South Korea: Practical information

Accommodation

Rules For Eating Out: Lunch is usually served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Rules vary from one establishment to another, but the bill is generally paid directly cash desk after the meal. It is not common to leave a tip.

Koreans traditionally take turns paying for meals or drinks. In general, elders or superiors most often offer to pick up the tab. However, young Koreans are increasingly adopting the "Dutch treat" concept whereby each person pays for their own meal.

Food Specialties: Korean cuisine is characterised by a wide variety of wild greens and vegetables. Various fermented and preserved foods such as kimchi (fermented spicy cabbage), jeotgal (matured seafood with salt) and doenjang (fermented soy bean paste) are notable for their unique flavor and high nutritional value.
Drinks: Alcoholic beverages can be found at bars, restaurants or wine shops. Soju, an alcoholic beverage distilled from rice, is considered to be the most popular alcoholic drink in Korea.
Dietary Restrictions: None
Table Manners: Koreans serve the complete meal at once in many dishes and all the group take food from the dishes.
You should use a warm towel only for washing hands. Put the warm towel on the table after using it.
When eating with a person who is older than you, let him/her begin eating first. Let the eldest person sit farthest away from the door, which is considered the best seat. Let the elder pick up his spoon, fork, or chopsticks first.

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Pusan - Gimhae Intl (PUS)	27 km / 17 miles	-	30-60 min	-	Available
Seoul - Incheon (ICN)	49 km / 31 miles	KRW 40.000-60.000 / 1 hour	Available	KRW 1000	Available

Name	Type	Domestic Flights	International Flights
Asiana Airlines	National	Yes	Yes
Korean Air	National	Yes	Yes

National Roads Organizations: Korea Expressway Corp
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport

Time zone

Type of Climate: Weather varies considerably by season in Korea. In spring (May), it is mostly clear and dry. In summer (August), the weather is hot and humid. Korea typically experiences two or three typhoons and receives 50-60% of annual precipitation during the summer. Monsoon season, which begins in June, brings heavy rain and lasts about 30 days. Fall (October) tends to be a bit cooler than spring, but typically clear and dry. Winter (January) is cold and dry, with little precipitation.
Hotel reservation websites: Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA)

Climate

Electricity
Voltage: 220 V
Frequency: 60 Hz
Type of Electric Socket: C & F (in offices and hotels)
110 V power with plugs A & B was previously used but is being phased out. Older buildings may still have this.
Type of Telephone Socket: Korean, US RJ-11
DVD Zoning: Zone 3

Domestic Currency: South Korean Won
ISO Code: KRW
To Obtain Domestic Currency: Generally, banks are open between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Monday through Friday). ATMs are in operation 24 hours a day.
Possible Means of Payment: Payments are usually made in cash, especially in smaller establishments and stores. Credit cards may be useful, but are typically accepted only in larger stores, hotels and restaurants.

To Find a Cash Machine Where You Need, Use the ATM locator

Official Language: Korean
Other Languages Spoken: None
Business Language: English; however, businesspeople often read English better than they can speak it.

Police	112
Fire, Emergency and Ambulance	119
Medical Emergency	1339
Seoul Metropolitan Police Foreign Affairs	(822) 739-6848

Telephone Codes: To Make a Call From South Korea, Dial 001, 002, 008, 00365, 00700
To Make a Call to in South Korea, Dial +82
Mobile Telephone Standards: WIPI, Brew, GVM, HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access), WiBro, CDMA 2000, CDMA(1x) EV-DO [Evolution - Data only], CDMA(1x) EV-DV [Evolution - Data and Voice]
GSM phones do not work.
National Mobile Phone Operators: LG Telecom

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