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 > Travel Information > Useful Information |
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| Climate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons : spring, summer, fall, and winter. June is in the early summer. The average temperature range in June and July is between 20 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius. A light jacket is recommended early morning and night. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Korean Food | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eating out is one of the great pleasures of visiting Korea, a country famous for its diverse native dishes. Korean cuisine is nutritious, well balanced and low-cal as it involves a wide variety of vegetables and fermented foods. Bulgogi (Marinated, barbecued beef) and Bibimbap (Boiled rice mixed with vegetables) are the most famous. When having a meal, try to keep pace with others and do not hold the bowl in the hand. After a meal, put spoon and chopsticks on the spot where they were originally placed. |
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| Currency & Exchange | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The unit of Korean currency is the Won(￦). Specifically, various notes and coins are used: Notes include 1,000 won, 5,000 won, and 10,000 won denominations, while coins include 10 won, 50 won, 100 won, and 500 won denominations. As of April 2008, the exchange rate is approximately US$1 to KRW 980. Foreign bank notes and traveler's checks can be converted into the Korean Won at foreign exchange banks and other authorized money exchange outlets. The exchange rate is subject to market fluctuations. |
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| Credit cards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Diners Club, Visa, American Express and MasterCard are widely accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireless Internet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COEX is providing a great wireless internet environment to all of its users. To use wireless internet services, please buy a voucher at the office of Hanaro Telecommunications, situated on the 1st floor of COEX. For your reference, the service rate is as follows.  10,000 Korean Won for 4 hours16,500 Korean Won per day55,000 Korean Won for 4 days
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| Time Zone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Korean time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +9). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Telephone Call | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| For international calls, dial the international dialing code (001, 002, or 008), the country code, the area code, and the individual number. Domestic and international phone cards are available for sale at most convenience stores, hotels and airports. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile Phone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mobile phones can be rented at the airport or at major hotels. To apply for a mobile phone rental service, you will need an identification card (passport) and a credit card. Please be aware that participants from Europe cannot use their roaming cellular phones in Korea as Korea and Europe use different transmission technology in cell phones. Kindly ensure alternative communication methods are in place. For Congress participants, we will provide a roaming cellular phone rental service. |
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| Business Hours | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Government offices are usually open to the public from 9:00am to 18:00pm on weekdays and closed on weekends. Banks are open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Major stores are open every day from 10:30 am to 8 pm. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electricity | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| It is advisable to check with your hotel beforehand. The standard electricity supply is 220-volts AC/60 cycles. Although Korea uses both the 110 and 220-volts systems, the use of 220-volts system is more widespread and common. Most hotels have 220-voLt wiring installed, but hotels may provide outlet converters for 110 and 220 volts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tip & Tax | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tip - Tipping is not a regular practice in Korea. Service charges will be 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. Tax - Only foreign tourist visitors can receive nearly 10 percent VAT refunds for purchases at Duty Free shops. Goods must be taken out of Korea within three months of purchase to be eligible for a tax refund. Visitors can receive a refund on a receipt for a minimum purchase of KRW 50,000 (around USD 52). To receive this refund, present receipts with the purchased goods at the customs desk at the Incheon International Airport when departing. |
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| Emergency Call & Useful Phone Number | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International SOS Korea provides a 24-hour emergency service for visitors, with a small fee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Useful Website | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Taxi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regular Taxi Regular Taxis are usually white or silver gray: The basic fare is 1,900 Won between the hours 04:00-24:00. Additional 20% late-night charge applies after midnight. It will cost roughly KRW 70,000 (USD 75) to travel from the airport to the venue hotel. The total fare will vary depending on the distance traveled and traffic conditions. A tollgate fee of 7,100 Won should be added when traveling to Seoul from IIA. Please note that from midnight to 4 in the morning, a 20% extra charge is added to the fare. Deluxe Taxi Black Taxis with a yellow cap: The Basic fare is 4,500 Won. Car phone service & receipts are available. It will cost around KRW 90,000 (USD 95) from the airport to the venue hotel. Duration and the total fare will vary depending on the distance traveled and traffic conditions. Tollgate fee of 7,100 Won should be added when traveling to Seoul from IIA. |
