The Korean Peninsula extends about 1,000 km from the Asian continent into the Pacific Ocean with more than 3,000 islands dotting the coastline. Mountains cover almost 70 percent of the land mass, making the country one of the most mountainous regions in the world and offering abundant forest resources. Administratively, Korea consists of nine provinces with 77 small cities and 88 counties.

The Korean language, like Hungarian, Turkish, Mongolian and Finnish, is classified into the Ural-Altaic language group. Hangeul(한글), the Korean alphabet, is composed of 10 simple vowels and 14 consonants. A group of scholars under the patronage of King Sejong the Great developed this systematic rendition of spoken sound in 1443. It is widely acclaimed by linguists as an ingenious invention. In 2009, the town of Bau Bau in Sulawesi, Indonesia adopted Hangeul as their official written language.

The Republic of Korea experiences four distinct seasons. In May, Seoul's weather is pleasantly warm and perfect for exploring the city. It's the height of spring, offering mild temperatures and clear skies. Daytime temperatures typically range from 18°C to 25°C (64°F to 77°F), making it comfortable for outdoor activities, while mornings and evenings can be cooler, around 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F), so bringing a light jacket is a good idea.

Weather Details

• Korean won is available in both coins and bills. Coins are denominated in ￦10, ￦50, ￦100, and ￦500, while bills are available in ￦1,000, ￦5,000, ￦10,000, and ￦50,000 denominations. For your convenience, banks, ATMs, and currency exchange services are readily available.
• Korea's Bills
  • 
    1,000 won (cheon won)
  • 
    5,000 won (oh cheon won)
  • 
    10,000 won (man won)
  • 
    50,000 won (oh man won)
  • 
    10 won (sip won)
  • 
    50 won (oh sip won)
  • 
    100 won (baek won)
  • 
    500 won (oh baek won)
• Most banks offer currency exchange services. Government-certified currency exchange booths also offer exchange outside of regular banking hours, and are usually located in areas frequented by international visitors. Certified booths have a sign with the word “Certified” and currency symbols. Visitors should avoid exchanging money at uncertified booths.
• You can check the current exchange rate by clicking the button below

Tipping is not a Korean custom and will not be expected by service personnel. However, many major hotels and upscale restaurants add a 10 percent service charge (in addition to the 10 percent VAT) to the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, but do appreciate if you let them keep the change.

• Banks are open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekdays and closed on Saturday and Sunday.
• Government office hours are usually from 9:00 am to 06:00 pm on weekdays and closed on weekends.

The standard voltage used in Korea is 220V. A power plug adapter is required if you use different plugs and sockets in your country of residence. Participants are advised to check with the hotel in advance, as most hotels can offer outlet converters for 110V and 220V.

119: Emergencies for Fire, Rescue & Hospital Services
112: Police
129: First Aid Services
1339: Medical Emergency