Know before you go
Get to know South Korea
.png) LANDSCAPE The country is largely mountainous, with small valleys and narrow coastal plains. Area: 100,364 km2 |
  TIME ZONE 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time
(GMT) +9 hours |
 INTERNET Subway stations, coffee shops, malls, public facilities and most other tourist areas offer fast and free Wi-Fi |
 COUNTRY CODE South Korea’s country code is +82 |
 VISA EXEMPTION United States (90 Days); Canada (6 Months)
For more detail: view this post |
 ELECTRICITY Standard voltage in South Korea is 220V at 60 Hertz and the outlet has two round holes. Similar to France, Germany. |
 CURRENCY South Korea's official monetary unit is the Won (₩, KRW)
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 RELIGION Religion in South Korea is diverse. Today, Christianity is the largest religion in numbers in South Korea. |
 LANGUAGE Korean is the most spoken language of South Korea by both number of native and overall speakers |
 WEATHER You can enjoy all four seasons in South Korea. In September: daily temperature from 17°C to 25°C. |
Quick facts about Seoul
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Seoul, the capital of The Republic of Korea for over six centuries, showcases ancient palaces and many historical artifacts.
The picturesque Hangang River flows through the heart of the city, from east to west, while traditional markets brimming with tasty treats, and charming neighborhoods add to the city's allure as a tourist destination.
Role of the city: Capital of Republic of Korea
Population: approx. 9.7 million (as of Q1 2024)
International Airport:
General Tourism Inquiries: dial 1330 |
Destinations to explore in Seoul
- Admire the ancient palaces alive with history at Gwanghwamun, Jongno-gu.
- Enjoy the shopping paradise all around at Myeongdong, Jung-gu
- Embrace the endless selection of arts & shopping at Dongdaemun-gu
- Get swept up in the energy of the college town vibe at Hongdae, Mapo-gu
- Venture through this concrete island set at heart of Seoul at Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu
- Explore the cultural melting pot of the city at Itaewon, Yongsan-gu
- Come check out what’s trending in Seoul at Gangnam-gu
To learn more about these sights, please check out our compilation here:
Useful apps for travelling around Seoul
To make your travels around Seoul more convenient and enjoyable, try these helpful apps!
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NAVER MAPS
Google Maps doesn't work in South Korea but we have Kakao and Naver Maps as alternatives. Naver Maps is easier to use because it can recognize both English and Korean when you search for a place or destination.
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KAKAO TAXI
Kakao Taxi, the primary taxi-hailing app in South Korea, is available in English, making it incredibly convenient for international visitors of Seoul. You can book a cab directly to your location, travel to your destination, and make payment either by cash or card.
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PAPAGO TRANSLATOR
Papago makes it easier to speak with the locals: type in what you need to say in English and the app will translate it into Korean. It is also useful when navigating Korean signs and menus; simply take a picture and the app will auto translate into English for you.
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SHUTTLE DELIVERY
If you are looking to order in instead of eating out, Shuttle Delivery is the app for you. One of the few food delivery services available in English, it allows to you to place your order and have it delivered to your doorstep.
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Tourist services by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO)
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This is the official website and application of the KTO. It offers information needed while traveling throughout the country, such as popular tourist sites, foods, transportation, accommodations, latest trend, and more. |
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This is the official website and application of the KTO with a special focus on Seoul travel information such as popular tourist sites, foods, transportation, accommodations, latest trend, and more. |
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1330 KOREA TRAVEL HELPLINE
language www.touristcomplaint.or.kr phone Calls from overseas: +82-2-1330 phone Calls in South Korea: 1330 This is a 24-hour tourist helpline that provides tourist information and interpretation services and also serves as a tourism complaint center. If you’re in a free Wi-Fi zone, you can live chat and call through the 1330 application at no extra charge. |
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This is a free audio guide application available in English, Chinese, and Japanese that provides information on the history and culture of major tourist attractions throughout South Korea. Odii uses GPS location information to recommend tourist sites near you. |
Useful phone numbers
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1330 Korea Travel Helpline • 24 hour travel-related services (information, interpretation, complaint report, etc.) • Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Indonesian |
1339 Korea Disease Control & Prevention Agency • Information and guidelines on travel vaccinations, and major infectious diseases (COVID-19, Zika, etc.) • Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Indonesian |
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119 Emergency Rescue Services • Fire, rescue, ambulance, disaster report, emergency care, hospital information, etc. • Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Indonesian |
112 Korean National Police • Crime-related reports • Languages: English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Indonesian |
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1345 Immigration Contact Center • Information, consulting regarding foreigners living in Korea • 19 different languages |
1588-5644 BBB Korea • 24-hour translation service • 20 different languages |
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120 Seoul Dasan Call Center • General information about Seoul such as transportation, tourism, 3-way interpretation, etc. • Languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Mongolian |
Hospitals in Seoul
These hospitals is selected by judging the ability to accommodate foreign patients in various ways, such as having a foreign language coordinator and whether the medical institutions have insurance among Korean Accreditation Program for Hospitals Serving Foreign Patients (KAHF).
 SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
101, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Map: Click here
Accessibility:
• 15-min car transfer from Lotte Hotel Seoul
• 15-min car transfer from THE PLAZA Seoul, Autograph Collection
• 30-min car transfer from JW Marriott Hotel Seoul
• 50-min car transfer from Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
• 35-min car transfer from Fairmont Ambassador Seoul
For more information, please click here. |
 ASAN MEDICAL CENTER 88, Olympic-Ro 43-Gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul
Map: Click here
Accessibility:
• 35-min car transfer from Lotte Hotel Seoul
• 35-min car transfer from THE PLAZA Seoul, Autograph Collection
• 20-min car transfer from JW Marriott Hotel Seoul
• 20-min car transfer from Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
• 30-min car transfer from Fairmont Ambassador Seoul |
 SEVERANCE HOSPITAL Accessibility: • 15-min car transfer from Lotte Hotel Seoul
• 15-min car transfer from THE PLAZA Seoul, Autograph Collection
• 35-min car transfer from JW Marriott Hotel Seoul
• 50-min car transfer from Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas
• 25-min car transfer from Fairmont Ambassador Seoul For more information, please click here. |
