Practical information South Korea

14939  sq.mi

14 hours direct flight. Seoul is 5,500 mi from the UK. British Airways and Korean Airlines operate direct flights leaving from the UK.

+9hours

48875000 hab.

Incheon international airport is 32 miles from Seoul. Traffic is often congested, so allow for one or two hours to reach the city centre. By taxi, a trip will cost you between 30,000 and 45,000 wons (£17-£25), depending on traffic congestion.

There are no particular security problems in South Korea; the country is very safe all over. As always when travelling, try not to tempt the devil: do not carry expensive items or large sums of money on you. All the same, be careful of pickpockets in very packed crowds.

Korean is the official language, and few Koreans speak foreign languages, however, the young generations are currently learning English en masse.

To enter South Korea, no visa is required for European citizens, provided that the stay does not exceed 90 days. You need a passport that is valid for at least six months after your return date.

Koreans are mostly Buddhist (46%), however Christian religions are quite deeply rooted, (which is uncommon for an Asian country) with 39% Protestants and 13% Catholics. There is a marginal but significant persistence of shamanic practises, originating from Siberia.

The Korean currency is the South Korean Won (KRW).
ATMs accept foreign credit cards and are available 24 hours a day. Remember, too, to bring cash or travellers cheques, which are widely accepted. Payment by credit card is not overly common; it is largely accepted in department stores, larger hotels and international restaurants but less likely to be accepted in small local shops. Banks are generally open from 9:30am to 4:30pm during the week and from 9:30am to 1:30pm on Saturdays.

With the plane, bus, train, underground, and taxis, there is no obstacle to getting around in Korea, which is a modern and well-equipped country. For long distances, give preference to the plane, if possible, as it is faster than the train and relatively cheap. In town, you will have the choice between the bus, the underground (six towns have this; Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, Gwangju, and Daejeon), taxi, and walking. Korean urban buses are rustic, often drive fast and sometimes dangerously, but in the end are very efficient, when there are no traffic jams. The underground is also efficient, however you need a certain skill in using it correctly, so that you do not make a mistake with the direction. In Seoul, all indications are in Korean and English. Note that the stations are often quite some distance from one another. There are two types of taxis: ordinary (their colour is not standardised), and "deluxe", which are black. The price difference is in the order of 30 to 40%. The black taxi drivers usually speak English. Drivers of the ordinary taxis may refuse to take you. This is not hostility, but due to their inability to speak English, they fear losing face. Orientation in Korean cities is not easy. As in Japan, the names of streets and numbers of buildings are not well indicated! So maps of towns are essential. If you have to get to a particular address, try to receive a fax for an access plan (the Koreans do this amongst themselves very frequently). Finally, when walking, measure the distances to be travelled carefully, as they are often very big. Seoul, with over 10 million inhabitants (2009), is a huge city.

No particular vaccine is required to enter Korea. The country does not show any specific sanitary risk. Normally, tap water is drinkable without any problem. Subscribe to good medical insurance, because in the event of a health problem the cost of medical care in the country can be relatively high. Avoid consuming raw or half-cooked food, in particular meat and eggs. Wash your hands regularly.

Voltage is 110V and 220V, but the latter tends to be found more frequently. Most hotels are equipped with a voltage of 220 V. Electrical outlets are usually compatible with the pins of your appliances, but there are exceptions. Bring an adapter, just in case.

Every year, some 5 million visitors go to South Korea.

A tax of 10% is collected by the State on goods and services in Korea, but this is included in marked prices. Only the hotel industry adds 10% to its rates. This hotel tax can be up to 20% in upscale establishments (value added tax + service). Tipping is not common practice in Korea.

The telephone code for South Korea is 82. The country's different regions each have a specific local code. Seoul's is 02, however, you take off the initial 0 if you are calling from abroad. There are three international codes there: 001, 002, 008.
To call Korea from the UK: 00, then 82, then the regional code (for example, 2 for Seoul), then the number of the other party.
To call the UK from Korea: 001 (or 002, or 008) + 44 + town's code + the number of the other party, without the initial zero. The mobile phone is extremely advanced in Korea. Most mobile phone numbers begin with 011, 016, 017, 018 or 019; when you want to reach someone on a mobile, these codes replace the regional codes, wherever they are. To get the police: 112. For the firemen: 119. To get an operator: 0077.