ABOUT KOREA

Climate

Korea’s climate is regarded as a continental climate from a temperate standpoint and a monsoon climate from a precipitation standpoint. The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. January is the coldest month during the year. The average temperature ranges from -4C ~ 1C. A coat or jacket, hat and comfortable shoes are recommended for tours.

Korean Food

Eating out is one of the great pleasures of visiting Korea, a country famous for its diverse native dishes. Korean cuisine is nutritious, well balanced and low-cal as it involves a wide variety of vegetables and fermented foods. Bulgogi (marinated, barbecued beef) and Bibimbap (Boiled rice mixed with vegetables) are the most famous.

Enjoy Halal food in Seoul

ALSABA
Address: 34-50, Itaewon, Yongsan-ku, Seoul, Korea
Tel: (02)792-1488
Website: www.alsaba.co.kr
Price: KRW 15,000 ~

PETRA Restaurant
Address: Address: 552, Itaewon, Yongsan-ku, Seoul, Korea
Tel: (02)790-4433
Price: KRW 13,000 ~

Time Zone

The Korean time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9).

Mobile Phone

Mobile phone can be rented at the airport or at major hotels. To apply for a mobile phone rental service, you will need an identification card(passport) and a credit card.

Electricity

The standard electricity supply is 220-volts AC/60 cycles. Although Korea uses both the 110 and 220-volts systems, the use of 220-volts system is more widespread and common. Most hotels have 220-volt wiring installed, but hotels may provide outlet converters for 110 and 220 volts.

Tipping & Tax

Tipping is not a regular practice in Korea. Service charges are included in your bill for rooms, meals and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants. Koreans occasionally do tip when they are especially pleased with the service they receive.

Tax - Upon request, visitors can receive nearly 10 percent VAT refunds for purchases at Duty Free shopping outlets. Goods must be taken out of Korea within three months of purchase to be eligible for a tax refund. Only foreign tourists in Korea can apply for this tax refund. Visitors can receive a refund on a receipt for a minimum purchase of KRW 50,000. To receive this refund, present refund receipts with the purchased goods at the customs desk at the Incheon International Airport when departing. These receipts can be cashed in at the Cash Refund Office in front of the Airport Duty Free Shop.

Emergency Calls

International SOS Korea provides a 24-hour emergency service for participants, for a fee, acting as a link between the patient and the Korean hospitals.

For Medical Emergencies dial 1339.
119: Emergencies for fire / rescue & hospital services
112: Police
129: First Aid patient

Useful Websites

Korea National Tourism Organization - www.knto.or.kr/
Seoul Convention & Visitors Bureau - www.seoulcvb.org/
Incheon International Airport - www.airport.or.kr/
Seoul Metropolitan Government - www.metro.seoul.kr/
Visa & Immigration - www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html

Seoul Mosque

Address: 732-21, Hannam-Dong, Yongsan-ku, Seoul, Korea
Tel: (02)793-6908
It takes about 20 mins by car from Lotte Hotel.
Taxi fare is approximately KRW 10,000 including Namsan tunnel tolls.

Korea Visa Requirements

Visa Application

Visa application should be made at Korean Embassies or Consulates abroad.
For visa application, a valid passport, an application form, recently shot passport-size photograghs and other documents necessary according to a type of stay are required.
Application fees are as follows:

Single-entry visa for less than 90 days: Amount equivalent to USD 30
Single-entry visa for more than 91 days : Amount equivalent to USD 50
For all multiple-entry visa : Amount equivalent USD 80

For more information,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: http://www.mofat.go.kr
Immigration Bureau: http://www.immigration.go.kr

Countries under visa waiver agreements

Nationals of visa waiver countries can enter Korea without a visa as long as the purpose of their visit is tourism or temporary visit.

Country/Period of Exemption(days)

Algeria/90, Antigua-Barbuda/90, Austria/90, Argentina/90
Bahamas/90, Bangladesh/90, Barbados/90, Belarus/90, Belgium/90, Belize/90, Benin/90, Brazil/90, Bulgaria/90
Cambodia/60, Chile/90, Colombia/90, Costarica/90, Croatia/90, Cyprus/90, Czech/90
Denmark/90, Commonwealth of Dominica/90, Dominica Rep./90
Ecuador/90, Egypt/90, El Salvador/90, Estonia/90
France/90, Finland/90
Germany/90, Greece/90, Grenada/90, Guatemala/90
Haiti/90, Hungary/90
Iceland/90, India/90, Iran/90, Ireland/90, Israel/90, Italy/90
Jamaica/90, Japan/90
Latvia/90, Lesotho/60, Liberia/90, Liechtenstein/90, Lithuania/90, Luxembourg/90
Malaysia/90, Malta/90, Mexico/90, Mongolia/30, Morocco/90
Netherlands/90, New Zealand/90, Nicaragua/90, Norway/90
Pakistan/90, Panama/90, Paraguay/90, Peru/90, Philippines/unlimited, Poland/90, Portugal/60
Rumania/90, Russia/90
Singapore/90, Slovak/90, Spain/90, St. Kitis Nevis/90, St. Lucia/90, St. Vincent/90, Sweden/90,Switzerland/90
Thailand/90, Trinidod-Tobago/90, Tunisia/30, Turkey/90
Ukraine/90, UK/90, Uruguay/90
Venezuela/90, Vietnam/90

Designated visa-free entry

Nationals of the following countries are allowed up to 30 days of visa-free sojourn for tourism or visit.

Continent	Countries
Asia	Macau, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Arab Emirates, Yemen, Oman, Japan(90 days), Qatar, Taiwan, Hong Kong (90 days), Kuwait
North America	United States, Canada (6 months)
South America	Guyana, Guatemala, Venezuela, Argentina, Ecuador, Honduras, Uruguay, Paraguay
Europe	Monaco, Vatican, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, San Marino, Serbia-Montenegro, Slovenia (90 days), Andorra, Croatia
Ocenia	Guam, Nauru, New Caledonia, Micronesia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Fiji, Australia(90 days), Marshall Islands, Palau
Afrika	South Africa, Seychelles, Mauritius, Swaziland, Egypt