|
 Location |
 The
Korean peninsula's location lies adjacent to China, and Japan.
To be exact, the shortest distance between Korean and Chinese coasts
is 200 kilometers and from the southeastern tip of the peninsula, it is
also 200 kilometers away to the nearest point on the Japanese coast.
The Korean peninsula is roughly 1,030 km (612 miles) long and 175 km (105
miles) wide at its narrowest point. Because of its unique geographical
location, this makes Korea very viable piece of land and an international
hub of Asia.
Geographical Make-up
Mountains cover 70% of Korea's land mass, making it one of the most mountainous
regions in the world. The lifting and folding of Korea's granite and limestone
base creates breathtaking landscapes of scenic hills and valleys. Te mountain
range that stretches the length of the east coast falls steeply into the
East Sea, while along the southern and western coasts, the mountains descend
gradually to the coastal plains that produce the bulk of Korea's agricultural
crops, especially rice.
Division of the 38th Parallel
The Korean peninsula is divided just slightly north of the 38th parallel.
The democratic Republic of Korea in the south and the communist government
of North Korea are separated by a demilitarized zone.
|
| Weather
|
| Korea has four seasons, with a wet monsoon/summer
in the middle of the year, and a cold winter from November to March. The
island of Jeju off the southern coast is the warmest and wettest place in
the country. The most ideal time to visit Korea is during the autumn months
(September~November). During this time, the country experiences warm, sunny
weather, skies are cobalt blue and the spectacular foliage is perhaps the
biggest draw. Winters are cold and dry and remain a good time if you are
interested in winter sports as there are numerous ski resorts. Spring (April~May)
is also beautiful with all the cherry blossoms in bloom. However, it is
very busy and one needs to book in advance to ensure accommodation is available.
The summer months are muggy and hot, and rather crowded. It is also when
the monsoon begins so many activities are subject to the fluctuations of
heavy rain. |
| Time
Difference: Korea Time |
When Indicating Korea Time: Present Time (GMT+9) / No daylight
savings time.
| City |
Time |
| Rio de Janeiro, S'ao Paulo |
*13 |
*16 |
*19 |
*22 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
11 |
| New York, Montreal, Bogota, Toronto |
*11 |
*14 |
*17 |
*20 |
*23 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
| Chicago, Houston |
*10 |
*13 |
*16 |
*19 |
*22 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
Vancouver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles
|
*8 |
*11 |
*14 |
*17 |
*20 |
*23 |
2 |
5 |
| Sydney, Melbourne |
2 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
17 |
20 |
23 |
| Seoul, Tokyo (Korea Time) |
1 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
19 |
22 |
| Taipei, Manila, Hong Kong, Kulala Lumpur, Singapore |
*24 |
3 |
6 |
9 |
12 |
15 |
18 |
21 |
| Bangkok, Jakarta |
*23 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
17 |
20 |
| New Delhi, Calcutta |
*22 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
19 |
| Teheran, Kuwait, Jeddah |
*19 |
*22 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
16 |
| Hamburg, Rome, Paris, Amsterdam |
*17 |
*20 |
*23 |
2 |
5 |
8 |
11 |
14 |
| London, Madrid |
*16 |
*19 |
*22 |
1 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
13 |
* Previous day |
| Business
Hour |
| Business |
Weekdays |
Saturdays |
Sundays and
National Holidays |
| Banks |
9 am - 5 pm |
Closed |
Closed |
Government Offices
and Organizations |
9 am - 6 pm |
Closed |
Closed |
| Post Offices |
9 am - 6 pm
(Gwanghwamun Post Office: 9 am – 8 pm) |
9 am - 1 pm
(From July 2005 the post office is expected to stop Saturday hours.)
(Gwanghwamun Post Office: 9 am - 6 pm) |
Closed
(Gwanghwamun Post Office: 9 am - 6 pm) |
Foreign Diplomatic
Missions |
Hours vary, please see the following link for
more information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade(English) |
Closed |
Closed |
| Department Stores |
10:30 am - 8 pm |
10:30 am – 8 pm |
10:30 am –8 pm
*Typically one day a month (usually a Monday) department stores are
closed to the public. However, closings will vary according to each
store. |
|
| Helpful
Phone Number |
| • |
Reporting & Police
112
Crime Reporting Phone Number 112 provides foreigners with a translation
service. When a tourist dials 112, a multilingual operator (English,
Japanese, Chinese, Russian, French, Spanish, and Germany) is made
available to consult with the tourist about his or her emergency situation
and connect him or her directly to police authorities. Hours of Operation:
08:00~23:00 (Monday through Friday) / 9:00~18:00 (Saturday and Sunday)
|
| • |
Fire and Medical Service 119
Linked to Korea Travel Phone 1330, it provides foreign tourist with
emergency rescue service. |
| • |
Medical Referral Service 1339 |
| • |
Information Service - International call 00794 |
| • |
International Call Service 00799 |
| • |
Information Service - Telephone number of where you are
located 114 |
| • |
Local telephone number guide - Local area code + 114 |
| • |
International Telegram Service 00795 |
| • |
Tourist Complaint Center 02-735-0101 |
| • |
International Emergency Rescue 02-790-7561
A 24-hour emergency rescue service for foreigners, it provides patients
with direct means for getting to a hospital anywhere in Korea. All
transportation fees are free |
| • |
Seoul Call Center 02-120
Offers all basic information concerning Seoul city, including tourism
information, restaurants, transportation, Korean language schools,
foreign language schools and any other information on daily living
in the city |
|
| Transportation |
Airport
Incheon
International Airport
• Website : http://www.airport.or.kr/eng/airport/
Gimpo International Airport
• Website:
http://gimpo.airport.co.kr/eng/index.jsp
City Bus
At first impression, getting around in Seoul might seem near impossible,
complicated and time-consuming but in fact, using public transportation
in the city is probably the most recommended mode of transport for getting
from point A to B.
• website : http://bus.congnamul.com
Subway
Seoul has one of the most well-developed subway systems in the world.
It's also one of the busiest, making some 8 million trips daily across
its 10 lines. In terms of passengers, the system is the third-busiest
in the world behind the Tokyo and Moscow subways.
• Website : http://www.smrt.co.kr/english_smrt/index.jsp
** Reference: Korea
Tourism Organization |
| Useful
Links |
** Reference: http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/ |
