Safety & Security

Korea and Seoul are unique in the degree to which people enjoy the freedom to walk safely on the streets at all times. The crime rate in Seoul, especially in regard to foreign tourists, is one of the lowest in the world.

Currency

The unit of Korean currency is the Won (￦). Coin denominations are ￦10, ￦50, ￦100 and ￦500. Banknotes are ￦1,000, ￦5,000, ￦10,000 and ￦50,000.

Climate and Apparel

Seoul, situated in a temperate zone, has four distinct seasons. Sunny days and clear skies are expected, and light clothing is recommended. The average temperature range in November is between 7 degrees to 10 degrees Celsius. In the evenings, a light jacket would be advisable. A hat and comfortable shoes are recommended for some tours. (Detail: Click)

Time Zone

The time zone is Greenwich Mean Time +9 hours.

Traveler's check

Accepted, but may be difficult to change in smaller towns. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take Traveler's check in US Dollars.

Business Hours

Government office hours are usually from 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and closed on weekends. Banks are open from 9:00 to 16:00 on weekdays and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Most stores are open every day from 10:30 to 20:00, including Sundays.

Tip & 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. Value-Added Tax (VAT) is levied on most goods and services at a standard rate of 10% and is included in the retail price. In tourist hotels, this 10% tax applies to rooms, meals and other services and is included in the bill.

Electricity

In Korea, 220 volt outlets are most common. Some hotels provide 110 volt outlets for shavers. Please check the power supply before use.

Emergency Call

• 112: Police
• 119: Emergencies for Fire / Rescue & Hospital Services
• 129: First Aid Patients
• 1330: Travel Information Center
• 1339: Medical Emergency

Useful Website

• Korea National Tourism OrganizationWebsite go
• Gateway to KoreaWebsite go
• Daegu Convention & Visitors BureauWebsite go
• Korea Immigration ServiceWebsite go
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and TradeWebsite go