Streets of Seoul is relatively safe at night, after 11pm even.
It is much more safer than KL streets if you ask me.

Just keep an eye out for petty thiefs.

You can leave your phone on the table in star bucks and go to the bathroom (I forgot my phone once in a starbucks, came back like 3-4 hours later and the waiter kept it for me) and comeback after, your phone will still be there.
It's not just the part of security, it is that... well, Koreans understand one another like a distant family.

Not saying there are none who would be petty enough to take things like that though...

Usually these petty thiefs are like school kid dropouts, so sometimes gotta feel bad for them also..
Depending on how much they steal, if it's like just some food or a little bit of money, most Koreans would usually let it go.

Emmm... not, quite.. actually.
Relationships wise, Koreans aren't really that open minded. Especially towards foreigners.. being normal friends, they're more than welcome but being close.. not so easy.

Girls-holding-girls hands aren't lesbians... even if they hug each other and walk around on street. Not even surprising if they kissed each other infact.
For girls, it is very normal there because they treat each other like actual blood-related sisters when they're close friends. So.. don't get the wrong idea.

For guys though.. you' are mostly right. Yea there are quite a few of those gayish guys indeed.
This is from how guys wants to be like girls, indeed there are gays walking around the street so watch your back..
So err.. walk away when a guy comes up to you and call you "oppa".

This post has been edited by SSJBen: Nov 23 2010, 09:35 PM

Yeap, I too suggest to change some Korean won in Malaysia first before going there to change.

Soju is best drunk when eating meat, beef especially.
High grade beef (hanoo) goes extremely well with it, do it once and you'll get addicted.


BTW, a disclaimer about soju calling it their version of beer.. technically, not so correct.
Beer and Soju are different things, and Koreans do drink beer.
Beer in Korean is called Maekju. So, you can't rome around in Korea and if you want to drink beer, you can't expect them to bring beer for you when you call for soju instead.

Rice win is called maekgeoli btw.

As of 2 days ago, you can't anymore.
Entering the DMZ now, permission or not... is deemed trespassing, you're in no man's land. And you'll be considered enemy by the South as well.

So don't try to screw around by trying to be smart, atleast for this period of time.

Anything can happen in Korea right now.
No one has the right to say wherter it is safe or not, oppinion wise... I'll tell you right up, it still is relatively safe. But of course, anything can happen... so take that with a pinch of salt.

Yongsan-gu is in Seoul, transports are easily reachable. No worries.

Since you're living in your friend's place, you've got shelter covered I assume... that means you don't have to spend money on that.
But to be honest with you, RM2000 is not quite enough.. things are really starting to get a lil' expensive here in Seoul, bring up to RM3000 to be on the safe side.

Haha my hanguk seonsaengnim (teacher) went back to Seoul 2 weeks ago, and came back to Malaysia a week ago.
She said just one week, she spent like nearly RM7k there (with husband though) eventhough she live in her unni (sister)'s house.

Don't know what she spent on...

It's officially snowing in Seoul now.

You should be able to get by just eating 2 meals a day for a entire week with about 70k-100k won or so. Probably less if you cut down here and there.
Transportation is relatively cheap, so you don't have to worry. Just reload up to 20k won in your T-money card and you're good to go for up to a week (or more if you prefer walking).

Get a map, that's all I can say about directions.
For the middle-aged men and women, they could maybe understand what you're saying in english, but most of em' can't speak to you in english as they aren't fluent in it.
The youngsters should understand very simple english though however, but not all... of course.
So I suggest you ask your friend to write out a few simple Korean phrase sentences for you before you move around.

The markets, bazaar and all those... you can read the previous few pages with very informative pictures from zstan and aeiou.

As always, take it with a pich of salt.
That's all just positive thinking and talks by the government.

Anyways, like I said earlier... it is still relatively safe to travel to Korea really.

Good place to visit if you're interested on the local life.


1. It's safe, my seonsaengnim says the newspapers there are just blowing things out of propotion, it isn't THAT big of an issue yet.
2. Buy in Seoul.
3. Use T-Money.

Emmm..
I don't wish to talk too much about it but..

Snowing in Seoul... ~~ 눈이온다~

Does depend on the individual indeed.
It's not easy skiing I agree.

Actually I snaked in a couple of sledding from the top to the bottom, nearly got scolded...

Lotte World is never worth going... really.
Despite it being a theme park, it's actually more for a place for people to go and date, playing isn't the major part.

Everland is also really nothing that special.

For those planning itinery, I honestly sugges to just skip the theme parks.
If you really, really really wanna go.. Everland will do.

Should be able to squeeze through fine... but alot of things are raising in price next year, so yea.. have some extra allowance of up to RM3000 will be the safe spot.

Carribean Bay hasn't fully opened yet.
Wait until early next year.

Yea, RM4k isn't alot in Korea... just barely enough to survive for a month.
That's why eating meat (any type, but high-grade) is mostly a luxary.

Yeap, that's about right.
3 mil won is about just how much a young adult would need to live happy enough in Seoul, without too much issues for worrying about food atleast.