• Visa
|
Any foreign visitors wishing to enter Korea must have a valid passport. Tourists may visit Korea for 15 days without a visa, but proof of confirmed round air reservation is required. However, some countries require visas to enter the Republic of Korea. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at http://www.mofat.go.kr/english/main/index.jsp?
lang=eng
|
 |
•
Currency & Exchange
|
The Korean currency unit is the WON (indicated ￦). Bank notes are ￦10,000, ￦5,000, ￦1,000 bills and coin denominations are ￦500, ￦100, ￦50, ￦10. One US dollar is about ￦1,060 as of August, 2008. Money can be exchanged at Incheon International Airport, banks, and hotels.
http://www.keb.co.kr/IBS/english/fx/rate/average/index.jsp |
 |
•
Weather
|
The Weather in September is usually fresh. The average temperature is 21.6~24.3°C. For more detailed climate information, please contact the Korea Meteorological Administration: http://web.kma.go.kr/eng/index.jsp
|
 |
•
Electricity
|
The standard supply is 220 volts with AC/60 cycles. Outlets for 220 volts are available at the hotels.
The two following outlets are compatible with those available in Korea.
a) It is popularly known as the europlug which is described in CEE 7/16.
|
 |
|
b) This plug is similar to the above except that it is round and has the addition of two grounding clips on the side of the plug.
|
 |
•
Telephone Calls
|
A local calls cost ￦70 for three minutes. To make an international call, first dial the international dialling code (001, 002 or 008), then the country code, area code, and the local telephone number. You may also rent a cellular phone at the Incheon International Airport.
|
 |
•
Emergencies
|
Police-------------------------------112
Fire Department---------------------119
Medical Emergencies -------------- 1339
|
•
Business Hours
|
Government offices are open from Monday to Friday between the hours of 09:00 and 18:00.
Most private businesses open at anywhere from 08:30 to 10:00 and close in the evening. Banks are a major exception. Their business hours are from 09:30 to 16:30 on weekdays. They are closed Saturdays and Sundays.
Foreign diplomatic missions in Seoul generally maintain strict business hours including lunch. They are usually open from 09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and are closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Major departments stores are usually open from 10:30 to 20:00, including Sundays, but smaller shops tend to be open earlier and close later every day of the week.
|
•
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) for Foreign
Travelers
Travelers who carry internationally recognized credit cards can get a cash advance in Korean won at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) installed at airports, major hotels, department stores, subway stations and tourist attractions.
|
•
Tipping
Tipping is not a traditional
Korea custom. A 10% service charge is added to your bill at all tourist
hotels and 3-10% at some big restaurants.
•
Tax
Value-added tax (VAT) is levied on most goods and services at a standard rate of 10% and is included in the retail price. In tourist hotels, this 10% tax applies to meals and other services and is added into the bill.
•
Mail
Domestic postal rates are ￦220 for a letter of up to 25g, ￦1,500 (plus postal rates) for registered letter of no more than 25g, and ￦2,200 ~ ￦2,700 for a package of up to 2kg. A postcard costs ￦220.
■ Korea post: http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng/index.jsp
•
Newspaper, TV and Radio
There are three English-language dailies, the Korea Times and the Korea Herald, and the International Herald Tribune Joongang Daily. They are available at most news stands and in most hotel gift shops.
Korea has fine TV networks, all broadcasting in Korean (KBS1, KBS2, MBC, SBS, and EBS). Along with the national broadcasting networks, there are also many cable TV channels specializing in a wide field of programming including news, movies, entertainment, sports, etc. Of note is Arirang TV, a special English channel produced in Korea. The channel features programming in politics, the economy, community, and culture, providing insight and understanding about things Korean through popular TV serial dramas with English subtitles. Some 90 hotels in Korea offer Arirang TV on cable or satellite.
•
Korea &
Korean Tourism
Please visit the following Websites for more information on Korea and possible tours:
http://www.kois.go.kr/kois_main_en.asp
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto
•
Local time
GMT + 9 hours. (same as Tokyo time)
•
Computer
Networking
|
Each meeting room will be equipped with wireless access (Wireless LAN, supporting IEEE802.11b, 2.4GHz band) to the Internet. Those who wish to use the wireless access must be equipped with the necessary hardware and correctly configured PC.
|
 |
|