Korean time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9).

Government office hours are usually from 9:00am to 6:00pm on weekdays and closed on weekends. Banks are open from 9:30am to 4:30pm on weekdays and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Major stores are open every day from 10:30am to 8:00pm including Sundays.

The unit of Korean the currency is the Won (￦). Coin denominations are ￦10, ￦50, ￦100 and ￦500. Banknotes are ￦1,000, ￦5,000, ￦10,000 and ￦50,000. The exchange rate is approximately US$1 to KRW 1,331.0 as of Feb 2024.

Major credit cards including Visa, American Express, Diners Club, Master Card, and JCB are broadly accepted in most shops, hotels, department stores, and restaurants. Credit card surcharges for uses in overseas may be incurred.

Travelers who carry internationally recognized credit cards can get a cash advance in Korean Won from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) installed at airports, major hotels, department stores, subway stations and tourist attractions. ATMs are in operation 24 hours a day. Most large stores, hotels and restaurants in Korea accept major international credit cards. However it is advisable to carry some cash, since many smaller establishments and stores are unlikely to accept credit cards.

Value-Added Tax (VAT) is levied on most goods and services at a standard rate of 10% and is included in the retail price. In tourist hotels, this 10% tax applies to rooms, meals and other services and is included in the bill.

Tipping is not a regular practice in Korea. Service charges are included in your bill for rooms, meals and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants. Koreans occasionally do tip when they are especially pleased with the service they received.

In Korea, electrical outlets operate at 220 volts only. Overseas visitors bringing laptop computers or other electrical appliances should check whether a voltage converter or plug adapter is required.

Internet service is often provided in public places such as airports, train stations, and bus terminals in Korea. Fast food restaurants, cafes, or stores are also good places to access to WiFi. It is of course available on site during the conference.

Four distinct seasons in Korea: - Spring (March ~ May), - Summer (June ~ August), - Fall (September ~ November), - Winter (December ~ February). The temperature in Jeju in November ranges approximately between 9-14 ℃ degrees.

The international dialing code for Korea is +82. When dialing from overseas, please omit the leading 0 from the local number.

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

Korea Tourism Organization: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr
Gateway to Korea: http://www.korea.net
Korea Immigration Service: http://www.immigration.go.kr
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: http://www.mofat.go.kr
Incheon International Airport: https://www.airport.kr/ap/en/index.do