Passport and Visa

All visitors to the Republic of Korea must have a valid passport and visa. Visitors with roundtrip tickets from countries who have a special agreement with Korea may be exempt from the visa requirement, and can stay in Korea visa-free for periods up to 30 days, or 90 days, depending on the type of agreement between two countries. When uncertain as to the requirement for entry visa to Korea, please contact the Korean embassy or a consulate as early as possible. For more information, please visit the website of Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.


 Time Difference / Business Hours

Korean time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9) Business hours for banks are generally from 09:30 to 16:30 on weekdays only. Banks are closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. ATMs are widely available. Major department stores are open from 10:30 to 19:30, including Sundays, but smaller shops tend to open earlier and close later every day.

 Currency

  • The unit of Korean currency is the Won (￦). Coin denominations are ￦10, ￦50, ￦100 and ￦500. Banknotes are ￦1,000, ￦5,000 and ￦10,000. The exchange rate is approximately US$1 to KR ￦1,300.

  • Currency exchange: Foreign banknotes and traveler's check can be exchanged at foreign exchange banks and other authorized moneychangers

  • Credit Cards: Diners Club, Visa, American Express and MasterCard are widely accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

  • Traveler's Check: Accepted, but may be difficult to change in smaller towns. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take Traveler's check in US Dollars.

  • The exchange of foreign currencies may be made at the Airport. 
       [Banking hours: 9:00 AM ~ 4:00 PM, From Monday to Friday]


     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.


     Gratuities (Tipping)

    Tipping is not a traditional custom in Korea. A 10% service charge will be added to your bill at all tourist restaurants and hotels. It is also not necessary to tip a taxi driver unless he assists you with luggage or provides an extra service.

     Electricity

    In Korea, electrical outlets are operated at 220 volt only. Overseas delegates bringing laptop computers and other electrical appliances are advised to check whether a transformer is required.

     Liability and Insurance

    The Organizing Committee will take no liability for personal injuries sustained by or for loss or damage to property, belongings of participants or accompanying persons during their stay in Korea. It is, therefore, advised that participants arrange their own personal health, accident, and travel insurances.

     Emergency

    Emergency call numbers are: 112 for police and 119 for fire/rescue and hospital services.

     Telephone

    001(International Access Code) + Country Code + Area Code + Remaining Digits

    Ex) If you make an international phone call to Korea, please refer to the following steps.
         [Tel: +82-2-565-0362]
    Step 1) Determine what time it is in South Korea before you call. 
                The country is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
    Step 2) Dial 001, the international access code.
    Step 3) Dial 82, the country code for Korea.
    Step 4) Dial the area code for the city you wish to call. [Seoul: 2]
    Step 5) Dial the remaining digits.


    Language

    Hangeul was invented in 1443, during the reign of King Sejong. It is composed of 10 vowels and 14 consonants. Hangeul has 11 compound vowels, 5 glottal sounds. The chart below represents the 24 Hangeul letters and their romanized equivalents. 'The Hunminjeongeum,' a historical document which provides instructions to educate people using Hangeul, is registered with UNESCO. UNESCO awards a 'King Sejong Literacy Prize, ' every year in memory of the inventor of Hangeul.

    English

    Korean

    Korean Pronunciation

    How are you?

    안녕하세요?

    Aan-nyeong-haseyo?

    Thank you.

    감사합니다.

    Gamsa-haam-nida.

    Yes.

    예.

    Ye.

    No.

    아니요.

    Aniyo.

    I am sorry.

    미안합니다.

    Meean-hamnida.

    I enjoyed the meal.

    잘 먹었습니다.

    Jal mugut-sum-nida.

    Please give me some more of this.

    이것 더 주세요.

    Yigut du juseyo.

    The check, please.

    계산서 주세요.

    Gye-saanseo juseyo.

    Do you take credit cards?

    카드로 계산할 수 있습니까?

    Card-ro gyesaan halsu yisum-neeka?

    How much is it?

    얼마입니까?

    Ulma-eem-neeka?

    It is ________ won.
    5,000
    10,000
    15,000
    20,000
    30,000

    _________ 원 입니다.
    오천
    만
    만오천
    이만
    삼만

    _________ won eem-needa.
    O-cheon
    Maan
    Maan-o-cheon
    Yi-maan
    Saam-maan

    Where is the rest room ?

    화장실 어디입니까?

    Hwa-jangsil udee-eem-nee ka??

    Goodbye.

    안녕히 계세요.

    Aan-nyeonghee gyeseyo.

    Go to Korean Language Learning Website



     More Information

    Most of the trave information are from the Korea National Tourism Organization. For more information about Korea, Please visit the Korea Tourism Organization.

    Tel:82-2-565-0361  Fax:82-2-565-0364  E-mail:kms@kms.or.kr  http://www.kms.or.kr/eng
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