8 Korea travel tips for first visitors - Comprehensive ideas
Introduction
When embarking on a journey to South Korea, safety and cultural awareness are key factors that can greatly enhance your experience. This diverse and vibrant nation, known for its rich history and technological advancements, offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore essential aspects of South Korea, from its safety measures and legal regulations to communication and culinary options. By delving into these topics, you'll be better prepared to explore this fascinating country and make the most of your visit. So, let's begin our journey into the heart of South Korea and uncover what awaits you in the Land of the Morning Calm.
CONTENTS
1. Is South Korea safe?
2. Never drugs in Korea
3. Prostitution in Korea
4. Do you need a visa to travel to Korea
5. Best month to visit Korea
6. Do Koreans speak English?
7. Free Wifi in Korea
8. Food options in Korea
1. Is South Korea safe?
South Korea has a lower crime rate than other industrialized countries according to Wiki . Murder is ucommon, as well as theft rate is very low.
In my personal experience, I go to bathroom leaving laptop and bag in my seat working in cafes. Well,, to be safer, I tend to cover the laptop with my cloth though. Also all packages delivered from online shoppping malls are drop at the gate at least for a day. No one seemingly be interested in taking those stuffs even though the packages are sitting there for several days. I believe this low theft rate helped Korean delivery industry to grow alot. However, there is an exception all the time.
2. Never drugs in Korea
There are tips you must remember to avoid trouble making as foreign visitor. Above all, drug issues. Drug rule is super strict in South Korea. First-time marijuana offenders are told to receive probation for a sentence of between 6 and 10 moths. If the one carrys more than a single person consumable amount(for trading purpose), the sentence coul increases up to 2years. According to the principle of territoriality, foreign offenders are subjected to the same criminal punishment as domestic citizens. Plus, they could be deported forcibly depending on the severity of the crime. ** Please bear in mind that carrying CBD is also illegal.
3. Prostitution in Korea : Avoid paid ladies
Prostitution is illegal in Korea, yet sex trading seems to happen underground. In a similar case, there are sneaky Noraebangs(노래방, private room type karaoke) that calls “helper ladies” for your pleasant singing experiences by your requests. In this case, the owner would be finned or get sentences. When I googled more, paid ladies only in clubs, bars are legal.(The business should be registered as "유흥업소"). To summarize my thoughts, being remained lonely sounds safer than contacting paid ladies.
4. Do you need a visa to travel to Korea : K-ETA application
Travellers who are entering Korea for activities allowed under C-3 visa (i.e tourism, business meetings, short-term study, family visit) may apply for K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) if they are from a country eligible for K-ETA. Travellers who are not eligible to apply for K-ETA, whose purpose of visit is not covered by K-ETA or whose K-ETA application is denied may apply for visa.[Refer to Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Reublic of Singapore]
⊙ For US citizens
K-ETA not required to enter Korea from April 1, 2023 to Dec 31, 2024
※ Official reference : US Embassy
⊙ Other nationals
K-ETA or other type of Visa is required.
※ Check your elibigility to apply for K-ETA HERE
※ Check other Visa requirements HERE
5. Best month to visit Korea
Korea has 4 seasons around a year. Among them, spring and autumn might be the most pleasant for sightseeinging. Because Korea's rain season comes in summer, also, it's the most hot and humid period. For surfers, however, peak of summer must be exciting the most. On the other hand, winter is very cold where the temperature goes down to -8°C(=17°F) on average.
March : Early Spring. A little chily
April ~ May : Lovely Spring
June : Early Summer (Rain season starts)
July : Start of Summer (Rain season ends. Thunderstorm can come occasionally)
August : Peak of Summer. Very humid (Thunderstorm can come occasionally)
September : Interseasonal. Good to travel (Check news for Thunderstorm)
October : Autumn
November : Getting cold toward Winter
December ~ February : Winter
6. Do Koreans speak English?
⊙ Signs
All of road signs, map and naviations provide English captions. Especially metro do announcement in Korean, English and Japanese.
⊙ Verbal communication
Rarely works. Finger pointing / body language or showing google translator would be better. In my experience, super simple phrases like “Iced Americano please” is understood for coffee ordering.
⊙ Convenience store
You do not need any level of communication for convenience stores, which are located everywhere and are open 24/7. So worst case scenario, you can get all your basic survival needs at any time. Just bring them up to the counter and use your credit card.
7. Free Wifi in Korea
Airport have free wifi. Public transit does it partially. Almost all cafe and many restaurnats in the city got free wifi. Some of them post the name of wifi & password on the wall, in arcrylic table stand or write on their receipt.
8. Food options in Korea
Korean restaurants offers less options to vary your dishes as compare to North America restaurants . For instance, if a restaurant serves Kimchi stew comes with pork in it, the pork is not able to be removed. What you can do is to choose other dish or move to other restaurant. This would be a critical issues for vegan travelers. If you’re a vegan, googling vegan food-speciallized restaurants would be helping.
Fortunately, I often witness soymilk as milk substitute in cafe. Some cafe began to carry milk substitute like almond brees, Amazing oat milk and soymilk. Starbucks in Korea has most of vegan milk options.
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