TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
International
Driving Permit required |
| Currency |
(KRW)
South Korean Won |
| Electrical |
220 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 82, City Code Seoul 2+3/8D, Kyonggi-do 31+4/7D, In-Chun
32+4/7D |
Korea
has four distinct seasons, with a wet monsoon/summer in the middle
of the year, and a very cold winter from November to March. Jeju-do
off the south coast is the warmest and wettest place in the country.
If you possibly can, time your visit
to South Korea for autumn (September to November). It's sunny,
the skies are blue, and Korea's spectacular autumn foliage is
a real draw. Winter is cold but dry, and a good time to visit
if you like skiing, snow-draped temples, a dearth of tourists
and crisp (ie below freezing) weather. Spring (April to May) can
be beautiful, but it's also the most popular time with Japanese
tourists and you'll have trouble getting mid to top-end accommodation.
Summer is hot, muggy, crowded, wet, typhoon-prone and expensive.
Events
The
first day of the first moon is Seollal (lunar new year; January/February),
when South Korea grinds to a halt. The Cherry Blossom Festival
in Jinhae in the province of Gyeongsangnam-do usually falls in
early April (if the weather and trees cooperate). Lantern parades
are held for Buddha's Birthday, celebrated in late April or early
May. In Seoul, there is an evening parade from Yeo-eui-do Plaza
to Jogyesa on the Sunday prior to the actual holiday. June sees
processions of shamans and mask dances at the Dano Festival, and
in September the National Folk Arts Festival showcases Korean
culture. South Korea's biggest holiday is Chuseok ('Korean Thanksgiving').
At this time (September/October), cities throughout the country
empty as people return to their family homes to pay homage to
their ancestors.
Money
South
Korea is steadily shouldering its way into the big league when
it comes to costs - Japan is about the only place that's still
more expensive. If you're staying in a hostel or a traditional
Korean inn, you might be able to get by on US$30 a day. If you're
planning to travel around and would prefer more luxurious accommodation,
you should expect to spend significantly more. As for sustenance,
the nightlife in Seoul will dig into your coffers, but food is
generally quite cheap - US$7 should fill you up. Travelling will
up your spend, but happily Korean transport is both efficient
and reasonably priced. A high-speed train runs the length of the
country and a ticket on this only costs US$40.
US
military bases will let you pay in US dollars (should you feel
the need to pick up a stealth bomber or two), but everywhere else
you'll need won. Cash US dollars are the easiest to exchange,
but any other hard currencies, especially yen, shouldn't pose
a problem. You'll get a better rate on travellers cheques than
cash - those in US dollars will be more widely accepted. There
are ATMs all over Seoul, Busan and other major cities, but the
instructions are in Korean. International credit cards are widely
accepted.
