eu'' may be spelled ''o'' and ''u''. The letters ''l'', ''r'' and ''n'' also get swapped often, and the vowels ''i'' and ''u'' are sometimes written as ''ee'' and ''oo'' respectively. In foreign words imported into Korean, ''f'' turns into ''p'', so don't be too surprised by a cup of ''keopi'' or a round of ''golpeu''.

    All Koreans who have attended elementary school have taken '''English''' lessons as part of their education, and the English level of the country is being improved by government policy and investments. However, due to lack of practice (as well as fear of mispronunciation), many Koreans have little more than a very basic grasp of English phrases in actual conversation. If you're in a pinch and need someone who speaks English, your best bet would generally be the high school students. Reading and writing comes much easier however, and often people will be able to read and understand a great deal of English even without any practice with real conversation. Nonetheless, travellers can get by in major cities with English only; however it goes without saying that learning basic Korean phrases will enrich your travel experience.

    A common experience for western travellers in South Korea is to be approached by children interested in practicing their English skills. They will often take a picture of you, as proof they really talked to you.

    Older folks may also still speak some Japanese. The city of Busan, being a short trip from Fukuoka in Japan has a larger number of Japanese speakers per capita, and the dialect itself is more similar to Japanese in the same way that the Japanese dialect in Fukuoka also has a large Korean influence. However, many Koreans (especially older ones) still resent the Japanese for the atrocities committed during the occupation, so try not to address a Korean in Japanese unless you have no other choice. Thanks to the "Korean wave" (''hallyu'') of Korean pop music and soap operas throughout East Asia, many shopkeepers in touristy areas speak some Japanese, Mandarin or Cantonese.

    Buy

    The currency of South Korea is the '''won''' (?), written ? in ''hangul''. As of March 2009, the exchange rate was approximately 1500 won to the US dollar. You can check the exact rate at [http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi?Amount=1.00&From=USD&To=KRW XE.com]

    Coins come in denominations of ?10, ?50, ?100 and ?500, while banknotes come in denominations of ?1000 (blue), ?5000 (red) and ?10,000 (green). ?1 and ?5 coins, while they exist, are very rare. The largest bill currently in circulation is only ?10,000 (US$7, ?5), which makes carrying around large sums of currency a bit of a chore. However, a yellow ?50,000 banknote will be introduced into circulation in June. ?100,000 "checks" are frequently used, and some of the checks go up to ?10,000,000 in value. These checks are privately produced (by banks, etc.) which can be used as "c-notes".

    A new series of notes was released in 2006/2007, so expect to see several versions floating around, and be prepared for hassles with vending machines which may not accept the new or old versions.

    ATM are ubiquitous, but most Korean ATMs don't accept foreign cards, only special '''Global ATM'''s do. These can be found at airports and some subway stations in major cities, as well as in many Family Mart convenience stores, so stock up before heading to the countryside. Citibank cashcard holders can withdraw in every Citibank branches(ATM) in South Korea with charge of US$1 and check balance of checking account for free.(Chinese, English and Korean services are available on ATM.) '''Credit card''' acceptance, on the other hand, is very good, and all but the very cheapest restaurants and motels will take Visa and Mastercard. (It is illegal to refuse credit cards unless it's a very small shop)

    Costs

    Korea is fairly expensive for an Asian country, though notably still cheaper than Japan. A frugal backpacker willing to eat, live and travel Korean-style can squeeze by on under ?60,000 per day, but if you want top-class hotels and Western food even ?200,000/day will not suffice. Seoul is particularly expensive, by some measures even more so than Tokyo.

    Tipping

    Tipping is '''not''' necessary anywhere in Korea and could be considered offensive if you try to do so, except maybe bellhops in high-end hotels. Tipping is not the norm, and is a foreign concept. An exception to this are bars which have large crowds of Westerners, and you can expect tipping culture to be exactly like westernized countries. Maids in hotels appreciate 1000-2000KRW tips as well, and you will often find additional towels, soaps, and things of that nature should you leave one. While not necessary, almost no one here (or anywhere) dislikes receiving additional money.

    Shopping

    At certain retail outlets with a "Tax Free Shopping" or a "Tax Refund Shopping" sign, you can obtain a voucher and get a large percentage of your taxes refunded. When you leave Korea, go to customs and have it stamped then go to the "Global Refund Korea" or "Korea Tax Refund" counters near the duty-free shops. However to get a refund you must leave within 3 months of purchase.

    '''Bargaining''' is common at outdoor markets and applies to everything they may have to offer. However stating a monetary amount would be a mistake. Normally what you would say is ''ssage juseyo'' (?? ???). That means "cheaper, please." Doing this once or twice would suffice. The drawback is you will rarely be discounted more than a few dollars. Refrain from doing this in any indoor venue whether there are price tags or not.

  • '''Ginseng''': Korea is the '''ginseng''' (?? ''insam'') capital of the world. Thought to have medicinal properties, it is found everywhere in Korea. In addition to ginseng tea and various foods flavored with ginseng, there are even ginseng-based beauty products. There are many grades of ginseng, with the best grades fetching millions of US dollars in auctions. A good place to check out the different types of ginseng include Gyeongdong Herbal Medicine Market in Seoul.
  • '''Traditional items''': Visitors looking for things to bring home can find a wide variety of choices. You can find a blue-jade celadon from the Goryeo Dynasty, handmade traditional costumes, paper kites and ceramic pieces that depict human emotions in their designs at the numerous markets and souvenir shops. Insadong in Seoul would be the first place to shop around. After a while one store might start to look like every other store but chances are you'll find what you need.
  • '''Fashion''': Keeping up with the latest trends, shoppers and boutique owners alike flock the streets and markets every weekend. Centred largely in Seoul with popular places such as Dongdaemun, Mok dong Rodeo Street and Myeong dong, fashion centres can be divided into two large categories; markets and department stores. Markets are affordable and each shop will have trendy similar type clothing that appeal to the masses. Also, be aware that you '''cannot''' try on most tops. So better to know your size before shopping there. Though department stores will have areas or floors that have discounted items, they are considered overpriced and catering mostly to an older, wealthier crowd.
  • '''Antiques''': For all things considered antique, such as furniture, calligraphic works, ceramics and books, you can go to Jangangpyeong Antique Market in Seoul. Be careful, as items over 50 years old cannot leave the country. Check with the Art and Antique Assessment Office at 82-32-740-2921.
  • '''Electronics''': They are widely available, especially in larger cities like Seoul and Busan. Korea has most of the latest gadgets available in most Western countries, and much more. In fact, when it comes to consumer technology, South Korea is probably second only to Japan. However, you would probably have to contend with having the instruction booklets and functions being written in Korean.
  • '''Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs)''': Korea's greatest contribution to the gaming world. While they may not have been invented in Korea, Korean MMORPG's were a key factor in making the genre popular worldwide. Unlike in Japan, where their comics or ''manga'' are often made into cartoon serials or ''anime'', popular Korean comics, known as ''manhwa''(??) in Korean are often made into MMORPG's. However, all games sold will be in Korean and for console games, the regional coding for Korea is NTSC-J, which is used for Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and most of the rest of East Asia, so you might not be able to play them on your European/Australian(PAL), North American(NTSC-U/C) or mainland Chinese(NTSC-C) consoles.
  • '''Pop culture''': South Korea is the origin of the ''hallyu'' ("Korean wave") phenomenon that took East Asia by storm at the beginning of the 21st century, so you might want to buy some of the latest Korean drama serials or movies when in Korea. Fans of K-pop may also like to buy the latest Korean music CDs by popular singers such as BoA. However, drama serials and movies sold in Korea are for the Korean market and usually do not have subtitles. In addition, South Korea is in DVD region 3 so the discs bought here would work well in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, but may not be playable by players bought in North America, Europe, mainland China, Japan or Australia. If you wish to buy, ensure that your DVD player can support it.
  • Eat

    Few fall in love with Korean food at first bite, but like most acquired tastes, it's an addictive one once you get used to it. Korean food influences and has been influenced heavily by both China and Japan. Still, Korean food is definitely in a class of its own, mixing spicy chillies and copious amounts of garlic with delicate ingredients like raw fish. Although Korean food is quite low in fat, a fact attested to by the observation that very few South Koreans are overweight, those with sodium-limited diets should beware, as Korean cuisine has high salt contents.

    A Korean meal is centered around rice and soup, invariably served with a vast assortment of side dishes known as ''banchan'' (??). The humblest meal comes with three types while a royal banquet may well feature twelve. There will normally be a couple of vegetable dishes other than some form of ''kimchi'' that will always be present such as bean sprouts (??? ''kongnamul'') or spinach (??? ''shigeumchi'') and a meat dish such as fried fish.

    The ubiquitous '''kimchi''' (?? ''gimchi''), made from fermented cabbage and chili, accompanies nearly every meal and may be a bit of an acquired taste for visitors as it can be quite spicy. In addition to the common cabbage type, kimchi can be made from white radish (??? ''ggakdugi''), cucumbers (?? ??? ''oi-sobagi''), chives (?? ?? ''buchu gimchi'') or pretty much any vegetable that can be pickled. Many different dishes are made using kimchi for flavoring, and kimchi is served as a side dish as well. It is not uncommon to find Korean tourists carrying a stash of tightly packed Kimchi when travelling.

    Two more condiments found in almost every dish are ''doenjang'' (??), a fermented soybean paste akin to Japanese ''miso'', and ''gochujang'' (???), a hot (or not so hot) chilli paste.

    While many of these dishes can be found throughout Korea, each city would also have its own regional specialities, such as ''dakgalbi'' (???) in the city of Chuncheon on the east coast. See the various city articles for more details.

    A common perception amongst Koreans is that foreigners simply don't ''like'' spicy food, so you might have to spend some time convincing people otherwise if you really want to eat something hot. Also, while Korean food undoubtedly has the neighboring bland-dieted Japanese and northern Chinese breathing fire, if you're accustomed to (say) Thai or Mexican food you may wonder what the fuss is about.

    Etiquette

    Koreans use chopsticks with a twist: alone among the peoples of Asia, they prefer chopsticks of '''metal'''. Typically, restaurants have stainless steel chopsticks, but fine silver ones are also available. Unfortunately for the chopstick learner, these thin and slippery sticks are not the best implements to practice with, but if you can eat with wooden or plastic chopsticks you'll manage with some fumbling. When eating as a group, communal dishes will be placed in the center and everybody can chopstick what they want, but you'll still get individual portions of rice and soup. Unless you are eating royal cuisine, most dishes are served family style.

    In many traditional households, children were taught that it was impolite to speak during meals. Don't be surprised if there's complete silence while eating. People, particularly men, will use mealtimes to quickly eat up and move on to other things. This can be attributed to the short mealtimes during military service that most Korean men must perform.

    Some etiquette pointers:

  • Do not leave chopsticks sticking upright in a dish, especially rice. This is only done when honoring the deceased.
  • Do not start eating unless the eldest at the table has begun to eat.
  • You can use your spoon to eat your rice and soup. Koreans will normally use a spoon to eat their rice and use chopsticks to eat the other dishes.
  • Don't be self-conscious of whether you're doing something right or wrong. Just use your common sense of politeness and good manners, and everything will be fine.
  • Restaurants

    Going hungry in South Korea would be difficult. Everywhere you turn, there is always somewhere to eat. Korean restaurants can be divided into a few categories:

  • ''Bunsik'' (??) are snack eateries that have cheap, tasty food prepared quickly.
  • ''Kogijip'' (???), literally meaning "meat house", are where you'll find grilled meat dishes and fixings.
  • ''Hoejip'' (??), "raw fish house", serve slices of fresh fish akin to Japanese ''sashimi'', known as ''hoe'' in Korean, and complementary side dishes. You'll normally find these restaurants cluttering the shores of any waterway.
  • ''Hansik'' (??). The full course Korean meal, short for ''hanjeongsik'' (???), this Korean ''haute cuisine'' originated with banquets given at the royal palace. The course starts with a cold appetizer and porridge ''juk'' (?). The main dish includes seasoned meat and vegetable dishes that can be either steamed, boiled, fried or grilled. After the meal, you are served traditional drinks such as ''sikhye'' or ''sujeonggwa''.
  • ''Department Stores'' have two types of food areas: a food hall in the basement and full service restaurants on the top levels. The food hall areas have take-away as well as eat-in areas. The full service restaurants are more expensive, but typically have the advantage of picture menus and good ambience.
  • Barbeques

    Aside from the cultural taboo, there are some issues regarding how the dogs are raised, butchered, and processed. These days, dogs are generally ''not'' beaten to death to improve the taste, but calling the conditions in which dogs are raised and butchered humane would also be an exaggeration. Even in Korea people get quite opinionated on this matter, so take anything you hear with a grain of salt.

    In any case, you're unlikely to end up chewing on Snoopy by accident, as dog is only served by speciality restaurants, and as they rarely advertise you will have to actively seek them out. If you do make the effort, a bowl can go for under W10,000 and you'll find that dog tastes broadly like beef or veal, if perhaps a tad gamier.}}

    "Korean barbeque" is probably the most popular Korean dish for Westerners, split in Korea itself into ''bulgogi'' (???), which uses cuts of marinated meat, and ''galbi'' (??), which uses ribs, usually unmarinated. In both, a charcoal brazier is placed in the middle of the table and patrons cook their choice of meats, adding garlic to the brazier for spice. The cooked meat from both of these is placed on a lettuce or perilla leaf along with shredded green onion salad (??? ''pa-muchim''), raw (or cooked) garlic, shredded pickled radish (?? ''muchae'') and some chili-soya paste (?? ''ssamjang'') and then devoured. All are optional, so be creative.

    The cost of a barbeque meal depends largely on the meat chosen. In most Korean restaurants that serve meat, it is sold in units (usually 100 grams). Pork is by far the most common meat ordered. It's much cheaper than beef and according to diners tastier. You'll rarely see filet mignon, instead common cuts of meat include ribs, unsalted pork bacon (??? ''samgyeopsal'') and chicken stir-fried with veggies and spicy sauce (??? ''dakgalbi''). Unmarinated meats tend to be higher quality, but in cheaper joints it's best to stick with the marinated stuff.

    Rice dishes

    ''Bibimbap'' (???) literally means "mixed rice", which is a pretty good description. It consists of a bowl of rice with all sorts of condiments on top (vegetables, shreds of meat, and an egg), which you mash up with your spoon, stirring in your preferred quantity of ''gochujang'' (??? chili sauce), and then devour. Particularly tasty is ''dolsot bibimbap'' (?????), served in a piping hot stone bowl (watch your fingers!) that cooks the rice to a crisp on the bottom and edges.

    Another healthy and tasty option is ''gimbap'' (??), sometimes dubbed "Korean sushi". Gimbap contains rice, sesame seed, a Korean variety of spinach, pickled radish, and an optional meat, such as minced beef or tuna, all neatly wrapped in dried seaweed, topped with sesame oil and sliced. A single roll makes a good snack or meal depending on one's appetite, and they travel well. Basically what differentiates Korean ''gimbap'' and Japanese ''sushi'' is how they prepare rice: Korean style gimbap usually use salt and sesame oil to flavor the rice, while Japanese style uses sugar and vinegar.

    More of a snack than a meal is ''tteokbokki'' (???), which resembles a pile of steaming intestines at first sight, but is actually rice dumplings in a sweet chili sauce that's much milder than it looks.

    Soups and stews

    Soups are known as ''guk'' (?) or ''tang'' (?), while ''jjigae'' (??) covers a wide variety of stews. The line is fuzzy, and a few dishes can be referred to with both (eg. the fish soup-stew ''dongtae jjigae/dongtaetang''), but in general, ''jjigae'' are spicier while ''tang/guk'' are milder. Both are always eaten with plenty of white rice on the side.

    Common versions ''jjigae'' include ''doenjang jjigae'' (????), made with ''doenjang'' (Korean miso), vegetables and shellfish, and ''gimchi jjigae'' (????), made with — you guessed it — kimchi. ''Sundubu jjigae'' (?????) uses soft tofu as the main ingredient, usually with minced pork added, but there's also a seafood version called ''haemul sundubu jjigae''(?? ?????) where the meat is replaced by shrimp, squid and the like.

    ''Budae jjigae'' (????) is a interesting type of Korean fusion food from the city of Uijeongbu, where a US military base was located. Locals experimenting with American canned food like Spam, sausages, and pork and beans tried adding them into ''jjigae'', and while recipes vary, most of them involve large quantities of fiery kimchi. Most places will bring you a big pan of stew and put it on a gas stove in the middle of the table. Many like to put ''ramyeon'' noodle (?? ??) in the stew, which is optional.

    Popular ''tang'' soups include ''seolleongtang'' (???), a milky white broth from ox bones and meat, ''gamjatang'' (???), a stew of potatoes with pork spine and chillies and ''doganitang'' (????), made from cow knees. One soup worth a special mention is ''samgyetang'' (???, pron. saam-gae-taang), which is a whole spring chicken stuffed with ginseng and rice. Thanks to the ginseng, it's often a little expensive, but the taste is quite mild. It's commonly eaten right before the hottest part of summer in warm broth in a sort of "eat the heat to beat the heat" tradition.

    ''Guk'' like the seaweed soup ''miyeokguk'' (???) and the dumpling soup ''manduguk'' (???), but a few like the scary-looking pork spine and ox blood soup ''haejangguk'' (???), a popular hangover remedy, are substantial enough to be a meal.

    Noodles

    Koreans are great noodle lovers too, and the terms ''kuksu'' (??) and ''myeon'' (?) span a vast variety of types, sold in fast-food noodle shops for as little as W3000-4000. Wheat-based noodles are a staple of Korea.

    ''Naengmyeon'' (??) are a Korean speciality, being thin, chewy buckwheat noodles served in ice cold beef broth, and hence a popular summer dish — although it's traditionally winter food! They're also a classic way to end a heavy, meaty barbeque meal. The key to the dish is the broth (?? ''yuksu'') and the recipes of well known restaurants are usually closely guarded secrets.

    ''Japchae'' (??) is made from yam noodles, which are fried along with some vegetables (commonly cabbage, carrots, onions) and sometimes beef or odeng (fishcake). ''Mandu'' (??) dumplings are also very popular and are served up in steamed or fried as an accompaniment to other foods, or boiled in soup to make a whole meal.

    ''Ramyeon'' (??) is Korea's variant of ''ramen'', often served with kimchi (what else?). Korean ''ramyeon'' is well known for its overall spiciness, at least when compared to Japanese ones. Try ''shin ramyeon'' (???) for example.

    ''Jajangmyeon'' (???) is a noodle with a black sauce that usually includes pork, onions, cucumber, and garlic.

    Finally, ''u-dong'' (??) are thick wheat noodles, similar to the Japanese ''udon''.

    Seafood

    Since Korea is a peninsula, you can find every type of seafood (?? ''haemul''), eaten both cooked and raw. Restaurants where you pick your own fish — or bring it from the fish market next door — are popular, but can be very expensive depending on what you order.

    ''Hoe'' (?), pronounced roughly "hweh", is raw fish Korean-style (similar to sashimi), meaning it's served with spicy ''cho-gochujang'' (Korean hot pepper sauce with vinegar) sauce. ''Chobap'' (??) is raw fish with vinegared rice, similar to Japanese ''sushi''. If ordering fish as ''hoe''/''chobap'', the bony parts not served raw are often made into a tasty but spicy soup called ''meuntang'' (???).

    Another cooked specialty is ''haemultang'' (???), a spicy red hotpot stew filled crab, shrimp, fish, squid, vegetables and noodles.

    Other

    ''Jeon'' (?), ''jijimi'' (???), ''jijim'' (??), ''bindaetteok'' (???) and ''buchimgae'' (???) are all general terms for Korean-style pan-fried pancakes, which can be made of virtually anything. ''Pajeon'' (??) is a Korean-style pan-fried pancake laden with spring onions (pa ? is green onion). ''Haemul pajeon'' (????), which has seafood added, is particularly popular. ''Saengseonjeon'' (???) is made of small fillets of fish covered with egg and flour and then pan fried, and ''nokdu bindaetteok'' (?????) is made from ground mung bean and various vegetables and meat combined.

    If barbequed meat is not to your taste, then try Korean-style beef tartar, known as ''yukhoe'' (??). Raw beef is finely shredded and then some sesame oil, sesame, pine nuts and egg yolk are added, plus soy and sometimes ''gochujang'' to taste. It's also occasionally prepared with raw tuna or even chicken instead.

    ''Sundae'' (??, pron. "soon-deh") are Korean sausages made from a wide variety of ingredients, often including barley, potato noodles and pig blood.

    A squirmy delicacy is '''raw octopus''' (??? ''sannakji'') — it's sliced to order, but keeps wiggling for another half hour as you try to remove its suction cups from your plate with your chopsticks. '''Sea squirts''' (''meongge'') are at least usually killed before eating, but you might be hard-pressed to tell the difference as the taste been memorably described as "rubber dipped in ammonia".

    Dietary restrictions

    Vegetarians will have a '''tough time''' in Korea. As in most of East Asia, meat is understood to be the flesh of land animals, so seafood is not considered meat. If you ask for "no ''gogi''" (??) they will probably just cook as usual and pick out the big chunks of meat. One good phrase is to say you are ''chaesikjuwija'' (?????), a person who only eats vegetables. This may prompt questions from the server, so be prepared!

    Most stews will not use beef stock, but fish stock, especially ''myeol-chi'' (??, anchovy). This will be your bane, and outside of reputable vegetarian restaurants, you should ask if you are ordering any stews/hotpots or casseroles.

    Spicy (red) kimchi will almost certainly have seafood, such as salted tiny shrimp, as an ingredient. Since it disappears into the brine, you will not be able to visually identify it. Another type of kimchi, called ''mulgimchi'' (???, "water kimchi") is vegan, as it is simply salted in a clear, white broth with many different vegetables.

    On the bright side, vegans and vegetarians are perfectly safe at Korean monastery cuisine restaurants, which uses no dairy, egg, or animal products, except perhaps honey. There has been a recent vogue for this type of cuisine, but it can be rather expensive.

    There is an increasing number of vegetarian restaurants in Korea - most are in the larger or medium-sized places. Some of these are run by Seventh-Day Adventists or Hindus.

    Drink

    Alcoholics rejoice — booze is cheap and Koreans are among the heaviest drinkers in the world. Due to the strict social norms in effect at the workplace, the drinking hall tends to be the only place where inhibitions can be released and personal relationships expressed. Significant business deals are closed not in the boardroom, but in the bar. Promotions, grants, and other business advancements are secured over drinks at singing rooms, late night raw fish restaurants, and restaurant-bars. Many Korean men are what would be considered heavy drinkers in the west, and as alcoholism is being recognized as an ailment, public moves have begun to attempt to curb alcohol intake. Don't be surprised to see businessmen in suits lying around sleeping it off, and be careful not to step in the puddles of vomit common on the sidewalks in the mornings. The drinking age in South Korea is 19.

    Nightlife

    Compared to Western drinking habits, Koreans have adopted slightly different ways to enjoy their night out. Sure, you can find Western style bars easily, but going to a Korean style bar can be an interesting experience. Hofs (originally German, but ?? ''hopeu'' in Korean) are just normal beer places, which serve beer and side dishes. Customers are supposed to order some side dish to go along their drinks at most drinking establishments in Korea. Recently, due to growing competition, many hofs have started to install various gadgets for entertainment.

    Booking clubs are the Korean version of night clubs. What makes them interesting is the "booking" part of the name. It's basically a way to meet new people of the opposite sex by introduction of the waiters (who usually bring women to visit tables of men, but increasingly vice-versa). Booking clubs are slightly more expensive than normal bars and hofs, but can be extremely fun. These can be different from American-style clubs, in that in addition to a cover charge, you are pretty much expected to order booze and side dishes (which can be quite pricey in W200,000-W500,000 range and up). But other than that, the dancing and atmosphere is about the same.

    One of the customary things to do at a booking club is to "dress-up" your table or booth by purchasing expensive liquors and fruit plates, which signals your 'status' to the other patrons of the club (especially your gender of interest). Scotch whisky is especially is marked up a great deal in Korea, so don't be surprised to pay very high prices for that innocuous bottle of Johnnie Walker. On the other hand, it is a better value overall to buy a bottle of liquor or a "liquor set" than to purchase drinks individually.

    On the other end of the spectrum, many locals go out to drink and eat with their friends at the many Korean grillhouses found throughout the city. It is not uncommon for people to consume several bottles of ''soju'' (see below) each, and mixing beer and hard liquor is encouraged. Group bonding over liquor and food is a cultural feature across South Korea.

    For those who love singing as well as drinking, karaoke is popular and therefore widely available in South Korea, where it's called ''noraebang'' (???). In addition to Korean songs, larger establishments may include some Chinese, Japanese and English songs.

    Etiquette

    There are a few '''etiquette''' rules to observe when drinking with Koreans. You're not supposed to fill your own glass; instead, keep an eye on others' glasses, fill them up when they become empty (but not before), and they'll return the favor. It's considered polite to use both hands when pouring for somebody and when receiving a drink, and to turn your head away from seniors when drinking.

    Younger people often have a difficult time refusing a drink from an older person, so be aware when asking someone younger than you if they want to drink more as they will often feel unable to say no to you. Of course, this works both ways. Often times, if an older person feels you are not keeping up with the party, he may offer you his glass, which he will then fill and expect you to drink. It is considered polite to promptly return the empty glass and refill it.

    ''Soju''

    The national drink of South Korea is '''''soju''''' (??), a vodka-like alcoholic beverage (usually around 20%). It's cheaper than any other drink — a 350ml bottle can cost slightly over W3000 at bars (as little as W1100 at convenience stores!) — and also strong. Usually this is made by fermenting starch from rice, barley, corn, potato, sweet potato, etc, to produce pure alcohol which is then diluted with water and other flavors.

    Traditionally, soju was made by distilling rice wine and aging it, which created a smooth spirit of about 40%. This type of traditional soju can still be found, for example ''Andong Soju'' (?? ??) — named after the town of Andong — and ''munbaeju'' (???). These can be expensive, but prices (and quality) vary considerably.

    History tells that there were numerous brewers throughout the country in the past until late Chosun dynasty and before Japanese colonization. However, by the Japanese colonization and the oppressive and economy-obsessed government in the 60-70s, using '''rice''' for making wine or spirits was strictly prohibited. This eliminated most of the traditional brewers in the country and Korea was left with a few large distilleries (Jinro ??, Gyeongwol ??, Bohae ??, Bobae ??, Sunyang ??, etc), that basically made 'chemical soju'. Brewery distribution and markets were regionalized, and until the 1990s it was difficult to find a Jinro soju anywhere else than Seoul (you would have to pay premium even if you found one), Gyeongwol soju outside Gangwon, or Sunyang outside Chungcheong.

    Also, there are soju cocktails such as "socol" (soju + coke), ''ppyong-gari'' (soju + pocari sweat - sports drink) and such, all aimed at getting you drunk quicker and cheaper.

    Rice wine

    Traditional unfiltered rice wines in Korea are known as '''''takju''''' (??), literally "cloudy alcoholic beverage". In the most basic and traditional form, these are made by fermenting rice with ''nuruk'' (??), a mix of fungi and yeast that breaks down starch in rice into sugar, for a short while (3-5 days usually). Then this is strained, usually diluted to 4-6% and imbibed. However, as with the case of traditional soju, unless explicitly stated on the bottle most ''takju'' are made from wheat flour and other cheaper grains. '''''Makgeolli''''' (???) is the simplest ''takju'', fermented once and then strained, while in '''''dongdongju''''' (???) more rice is added once or more during the fermentation to boost the alcohol content and the flavor. Typically you can find a couple of rice grains floating in ''dongdongju'' as a result.

    '''''Yakju''''' (??) or '''''cheongju''''' (??) is filtered rice wine, similar to the Japanese rice wine ''sake''. The fermentation of rice is sustained for about 2 weeks or longer, strained, and then is kept still to have the suspended particles precipitate. The end result is the clear wine on top, with about 12-15% alcohol. Various recipes exist, which involves a variety of ingredients and when and how to add them accordingly. Popular brands include ''Baekseju'' (???) and '''Dugyeonju'' (???).

    Those with an interest in the wine production process and its history will want to visit the Traditional Korean Wine Museum in Jeonju.

    Ginseng wine

    One expensive but tasty type of alcohol you can find in Korea is Korean ginseng wine (??? ''insamju''), which is believed to have medicinal properties and is particularly popular among the elderly. It is made by fermenting Korean ginseng, just as the name implies.

    Beer

    Western-style lagers are also quite popular in Korea, with the three big brands being '''Cass''', '''Hite''' and '''OB''', all of which are rather light and watery and cost around 1500 won per bottle at a supermarket. Korea's version of the beer pub is the '''hof''' (?? ''hopeu''), which serve pints of beer in the W2000-5000 range, although imported beers can be much more expensive. Note that you are expected to order food as well, and may even get served grilled squid or similar Korean pub grub without ordering, for a charge of W10000 or so.

    Tea and coffee

    Like their neighbors, Koreans drink a lot of tea (? ''cha''), most of it green (?? ''nokcha''). However, the label ''cha'' is applied to a number of other tealike drinks as well:

  • ''boricha'' (???), roasted barley tea, often served cold in summer, water substitute for many household
  • ''insamcha'' (???), ginseng tea
  • ''oksusucha'' (????), roasted corn tea
  • ''yulmucha'' (???), a thick white drink made from a barley-like plant called Job's tears
  • Coffee (?? ''keopi'') is also widely available, especially from streetside vending machines that will pour you a cupful for as little as W300, usually sweet and milky. Latte snobs will also be glad to know that Starbucks and assorted copies are spreading like wildfire. Starbucks is particularly widespread in Seoul and the drinks served taste exactly as they do in Starbucks locations in the United States, so make sure you hunt around for a decent cup.

    Other drinks

    Some other traditional drinks worth keeping an eye out for:

  • ''sikhye'' (??), a very sweet, grainy rice drink
  • ''sujeonggwa'' (???), a sweet, cinnamon-y drink made from persimmons
  • Sleep

    There's plenty of accommodation in all price brackets in South Korea. Note that prices in Seoul are typically about twice that of anywhere else in the country.

    Some higher-end hotels offer a choice of both Western-style and Korean-style rooms. The main feature of Korean rooms is an elaborate floor-heating system known as ''ondol'' (??), where hot steam (or, these days, water or electricity) heats stone slabs under a layer of clay and oiled paper. There are no beds; instead, mattresses are laid directly on the floor. Other furniture is typically limited to some low tables (you're also expected to sit on the floor) and maybe a TV.

    Motels

    Some of the cheapest accommodation in South Korea are in what are locally termed '''motels''' (?? ''motel'') or '''''yeogwan''''' (??), but these are rather different from motels in the West and closer to Japan's "love hotels". Motels in South Korea are generally very cheap hotels targeted at young couples aiming to spend 'time' together away from their elders, complete with plastic beds, occasionally vibrating, with strategically placed mirrors on the ceiling, as well as a VCR and a variety of appropriate videos. However for the budget traveller, they can simply be inexpensive lodging, with rates as low as W25,000/night.

    The easiest way to find a motel is to just look for the symbol "?" and gaudy architecture, particularly near stations or highway exits. They're harder to find online, as they rarely if ever show up in English-language booking sites, but Hotel365 [http://www.hotel365.co.kr] (Korean only) has comprehensive listings for the entire country.

    In some motels picking your room is very easy, as there will be room numbers, lit pictures and prices on the wall. The lower price is for a "rest" (?? ''hyusik'') of two to four hours, while the higher price is the overnight rate. Press the button for the one you like, which will go dark, and proceed to check-in. You'll usually be expected to pay in advance, often to just a pair of hands behind a frosted glass window. English is rarely spoken, but the only word you need to know is ''sukbak'' (??, "staying"). You may or may not receive a key, but even if you don't, the staff can usually let you in and out on request — just don't lose your receipt!

    Hotels

    Full-service hotels can be found in all larger towns in Korea. Cheaper hotels blend into motels with rooms from W40,000, while three and four star hotels are closer to W100,000-W200,000 and five-star luxury hotels can easily top W300,000. Outside peak season you can often get steep discounts from the rack rates, so be sure to ask when reserving.

    ''Minbak''

    In rural areas in and near national parks, you can find a '''''minbak''''' (??). Most of these are just a room or two in someone's home - others are quite fancy and may be similar to yeogwans (motels) or hotels. Generally, they have ''ondol'' rooms with maybe a TV and that's about it. You don't usually get your own bathroom in your room, although some of the fancier ones do have an ''en suite.'' Minbaks usually run around 20,000 won off-season though the price may go up quite a bit during high season.

    Homestay

    Very similar in concept to a Minbak, these aren't limited to just rural areas or near national parks. Since the World Cup in 2002, many families around the country have opened their doors and hearts to foreigners looking for a good place to sleep and a breakfast included in the price. These can run between 30,000 and 35,000 won per night. Try eg. '''Homestaykorea''' [http://www.homestaykorea.com] or '''LABO''' [http://www.labostay.or.kr].

    ''Jjimjilbang''

    For the budget traveller public bath houses known as '''''jjimjilbang''''' (???) can offer a great way to sleep. Entrance costs around W5,000-W10,000 to get in, and includes a robe or pajamas to wear. Inside the facilities can be expansive, including showers, public baths, restaurants, computer/video game rooms, a room with DVD movies, and places to sleep, although this often means little more than a quiet, warm room with maybe some wooden blocks to rest your head on. These places are more often meant for families or couples coming in for the day and as such are not perfectly catered to travelers. When you leave you have to take everything with you, and pay to get back in. There is no secure place to leave your things except a single locker. Aside from these drawbacks, ''jjimjilbang'' offer a very relaxing place to sleep and bathe.

    Temples

    Jogye, Korea's largest Buddhist sect, runs a popular '''Temple Stay''' program where visitors get to spend 24 hours living at a Buddhist temple. Korean ability helps but is not necessary at some temples, but you will be expected to work at the temple and get up at 3 or 4 AM to participate in morning prayer. In exchange for three meals and a basic bed for the night, a "donation" of W50,000-80,000 is expected. Reservations are necessary and can be made at the Temple Stay site [http://eng.templestay.com/] or via Korea Travel Phone, tel. +82-2-1330.

    Learn

  • '''Taekwondo''' — If you're interested in martial arts, you should learn Taekwondo. Taekwondo is originally from Korea, and you can study at any of the numerous schools all over the country. Taekwondo is a very courteous sport.
  • '''Chang''' or '''Pansori''' — If you like music, this will be good for you. It's a unique traditional Korean form of singing. If you want to learn about Pansori through film, "Seo Pyen Je" would be an excellent choice.
  • '''Korean''' — Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University(in Seoul) provide Korean language programs. You can meet people from all over the world while studying Korean.
  • '''Korean Traditional Dance''' — You can go to a dance studio and learn Korean traditional dance. You will wear "Han Bok" - Korean traditional cloths.
  • '''Baduk''' — Korean name for the ancient board game called Go in English. Many Koreans play the game, and among them are some of the world's finest players. There are even schools that specialize in Baduk.
  • '''Janggi''' — Also known as Korean chess, a board game similar to Chinese chess, with which it shares its origins, though the rules have diverged significantly from Chinese chess.
  • Work

    Work as an English teacher is available through various companies, with the desired minimum level of education being a Bachelor's degree. Schools prefer native English speakers, and some prefer North American accents. In most instances, native English speakers from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and the UK are the only applicants that can be considered because the South Korean government usually (information has been inconsistent) just accepts those from the aforementioned pre-approved English-speaking countries.

    Native speakers of English who have four-year university degrees may find it easy to obtain employment in one of Korea's many private academies (''hagwon''). These schools have proliferated in response to perceived failings of the public education system, although there are also hagwons aimed at adult instruction. Often, people interested in these teaching positions find them via professional recruiters. There are pros and cons to teaching ESL in the hagwon system. On the plus side, the money can be quite good. As of late 2005, the average monthly salary is approximately 2 million KRW, and housing is usually provided. It's possible to live comfortably on half of one's salary, and to save the rest. However, it is important to evaluate each prospective employer before accepting an offer; tales of unscrupulous academy owners and incompetent directors abound. Dave's [http://www.eslcafe.com/ ESL Cafe],[http://www.worknplay.co.kr/ WorknPlay], and [http://www.esljobsworld.com/ ESL Jobs World] have general Korean job ads. Korea-specific sites include a blog called The Daily Kimchi [http://thedailykimchi.blogspot.com], a job ads site called HI Teacher [http://hiteacher.com/] and the Hagwon Blacklist [http://www.geocities.com/hagwonblacklist/]. A web search will turn up many more.

    University employment is also possible. Those who have a graduate-level degree, preferably in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second or Other Language) may find professional opportunities at the postsecondary level preferable to teaching in private academies.

    Caution: Korean employers tend to be very discriminatory towards people of color, especially Blacks and Indians. Korean job applications usually require you to attach a photo of yourself; if you are a person of color, your application will almost always be denied. Discrimination based on race, unfortunately, is still legal in Korea. Please be advised when looking for jobs.

    See also Teaching English.

    Stay safe

    Crime

    South Korea is a relatively safe country, with reported crime rates significantly lower than in Western countries, although theft, assault and hotel burglary might happen in major cities such as Busan or Seoul. Take care especially in known tourist areas. Nevertheless, violent crime is especially rare and you are unlikely to be a victim of one as long as you stick to your commonsense and do not go around provoking people. Use only legitimate taxis. Illegitimate taxis run even from the airport, and their safety and honesty cannot always be guaranteed. Be also careful late at night in some areas of Seoul, such as Itaewon. Should you be assaulted or mugged in Korea, DO NOT defend yourself. The police will always take the side of the Korean and you will be expected to pay compensation, and might even face jailtime. See also the travel topic articles on pickpockets and common scams.

    Korean police have been known to ignore crimes commited by Koreans against foreigners, while vigorously investigating any crimes committed against locals, and any crime you become a victim of is unlikely to be investigated unless your country starts a diplomatic row with the government. The press is also known to sensationalise crimes commited by foreigners, but not report at all on crimes committed against foreigners, leading to stereotypes that foreigners only enter their country to disrupt their social order. As such, visitors should always be prudent in major cities, especially in areas frequented by foreigners, and try to avoid any signs of trouble. Single women should opt for high security apartments as there have been reported cases of women being raped in their apartment by someone who broke in through the window.

    Racism

    South Korea is a very homogeneous country and there is some prejudice against foreigners, especially darker-skinned ones. Violent hate crimes are rare, but nevertheless do occur from time to time, especially in nightlife areas frequented by American soldiers. Many older Koreans would react adversely to the sight of a foreign man with a Korean woman. Children of mixed descent are barred by law from military service, and will likely be picked on and discriminated against in local schools.

    Traffic

    With one of the highest rates of traffic deaths, Korean motorists will speed through pedestrian crossings, jump red lights and come within a hair-width distance to pedestrians and other cars alike. Even when the light turns, drivers will not stop. So, beware. Motorcyclists are particularly reckless weaving in and out on crowded sidewalks. It is up to you to avoid them.

    Pedestrian crosswalks stay green for a very short period of time. When the walk signal is yellow and you are still at the curb '''do not cross'''. Instead, you should wait and be ready for the light to turn green. The moment it turns green, wait for about 3 to 5 seconds and see if other pedestrians start to cross, and if all the traffic has indeed stopped, then walk briskly to cross safely. It is safer to take underground passageways at busy intersections.

    Civil Unrest

    In the heart of the political centre of Seoul, near Gwanghamun and City Hall, you will see daily processions. As a reaction to the militant policies against public protests of the mid-80s, groups will routinely gather at the foot of the 'Blue House', the administrative centre of the country to demonstrate against one cause or another. It is advisable to keep away from the protests since they have the tendency to turn violent.

    Local Laws

    Ignorance of the law here is no excuse for breaking them and can even be seen as a reason for harsher punishment. Penalties concerning drug offenses may seem particularly harsh to westerners. They include heavy fines, lengthy jail sentences and immediate deportation. Submitting fraudulent documentation for obtaining visas can result in the same and detainment as well. Even giving somebody an English lesson can get you deported (you have to get a special visa to be allowed to teach English, and then only at your place of employment).

    Emergency Numbers

  • Police: '''112''' from a phone and region code-112 from a cellular phone
  • Fire and ambulance services: '''119''' and region code-119 from a cellular.
  • Emergency-service English interpreters are available 24 hours a day.

    Stay healthy

    The quality of health care will vary depending on where you are. However the sheer number of hospitals and specialized clinics in the country will also offer you a greater amount of choice. In general the quality is very good.

  • Most doctors will not be able to communicate in English. In the larger hospitals in big cities the doctors will be more able to accommodate people with little or no command of the Korean language.
  • Although health care in South Korea is not free, it is heavily subsidized by the government and is very cheap more so in the clinics compared to the United States. For expat workers who have a medical insurance card (this is required), it is even less expensive (although still not free).
  • In addition to Western medicine, Oriental medicine is quite popular in Korea. Herbal supplements can be bought in most pharmacies as well as from shops which produce their own. The most popular herbal supplements (such as Ginseng) can even be bought in convenience stores in the form of energy drinks, tea, gum, and alcohol.
  • Pharmacies are usually located near hospitals, as hospitals in Korea are not allowed to dispense take-home prescriptions; prescriptions are dispensed in small paper packages.
  • Although there are no official '''vaccinations''' that are required or recommended for visitors, Hepatitis A attacks the liver and is transmitted through food and water. It is an issue all over the country. But once infected time is the only cure. [http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBookCh4-HepA.aspx#362 The Center for Disease Control] designates the prevalence of infection in Korea to be intermediate. You should consult your local travel health care provider [http://www.mdtravelhealth.com/index.php?sub=6].
  • A good basic rule to follow when travelling is when it comes to food, do what the locals do especially when it comes to '''water'''. Most will have it filtered or boiled before drinking. Although tap water in Korea is perfectly safe to drink, you may want to follow the local habits only if to get rid of the chlorine smell.
  • Respect

    Korea is a land of strict Confucian hierarchy and etiquette. As a visitor you will not be expected to know every nuance, but making an effort will certainly be appreciated.

    Traditionally, Koreans bow to each other to show their respect when they meet. Today, they may also shake hands at the same time. However, with people you are friendlier with a quick nod of the head and a simple "'''anyeong haseyo'''" meaning "hello" should suffice.

    When picking something up or taking something from somebody older always use two hands. If you have to reach to get it and this is not possible, you can simply support your right arm with your left hand. Likewise, when shaking hands with somebody older support your right arm with your left hand.

    It is also customary that you must take off your shoes in the house and also in many traditional restaurants.

    As with anywhere, politics is a poor topic of conversation. In particular, avoid bringing up the Japanese occupation, the Korean war of the early 1950s and US foreign policy, as these delicate topics are certain to get you on someone's bad side and can lead to intense debates. Also, Koreans are particularly proud of their cuisine, and do not welcome criticism of it — although they do understand that foreigners may find some dishes too spicy.

    Many Koreans still have negative feelings towards the Japanese due to the atrocities committed and "cultural assimilation" policy during the Japanese occupation. However, these have subsided somewhat in recent times as the Korean Wave or ''hallyu'' of Korean soap operas and pop music has drawn many Japanese tourists to Korea, with Japanese tourists now being the biggest spenders in Korea. Even though there is resentment towards the Japanese government, Japanese people visiting Korea are unlikely to run into any major problems. Nevertheless, some Koreans, particularly those born before the early 1930s, will still feel very offended if you associate them, the country or Korean culture with the Japanese in even the slightest way. Some Koreans also harbor some degree of resentment towards China, their other former colonial master and the North's main supporter.

    Contact

    By phone

    International dialling prefixes in South Korea vary by operator, and there is no standard prefix. Check with your operator for the respective prefixes. For calls to South Korea, the country code is 82.

    The country has three service providers: SK Telecom, KTF and LG Telecom. They offer prepaid mobile phone services (''pre-paid service'', ''PPS'') in South Korea. Incoming calls are free. Phones and prepaid services can be acquired at any retail location found on any street. Second-hand phones are also available at selected stores in Seoul.

    South Korea uses the CDMA standard and does not have a GSM network, so most 2G mobile phones from elsewhere will not work. Even quad-band GSM phones are useless. However, if you have a 3G phone with a 3G SIM card, you can probably roam onto the UMTS/WCDMA networks of SK Telecom or KTF; check with your home operator before you leave to be sure.

    All the carriers offer mobile phone rental services, and some handsets also support GSM SIM roaming. They have outlets at the airports in Seoul and Busan. You can find service centres for SK Telecom and KTF at Jeju airport as well. Charges start from W2000/day if you reserve in advance via the [http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/RE/RE_EN_1_2_4_1.jsp visitkorea website] for a discount and guaranteed availability.

    The 1330 Korea Travel Phone service is a very useful service provided by the Korea Tourism organization. It is a 24 hour service and offered in four different languages (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese). The operator will answer questions on bus schedules, accommodation, museum hours, etc.

    By net

    South Korea is the '''world's most wired country''' and Internet cafes, known as '''PC bang''' (PC ?, pron. ''BAH-ng''), are ubiquitous through the country. Many customers are there for gaming but you're free to sit and type e-mails as well, typical charges are about W1000 to W2000/hour. Like anything, it may be more expensive in more "luxurious" places. Also, snacks and drinks are available for purchase in most PC bangs. PC bangs are often divided into smoking and non-smoking areas.

    By mail

    '''Korea Post''' [http://www.koreapost.go.kr/] is fast, reliable and somewhat expensive. Postage for a postcard anywhere in the world is W350. Check your local post office for the latest rates.

    Media

    Korea has several English language media sources for daily news and other information.

    Daily Newspapers

  • Hankyoreh [http://english.hani.co.kr]
  • [http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/index.asp The Korea Times]
  • [http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/index.asp The Korea Herald]
  • TV

  • [http://www.arirang.co.kr/intro.asp Arirang TV] ''available via cable''
  • [http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/home.aspx AFN Korea] ''available to US military community or via cable''
  • Radio

    AFN channel 1530 AM and 102.7 FM

    Utilities

    South Korean households and hotels use the same dual round sockets for their electrical outlets as are found in most of Continental Europe. Anyone bringing an electronic device is advised to bring some adapter should their charger's plug be something other than the dual round type. However, some hotels may provide an adapter for you to use which you can query from reception. However, they may ask you for a deposit should you want to borrow.