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Travel South Korea V2

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TSstimix
post Mar 6 2011, 09:16 PM, updated 14y ago

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Continue from V1 : https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/369047

Link to Korea Tourist Website:
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/index.kto

More info & even learning Korean from:

Korea Plaza
Ground Flr, Menara Hap Seng (Formerly MUI Plaza)
Jalan P Ramlee KL
Tel: 03-20722515
24hr info: Dial 1330
email: klkoreanplaza@gmail.com
Business Hours: 9Am -6PM

Learning Korean/ Hangul: http://language.snu.ac.kr/site/kr/klec/cli...orean/index.jsp or http://korean.sogang.ac.kr/

Getting to Seoul from Airport

http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/GK/GK_EN_2_2_2_3.jsp

More options & Combi AREX/MRT: http://english.arex.or.kr/jsp/eng/index.jsp
user posted image


Metro maps:

user posted image
MRT route planning (Very usefull tool. http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/station/eng/linemap.action

English Reference maps of South korea (better than Googlemaps) : http://emap.visitkorea.or.kr/Scripts/EngMap.aspx

Discounted limousine bus from airport

QUOTE(Adeline0413 @ Sep 2 2011, 07:04 PM)
Discount .... Discount .... Discount !!!

Who likes to travel within Seoul with FREE local transportation (i.e. free subway, free bus, sorry, tourist bus is not consider under transportation cool2.gif )

Ok, blessed are those traveling within the month of Aug & Sept 2011, for KTO is willing to offer FREE transportation money!
‘Korea Pass’ Event

☞ Description: Buy a Korea Pass card at one of the 11 sales locations, and automatically receive 10,000 won that can be used for transportation fees
※ Each person may purchase up to 2 Korea Pass cards.
※ Money can be added to the Korea Pass card balance at recharge machines located in subway stations.

☞ Period: August 1-September 30, 2011

☞ Sales Locations
 - INCHEON INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Hana Bank Currency Exchange Counter (B1-1F),
                                                            Airport Railroad Station Information Desk (B1-1F)
 - GIMPO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT: Hana Bank Currency Exchange Counter (2F),
                                                        Airport Railroad Station Information Desk (B1)
 - SEOUL STATION: Airport Railroad Station Information Desk (B3)

☞ 1300 tt call center: +82-2-1330 (Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese)
☞ Korea Pass homepage: www.koreapass.or.kr/en
☞ Additional information on Korea Pass (English)

For strange reason, this is not show in koreapass website, but on KTO website, and this is widely discussed and got people excited at other travel forums too

Well, this is a special promotion for new sales counter, so you can ONLY get your free transportation fee reloaded into your card at the Incheon airport, Gimpo airport and Seoul station only.

If you get your KR pass in other outlets, there will be NO FREE transportation KRW 10,000 (this is almost RM30, and I worked out, if you are on backpack, this will easily means you get 4~5 days FREE subway tour)  rclxm9.gif

By the way KR pass is similar to a debit card, you can use at various shops, food outlets, tourist entrance fee, lodging, and don't forget, for those who is going to SHOP at Lotte, every KRW 50,000 you get KRW 5,000 discount.  rclxub.gif  Just remember to insist on the discount booklets that comes together.

From other forum, some of the vendor is really insisting to have the coupons AND the card before giving you the discounts, some not so fussy but there are people who are .... so let's just get it, and have fun at Seoul ^^
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «


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Useful Travelogues/tips from this thread:

ycl90: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=34152729

Huiyin_hsu: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=34223631

Fazdrock: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=34333642

zstan Seoul trip: http://zhishan90.blogspot.com/2010/11/seou...to-incheon.html

aeiou228 - Nami island: https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=38009685

Korea Tour Agents/Guides mentioned in this thread:

http://www.seoulcitytour.net/English/eng_menu_02_02.html
http://www.tiktourservice.com/tour/?c_id=8
http://english.triptokorea.com/english/viewforum.php?f=441



Locations of famous attractions (Wikimapia images):

Gyeongbokgung - Palace http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5790044&lon=1...=b&search=seoul
Changdeokgung - Palace http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5800247&lon=1...=b&search=seoul
Changgyeonggung - Palace http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5789874&lon=1...=b&search=seoul
Deoksugung - Palace http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5656879&lon=1...04&z=16&l=0&m=b
Gyeonghuigung - Palace http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5709774&lon=1...02&z=16&l=0&m=b
Dongdaemun gate - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.57119&lon=127...=b&search=seoul
Namdaemun Gate - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5600026&lon=1...earch=namdaemun
Insa-Dong art market (Area) http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5738005&lon=1...rch=insa%20dong
Myeong-Dong Shopping area: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5628644&lon=1...99&z=16&l=0&m=b
Cheonggyecheon Stream (Rehabilitated stream) http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5688557&lon=1...=Cheonggyecheon
Rodeo Street & Garak Wholesale market - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.4942689&lon=1...yangin%20market
Naryangin Market: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5150703&lon=1...39&z=14&l=0&m=b
Jongmyo Shrine http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5734264&lon=1...96&z=16&l=0&m=b
King Seongjong royal tomb park http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5089918&lon=1...ch=royal%20tomb
Donggureung Royal Tomb (The largest & 2009 Unesco list) - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.6206222&lon=1...m=b&search=guri
Suwon Hwaseong Fortress (1997 Unseco list) http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.2777067&lon=1...eong%20fortress
Suwon Haenggung palace (Inside Hwaseong Fortress) http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.2594694&lon=1...=folk%20village
Korean Folk Village (Suwon) http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.2594694&lon=1...=folk%20village
Namiseom (Winter Sonata) - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.79154&lon=127...search=namiseom
DMZ -JSA Pamunjom (North Korea) - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.9563801&lon=1...&m=b&search=DMZ
COEX Mall - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.512296&lon=12...m=b&search=coex
Lotte World: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.5110535&lon=1...=b&search=lotte
Everland: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.289822&lon=12...search=everland
Mt Sorak (area only. Not sure where is teh ski resort)- http://wikimapia.org/#lat=38.1615561&lon=1...=b&search=sorak
Yongpyong Ski Resort http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.643937&lon=12...ch=ski%20resort
Muju Ski Resort: http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.892666&lon=12...ch=ski%20resort
Elysian Ganchon Ski resort (Near Nami Island): http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.8210396&lon=1...75&z=14&l=0&m=b
Jisan Ski Resort (Near to Seoul) - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.2150188&lon=1...forest%20resort
Konjiam Ski Resort (Near to Seoul) http://wikimapia.org/#lat=37.3324945&lon=1...m=b&search=muju


Additional readings/blogs about Korea travelogues

http://chrisinsouthkorea.blogspot.com/2010...-seoul-and.html
http://bredainkorea.blogspot.com/2010/07/a...-itinerary.html


Seoul Weather chart
user posted image

Money Changers Exchange Rate in Korea Vs Malaysia:

http://www.visitseoul.net/en/info/exchange...4007002007&p=07

http://www.wawasanmoneychanger.com.my/exchangeRates.asp

The rate offered by Shinhan Bank is marked to the market compare to the inflated rate in Malaysia as above. However changing at Incheon airport is not really cheap and thus, it is recommended to either change abit of won in M'sia & thereafter decide to withdraw via ATM there (Citibank card no proble. Maybank - Having problem there) or change from US$ to Won at those money changers downtown (nandaemun Myeongdong or Dongdaemun)

Budget Hotels/Hostel:

http://innostel.visitseoul.net/en/

http://www.agoda.com/asia/south_korea/seoul.html

Tips/Warning

- ALL of the restaurants, GST refund & duty free shops @ Incheon airport SATELLITE building close at 9:30pm. However there are 24 hours KFC & MC Donald at Ctr court Arrival Hall (Level 1) Therefore please do not enter the departure hall to early..Go for the last dinner at McD & KFC st - the pricing is exactly like Seoul downturn! thumbup.gif
- https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1651834
- Phone rental:

QUOTE(aeiou228 @ Nov 23 2010, 08:21 AM)
I rented 2 phones from KT SHOW (2000w /day) and it comes with a FREE T-money chip each phone. Just top up at the convenient store and you are good to go. The Iphone is FREE rental if you answer some questionnaires upon returning the phone. Iphone doesn't come with T-Money but the plus point is it has GPS with Google map.
I recommend to rent 2 phones because you can split the group to two in shopping complexes and save a lot of time.
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Halal Food & Mosque ~ Seoul

QUOTE(Listiani)
I list down several halal makan place for our Muslims friends which mostly in Itaewon area:

Ssalam - Turkish dish
Mister Kebab - Turkish dish
Salam Bakery - Turkish bread/pastries
Dubai - Arab dish
Wazwan - Indian dish
Marrakech Night - Moroccon dish
Petra - Arab dish
Ali Baba - Egyptian dish
Alsaba - Pakistan dish
Muslim Mart - Supermarket selling groceries

Myeongdeong area
Myeongdong Andong Jjimdak & Bulgogi
Location: Myeongdong Station Exit 6 -2nd lane opposite Binsbean Cafe

Mr Pizza
Myeongdong Station Exit 6 - 2nd lane (selling seafood and vegan pizza)

Yukaney
Myeongdong Station Exit 7 - From Myeongdong main road straight to the junction until u see Nature Republic on the left. Turn right and then straight until you reach left junction. You can see Yukaney's signboard

Kebab at Namdaemun
Hoehyeon Station Exit 6 - u can see the shop from the main road

Dongdaemun
Jeonju Sikdang or Ikan Bakar
Dongdamun Station Exit 8 - walk straight until u see Daemyong building. Turn right and then turn left to the 2nd alley

Nami Island
Cafe Yeonga Jiga (Cafe Drama). This cafe located between Nami Historium and Winter Sonata Gallery.


Mosque
Seoul Central Mosque, Hannam dong, 732-21, Yongsan gu Seoul
www.koreaislam.org

Gyeonggi Gwangju Mosque
Yeogni,48-9, Gwangjus eup,Gwangju gun, Gyeongi Do

Daegu Mosque
Jamia Masjid Uthman Islam Centre Jukjeon dong,202-6,  Dalseo gu Daegu

Busan Mosque
Namsan dong, 30-1, Geumjeong gu Busan

Jeju Mosque
Daelim Apartment, 104-201,  Yeong dong, Jeju
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Phone Renting
QUOTE(aeiou228 @ Oct 4 2010, 07:49 PM)
If you rent a local Korea phone, the rates are:

-Rental Fee: VisitKorea member special rate - 1,700won/day
-Domestic call rates:90 won (0.07 USD)/10sec
-Charged by the airtime used
USA - 720 won (0.59 USD)/min
China - 960 won (0.78 USD)/min
Japan - 864 won (0.70 USD)/min
Calling Malaysia number should be <1000 won/min

The most cost efficient way for 4 person is

Rent 2 sets of call forwarding DID and 2 sets of Korea number. ie
Two person share one set each.

With this arrangement, you can split to two groups during shopping in complex without fear of missing. Korea to Korea domestic call is 90won/10sec.
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Nice Smartphone App for Travel to S Korea:

QUOTE(anechoic @ Nov 23 2011, 03:08 PM)
I used these 2 Android Apps which I believe available for Iphone as well. Really help me during my trip.

Jihachul.

Korea subway on your phone, good for checking subway routes, distance and time taken. Not only Seoul, but Busan and other Korea cities as well.
I Tour Seoul

Basically an informative app which contains lots of info about Seoul, shows you how which subway station to reach a particular place.
Another app called Trip It, basically a travel app that allows you key in your itenary so you can easily refer on the phone. Sync with your flight itenaries as well. No need to carry so many papers to refer for flight info. biggrin.gif

Trip It
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This post has been edited by stimix: Nov 23 2011, 03:38 PM
TSstimix
post Mar 7 2011, 03:28 PM

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Just follow the MRT maps, the AREX info & selected itineraries/blogs above and you are good to go liao...The 1st pg info is the basic you need to DIY/ backpacking there. Easy as ABC.. languarge is not a real issue. you still can use your international sign languarge or even Chinese as some of the Chinese nouns similar to Korean. Atleast they can understand abit.. Furthermore, tourist areas such as Myeong Dong, most of the sale girls are multi-lingual, Namdaemun market - teh Ajumma/Ajusshi also can understand bit & pieces of mandarin..

QUOTE(samforte @ Mar 7 2011, 01:32 PM)
My AA flight to seoul on 28 march which is on monday, could not find any ground arrangement tour package for this date except private tour which is very expensive...need all the guidance for my free & easy trip. Worry about the language barrier over there...
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TSstimix
post Mar 7 2011, 04:24 PM

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Haha..dun worry all AAX current flight also will be arriving ~9PM and departing ~ 11:30pm Seoul time..

All hotels that I stayed b4 having no problem allowing to put our luggages at their hotel while waiting for room or even waiting for departure time.

What I did on last day..Early check-out ~ 8am and straight away put my luggages as other guests at the common lobby...Well for security purposes, ensure you don't put any valuables inside-lah...Thereafter I only came back ~ 4pm to the hotel & made my way to the airport...
TSstimix
post Mar 7 2011, 10:37 PM

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where is your link & nice itineraries leh..I probably overlooked or your itineraries not so complete kua biggrin.gif
QUOTE(sfwong1 @ Mar 7 2011, 10:17 PM)
aiyo uncle stimix,why dint add my pics into the tips let them see abit. lol
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TSstimix
post Mar 10 2011, 05:08 PM

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Nothing much to do liao...Shop to many times Namdaemun & Myeong Dong infact almost every Morning & nite at these two areas.. haha..So instead of going to late, decided to go earlier than Seoul peak hour MRT jam...and having better quality time spent at Incheon superb airport...Well, for the world best airport, spending few hours there already consider another attraction liao rclxms.gif
QUOTE(tenten.wikuta @ Mar 10 2011, 01:58 PM)
Uncle, why did u get back to the hotel around 4pm and then make your way to the airport after that? Wasnt it to early since the flight is at 1130pm?
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TSstimix
post Mar 10 2011, 09:04 PM

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that peak hours are pretty standard everywhere around the world..common sense liao haha
TSstimix
post Mar 10 2011, 10:30 PM

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Namdaemun more like our Petaling street wor..or open air Sg Wang...No brand wan.
TSstimix
post Mar 26 2011, 08:55 AM

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Yeah, I can see so many different cafe brands there..Most of them never heard or seen in M'sia


Added on March 26, 2011, 8:58 amReminded me of one famous almost x-rated Korean movie by 2 famous actor & actress..Baek Yoon joon (Winter Sonata) & So ye Jin biggrin.gif i.e "April Snow"

QUOTE(harrychoo @ Mar 26 2011, 12:20 AM)
Wow, it's still snowing? So will sakura blossom during mid april?
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This post has been edited by stimix: Mar 26 2011, 08:58 AM
TSstimix
post Mar 28 2011, 09:08 AM

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Sure enough it will be cheaper than KL bcos they are mfg there minus the transport & also tax. but don't expect rock bottom pricing
TSstimix
post Mar 28 2011, 12:41 PM

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Something really wrong wth world wether since last year..Early snowing last year started early Dec instead of late Dec and now lasting till almost April...
TSstimix
post Mar 28 2011, 02:21 PM

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Probablably once in the blue moon..Bcos, when I was there from 11 till 16th Dec, no snow wor, but icy lake & I missed the snow at Cetre Korea.
QUOTE(pchan @ Mar 28 2011, 02:06 PM)
Last year,mid November already started snowing..
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TSstimix
post Apr 1 2011, 04:49 PM

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Yeah but very nice scenery and I do enjoy the rural side of S Korea on the way there. no regret. Sumore during my Dec trip there, Only this region snowing whereas Seoul dry & cold only without snow. Very nice scenery indeed. other than Winter Sonata, you can also explore and learn abit of the Island hisory & also an ancient grave yard of General Nami.

QUOTE(fraulein @ Apr 1 2011, 04:21 PM)
Nami Island is just for Winter Sonata fanatics? No other attraction than the 2 row pine trees?
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TSstimix
post Apr 4 2011, 06:54 PM

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Well, The heat from the floor although warm & not so hot but if the outside temp is higher than 5C, the overall room can be very hot.

there was 1 nite when I was there, the outside temp was ~ 7C and the room feel hot.
TSstimix
post Apr 6 2011, 04:16 PM

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BTW, Korean voted 2nd higheset in Asia for their command in English 1 rank below M'sia which is the highest rabnking of Non English speaking countries liao..So it must be true or the surveyors choose the wrong guys as samples biggrin.gif

http://news.malaysia.msn.com/regional/arti...umentid=4757645
TSstimix
post Apr 6 2011, 06:20 PM

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Darn.. I miss AA's Korean air stewardess... so much prettier than M'sian stewardes..just like those in Kdramas rclxms.gif
QUOTE(zstan @ Apr 6 2011, 05:19 PM)
the only person that can convey a simple sentence of english to me is the air stewardess on air asia.................................
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TSstimix
post Apr 7 2011, 08:46 AM

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I see lotsa uneccesary stops/traps there brows.gif
QUOTE(happy_cs @ Apr 6 2011, 11:24 PM)

will be visiting:
- Hanhyangjung Ginseng Farm
- Kimchi - Making Session
- Chelsea Yeoju Premium Outlet
- Ginseng Outlet, Amethyst Factory and The Face Shop
- Herb Outlet

*
TSstimix
post Apr 7 2011, 10:23 AM

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He mentioned only Ground arrangement. Almost impossible to get 7D RM1.8K inc of air ticket.

Pretty & yeah there are pros & cons going thru agents. If the simple reason of going thru agent bcos of languarge problem, Well, almost all of us will faced it. but simple communication & etc coupled wth the efficeint transport system, there is no real languarge barrier.

The only reason ppl should go for ground arrangement to to get reasonable better hotels, no need to plan & research + foods + tranportation all taking care off.

However those going this way will for sure miss the oppotunity to try their efficient metros, trains & having try the authentic real day to day korean food & etc..That is more interesting than having ppl bringing you around to places that we dun even want to go and limiting our time when we really like that place.

TSstimix
post Apr 7 2011, 06:59 PM

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I communicate wth them using rotten Korean, Mandarin & English biggrin.gif ..Well can understand abit and suprisingly they also can understand what I said haha..Anyway, those sales ppl in Myeondong nite market can speak fluent Mandarin & so do most of the receptionist in Hotel.

What I mean is the article surveying wrong ppl lor..instead of choosing sample from ppl on the street they choose sample from businessmen & professionals biggrin.gif
QUOTE(fraulein @ Apr 7 2011, 04:53 PM)
Impossible..... shakehead.gif
We communicate using drawing and writing chinese on my notepad.

Try Lotte and Young Plaza, there are even more 'out of this world' leng lui...

It's raining in Seoul now and it's freezing cold ..
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TSstimix
post Apr 10 2011, 03:31 PM

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I like the scene inside MRT - drunk unkers hugging each others, Hawkers selling their goods from one train to another and even beggars also using MRT to beg
TSstimix
post Apr 10 2011, 04:54 PM

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You go via package tour mah..where got chance to see the ugly side or the daily life in Korea biggrin.gif

Oh yeah, also certain dirty lanes esp those backlanes surrounding Insadong..lotsa spitting on the roads just like China..be careful..Even I saw one unker spit on MRT floor..darn..typical chinese from China.. rclxub.gif
QUOTE(zstan @ Apr 10 2011, 04:14 PM)
hmm i only experienced people pushing me while queuing up.
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This post has been edited by stimix: Apr 10 2011, 04:57 PM

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