Korea

Country or Region Description

An intriguing land of ancient ruins, romantic legends, natural wonders, breathtaking landscapes and teeming modern cities, the Republic of Korea can trace its history back half a million years.

Tourists are discovering with delight the hidden treasures of the southern half of the mountainous Korean peninsula, which pokes southwards from the eastern end of the Asian continent. South Korea has been separated from North Korea by a demilitarised zone since 1953, and has flourished to become a stable and mature democracy, home to 50-million people who are spread across its nine provinces, concentrated in seven mega-cities.

Largest of the metropoles, and the area most frequented by visitors, is the capital, Seoul, the world's tenth largest city, where ancient shrines nestle beneath soaring skyscrapers. This seething city, ringed by mountains, offers hundreds of attractions and experiences, vibrant nightlife and unforgettable dining.

Country Facts

Location: Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the East Sea (Sea of Japan) and the Yellow Sea (northern part of the East China Sea).

Area: 98,480 km²

Population: 49,044,790 (2007)

Capital: Seoul (10,613,000) by the end of 2006.

Time: 14 hours ahead of Toronto and New York, and 17 hours ahead of Vancouver and Los Angeles

Language: Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school

Ethnic Groups: Homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Religion: No affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%, other 1%

Currency: Won (KRW)

Electricity: 110/220V AC 60 Hz. Government policy is to phase out the 110 volt supply and many hotels now have a 220 volt supply.

Country Code: 82 - Seoul 2, Busan 51, Daegu 53, Incheon 32, Daejeon 42.

Business Hours: 0900 - 1800 Mon-Fri, 0900-1300 Sat.

Banks: 0930-1600 Mon-Fri, 0930-1330 Sat.

Shops: 1030-1930 Mon-Fri.

Tipping: Not customary. Most hotels and other tourist facilities add a 10% service charge to bills. Taxi drivers are not tipped unless they help with the luggage.

Driving: International driving licence is required.

Passport/Visa: Passport valid for a minimum of 6 months is required. Visa not required for a stay of maximum of 1 month.

Airport: Seoul Incheon International/ICN 52 km W of Seoul. Three terminals, Airport tax international KRW 15000.

Credit Cards: All major credit cards are accepted.

Things to know about Korea before you go

Passports

All visitors must have a valid passport. Visas are not required for Canadian passport holders on holidays up to 6 months or US passport holders on holidays up to 3 months.

Business travelling, signing contracts or any monetary exchange require a visa.

Vaccinations

No vaccinations are required to enter Korea, however, vaccinations against cholera and yellow fever are recommended for travellers arriving from infected areas.

Customs

An oral or written declaration must be made to a customs officer at the port of entry. Incheon International Airport is making use of the dual channel system for passenger baggage inspection, where passengers may choose either the green or red channel for customs clearance.

Passengers satisfying both of the following conditions may use the green channel:

* Carrying less than 20kg (44 pounds) of articles.

* Not carrying restricted or prohibited articles. Passengers not satisfying both of these conditions must go through the red channel.

Currency

Won

Departure Tax

KRW 15,000 for adults. (Approx. CAD$18 / US$12)

Population & Language

The population of Korea is over 49 million people. Korean is the official language, though English is widely used in hotels, restaurants etc.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful and relatively cheap in Korea. There are taxi stands in busy city areas, and can also be hailed on most streets. Certain taxis can be requested by phone, though the fare is somewhat higher than taxis (Tel: (02) 417-0084). An increasing number of taxi drivers speak some English. It is not advisable to take taxis during the morning and evening rush hours, as the roads are very congested. It is better to take the subway, which, although crowded at this time, runs on schedule.

Telephones

There are three types of public telephones in Korea: blue telephones, grey telephones, and card telephones. All telephones can be used for both local and long distance calls (I.D.D.). A local call costs 50 Won for three minutes. Long distance calls cost more. Time can be extended by depositing more money. These telephones take 10, 50 Won and 100 Won coins.

Electricity

Outlets for both 110/220 volts are available.

Traveller's Cheques

Foreign money and traveller's cheques can be changed into Korean Won at foreign exchange banks and authorized money changers.

Climate

Temperate Climate: Transitional zone between continental Climate and subtropical maritime Climate.

Four distinct seasons: Spring (Late March through May); Summer (June to early September); Autumn (September through November); Winter (December to mid March).

Medical Facilities

There are many hospitals and some English is spoken. However, it is best to use the international clinics at large general hospitals like Severance and Asan Medical Centres.

Emergencies

Dial 112 for police and 119 for the fire department. The hotel front desk or manager can arrange for a doctor or ambulance. If you need a doctor on the street, ask a policeman or someone for assistance. A police box can be found on every major street.

Tipping

If service charge is not included, 10% is normal, though not necessary.

Korean table Manners

Traditionally, Korean food is not served in courses, but instead it is all placed on the table at the same time. There is no set order in which to eat the food, just according to personal preference. The main dish is almost always accompanied by bap(rice), guk(soup), kimchi, and several side dishes, which are all included in the price.

Koreans eat their rice and soup with a spoon, and side dishes with chopsticks. Do not leave chopsticks inserted directly into the rice, as this is a ceremonial act that symbolically designates the chopsticks for use by the dead. Koreans always wait for the oldest person present to begin eating before they begin and do not leave the table until the oldest person has finished.

Arrival Guide

SEOUL

There are 3 main palaces in the city dating back hundreds of years. Deoksungung Palace houses the National Art Gallery while Changdeokgung Palace has been preserved from the days of royalty. Adjoining it is the picturesque Secret Garden, landscaped with ponds, woods and pavilion.

Gyeongbokgung Palace was rebuilt in 1868. Situated on its grounds are the National Museum of Korea and the Korea National Folk Museum. Once a royal villa, Deoksungung Palace is now the Museum of Modern Arts. On top of Namsan Mountain in the heart of the city is the Seoul Tower, which offers a marvellous view of the city.

Other interesting sites include the 10 storied Marbled Pagoda of Gyeongcheonsa Temple, built in 1348, Tapgol Park and the Namdaemun Gate marking where the city's ancient walls used to stand. Not too distant is the Korean Folk Village in Yongin, Gyeonggi-Do where life from the past is lived out daily.

GYEONGJU

For 1000 years, up until the 10th century, Gyeongju was the capital of the Silla Dynasty. Nearly 1000 years later, Gyeongju is an open-air museum. Those keen on Silla culture or archaeology will be in heaven viewing the remains of temples, tombs, shrines, palaces, gardens and castles. In the centre of town, Tumuli Park is a huge walled area with 20 royal tombs.

A few hundred metres away, Cheomseongdae is one of the oldest observatories in Eastern Asia. The crowning glory of Silla temple architecture is Bulguksa, a magnificent temple built on a series of stone terraces about 16 km (10mi) from the town. The eaves and internal painting of this gorgeous temple are one of the artistic highlights of Asia. High above the temple, a seated Buddha gazes over Gyeongju from Seokguram Grotto.

JEJU ISLAND

Jeju Island is a place of myths and legends. The stone statues of dwarf-like Dolhareubang, today a curiosity, in days gone by a powerful fertility god. Jeju is also rich in caves, from one of which, according to legend, sprang the three god-men, Ko, Pu, and Yang who founded the island's first settlement and made it flourish. Along the shoreline women dive for shellfish.

One in five of the population earn their living the sea, and in many families the women have been divers for generations. At 1,950 meters, Mt. Hallasan is the highest peak in Korea, visible all over the island, through you'd hardly credit its height from the gentleness of its slopes. In the pastures of its foothills cattle graze contentedly, and always in the distance lies the glittering sea. At sunset, it is easy to imagine the old gods and the stone Dolhareubang sighing as deeply over Jeju's beauty as do its enraptured visitors.

BUSAN

Busan is South Korea's largest port and second-largest metropolis. There's plenty there for a full day of sightseeing: Take in the view from Busan Tower, in Yongdusan Park, and visit the Yi Sun-shin statue, the Jagalchi fish market, the U.N. Cemetery (where fallen U.N. soldiers from the Korean War are buried) and the Municipal Museum.

Taejongdae Park, a jagged spit of land in the city's south, has wonderful sea views. Busan's beaches are crowded in good weather, but its hot-spring spas are fun and relaxing. Also in the area are Geumgang Park (a massive mountaintop fortress with beautiful cherry blossoms in the spring) and Beomeosa, a seventh-century temple area.