Seoul

Seoul is a delightful destination for international travelers.

Located along the Han River, Seoul has grown into a teeming metropolis with a population of more than 10 million. Over the years, the capital city of Korea has greatly expanded in the process of urbanization and industrialization and continues to grow as the thriving center of the country's political, economic, cultural and educational activities.

Seoul is the world's 10th-largest city. Its past and present coexist in a fascinating way: centuries-old palaces, city gates, shrines, gardens and priceless art collections attest to the city's illustrious past, while the glistening facades of soaring skyscrapers and the bustling traffic represent its vibrant present.

The old city was encircled by four inner mountains and four outer mountains. Bugaksan in the north, Naksan in the east, Inwangsan in the west, and Namsan in the south are "the inner mountains" as all were originally inside the old city walls of the Joseon capital. The four outer mountains are Bukhansan in the north, Yongmasan in the east, Deogyangsan in the west, and Gwanaksan in the south. Each mountain has a unique beauty of its own while boasting natural scenic landscapes and spectacular views overlooking the city of Seoul. There are also numerous mountain springs that freely provide clean, clear water to refresh weary hikers.

In Seoul, the must-see attractions are the ancient royal palaces of the Joseon Dynasty: Gyeongbokgung, Deoksugung, Changdeokgung, and Changgyeonggung. Jongmyo, the royal ancestral shrine of the Joseon Dynasty, and Changdeokgung's adjacent Huwon (Rear Garden also known as the Secret Garden) are noted for their beautifully landscaped gardens and classical structures.

One of the most popular areas for tourists in the old center of Seoul is Insa-dong. A place that beckons both casual shoppers and serious collectors, it is lined with antique shops, art galleries, traditional teahouses, and restaurants as well as bookstores.

Other attractions highly recommended for visitors include the National Museum, the National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the Ho-Am Art Hall and Korea House. The National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon, a southern satellite town, also deserves a visit.

At Namsan Park, in the heart of Seoul, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the entire city from Seoul Tower and look around a reconstructed Hanok village below.

Visitors can relax, walk, or rent bicycles in numerous Seoul parks, such as Olympic Park, Seoul Grand Park, Seoul Forest, and the Han River Trail. These parks are among the hidden treasures of Seoul, enjoyed by residents but often missed by tourists.

Of course, Korean cuisine is also a must during a trip to the peninsula, either at a modern or traditional restaurant. Excellent Chinese and Japanese food is also available, as well as French, Italian, Thai, Pakistani and many other ethnic cuisines.

Seoul has an active nightlife with clubs, cafes, and roof-top lounges. A fantastic view of the city at night can be seen from the Seoul City Tour Bus or from along the Han River as a cruise boat slowly meanders through a valley flanked by high-rises.

Seoul has been the capital city of Korea for more than 600 years since Joseon Dynasty and the city bears important meaning as the heart of Korea's politics, economics, society and culture. There are a number of invaluable cultural assets in Seoul, a region encompassing cultural features of the northern and southern areas of the Peninsula. Seoul has gained international recognition by successfully holding the '86 Asian Games, the '88 Olympics Games, and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. Among its numerous skyscrapers and glass towers, Seoul presents a number of beautiful palaces and ancient gates in various parts of its downtown core. Tradition and modernity, and nature and humans coexist in this city.

• The capital city of 600-year-history houses 266 cultural properties including five major palaces.
• About 70 galleries, 344 performance facilities, and 200 cultural events Cheonggyecheon, theme parks, Han River, and hiking & walking trails-tourist courses where the city meets with the nature. And Digital Media City Dazzling night view from Namsan Tower, 63 Building, and Star Tower, Cruise tour in Han River etc.
• Colorful city for shopping - seven duty-free shops, Insa-dong, Dongdaemun Market, Namdaemun Market, Itaewon, Myeong-dong, Cheongdam-dong, Yongsan Electronics Market, Gyeong-dong Market, Dongdaemun Folk Market, Noryangjin Fisheries Market, Yangjae Floral Market etc.

http://www.seoul.go.kr
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr

• Country Name: Republic of Korea
• Capital City: Seoul (10.1 million)
• National flag: Taegeukgi
• National flower: Mugunghwa (Rose of Sharon)
• Currency: won
• Language: Korean (Written form: Hangeul)
• Location: Strategically located at the crossroads of Northeast Asia. Korea lies between Japan, the Russian Far East and China.
• Territory: 223,098km2 (South Korea: 99,678km2)
• Highest mountains: Baekdusan 2744m, Hallasan 1950m

• Longest rivers: Amnokgang 790km, Nakdonggang 521.5km, Dumangang 521km, Hangang 481.7km
• Major cities: Seoul (10.1 million), Busan (3.5 million), Incheon (2.6 million), Daegu (2.5 million), Dajeon (1.5 million), Gwangju (1.4 million), Ulsan (1.1 million)
• Climate: Temperate with four distinct seasons

• Population: 48.46 million (2007)
  ※ Foreign residents: 1.1 million
• Economically active population: 24.2 million (2007)
• Population increase rate: 0.33% (2007)
• Life Expectancy: Males 75.7 years, females 82.4 years (2006)
• Religion: A 2005 census showed half of the population actively practices religion. Among this group, Buddhism (43.0%), Protestantism (34.5%) and Catholicism (20.6%) comprise the three dominant religions.

• Political System: Democracy with president elected to a single 5-year term by direct popular vote. Division of power among the executive, legislature (unicameral National Assembly) and judiciary
• President: Lee Myung-bak since 2008
• Suffrage: Universal at 19 years of age
• Elections
  • Presidential: every 5 years
  • National Assembly: every 4 years
  • Local Councils: every 4 years

• Gross Domestic Product: $969.9 billion (2007)
• Per Capita GNI: $20,045 (2007)
• GDP Growth Rate: 5.0 percent (2007)
• Foreign Exchange Reserves: $262.2 billion (2007)
• Exports: $371.5 billion (2007)
• Imports: $356.8 billion (2007)
• Major Industrial Products: Semiconductors, automobiles, ships, consumer electronics, mobile telecommunication equipment, steel and chemicals etc.

• World Heritage
  • Haeinsa Temple Janggyeongpanjeon, the Depositories for the Tripitaka Koreana Woodblocks (1995)
  • Jongmyo Shrine (1995)
  • Seokguram Grotto and Bulguksa Temple (1995)
  • Changdeokgung Palace Complex (1997)
  • Hwaseong Fortress (1997)
  • Gochang, Hwasun and Ganghwa Dolmen Sites (2000)
  • Gyeongju Historic Areas (2000)
  • Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes (2007)

• Intangible Cultural Heritage
  • The Royal Ancestral Ritual at the Jongmyo Shrine and its Music (2001)
  • The Pansori Epic Chant (2003) 
  • The Gangneung Danoje Festival (2005)
• Memory of the World Register
  • The Hunminjeongeum Manuscript (1997)
  • Joseonwangjosillok, the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty (1997)
  • Seungjeongwonilgi, the Diaries of the Royal Secretariat (2001)
  • Buljo Jikjisimcheyojeol (vol. II), the second volume of The Anthology of Great Buddhist Priests' Zen Teachings (2001)
  • Printing woodblocks of the Tripitaka Koreana and miscellaneous Buddhist scriptures (2007)
  • Uigwe, The Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty (2007)

http://www.visitkorea.or.kr

Of the three basic elements of life house, clothing and food the change in dietary habits has most significantly affected Koreans.

Rice still remains the staple of most Koreans, but among the younger generations, many prefer Western-style food. Rice has been usually accompanied by various side dishes, mostly seasoned vegetables, soup, pot stew, and meat.

A traditional Korean meal is not complete without kimchi, a mixture of various pickled vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, radish, green onion and cucumber. Certain types of kimchi are made spicy with the addition of red chili pepper powder, while others are prepared without red chili peppers or are soaked in a tasty liquid. However, garlic is always used in kimchi to add to its flavor.

In late November or early December, Korean families used to prepare enough kimchi to last the long winter. The kimchi was stored in large clay jars partially buried to maintain temperature and retain flavor.

In modern Korea, housewives often don't have time to make kimchi or the outdoor space needed to store large amounts. But kimchi is still a vital part of the Korean lifestyle: companies making the fermented dish and others selling special kimchi refrigerators enjoy brisk sales.

In addition to kimchi, doenjang (soybean paste), with its anti-cancer attributes, has attracted the attention of modern-day nutritionists. Koreans used to make doenjang at home by boiling yellow beans, drying them in the shade, soaking them in salty water, and fermenting them in sunlight. However, only a few families go through this process anymore; the majority buy factory-made doenjang. Among meat dishes, seasoned bulgogi (usually beef) and galbi (beef or pork ribs) are the most favored by both Koreans and foreigners.

The geography of Korea -- a peninsula jutting out from the world's largest continent -- has contributed greatly to the development of uniquely Korean characteristics.

The foundation for the country's culture and arts is the Korean identity: a combination of traits associated with continental and island peoples.

Throughout many millennia, Korea has interacted with the predominant continental cultures of Asia despite its peripheral location in the northeast. Remarkably, while accommodating major religions and traditions of other Asian regions, the country has developed a truly distinct culture in many aspects, which some people call the "centrality of the Korean culture."

Under this topographical influence, the Korean people came to develop a peace-loving yet dynamic character that has created a contemplative yet vibrant, optimistic yet sentimental culture.

http://www.kallimousine.com
http://www.airport.kr
http://www.seoul.intercontinental.com

Any foreign visitors wishing to enter Korea must have a valid passport and obtain a Korean visa. But visitors from 99 countries who want to visit Korea temporarily are permitted to enter without a visa according to visa-exemption agreements, or in accordance with principles reciprocity or national interest. Please refer to the following website and contact the Republic of Korean Embassy in your country to receive further information on visa regulations.

http://www.mofat.go.kr/english/visa/apply/index.jsp

The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons; spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Seoul in late August is in the beginning of Fall and the average temperature is 24~30°C(76 ~ 85°F), and it is a mild and beautiful day in the evening.
Participants are recommended to carry their umbrellas in case.

http://www.kma.go.kr

The unit of currency is the Korean Won (Indicated as ￦). Coin denominations are ￦10, ￦50, ￦100 and ￦500. Bank notes are ￦1,000, ￦5,000, and ￦10,000.
Foreign bank notes and traveler's checks can be converted into Korean Won at foreign exchange banks and other authorized money exchangers. International credit cards, such as Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners Club, and JCB are widely accepted at major hotels, department stores and restaurants.US$1 is equivalent to approximately ￦970 as of January 2007.

http://www.keb.co.kr/IBS/english/fx/rate/rate/index.jsp

Outlets for 220 Volts/60Hz are dominant in Korea. In order to convert the power into 110 volts please contact the hotel housekeeping and current transformer will be available.

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

http://www.worldtimeserver.com/time_converter.aspx

Value-added tax is levied on most goods and services at a standard rate of 10% and is included in the retail price. Tipping is not customary in Korea. Sometimes, expensive restaurants and luxury hotels may add a service charge of 10%. Thus, you do not necessarily have to prepare for extra charges since it will be included in the bill

http://www.customs.go.kr