South Korea destination information
Land
The Korean Peninsula extends southward form the eastern end of the the Asian continent. It is roughly 1000km (621miles) long and 216km(134miles) wide at its narrowest point. Mountains cover 70% of the land mass, making Korea one of the most mountainous regions in the world. The mountain range that stretches along the east coast falls steeply into the East Sea, while along the south and west coasts, the mountains descend gradually to the coastal plains that produce the bulk of Korea’s agricultural crops, especially rice.
Administrative Division
The peninsula is divided just slightly north of the 38th parallel. The republic of Korea in the south and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the north are separated by the Demilitarized Zone, The Republic of Korea consists of eight provinces and one special self-governing province (do); the capital Seoul; the six metropolitan cities of Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Daejeon and Ulsan and 74 cities (si); and 85 counties.
Language
The Korean language, like Hungarian, Turkish, Mongolian and Finnish, is classified into the Ural-Altaic language group. Hangel (The Korean alphabet) is composed of ten simple vowels and 14consonants. A group of scholars under the patronage of Kong Sejong the Great developed this systematic rendition of spoken sound in 1443. Hunminjeongeum, a historical document which provides instructions to educate people on the use of Hangeul, is registered with UNESCO as World Heritage and UNESCO also awards of the “King Sejong Literacy Prize” every year in memory of the inventor of Hangeul.
Discover Korea
National Flag
The Korean flag (태극기) is called “Taegeukgi” in Korean. Its design symbolizes the principles of the yin and yang in Oriental philosophy. The circle in the center of the Korean flag is divided into two equal parts. The upper red section represents the proactive cosmic forces of the yang. Conversely, the lower blue section represents the responsive cosmic forces of the yin. The two forces together embody the concepts of continual movement, balance and harmony that characterize the sphere of infinity. The circle is surrounded by four trigrams, one in each corner. Each trigram symbolizes one of the four universal elements: heaven (), earth (), fire (), and water ().
National Flower [Mugunghwa]
The national flower of Korea is the mugunghwa (무궁화), rose of sharon. Every year from July to October, a profusion of mugunghwa blossoms graces the entire country. Unlike most flowers, the mugunghwa is remarkably tenacious and able to withstand both blight and insects. The flower’s symbolic significance stems from the Korean word mugung, meaning immortality. This word accurately reflects the enduring nature of Korean culture, and the determination and perseverance of the Korean people.
National Holidays: The national flower of Korea is the mugunghwa (무궁화), rose of sharon. Every year from July to October, a profusion of mugunghwa blossoms graces the entire country. Unlike most flowers, the mugunghwa is remarkably tenacious and able to withstand both blight and insects. The flower’s symbolic significance stems from the Korean word mugung, meaning immortality. This word accurately reflects the enduring nature of Korean culture, and the determination and perseverance of the Korean people. See Korean Tourism for more information http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AK/AK_EN_1_5_2.jsp
Business hours: Banks
Weekdays: 09:00 – 16:00
Weekends and National Holidays: Closed
Government Offices and Organizations
Weekdays: 09:00 – 18:00
Weekends and National Holidays: Closed
Post Offices
Weekdays: 09:00 – 18:00
Public Holidays: Closed
Nationwide list: www.koreapost.go.kr (Korean, English)
List of post offices in Seoul: english.seoul.go.kr (English)
Inspiration to discover Korea
Foreign Diplomatic Missions
Weekdays: Hours vary, please see the following link for more information >> Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (English)
Weekends and National Holidays: Closed
Department Stores
10:30 – 20:00
* Typically one day a month (usually a Monday) department stores are closed to the public. However, closings will vary according to each store.
Electricity: The standard voltage in Korea is 220 volts.
The outlet has two round holes and is the same type used in France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Turkey, and many other countries.
If you do not have a multi-voltage travel adapter, you can borrow one from your hotel’s front desk. If you want to buy one in Korea, you can do so at a duty-free shop, convenience shop at Incheon International Airport, or Yongsan Electronics Shopping Town.
Phones, internet and post in South Korea see this link for more information http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/AK/AK_EN_1_5_7.jsp
Emergency Medical Information Center, 1339
At Emergency Medical Information Center, trained medical personnel (doctors, nurses and paramedics) are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in 12 locations nationwide. Upon receiving an emergency call, a medical staff member gives basic first aid instructions over the phone or calls an ambulance to transport patients to a medical center for further emergency measures.
Information Service – International Call 00794
International service “00794” is a telephone operator service that provides any information related to making international calls including foreign subscription number, national codes, area codes, etc.
International Call Service 00799
International call service “00799” is a telephone operator service used to make international calls from Korea. The Service features station-to-station calls (forwarding the receiver’s number to the operator for direct connection), collect or reverse charge calls (charging the receiver for the international call) and interpretation calls (having interpretation during the international call).
Local telephone number guide – Local area code + 114
In order to obtain the contact and location information of a business, dial an area code followed by “114” and say the name of the business.
Tourist Complaint Center 1330
Tourist Complaint Center strives to resolve complaints from tourists in Korea as well as to improve tourism services by informing and providing consultation to relevant agencies. Complaints and inquiries can be filed via email or fax.
What to wear
Korea has four distinct seasons: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), fall (September-November), and winter (December-February). The changing of seasons also means changing of attires. With temperatures varying greatly by season, it is important to dress for the weather. Here are the essential items for each season.
Spring (March-May)
Spring is the transition period between winter and summer. Average temperatures in spring range between 7.1℃ and 17.8℃. The weather remains chilly in March due to the last cold snaps, but begins warming up at the end of the month. Still, even in April and May, temperatures may drop after sunset. Therefore, a light outerwear is essential in spring. Popular spring fashion items include cardigans, scarves, hats and sunglasses.
Summer (June-August)
Summer is the hottest season. Receiving the majority of annual rainfall, it is also the wettest season. In fact, summer begins with the rainy season called ‘jangma’, which generally lasts from mid-June until the end of July. During jangma, umbrellas and raincoats are essential.
After jangma, the weather begins heating up, with temperatures rising up to anywhere between 35℃ and 40℃ during daytime. Light clothing, often made with “cooling” fabric, becomes essential for preventing overheating. Popular summer fashion items include light and/or short pants, short-sleeved or sleeveless shirts, hats and sunglasses. Applying sunscreen is also highly recommended.
Fall (September-November)
Fall, referred to as the season of ‘cheongomabi’*, is the transition period between summer and winter. Humidity subsides and cold snaps return. As in late-May, the weather in early September is warm. Then, it turns colder and drier starting late-September, contributing to the changing of colors of leaves throughout October. An outerwear is essential in fall. Popular fall fashion items include trench coats in early to mid-fall, and jackets in mid- to late-fall.
* Cheongomabi (“The sky is high, and horses fatten.”) means that the sky is so clear that it appears much higher, and the harvests are so bountiful that there is plenty to eat.
Winter (December-February)
Winter is the coldest season. The northern region, largely comprised of Gangwon-do and Gyeonggi-do Provinces as well as Seoul and Incheon Metropolitan Cities, is generally colder than the southern region including Busan Metropolitan City and Jeju Island. After a cold wave passes through the Korean Peninsula, the ‘sam-han-sa-on’, the unique climate pattern of three cold days and four warmer days, repeats. Warm clothing is essential in winter. Popular winter fashion items include winter coats, sweaters, scarves, shawls, beanies, gloves, and boots. Naebok or thermal underwear produced with lighter fabric and in trendy design is also worn a lot.
