I am inquiring about the possibility of traveling to South Korea in mid-August. I would like to ask what I should pay attention to and what I should bring.

South Korea travel information and precautions

Weather

South Korea has a temperate climate with significant maritime characteristics, four distinct seasons, and beautiful spring (April-June) , the summer (July-September) is hot and humid, the autumn (October-December) is cool and charming, and the winter (January-March) is cold and dry. Language Korean is the administrative language, and overseas Chinese also speak Mandarin. English proficiency is generally poor. Voltage The voltage in South Korea is generally 110V, and most hotels can use 220V and 110V power supplies. (flat pin socket at both ends).

Time

Korea time is one hour ahead of Beijing. Banknotes 10,000 KRW 5,000 KRW 1,000 KRW Coins 500 KRW 100 KRW 50 KRW 10 KRW Prices The overall price level in South Korea is slightly lower than that of the United States and significantly lower than that of Japan. Credit cards can be used in most restaurants, hotels, and shops, but they may not be used in scattered small shops or local stores.

First check the notice posted at the entrance to confirm which companies' credit cards can be used for payment. Visa, Master cards are the most common. Tax Refund: You can enjoy the VAT refund when shopping in stores marked with the "Tax Free Shopping" logo. The conditions are that you must leave the country within 3 months from the date of purchase and purchase a certain amount (minimum purchase price ) and above.

1. After shopping in a store marked with a universal tax-free shopping logo, ask for a tax-free shopping invoice.

2. Do not check it in at the airport when leaving the country. For luggage containing purchased goods, present the invoice and goods to the customs and stamp them with a confirmation stamp before checking them in.

3. Present the invoice at the nearest tax refund window (CASH REFUND) at the airport to obtain a refund for the purchased goods. The total value-added tax in cash. If you are unable to get a tax refund at the time due to time constraints, you can also receive the tax refund amount in cash after returning to the country with the confirmation stamp presented at the airport.

Value-added tax (VAT) general fee. Tax is included, that is, you only need to pay according to the price list. However, in high-end restaurants such as premium hotels and restaurants, the prices on the menu sometimes do not include 10% VAT. Sometimes, there is also a 10% service charge. (Tipping is not accepted at this time) Tipping is generally not accepted in Korea. However, occasionally high-end restaurants and hotels add a 10% service fee to the basic fee. At this time, the service fee is already included in the bill. No additional tip is required.

Travel tips for Seoul, South Korea

Foreign exchange Bank of China cannot directly convert RMB into Korean won. There are two options: convert RMB directly into Korean won; or Convert RMB into US dollars, and then convert US dollars into Korean won. Since the exchange rate often changes, it is more cost-effective to convert into US dollars and then pay back the Korean won before departure. This is the most authoritative Korean travel website. Information, materials, and various coupons are provided. Due to communication standards, Korean mobile phones and Chinese mobile phones cannot communicate with each other. Before going abroad, you can go to the China Mobile counter to handle the concession business; or make reservations online in advance, and then I got a mobile phone at the airport in South Korea. After leaving the airport, remember to go to the counter of the Korea Tourism Organization. You can get free maps there, available in various languages. I relied on this free map during my few days in Seoul. It was very useful. I will come back. It can be a souvenir later.

Transportation

Taxes in Seoul are very expensive, but buses are very convenient, so the most commonly used one is the subway. *There are 8 subway lines, which can basically reach major attractions and commercial streets. The fare is generally 800-900 won. The best thing about the Seoul subway is that it uses numbers, that is, 101 represents the first stop of Line 1, and the number is 101. Different colors represent each line. When riding, just pay attention to the numbers on the platform. In addition, the Korean pronunciation is very close to the Chinese pronunciation of the station name. If you listen carefully, you can hardly miss the station. Some of the larger transfer stations require climbing up and down, which is a bit hard. Attraction introduction Seoul, as the capital of South Korea, has a very rich tourist attractions, which are basically divided into ancient buildings, modern developments, natural landscapes, etc.

Ancient buildings: Gyeongbokgung Palace, Changdeokgung Palace, Jongmyo Shrine, Hanok Village, etc. Generally, these attractions can be reached by subway.

Modern development: there are aquariums and life buildings. Lotte amusement park and so on. Natural attractions: Within the city of Seoul is Namsan Mountain, which you can climb if you have the physical strength. There is also Seoul Tower in Namsan Park, where you can have a panoramic view of Seoul.

Shopping

The main shopping areas in Seoul are Namdaemun, Dongdaemun and Myeongdong. It is said that South Gate is full of street stalls, but I have never been there. Dongdaemun is very big, and most of them are clothes, shoes, etc. In addition to street shops, there are also small shops in buildings with very beautiful clothes. There is a store specializing in Korean handicrafts in a certain building. The prices are relatively cheap, and the stall owner can also speak some Chinese. If you buy more, you can get a lot cheaper. The price in Myeongdong is much higher than that in Dongdaemun, and there are more things. Everything from jewelry, cosmetics to clothes. Since the overall consumption level in South Korea is very high, you have to do some shopping when buying things in South Korea. As long as you have the physical strength, you can still pick out a lot of good things. Souvenirs Korea is most famous for its ginseng and amethyst. In addition, there are keychains, mobile phone chains, bookmarks, kimchi, seaweed, etc. that are made of Korean folk costumes. They are all cheap and good-quality gifts.

Food

Korean people eat very simply. Generally, kimchi and miso soup are a complete meal. So people who want to eat delicious food in Korea should be mentally prepared. Accommodation: Hotels in Seoul are relatively expensive. Generally, a four-star hotel is equivalent to a three-star hotel in China and costs more than 500-700 yuan. Most of these hotels are family hotels, with one double bed and one single bed, suitable for a family of three. There are kitchen utensils, gas, refrigerator, and microwave in the room.

Shopping at duty-free shops in Seoul

The most economical and affordable way to shop is to shop at duty-free shops in major cities. In Seoul, duty-free goods are generally found in first-class hotels in urban areas. Sold in duty-free shops, the products and prices vary slightly from store to store. Duty-free shops are not on-site transactions. You have to go to the airport counter to pick up the required goods (after passing customs), so you may wish to purchase the required goods the day before departure.

In addition, there are specialized duty-free shops selling diamonds and jewelry, etc., and there is also a Korea Tourism Organization duty-free shop in the airport where you can purchase goods directly. The duty-free shop adopts a "no-price" system, and you can use credit cards, Korean won, Japanese yen, U.S. dollars, traveler's checks, etc. The store stocks various Korean folk art works and local products for the convenience of tourists who have no time to shop. When shopping in markets, shopping streets, stalls, etc., you can enjoy discounts and price bargains. If you have plenty of time, you might as well visit a few more stores and weigh them before making a decision. It is easy to order goods in Seoul. For example, you can order a set of Hanbok, short coat, and long skirt to your liking at the Hanbok store in Dongdaemun Market. It only costs 150,000-250,000 won for fabrics and 60,000 won for handwork. Korean won is sufficient. Leather jackets, leather skirts, etc. can be customized in Itaewon. Customers can choose the leather they like and customize the style they like. If you can find the styles published in magazines and entrust a fashion designer to do so, you can shorten the completion time of the product. You can also choose the style of custom-made leather boots and shoes. Custom-made silk shirts, including fabric, only cost about 30,000 to 100,000 won. It usually takes 2-7 days to complete the finished product, which varies slightly from store to store, depending on the schedule of your stay in Korea.

You can also order accessories and men’s suits in Myeongdong, which are cheap but exquisitely handmade. In Korea, the most popular gift is a seal carved from wood or stone. If it is carved in Korean, it can be used as a souvenir of your visit to Korea. Related Links Walkerhill Duty Free Shop Located in the Sheraton InterContinental Walkerhill, the Walkerhill Duty Free Shop has three floors, with spacious space and a wide range of world-famous brands. The Korean souvenirs counter sells pure Korean products such as Korean ginseng, red ginseng, and purple water products, which are popular among foreigners.

Internet Duty Free Shop

The Internet Duty Free Shop (www.skdutyfree.com) opened in December 2005. There are more than 3,000 types of duty-free products***, which are classified according to honeymooners, golfers, men, and customers, providing convenience for customers to purchase goods.