Things to note when traveling to South Korea

There are many things to pay attention to when traveling to South Korea. The first is the issue of passports and visas. When entering or exiting the country, you should pay attention to the checked luggage not exceeding 20 kilograms. There are also clear requirements for the money you carry with you. You must abide by the local customs and habits. Take a look at my detailed introduction below!

The Mysterious East The Light of Korea has unique cultural and historical heritage, retaining the essence of ancient oriental civilization while also possessing the elegance of modern civilization. Nowadays, South Korea has become a famous tourist destination in Asia, receiving thousands of tourists from all over the world every year. Every year, many domestic students choose to study in South Korea, but it also has its own characteristics and taboos.

1. Things to note when traveling to South Korea: First of all, you must apply for a tourist visa:

(1) Passport

Use your ID card and household registration book to apply for it. The management office will take a 2-inch front-face standard passport photo with no crown, copy the household registration book and ID card, fill in the application form, submit it to the processing window, and receive a receipt. It usually takes 15 working days to get a passport.

　(2) Visa

Submit travel plan, copy of ID card, copy of household register, certificate of student status, parents’ bank long-term deposit certificate, bank seal or copy of real estate certificate to the travel agency If you are a minor, otherwise there is no need for a letter of guarantee from the guardian, signed by your parents, a letter of consent from the school on school letterhead, stamped with the official seal, and copies of other documents required by the travel agency, and pay an agency fee. Each travel agency charges different fees and a visa fee of 240 Yuan.

Generally, it takes 5 working days for a personal tourist visa to be issued.

Please note: Do not mention that you are in love with a Korean woman, and do not say that you are going to see your girlfriend. Otherwise, the other party will doubt whether you have the tendency to stay illegally in South Korea, and the visa may be refused.

2. Time difference:

Do South Korea and Beijing have advantages in production? Of course they do! It is 1 hour ahead of Beijing time.

3. Customs:

1. Things to note when leaving China:

(1) Passing through customs: those carrying items that must be declared (camera, detachable long Focal length lens) Please choose the red channel, and those who do not need to declare should choose the green channel. Each person can carry 5,000 U.S. dollars or RMB equivalent to 5,000 U.S. dollars at the same time;

(2) Checked baggage: no more than 20 kilograms;

(3) Pass border inspection: fill in Exit card, wait outside the one-meter line, show your passport and boarding pass;

(4) Pass the security check: unload your belongings for inspection. (Note: Small knives and cosmetic scissors are not allowed on board);

(5) Please bring your ID card!

2. Precautions for entry into South Korea:

　(1) It is strictly prohibited to carry away and contraband items;

（2）It is strictly forbidden to carry fresh fruits, such as oranges, mangoes, coconuts, cherries, etc.;

(3) Due to the global Due to the spread of animal diseases, it is strictly prohibited to carry meat, cooked food and fruits;

(4) Individuals or families must fill in a customs declaration form on the plane;

(5) Entry If you carry more than 10,000 U.S. dollars, you must declare it. Otherwise, it will be troublesome to be randomly checked on the return trip;

(6) Due to South Korea's political sensitivity, any books and newspapers related to Korean politics brought into the country will be confiscated;

( 7) You can carry 200 cigarettes and 1 bottle of foreign wine duty-free;

4. Currency:

1. The basic unit of Korean currency is "South Korean won", and the face value of Korean (WON) coins There are: 10, 50, 100, 500; the face values ??of banknotes are: 1000, 5000, 10000;

2. US dollars and RMB can be exchanged at the airport and at the front desk of general hotels. Generally, the exchange rate between RMB and Korean won is The exchange rate between the US dollar and the Korean won is 1:1100. (Subject to the exchange rate announced at the time);

3. Credit card: VISA and MASTER cards are very convenient to use in South Korea. Things to note when traveling to South Korea: Most Koreans use credit cards for their purchases.

5. Language:

Korean is the administrative language, and overseas Chinese also speak Mandarin. English proficiency is generally poor.

6. Communication:

1. Mobile phones: Most mobile phones from China cannot be used in South Korea because South Korea uses a CDMA network, that is, a one-machine-one-number system. However, China Unicom's CDMA mobile phones can be used, but international long distance needs to be opened, otherwise you need to rent a mobile phone.

2. Public phones: There are three types of public phones: blue, silver gray, and card phones. Blue and silver gray are coin-operated phones. They can make local and long-distance calls, and can be used with continuous coins. , card-type telephones (phone cards can be purchased locally at banks, telecommunications bureaus, post offices, etc.) that can make domestic and international long-distance calls. The landline dialing sequence is: 00186 area code (remove the leading 0) phone number. The mobile phone dialing sequence is: 00186 mobile phone number.

Warm reminder: Coin-operated phones: use coins of 10 won, 50 won, 100 won, and 500 won denominations (some phones cannot use 50 won coins); ordinary magnetic card phones: in convenience stores, banks, post offices You can buy magnetic cards with face values ??of 2,000 won, 3,000 won, 5,000 won, and 10,000 won at other places; IC cards/coin-operated phones/credit card public phones: You can also make calls with IC cards or credit cards. Local call fee: 70 won/3 minutes

7. Voltage:

Generally, hotels use 220V and 110V voltage. However, due to different currents, some electrical appliances cannot be used with each other. Comes with multi-purpose power strip.

8. Food:

The prices of the food stalls are all the same, there is no phenomenon that one is cheaper than that, and the things sold are all similar. They all taste similar and very good. When you really can’t find a restaurant and are very hungry, it’s good to eat some at a roadside stall first.

9. Shopping:

Most Korean products are subject to a surcharge of 100 standard tax stamps. Therefore, it is recommended to go to duty-free shops to buy goods: shopping in stores marked with the "Tax Free Shopping" logo can get VAT refund services. However, you must leave the country within 3 months from the date of purchase and purchase goods above a certain amount (minimum purchase price). Most department stores and stores in the Myeongdong/Cheongdamdong area are Tax Free Shopping franchise stores. There is a tax refund service counter at Incheon International Airport, located near gate 28 in the departure hall on the third floor. However, you need to pay attention to the following points:

(1) After shopping in a duty-free shop, ask for a duty-free shopping invoice;

(2) When leaving the country, present the invoice and goods to the customs at the airport And stamp the confirmation stamp before checking in the luggage containing the purchased goods;

(3) Present the invoice at the nearest tax refund window (CASH REFUND) at the airport to get a cash refund of the total value-added tax on the purchased goods. . If you are unable to get a tax refund in the situation due to time constraints, you can also receive the tax refund amount in cash after returning to your home country by showing the airport confirmation stamp.

10. Traffic:

1. South Korea implements left-hand traffic.

2. Taxis are metered rather than negotiated, so there is no need to worry about being ripped off. But in Seoul, black taxis are the most expensive, and there is a yellow slogan on the taxi that says "free internation", which means that there is a free international translation phone in the taxi. If you can't communicate with the driver, you can pick up the phone. The phone in the car has language options such as English and Mandarin. Tell the translator your destination and she will tell the driver the location. The starting price of an ordinary taxi is 1,900 won, and the starting price of a model taxi is 4,000 won;

3. The subway is a very convenient and fast means of transportation. Although it is relatively old, it has rich lines and forms a network. You can transfer to other trains without leaving the station, and it costs 600 won to take any ride. Each line is marked with different colors at the station and on the map, with one line and one color, making it easy to distinguish.

Warm reminder: Before entering the ticket gate, it is best to look behind you to see if there is a ticket gate behind you. If so, you must find out which gate you want to go in, otherwise Once you go in and find that you are heading in the wrong direction, it will be difficult to get out again.

11. Weather:

South Korea has a temperate climate and its maritime characteristics are very significant. The climate in South Korea has four distinct seasons: spring (April to June) is bright and sunny, summer (July to September) is hot and humid, autumn (October to December) is cool and charming, and winter (January to March) is cold and dry.

12. Drugs:

Please prepare a small amount of commonly used drugs according to your physical condition.

13. Tipping habits:

South Korea generally does not accept tips, except for tour groups. Occasionally, high-end restaurants and hotels will add a 10 service fee to the basic fee. In this case, the service fee is already included in the bill, and no additional tip is required.

Fourteen. Customs and taboos:

1. Koreans hate the number "4" (the same sound as death in Korean), so they try to avoid "4" in social life. They I like odd numbers but don’t like even numbers;

2. Bow when breaking up, and men also shake hands, but women generally do not shake hands with men;

3. South Korea respects Confucian culture therefore favors boys over girls: when going out to get in the car, women should let men go first, and the words should start with "gentles and ladies". In social occasions such as banquets, men and women should move separately, and two people should talk in the aisle, and the third person should be allowed to go first. Pass between the two people;

4. When communicating with Koreans, you should try to avoid talking about domestic politics, relations between South Korea and North Korea, relations with Japan, topics about the husband and wife, etc., but Koreans like to ask personal questions Situation;

5. I like spicy, fragrant, garlicky, Chinese Sichuan cuisine, but don’t like mutton, fatty pork, duck, coriander, and greasy food. I don’t like sourness in hot dishes, and I don’t like eating sugar. or Sichuan pepper dishes.

6. There are some differences between them and China: rice spoons can only be used for eating and drinking soup, chopsticks can only be used to pick up vegetables, and cannot hold bowls when eating;

7. Use both hands when accepting items. Gifts given to you by others should not be opened in person. Do not use foreign cigarettes as gifts;

8. If you have lunch with Korean friends at noon, you generally do not drink strong alcohol. Have only a small glass of wine or beer, and drink it slowly. In the evening, if a Korean friend invites you, it is more casual, but do not pour yourself a drink, only a waiter or host can pour it for you.

9. If you are a guest at a Korean friend’s home, you should pay attention to the following points:

(1) When pouring wine, hold the bottle in one hand and support your arm with the other hand;

(2) For the host’s toast, you must give in the first or second time, and only accept it after the third time;

(3) It is impolite to refuse to drink other people’s toasts, such as If you really can’t drink, you can leave a little wine in the cup. Koreans forgive drunk people;

(4) You can’t eat the dishes on the plate cleanly, which is disrespectful to the host;

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(5) If elders are present, no smoking or wearing sunglasses;

(6) Gift money should be in a white gift bag, not a red one;

( 7) When you go to a Korean home as a guest, you must take off your shoes

10. When buying things in Korean stores, you generally do not bargain, but you can bargain appropriately in Dongdaemun and Namdaemun.

15. Accommodation:

1. In South Korea, large hotels adopt a reservation system, that is, you must book a room in advance;

2. Check-in at the hotel The time is generally 14:00 pm, and the check-out time is before 12:00 noon. Additional fees will be charged for overtime;

3. No loud noises are allowed in the hotel?

4. The hotel does not provide water, but the tap water in the room is safe to drink;

5. The hotel does not provide free toothpaste, toothbrushes, slippers and other personal items. Please bring your own if necessary, but these items may be in the hotel You can see it, but please be sure to read the price clearly to avoid getting a very expensive "ticket";

6. Some hotels have pay TV programs. It is recommended to ask clearly before using them to avoid misunderstandings;

7. Don’t press the green button on the TV remote control in the room casually, because it is a "material program" that specifically plays adult discs and is charged;

8 . Please pay the personal phone bill and beverage bill to the front desk when checking out;

9. The plugs in the room are mostly two-pronged round-pin sockets, but the hotel has spare conversion plugs, but the quantity is limited, so it is recommended Bring your own converter. However, you can also borrow it from the hotel, but you must remember to return it when checking out;

At present, in China, it is not only traveling to South Korea, studying abroad, or purchasing on behalf of others, but you should be clear about the precautions for traveling to South Korea, as well as the local customs Customs and laws must be respected. If you have a meal with Korean friends, you must pay attention to etiquette, unlike Chinese people who are so bold and informal!