South Korea is a land of contrasts, traditional buildings and ancient temples loom under large skyscrapers. My time in South Korea was spent mostly in the capital Seoul which was a great base to visit ancient temples and enjoy the modern city. South Korea however has many natural hot springs and mountains and national parks to enjoy also.
Best Time to Visit
The hottest time of the year is during the rain season from July to August and the coldest time of the year is from December to February. Spring and autumn are considered the best times to visit.
Things to do and see
- Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) Is the important strip of land that separates South Korea from North Korea. It was established after the Korean war in 1953. The DMZ allows visitors to see into North Korea and visit the freedom bridge there is also a museum.
- Lotte World amusement park is a theme park in Seoul open year-round. The theme park is in door and out door, it also has an ice rink and many great rides. A fun place to spend some time in Seoul.
- COEX Aquarium is one of the largest Aquariums in South Korea, with an array of marine life. There are 16 exhibitions to explore with 650 different marine species.
Food
Fermented foods are common, and dishes usually have a lot of garlic and peppers. Korean food is typically a combination of rice, soup and a selection of 15 to 20 side dishes which consist of vegetables, fish, chicken, eggs green beans and sea plants. All meals are served together and eaten as a group. Its very hard to eat for one as the meals are usually served to be eaten as a group. The most popular alcoholic drink to try in Korea is Soju. There also many international restaurants based in Seoul.
Transportation
Air: There are direct flights from London to South Korea.
Roads: Roads are a good quality and well maintained throughout South Korea. Drivers drive on the right-hand side of the road. Road signs are usually written in Korean and English.
Rail: There are three classes of trains in Korea, the high-speed Korea train express. And the first-class train, Saemaeul trains. And finally, the local more second class service the Mugunghwa trains.
Taxi: All taxis are required to be metered, make sure all the taxis you use are metered and authorised.
Ferry: There are ferry terminals all over South Korea connecting the country.
Bus: Long distance bus travel within South Korea is cheap and reliable. However, be aware that bus companies do not tend to have English websites or English speakers working in the bus company.
Visa
Visas are not required by all EU, U.S, Canadian and Australian nationals for stays up to 90days. All visitors to South Korea must have a digital picture and fingerprints taken upon entry.
Language
The official language spoken in Korea is Korean Hangul, English is also widely spoken in the major cities.
Money
The official currency in South Korea is the Won (KRW). Foreign credit cards may not be accepted outside of the big cities. So, have enough cash when travelling to rural areas. ATMs are in all major cities, but some may not accept foreign visa cards.
Tipping
Although not customary in South Korea, some hotels will add 10% to the bill.
Social etiquette
South Korea is a homogeneous country, 56.9% of the population is atheist, 27.6% is Christian and 15.5% is Buddhist. Your shoes must be taken off one entering someone’s home. Koreans count a person’s age not from the day you are born, on the day you are born you are already one years old. And every New year makes you a year older not your birthday.
Adaptor
There is one plug associated with South Korea
Wifi
There are internet cafes in most towns and resorts, however the speed is not always very fast.
Ruth’s Lonely Planet 