Safety & Security
Korea is unique in the degree to which people enjoy the freedom to walk safely on the streets at all times. The crime rate in Korea, especially in regard to foreign tourists, is one of the lowest in the world.
Climate and Weather
As Jejudo Island is located to the east of Eurasia, its continental and oceanic climates are clearly distinguishable depending on the weather. In the winter, the northwest monsoon can result in severe temperature differences, while high temperatures and humidity of the North Pacific air mass in the summer leads to intense rain storms. The yearly average temperature for the Seogwipo region is 16.2℃, while it is 15.5℃ for Jeju-si and the alpine regions, the smallest annual range in the country. Furthermore, the presence of Hallasan Mountain means that Seogwipo-si is 0.5∼1.5℃ cooler than Jeju-si in the summer and warmer than Jeju-si in the winter.
Time Zone
The time zone is Greenwich Mean Time +9 hours.
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.
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.
Traveler’s Checks
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.
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 Calls
– 112 : Police
– 119 : Emergencies for Fire / Rescue & Hospital Services
– 129 : First Aid Patients
– 1330 : Travel Information Center
– 1339 : Medical Emergency
Useful Websites
– Gateway to Korea (http://www.korea.net)
– Korea Tourism Organization (http://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/eng.kto)
– Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (http://www.mofa.go.kr/eng/index.do)
– Jeju Convention & Visitors Bureau (http://www.jejucvb.or.kr/)
– International Convention Center Jeju (http://www.iccjeju.co.kr/EN/Main)