10 Surviving Tips and Travel Tips to South Korea

Planning to visit Korea soon? Here are some tips for you (my own experience)!

10 surviving tips to south korea
1. Plan Ahead 
Head down to Korea Plaza at Samsung hub to collect guide books, brochures, maps. Trust me, homework is important. You will find yourself handicap when you can't read, can't speak and can't understand their language... 

Address: Korea Plaza, 3 Church Street Samsung hub #01-02 Singapore 049483

Operating hours: Monday to Friday 10-7pm ; Saturday 10-1pm

Telephone number: 6533 0441/2 

Alternatively, you can write to the Official site of Korea Tourism to request for brochures and map. Free copy will be sent to you from the nearest KTO branch office by mail within 20 to 30 working days. Convenient right ?!! 
Click here for the direct link.
10 surviving tips to south korea
2. A Pair of Comfortable Shoes Will Bring You a Long Way
Consider training up your leg muscles before traveling to Korea. Not a good suggestion for people like me though *lazy bones*. Hees... 

Well, the next option you have is WEAR A PAIR OF COMFY SHOES! You will be doing TREMENDOUS amount of walking in Seoul, and the last thing you want is blistered feet running up and down the stairs of the subway. I know I know, we are so pampered in Singapore...

Remember to bring back a few pairs of shoes from Seoul! They are super comfortable thanks to the fact that Koreans walk alot everyday. Jeff commented that those are one of the most comfortable shoes he had ever wore.
 

Got them from Seoul. Super Comfy!

10 surviving tips to south korea

 3. Look for an accommodation with floor heating system (ondol)
Imagine shivering in Korea's cold weather after a long day of shopping , you step onto a warm floor after removing your shoes. LUXURIOUS... Your frozen body begin to thaw. This is one thing that I love most in Korea - their ondol room! Indescribable comfort being warmed from the feet! So comfortable that I would rather sit, eat and sleep on the floor. Haha... and guess what! Ondol is what exactly shapes the Korean life-style today!
 

The best thing is you don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy the luxury. Most of the houses in Korea are equip with floor heating system. You can consider renting an apartment instead of hotels. They are definitely cheaper than hotels. I will be sharing with you more in my next post. 
10 surviving tips to south korea
4. Raw seafood

Seafood is everywhere is Seoul. Octopus, king crab, tuna, abalone, eel, sea cucumber, just to name a few. And more often, Koreans eat them raw!!! So, do remember to state the way you want the seafood to be cooked especially when you are eating at the roadside stalls. Or ajumma will serve you raw. We have Koreans telling us that they have never ever come across a cooked sea cucumber before!!! Yuckssss!! RAW SEA CUCUMBER!!

A roadside mamak stall at Jongno-3-ga

Raw seafood!

10 surviving tips to south korea
5. Few rubbish bins around
Rubbish bins are available at every corner of the streets in Singapore. Unlike Singapore, you can hardly find one in Korea. You are allowed to eat and drink in Korea's subway. But you have to find a way to dispose the trash or take them with you! Oh my... I missed the dustbins in Singapore! Hahaha. 

6. Print discount vouchers
They are many websites offering discount coupons for tourist! Well... Korea did a good job for being tourist friendly!

Korea Grand Sales 2014
http://www.koreagrandsale.co.kr/en/companies?theme_id=21
This is where I got my 40% discount coupon for Everland! 28,000 won after discount. What a steal deal!

Official Visit Korea Website
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/IngEventMain.kto?func_name=couponList&lang_se=ENG&md=enu

Visit Korea Committee
http://www.vkc.or.kr/en/benefit/coupon.asp

Konest
http://cn.konest.com/ (Chinese)

WHY SPEND MORE?! Do check them out! 

7. Use T money
T-money is a transportation card used for subways, buses, taxis and in some cases, transactions at convenience stores. When using T-money, the public transportation fare is 100 won cheaper than paying with cash. You can get one at any of the convenient shop and refunded the remaining balance in the card with a 500 won of service charge. 

10 surviving tips to south korea

8. Don't miss out their cafes! 
Korean love coffee and there are plenty nice cafes to visit in Seoul! Being a coffee addict, a daily boost of caffeine is essential for me to kick start a day. However, I find that coffee in Korea is not impressive compared to places like Ipoh and Bali. Too bitter... It is however the coziness of the environment that makes drinking coffee a special experience.

If you are adventurous enough, you definitely have to try their SWEET POTATO LATTE! Jeff and I seriously fall in love with their sweet potato latte and waffle. They are worth every single calorie!

Sweet potato latte & waffle from Beans Bins Cafe

 
9. Make good use of their free wifi

Wifi is easily available in Seoul. Almost all cafes, restaurants, guesthouses and hotels provides free wifi. You can put the wifi into good use while having a cup of latte for instance checking out the next destination!

10. Pack light, return heavy!

Seoul is truly one of the best shopping city in the world. You definitely gonna buy some stuff from shoes, bags, to accessories. So, we recommend packing light and returning heavy! Remember to take note of the DUTY-FREE sign when you are doing your shopping!
10 surviving tips to south korea
10 surviving tips to south korea
Cheers. Hope the information helps! Feel free to exchange your thoughts!

See |11 Days Itinerary in Seoul & Jeju | 
See |Self-Driving Guide in Jeju Island|