Weather
Seoul has four distinctive seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter. The annual average temperature is 12.2 degrees Celsius.
Dec, Jan, Feb : -15-5 degrees Celsius
Mar, Apr, May : 5-20 degrees Celsius
Jun, July Aug : 25-37 degrees Celsius
Sep, Oct, Nov : 5-25 degrees Celsius
Language
Korean
Time Difference
GMT + 9 hours
Visa
Yes, for stays beyond 15 days. Countries with visa exemption can be found http://english.tour2korea.com/.
Currency
Won (KRW). Major credit cards are accepted at large establishments.
Value-Added Tax
VAT is levied on most goods and services at a standard rate of 10% and is always included in the retail price or the bill.
Gratuity
Tipping is not customary in Korea. High-end restaurants and luxury hotels may include a 10% service charge onto the bill.
Business Hours
Banks and Government offices:
Mondays to Fridays, 09:00 to 17:00 hours (banks)
Mondays to Fridays, 09:00 to 18:00 hours (government offices)
Offices:
Mondays to Fridays, 09:00 to 18:00 hours, and
Saturdays, 09:00 to 13:00 hours
Shops (hours vary):
Mondays to Sundays, 10:30 to 20:00 hours
Telephone Network
- IDD is available in Seoul and other major cities. The country code is 82, while outgoing international code is either 001 or 002.
- GSM 1800 and 900 cellular networks are also in use. SK Telecom is the main network provider (website: http://www.sktelecom.com/).
Health
There are many hospitals where basic English is spoken. If medical attention is required, international clinics at large general hospitals like Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Centre or Samsung Medical Centre are recommended.
Electricity
In Korea, 220 volt outlets are most common.
Public Holidays
New Year’s Day; Seollal (Lunar New Year), Independence Movement Day; Buddha’s Birthday; Children’s Day; Memorial Day; Liberation Day; National Foundation Day; Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day) and Christmas.