South Korea Travel Guide

Language

The official language is Korean.

Currency

South Korea's monetary unit is the won (KRW). Currency can be exchanged at most banks and at casinos, and travelers checks cashed at authorized banks and hotels. Most merchants in the cities accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards, but Koreans traditionally prefer cash. ATMs at banks are usually accessible only during banking hours, and instructions on the machines are generally only in Korean. Public ATMs at convenience stores and subway stations are generally available 24 hours. US Dollars are an accepted form of foreign currency and can be used as US Dollars in the areas around the American Military bases in South Korea.

1062.6000

Time

Local time is GMT +9.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 or 220 volts, 60Hz. Most hotels operate on 220 volts.

Communications

The international dialing code for South Korea is +82, and the outgoing code is 001 or 002 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the UK). The outgoing code when using some mobile phones is 00700. City or area codes are in use, e.g. (0)2 for Seoul. Telecommunications are well developed and call boxes accepting both cash and cards are prevalent. Internet cafes are widely available. Although mobile telephones are widely used by locals, there is no GSM network and foreign phones will not usually work in the country, even when on international roaming. Local mobile phones may be rented.

Duty-Free

Travelers (over the age of 19) arriving in South Korea may bring in the following items free of customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco products; 57g perfume; 1 liter of alcohol (only those over 20 years old); and gifts valued at not more than 400,000 won. Products from communist countries are prohibited, as are fruit, seeds and any published or recorded material deemed to be subversive or obscene.

Tourist Office

Korea National Tourism Organization, Seoul: +82 (0)2 729 9600 or www.knto.or.kr

Embassies in South Korea

• United States Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 397 4114.
• British Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3210 5500.
• Canadian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3783 6000.
• Australian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 2003 0100.
• South African Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 792 4855.
• Irish Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 774 6455.
• New Zealand Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3701 7700.

South Korea Embassies Abroad

• South Korea Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 939 5663.
• South Korea Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7227 5500/2.
• South Korea Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 244 5010.
• South Korea Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4100.
• South Korea Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 460 2508/9.
• South Korea Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 8800.
• South Korea Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 9073/4.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112 (Police); 119 (Ambulance)

Language

The official language is Korean.

Currency

South Korea's monetary unit is the won (KRW). Currency can be exchanged at most banks and at casinos, and travelers checks cashed at authorized banks and hotels. Most merchants in the cities accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards, but Koreans traditionally prefer cash. ATMs at banks are usually accessible only during banking hours, and instructions on the machines are generally only in Korean. Public ATMs at convenience stores and subway stations are generally available 24 hours. US Dollars are an accepted form of foreign currency and can be used as US Dollars in the areas around the American Military bases in South Korea.

1062.6000

Time

Local time is GMT +9.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 or 220 volts, 60Hz. Most hotels operate on 220 volts.

Communications

The international dialing code for South Korea is +82, and the outgoing code is 001 or 002 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the UK). The outgoing code when using some mobile phones is 00700. City or area codes are in use, e.g. (0)2 for Seoul. Telecommunications are well developed and call boxes accepting both cash and cards are prevalent. Internet cafes are widely available. Although mobile telephones are widely used by locals, there is no GSM network and foreign phones will not usually work in the country, even when on international roaming. Local mobile phones may be rented.

Duty-Free

Travelers (over the age of 19) arriving in South Korea may bring in the following items free of customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco products; 57g perfume; 1 liter of alcohol (only those over 20 years old); and gifts valued at not more than 400,000 won. Products from communist countries are prohibited, as are fruit, seeds and any published or recorded material deemed to be subversive or obscene.

Tourist Office

Korea National Tourism Organization, Seoul: +82 (0)2 729 9600 or www.knto.or.kr

Embassies in South Korea

• United States Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 397 4114.
• British Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3210 5500.
• Canadian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3783 6000.
• Australian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 2003 0100.
• South African Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 792 4855.
• Irish Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 774 6455.
• New Zealand Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3701 7700.

South Korea Embassies Abroad

• South Korea Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 939 5663.
• South Korea Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7227 5500/2.
• South Korea Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 244 5010.
• South Korea Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4100.
• South Korea Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 460 2508/9.
• South Korea Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 8800.
• South Korea Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 9073/4.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112 (Police); 119 (Ambulance)

Language

The official language is Korean.

Currency

South Korea's monetary unit is the won (KRW). Currency can be exchanged at most banks and at casinos, and travelers checks cashed at authorized banks and hotels. Most merchants in the cities accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards, but Koreans traditionally prefer cash. ATMs at banks are usually accessible only during banking hours, and instructions on the machines are generally only in Korean. Public ATMs at convenience stores and subway stations are generally available 24 hours. US Dollars are an accepted form of foreign currency and can be used as US Dollars in the areas around the American Military bases in South Korea.

1062.6000

Time

Local time is GMT +9.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 or 220 volts, 60Hz. Most hotels operate on 220 volts.

Communications

The international dialing code for South Korea is +82, and the outgoing code is 001 or 002 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the UK). The outgoing code when using some mobile phones is 00700. City or area codes are in use, e.g. (0)2 for Seoul. Telecommunications are well developed and call boxes accepting both cash and cards are prevalent. Internet cafes are widely available. Although mobile telephones are widely used by locals, there is no GSM network and foreign phones will not usually work in the country, even when on international roaming. Local mobile phones may be rented.

Duty-Free

Travelers (over the age of 19) arriving in South Korea may bring in the following items free of customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco products; 57g perfume; 1 liter of alcohol (only those over 20 years old); and gifts valued at not more than 400,000 won. Products from communist countries are prohibited, as are fruit, seeds and any published or recorded material deemed to be subversive or obscene.

Tourist Office

Korea National Tourism Organization, Seoul: +82 (0)2 729 9600 or www.knto.or.kr

Embassies in South Korea

• United States Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 397 4114.
• British Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3210 5500.
• Canadian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3783 6000.
• Australian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 2003 0100.
• South African Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 792 4855.
• Irish Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 774 6455.
• New Zealand Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3701 7700.

South Korea Embassies Abroad

• South Korea Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 939 5663.
• South Korea Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7227 5500/2.
• South Korea Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 244 5010.
• South Korea Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4100.
• South Korea Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 460 2508/9.
• South Korea Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 8800.
• South Korea Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 9073/4.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112 (Police); 119 (Ambulance)

Language

The official language is Korean.

Currency

South Korea's monetary unit is the won (KRW). Currency can be exchanged at most banks and at casinos, and travelers checks cashed at authorized banks and hotels. Most merchants in the cities accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express credit cards, but Koreans traditionally prefer cash. ATMs at banks are usually accessible only during banking hours, and instructions on the machines are generally only in Korean. Public ATMs at convenience stores and subway stations are generally available 24 hours. US Dollars are an accepted form of foreign currency and can be used as US Dollars in the areas around the American Military bases in South Korea.

1062.6000

Time

Local time is GMT +9.

Electricity

Electrical current is 110 or 220 volts, 60Hz. Most hotels operate on 220 volts.

Communications

The international dialing code for South Korea is +82, and the outgoing code is 001 or 002 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 00144 for the UK). The outgoing code when using some mobile phones is 00700. City or area codes are in use, e.g. (0)2 for Seoul. Telecommunications are well developed and call boxes accepting both cash and cards are prevalent. Internet cafes are widely available. Although mobile telephones are widely used by locals, there is no GSM network and foreign phones will not usually work in the country, even when on international roaming. Local mobile phones may be rented.

Duty-Free

Travelers (over the age of 19) arriving in South Korea may bring in the following items free of customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco products; 57g perfume; 1 liter of alcohol (only those over 20 years old); and gifts valued at not more than 400,000 won. Products from communist countries are prohibited, as are fruit, seeds and any published or recorded material deemed to be subversive or obscene.

Tourist Office

Korea National Tourism Organization, Seoul: +82 (0)2 729 9600 or www.knto.or.kr

Embassies in South Korea

• United States Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 397 4114.
• British Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3210 5500.
• Canadian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3783 6000.
• Australian Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 2003 0100.
• South African Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 792 4855.
• Irish Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 774 6455.
• New Zealand Embassy, Seoul: +82 (0)2 3701 7700.

South Korea Embassies Abroad

• South Korea Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 939 5663.
• South Korea Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7227 5500/2.
• South Korea Embassy, Ottawa, Canada: +1 613 244 5010.
• South Korea Embassy, Canberra, Australia: +61 (0)2 6270 4100.
• South Korea Embassy, Pretoria, South Africa: +27 (0)12 460 2508/9.
• South Korea Embassy, Dublin, Ireland: +353 (0)1 660 8800.
• South Korea Embassy, Wellington, New Zealand: +64 (0)4 473 9073/4.

Emergency

Emergencies: 112 (Police); 119 (Ambulance)