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SOUTH KOREACapital: Seoul Language: Korean

Population: 50.8 Million Time Zone: EST plus 13 hours

Currency: South Korean Won Electricity: 220V/50Hz

Fun Facts● Did you know there are 250 kinds of kimchi, a traditional food favorite among South Koreans?● The South Korean flag incorporates Taoist and Buddhist principles and symbols. The white

backgrounds symbolizes peace, the yin and yang, signifies complementarity of opposites, and thetrigrams refer to the elements (fire, water, earth, and heaven).

● In Korea, a baby is one year old at birth (not zero as in the United States).

The Republic of Korea occupies the southern half of the Korean Peninsula. While small in size, the countrypacks a punch, offering travelers diverse experiences from the non-stop bustle of modern cities like Seoulto the peaceful tranquility of ancient architecture and natural wonders. South Koreans like to work hard andplay hard and visitors can take advantage of their insatiable spirit during their stay. Explore night markets,tease your taste buds with local cuisine discover UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and maybe even spendsome time at the beach.

VISAS, PASSPORTS, AND OTHER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

You are responsible for obtaining and paying for all entry documents (visas, etc.) and for meeting all healthrequirements (inoculations, etc.) as required by the laws, regulations, or orders of the countries you will visit.We cannot accept liability if you are refused entry onto any transport or into any country for failure to carrycorrect documentation.

A visa for your visit to South Korea is not necessary for Canadian Citizens. If you hold a passport fromanother country, check with your local consulate about requirements for travel to South Korea.

All passengers travelling internationally are required to have a passport. Most countries require that thepassport be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the conclusion of your trip, so please check the expirationdate carefully. It is also recommended you have a minimum of three blank pages in your passport whentraveling, as many countries require blank pages. Please carry proper identification (your passport) on youand do not leave it in your suitcase or hotel room. Most countries have laws that require you to carry yourpassport with you at all times.

COUNTRY CODES

The country code for South Korea is 82. When calling to South Korea from overseas, dial your internationalaccess code (011 from the US/Canada), followed by the country code, area code, and phone number. Phonenumbers in South Korea are 10 digits in length. Dialing from the US/Canada: 011 82 ### ### ####.

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CURRENCY

In South Korea the local currency is the South Korean Won. 1 Won = 100 jeon

● Banknote denominations: 1000, 5000, 10,000, 50,000● Coin denominations: 10, 50, 100, 500

As a general guideline, bring a variety of payment means, particularly in the event that you have difficultieswith your preferred method of payment.

CashFor initial convenience we recommend you bring some Won with you from home in case you are not ableto immediately access a money exchange or ATM.

For the most current exchange rates, please go to our website at globusfamily.com/currency.

Credit CardsCredit cards are accepted in South Korea and you should have no problem using them in larger shopsand restaurants in metropolitan cites. Visa and MasterCard are most accepted. Smaller shops most likelywill ask you to pay in cash or have a minimum amount required to use a credit card. If you use a creditcard for your purchase, you will be debited in the local currency, and your bank will establish the rate ofexchange on the debit.

Traveler's checksAlthough a secure means of carrying money, traveler's checks unfortunately are becoming very hard to use.Due to this we recommend you plan on using cash and credit cards only.

Bank Hours:Mon. - Fri. 9am - 4pmSat. & Sun. Closed

BUDGETING AND SHOPPING

The following budget guidelines are just approximate values or starting values for meals and are per person.Actual prices will vary widely by restaurant and city within a country but below are some averages asprovided by our experienced personnel.

● The approximate cost of a soft drink/mineral water/coffee is Won 800-1,500.● An average lunch consisting of a salad or sandwich and a soda or water starts at approximately

Won 5,000-8,000.● Dinner at a mid-range restaurant with dessert and a non-alcoholic beverage starts at

approximately Won 25,000-50,000.

ShoppingPrices are as marked in department stores, though in markets it is customary to barter. Start negotiatingwith an offer at one-third or half the vendor's initial price.

Please be warned that if you buy items on tour to be shipped to your home, customs import charges arehardly ever included in the price. Sales tax or GST (Goods & Services Tax) is normally already included onprice tags; GST refunds, if applicable, are processed at the departing airport from the relevant country.

TIPPING

Tipping is not common among the locals in South Korea. Some restaurants will add a service charge tothe bill and this is considered the tip. If you wish to tip in South Korea, we recommend rounding up the bill

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to make it an easy amount to pay. This applies to restaurants as well as taxi service. Tipping hotel staff isnot necessary or common.

ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS

Voltage for outlets is 220V. North American voltage is generally 110V. Some, but not all, hotels featuremultiregional outlets that accept different types of plugs. Due to this, for dual voltage electronics, we stillrecommend you bring an adapter. If you have single voltage electronics (110V) a converter is also required.Bathroom outlets are usually for razors only.

Outlets look like this:

TEMPERATURES

South Korea’s climate is generally temperate with four distinct seasons.● Spring & Fall - mild temperatures and little to no rainfall● Summer – warm & humid with some rain from July to August● Winter – cold with snow in some places

To help you plan, below are average low and high temperatures.

Month Seoul Busan Gyeongju

January -6/2°C -1/7°C -4/6°C

February -4/5°C 0-10°C -2/9°C

March 2/11°C 4/14°C 2/14°C

April 8/18°C 9/19°C 8/21°C

May 13/23°C 14/23°C 13/25°C

June 18/27°C 18/26°C 18/28°C

July 22/29°C 23/29°C 22/30°C

August 22/30°C 23/30°C 22/30°C

September 17/26°C 19/27°C 17/27°C

October 10/20°C 13/22°C 10/22°C

November 3/12°C 6/16°C 4/15°C

December -3/5°C 1/10°C -2/8°C

To convert to Fahrenheit, multiply by 2, then add 30. While not exact, this simple formula will give a closeestimation.

Last Updated 10/1/19

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FOOD SPECIALTIES

South Korean cuisine focuses on rice, meat and vegetables, and it’s famous for their number of side dishes(banchan). Kimchi (a fermented vegetable) is generally served with every meal. Popular dishes include:bibimbap, a signature dish of warm rice topped with sautéed vegetables, sliced meat, chili paste, and afried egg; Bulgogi, a marinated beef barbecue, and Mandu, the Korean version of dumplings that are fried,steamed or grilled and filled with meat and green onions.

Drinking WaterWhile, tap water is generally safe to drink we recommend drinking bottled water. For sightseeing andexcursions, bottled water may be included; otherwise we recommend you bring bottled water with you fromyour hotel. Bottled water is also common in restaurants.

CUSTOMS AND CULTURE

● Remove your shoes when entering a Korean-style restaurant, temple, or home.● Never place your chopsticks upright or vertical in your bowl, as it looks too similar to burning

incense in honor of deceased family members. Instead, place them on the chopsticks holder oracross your bowl if a holder is not available. Do not use your chopsticks to stab food like a spear.

● Do not blow your nose at a dining table. Simply excuse yourself and visit the restroom.● Smoking is common in Asia so locals tend to be less sensitive to issues regarding smoking around

others and often ignore “non-smoking” signs.

A FEW WORDS OF THE LOCAL LANGUAGE

Korean:Good morning/afternoon/evening: Annyong hashimnikka, Hi: Annyong haseyo, Please: butakamnida,Thank you: Kamsahamnida, You're welcome: Cheonmaniyo, Yes: Ne, No: Aniyo, Do you speakEnglish?: Yeongeorul Halsu isseoyo?, I don't understand: moreugesseumnida, How much?: igeeolmayeyo?, 1: ha-na, 2: dul, 3: set, 4: net, 5: da-seot, 6: yeo-seot, 7: il-gop, 8: yeo-deol, 9: a-hop, 10: yeol,Where is...? ...nun odi imnikka?, Telephone: jeonhwa, Bathroom: hwajangsil, Tea: cha, Coffee: keopi,Bottled water: saengsu, Sparkling water: tansansu, Cheers!: geonbae!, Have a nice day! Joeun harudweseyo!

GOVERNMENT OF CANADA – TRAVEL AND TOURISM

Additional country-specific information for Canadian citizens can be found on the Government of Canada’swebsite https://travel.gc.ca. Here, you can find information for Canadian travelers, including details aboutpassports/visas, travelling abroad, returning to Canada, travel advice/advisories, and how to stay connectedwhile travelling. For citizens of other nations, we recommend you consult your local consulate for travelinformation, regulations, and requirements.