Korea

Country starter pack
Visiting Korea
87
Seoul and other major cities also have subways. These are
easily navigated with each subway station having a name,
number and colour, which represents the subway line.
Transfer stations, where two or more lines intersect, are
marked differently – usually a larger circle – on subway
maps. Given the heavy traffic congestion during peak
periods, travel by subway is often the fastest option. Most
subway signs are in both Korean and English.
Subway tickets can be bought at all stations from
ticket vending and card reloading machines, which
have instructions in English, Korean and Japanese.
You can choose between single-journey cards and
multiple-journey cards, or buy a ‘T-money Card’, which
is rechargeable and can be used on subways, taxis and
buses. You can buy and recharge T-money Cards at
convenience stores and vendor kiosks with the ‘T-money’
sign. There is also the ‘M-Pass’ (Metropolitan Pass)
offering limited rides (up to 20 per day) on subways in the
Seoul metropolitan city area. M-Passes are rechargeable
and come in five different types: one-day, two-day,
three-day, five-day, and seven-day, expiring at midnight
on the last valid day. They can be bought at Seoul travel
information centres (I-Tour Seoul centres) in Incheon
International Airport. A refundable deposit of KRW
4,500 and a non-refundable service charge of KRW
500 are required when buying an M-Pass. Also, you will
receive discount coupons for admission to popular tourist
attractions. The deposit and any remaining balance are
refunded when you return it to any of the I-Tour Seoul
centres.
6.5 HOTELS AND DINING
Staying in Seoul
Seoul encompasses a collection of ancient palaces, sacred
mountains, and a mixture of shopping districts, bright
lights and trendy cafés and bars. The capital of Korea
is one of the largest cities in the developed world with
more than 10 million residents and 25 major districts.
For this reason, you should always allow an additional 30
minutes when travelling around the city for meetings or
appointments, especially if it involves crossing the Han
River. During morning and evening rush hours, it is best to
take the train.
There is a large array of accommodation options (see
the KTO website) to choose from, including many fullservice
international hotels of the major groups such as
Hyatt, Hilton, Intercontinental, Marriott, and the various
Starwood brands. Serviced residences may be a good
option for business travellers spending more than a few
days in the city. Most international hotels are located in
one of three main business areas: Jong-no, Gangnam and
Yeouido. Due to long transit times (up to 90 minutes to
two hours to cross the city during rush hour) it is best to
choose a hotel close to your meeting locations. North of
the Han River is ideal if you want to stay within a lively
area.
Most major hotels can be booked online. Larger hotels
usually advertise Western-style rooms which typically
mean carpeting, a raised bed and a desk with a chair.
Traditional Korean rooms will have ondul – heating that
comes from the floor – and floor cushions for furniture.
Guests are expected to remove their shoes at the door
and wear the provided slippers.
Average rates for a standard room range from $250-
$320 per night in Seoul. However, these are subject to
change depending on the season and special occasions.
You may also be able to find better deals by searching
online. Hotels in the five-star category generally offer
complimentary breakfast and wireless internet in addition
to access to a fitness centre, sauna, business centre,
restaurants and cafés. All hotels add 10 per cent for VAT
and a service charge. Service charge percentage may vary
between hotels and VAT is refundable for foreign visitors.
When trying to find your way to a meeting in Korea, be
aware that buildings have historically been numbered
based on the date they were built in each district, not
by location. This means buildings next to each other can
have completely different address numbers. However,
this will change in coming years, as an initiative to change
addresses is ongoing. The best way to get around is to
have the address written or printed out in Korean to show
to taxi drivers who can then put the address into their
GPS systems.
Popular tourist areas of Seoul in which to stay include
Myeongdong in the heart of the city, known for its
24-hour shopping. Young Koreans meet up here to
go to nightclubs and restaurants late into the night.
Myeongdong is within walking distance of major
attractions like Deoksu Palace, Namdaemun Market and
Seoul Tower. Alternatively, there is Insadong which hosts
traditional Korean art and food, and has a calmer pace
than Myeongdong with plenty of Western-style hotels.
Travellers in Insadong can tour nearby Changgyeong
Palace, visit one of the numerous galleries, stroll along
the Cheonggye Stream or visit traditional tea shops.
For more of an international experience there is also
Itaewon, located near an American military base. This
areas shops and restaurants are catered to Englishspeaking
customers, with its Restaurant Row offering
various cuisines from Turkish kebab stands to Brazilian
steak houses. Itaewon is within walking distance of the
Han River, Nam Mountain and the National Museum of
Korea.