What do I need to prepare for traveling to South Korea?

Preparation before departure

1. Under normal circumstances, hotel tap water is safe to drink; the hotel does not provide toothpaste, toothbrushes, slippers and other personal items, so please bring your own.

2. The hotel check-in time is generally 14:00 pm, and the check-out time is before 12:00 noon. Additional fees will be charged for overtime.

3. Generally, hotels can use 220v voltage and 110v voltage. It is recommended to bring your own two-phase round-pin plug.

4. Time difference: The time difference between Seoul time in South Korea and Beijing time in China is 1 hour.

5. International roaming of China Mobile and China Unicom cannot be used in South Korea. You can use purchased phone cards or phones in hotel rooms to make domestic calls.

6. Korean cuisine is mostly based on kimchi, barbecue, and fish. It is spicy and less oily and pays attention to fresh ingredients. It is very different from Chinese cuisine. If you are not used to eating in Korea, you can bring some pickled vegetables and other snacks according to your taste.

Climate

South Korea is a country with four distinct seasons.

Spring

Spring is generally from March to May in Korea. In early spring, the temperature difference between morning and evening is relatively large. Because the climate changes are greater than those in summer and winter, you should prepare long-sleeved and short-sleeved sweaters. The spring climate in South Korea is at its peak from April to the end of May. At that time, the weather across the country becomes windy and sunny, and various flowers cover the branches in colorful colors. Various flower fairs and celebrations are also held. Looking at the seasonal characteristics, you can see rising hot air and yellow sand blowing from China during the day. Especially the yellow sand wind in early spring and the spring rain can cause eye diseases, etc., so it is certain

Bring an umbrella.

Summer

South Korea has a humid and hot summer from June to August. The average summer temperature is 22~26℃, which is not very hot weather from a meteorological point of view, but due to the geographical characteristics of South Korea, the climate is relatively humid and hot. Therefore, it is best to wear cotton T-shirts with good ventilation and easy to absorb sweat in summer. From the end of June to mid-July, the country enters the rainy season, with rainfall ranging from 200 to 400㎜. After the end of the rainy season, the temperature rises, with the highest temperature reaching 34°C. Sometimes the lowest temperature in a day exceeds 25°C, resulting in the tropical night phenomenon. Due to this kind of weather, South Koreans will have 3 to 7 days of summer vacation from the end of July to the beginning of August. The hot weather will gradually end at the end of August, and then there will be typhoons accompanied by strong winds and heavy rains. After the heavy rains are over, you can feel the arrival of autumn.

Autumn

Autumn in Korea from September to November is also the most beautiful season. There will be warm sunshine during the day, and cool evening breeze blows at night. Early autumn is the time of the year with the largest temperature difference. Just like early spring, you need to prepare short-sleeved and long-sleeved clothes. The heavy rains at the end of August last until the beginning of September, so don't forget to bring an umbrella when you go out. In early September, the storm will pass, and the maple leaves on the mountains will turn red, and the fallen flowers will become colorful. Brisk autumn air and clear skies may be the most appropriate words to describe autumn in Korea. Seasonally speaking, this period in Korea is the autumn harvest season.

A variety of celebrations will be held during folk festivals such as Chuseok (Korea's Autumn Harvest Thanksgiving Festival).

Winter

South Korea has a dry and cold winter from December to the end of February of the next year. From a meteorological point of view, the average temperature in most areas is -5~-9℃, but due to the influence of cold air from Siberia, it will feel colder than the actual temperature. The temperature in the mountain villages of Gangwon Province is lower than average

The Jeju Island area generally maintains above freezing temperatures, which is very warm. The weather varies from place to place. Winter is an exciting season in Korea. Since 70% of the country is made up of mountains, in winter there are not only various snow sports like skiing, but also a snowy Christmas waiting for you. Especially in December and January, various mountaineering and skiing activities are held.

Special reminder: Because Jeju Island is surrounded by sea and the climate changes constantly, please be sure to bring rain gear.

Foreign Currency Exchange

1. The unit of Korean currency is "yuan", and the face values ??of coins are 10 yuan, 50 yuan, 100 yuan, and 500 yuan; banknotes are only 100, 5,000 yuan, and 10,000 yuan. Yuan.

2. VISA and MASTER cards are very convenient to use in South Korea. Most Koreans use credit cards for their purchases.

3. The exchange rate between RMB and Korean Won (WON) is approximately 1:139.

Language

Korean is the administrative language, and overseas Chinese also speak Mandarin. English proficiency is generally poor.

Tipping customs

South Korea generally does not accept tips, except for tour groups. Occasionally, high-end restaurants and hotels will add a 10 service fee to the basic fee. In this case, the service fee is already included in the bill, and no additional tip is required.

Traffic Information

Taxis are metered, and prices are affordable to all ages, so you don’t have to worry about ripping off customers. In addition, the subway is an extremely convenient means of transportation, although it is quite old. But there are many lines, forming a network, and you can transfer without leaving the station. It is very convenient. It costs 600 won to take any ride. Each line is marked with different colors in the station and map. One line and one color make it easy to distinguish. What needs special attention is: before entering the ticket gate, it is best to look behind you to see if there is a ticket gate behind you. If there is, you must find out which gate you want to go in, otherwise you will go in.

If you find that you are heading in the wrong direction, it will be difficult to come out again.

Shopping Tips

1. Shopping in stores marked with the "Tax Free Shopping" logo can get VAT refund services. However, you must leave the country within 3 months from the date of purchase and purchase goods above a certain amount (minimum purchase price). Most department stores and stores in Myeongdongcheong

Tandong area are Tax Free Shopping franchise stores. There is a tax refund service counter at Incheon International Airport, located near gate 28 in the departure hall on the third floor.

2. Korea’s more famous specialties are Korean ginseng and amethyst. Jeju also has many rich local products such as citrus, grapefruit tea, honey, Ganoderma lucidum, etc. Koreans pay attention to honesty and trustworthiness when doing business, and clearly marked prices. There are rarely discounts when shopping, and credit cards are accepted in general shopping malls.

Accommodation Tips

1. Please take good care of your personal belongings. Valuables can be placed in the safe at the front desk or in the room.

2. The hotel provides free and paid TV. Please check the fee description before making a decision before watching paid CCTV.

3. When checking out, please hand over the personal phone fee, beverage fee and room key to the front desk for settlement.