What etiquette should you pay attention to when going to South Korea...

Visitors holding Taiwan passports and Macao Special Administrative Region passports can stay in South Korea for 30 days without a visa; tourists holding Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passports can stay in South Korea for 90 days without a visa; visitors holding passports from Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand can stay in South Korea for 30 days without a visa; Those who have it can stay in South Korea for 90 days without a visa.

Tourists holding Chinese passports can apply for visa-free entry to Jeju Island, South Korea for 30 days (the Korean consulate has specific regulations on applicant qualifications, please consult the local consulate for details). Chinese tourists holding valid visas for the United States and Japan and outbound air tickets to a third country are exempt from the (South Korean) visa and can stay in South Korea for 15 days after passing entry inspection. (Note! "Can" here means possibility and does not represent any written regulations. The final result depends on the judgment of the prosecutor during the immigration inspection.) In other cases, you must first apply for a visa to the Korean Embassy or Consulate. When applying for a visa, you must For details such as materials, please contact the nearest embassy or consulate.

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Asia

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in China

- www.koreaemb.org.cn (Chinese)

Others Links to Korean embassies abroad

- www.mofat.go.kr/mofat/mk_a003/mk_b016/mk03_02.jsp (Korean)

Chinese group travel to South Korea has been fully liberalized

Chinese tour groups have been fully allowed to travel to South Korea. Originally limited to four municipalities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, and Chongqing and five provinces including Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Shaanxi, the scope of travel groups visiting South Korea has now been expanded to all parts of the country, and the group size has also been reduced from the original minimum of 9 people. Up to 5 people (including companions). The number of travel agencies specializing in Korean tourism has also expanded to 66 in China and 56 in South Korea. China's exclusive travel agencies have appointed specialized personnel to apply for group visas at the Korean Embassy or Consulate General in China.

When submitting the application form, China Travel Agency must provide documents with the signature of the travel agency president and the seal of the travel agency, as well as the valid passport of each tourist in the group and the group travel visa application form. Previously, the Chinese government only implemented travel liberalization policies for three countries: Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. South Korea is the first country in China to fully liberalize group tourism outside of the Chinese-speaking countries.

Prices

The overall price level in South Korea is slightly lower than that of the United States and much lower than that of Japan.

-Transportation: Ordinary bus 600 won, subway section 1 600 won, ordinary taxi starting price 1,600 won, model taxi starting price 4,000 won

-Food: General restaurants Korean food costs 5,000-6,000 won, McDonald’s Big Mac burger costs 3,900 won

-Accommodation: Premium hotels (150,000 won~), tourist hotels (80,000 won~150,000 won), hotels (20,000 won~50,000 Korean won), residential houses (20,000 won~40,000 won)

-Others: Domestic cigarettes 1,300~2,000 won, tickets to the ancient palace/National Museum less than 3,000 won, movie tickets 7,000 won, coffee in cafes 3,000- 5,000 won, supermarket ice cream 500 won, mineral water (500cc) 500-600 won, paper towels 500 won

Mineral water_500ml

6-700 won

Apple_1 piece

1,000 won

Bagel_1 serving

600-1000 won

Shin Ramen_1 pack

550-800 won

Fresh shrimp crackers_1 pack (small)

500 won

Pizza (L)

9,000 - 14,000 won

STARBUCKS Coffee

Americano_Tall

3,000 won

McDonald's

Big Mac Set

4,500 won

Jeonju Bibimbap

5,000 - 8,000 won

Movie Ticket

7,000 - 8,000 won

Books (small)

8,000 - 12,000 won

CD_1 piece

15,000 won

DVD_1 piece

20,000-25,000 won

Newspaper

500-700 won

Internet cafe 1 hour

1,000 - 2,000 won

1 hour in Love Song Room

5,000 - 10,000 won

Soft drink 250ml

500 won

1,300-1,700 won

Beer (bottle)

1,400 – 1,600 won

1 box of cigarettes< /p>

2,500 won

Bus ticket (one section)

900 won

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Taxi starts Price

1,600 won

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Subway ticket (one section)

800 won

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* $1USD ≈1,011 Korean won

Today’s exchange rate

Aspirin (20 pills)

2,000 Korean won

Bondy (20 stickers per box)

1,000 won

Credit card

Can be used in most restaurants, hotels, and shops, but in some places Small shops or local stores may not be available. 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 condition is that it must be purchased from the date of purchase Go abroad within 3 months and purchase goods above a certain amount (minimum purchase price).

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

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2. When leaving the country, do not check in the luggage containing purchased goods at the airport. Show the invoice and goods to the customs and stamp them with a confirmation stamp before checking them in.

3. Check them in at the nearest airport. Present the invoice at the tax refund window (CASH REFUND) and get a cash refund of the total value-added tax on the purchased goods. If you are unable to refund the tax at the time due to time constraints, you can also get the tax refund amount in cash by returning the confirmation stamp from the airport after returning to your country.

Most department stores and stores in the Myeongdong/Cheongdamdong area are Tax Free Shopping franchise stores.

Reference) Tax Free (Global Tax Refund): +82-2-776-2170

Value Added Tax (VAT)

Tax is included in the general fee. That is, just 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 the 10% VAT. Even, sometimes a 10% service charge is charged (tipping is no longer required at this time)

Tipping (Tipping)

Tipping is generally not accepted in Korea. However, occasionally high-end restaurants and hotels add a 10% service charge to the basic fee. At this time, the service charge is already included in the bill, so no additional tip is required.

Emergency hotline

Alarm 112, fire 119, emergency 1339. (Korean)

You can ask the front desk or manager of the hotel to help call a doctor or ambulance .

Korean hotels are divided into five categories: super deluxe (5 stars), deluxe (5 stars), first class (4 stars), second class (3 stars) and third class (2 stars) ***. Taking a double room as an example, a super luxury hotel costs about 200,000 to 400,000 won per night (when special services and facilities are provided, it can cost tens of millions of won), a luxury hotel costs about 150,000 to 250,000 won, and a first-class hotel costs about The price is 100,000 to 150,000 won, the second level is about 50,000 to 100,000 won, and the third level is about 30,000 to 100,000 won. Of course, prices vary depending on the hotel's location, season, and facilities. Most hotels above the luxury level are equipped with fitness centers, saunas, business centers, Western restaurants, coffee shops and other ancillary facilities. In these places, an additional 10% tax on the room rate and 10% other service charges are paid.

In a large family, the elders are at the center, and the tableware and dining table are for one person. But now, with the core family as the center, everyone sits together and eats the food on their own plates. First, put all the food on the table, and divide it according to the number of dishes, such as 3 dishes, 5 dishes, 7 dishes, 9 dishes, 12 dishes, etc. to create unique dining tables.

Korean daily diet, which consists of rice and vegetables as main and non-staple food, has been set as a formal dining format of three meals a day since the late Three Kingdoms period. Sometimes we eat noodles, bibimbap, rice soup and other first-class dishes for lunch, but this is just a unique meal.

On the dining table, rice is the staple food and vegetables are non-staple food. Therefore, the food to be eaten is determined by the rice. The dining table is reasonable and coordinated in terms of the combination of dishes, the saltiness of the taste, the temperature of the food, and the color combination

The dining table has 3 dishes, 5 dishes, 7 dishes, and 9 dishes. The king of the Joseon Dynasty A 12-plate dining table is used. The simplest three-plate dining table includes not only soup and kimchi, but also wild vegetables, salads, stews, and grilled foods. In addition to rice, soup, kimchi, and sauce, 3 plates should be placed on the table, and vegetables, meat, and fish should be evenly mixed. In addition to rice, soup, kimchi, and sauce, there are 5 dishes on the table, including a miso soup.

In addition to rice, soup, kimchi, and sauce, there are 9 dishes on the table, including one kind of miso soup and another kind of stew. The king's imperial dining table was a 12-plate dining table. The king sat in front of the large round table, with small round tables and square tables placed next to it. On the big round table are a white meal, a box of soup, 3 kinds of sauces, 3 kinds of kimchi, 7 kinds of vegetables, a bowl for picking bones, and two sets of silver spoons and chopsticks. One spoon is for soup and the other is for radish and kimchi soup. One pair of chopsticks is for picking up fish, and the other pair is for picking up vegetables.

Porcelain

You can buy tea cups, plates, tea utensils, rice bowls, decorative items, etc. in ordinary porcelain stores. If you want to buy more rare and high-priced items, you need to visit professional craft stores or go to the pottery village.

Chest and back

It is a badge that decorated the chest and back of the official uniforms of kings, crown princes, and civil and military officials in the Joseon Dynasty. It was used to embroider two realistic tigers for military attachés. Official uniform.

Sewing Kit

The sewing kit used by ancient Korean women contained thimbles, needles and thread to protect their fingers.

Buckles

Buckles used for personal decoration are Korean tourist souvenirs. You can buy it at Insadong, Namdaemun Market and hanbok specialty stores.

Qibao Silver Cosmetic Knife

Silver cosmetic knives are not only decorations, women also put them in their pockets and carry them with them for personal protection. Qibao craftsmanship is a craft in which flowers, birds, figures, etc. are engraved on the base of gold, silver, copper, etc.

Embroidery

Embroidery is the use of threads to sew patterns or text on silk and satin, which is used for clothes, bedding, baggage, etc. These traditional items are popular and cheap and can be purchased in souvenir shops.

Ra gong lacquer ware

Ra gong lacquer ware is a craft technique that carves shining shells, paints them with various colored strips, and uses wooden boards as the base for decoration. The main production place is Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do.

Hakok Craft

Hakok Craft is a traditional craft handed down from the Korean royal family and is made of cow horns.

Wood Crafts

Korea’s wood crafts include many artistic products that reflect long traditions. Wood crafts range from small decorative items to furniture.

These products can be purchased at tourist souvenir shops or antique furniture stores.

Fan

A fan is a tool used to blow out the wind to relieve the heat. It is used by gentlemen to be stylish. There are mainly Tai Chi fans painted with Tai Chi patterns and combined bamboo fans painted with the Four Gentlemen. The combined bamboo fans are painted with landscape paintings, Four Gentlemen, etc., which have artistic or antique value.

Hanji handicrafts

Korean traditional hanji made from Chu tree has properties such as durability, gloss, and water absorption. Korean paper made from traditional Korean paper is gorgeous and brightly crafted. Hanji craftsmanship is a valuable asset of Korean art. You can find boxes that can hold small items and Korean paper puppets at souvenir shops.

Puppets

Puppets wearing traditional clothes are available in Korean folk craft shops, which are gifts that can leave you with memories. Especially the puppets dressed in gorgeous traditional Korean clothes, which are the clothes worn at weddings.

Ginseng

Ginseng is a specialty product of Korea, and there are many types. Not only pure fresh ginseng is available, but also various processed products. In particular, red ginseng products made by steaming and drying water ginseng are popular.

Seaweed

Seaweed is a very popular dietary species. Seaweed processed from sea vegetables is available in Korea. For the convenience of foreign tourists, a small amount of packaging is produced, and it is sold in department stores, tourist souvenir shops, traditional markets, etc.

Kimchi

Kimchi is one of the most popular traditional Korean foods. Tourists can buy it in department stores or duty-free shops. For portability, all kinds of kimchi are vacuum packed.