Since January 1 of this year, it has become much easier for Russian tourists to get to South Korea. However, the same can be said about Koreans who want to visit Russia. A visa-free regime began to operate in bilateral relations. Korea - interesting country, there is something to see, where to relax and how to spend your time interestingly. RG previously wrote about the sights of Korea, and the Koreans themselves, for the most part, leave a favorable impression.

According to the latest data, the introduction of a visa-free regime has led to an increase in the number of Russian tourists in Korea by 36%, and 61% more Koreans came to Russia than a year earlier, when visas for tourist trips were still required. Recently, the South Korean government announced that it would rely on attracting Russians to the country. Thus, according to the plans of the Korean government, by 2017 the number of Russians visiting Korea should double, reaching 350 thousand people.

In general, we can confidently say that Russia and South Korea have a chance to become even closer to each other and get to know each other better. “The more often we go to visit each other, the better we will be able to understand: Russians are Koreans, and Koreans are Russians. The importance of public diplomacy in last years is growing more and more, and therefore the visa-free regime will serve to form a more objective image of Russia in South Korea", - said Andrei Osmakov, Consul General of the Russian Federation in Busan, in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

With this publication we continue the series of RG articles devoted to the introduction of a visa-free regime between Russia and South Korea.

"Russian newspaper": Let's follow the entire chain that a Russian faces when visiting South Korea under a visa-free regime. Where should I start?

Consul: To begin with, let's say that official name document, which came into force on January 1, 2014, is as follows: Agreement between the Government Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the mutual abolition of visa requirements. The introduced new regime does not mean the abolition of visas altogether, and therefore, on the eve of departure, you need to decide whether you need a visa. Let us emphasize right away: regardless of the duration of your visit - even if you are going for one week - you need a visa if you are going to study or work in Korea. You will have to receive it, and this is explicitly stated in the agreement. Visas are not required only for those traveling to Korea for tourism purposes or on a business trip.

"RG": Judging by the responses, many are interested in the question of the length of possible stay without a visa. It's kind of a confusing system...

"TO": It's not that complicated, everything is quite simple. The principle is this: within 180 days, that is, in six months, you can visit Korea for a total of no more than 90 days without a visa. But at the same time, each visit cannot be more than 60 days. That is, you have a limit of 90 days in six months, and you “choose” it: you can have 60+30, you can have 30+30+30, you can have nine times ten, etc., but in any case you can’t be more each time 60 days in a row. That is, 65 + 25 will not work. The 180-day period within which your 90 days is determined is counted from the date you entered Korea. Once it has expired, a new one begins, where you are again allowed to be without a visa for a total of up to 90 days, but no more than 60 days in one visit.

"RG": That's sorted out. I’m traveling as a tourist, and therefore I don’t need a visa, I don’t plan to stay more than 60 days. I started going through passport control and...

"TO": And here again there is one “BUT”, which applies in any country, including South Korea. Even if you do not need a visa, the country's authorities may deny you entry without giving a reason. As they often write on the visas themselves: “Having a visa does not guarantee your entry into the country. The final decision is made on the spot by a migration control officer.” And there is no use in being indignant, “demanding a consul” - it is the right of the host country not to let anyone in. And the authorities are not obliged to explain the reason. At the same time, it is useless to contact or call the Russian Federation missions in Korea - the migration service will not explain anything to diplomats, and any attempts to put pressure on it will be interpreted as “interference in internal affairs.”

"RG": Did this happen often in reality? Based on your experience...

"TO": Let's put it this way: when the Korean authorities refused entry, they usually had good reasons for this. They didn’t always voice the reasons, but it was just like, “I’m in a bad mood - fly back to Russia” - I don’t remember that. As a rule, they “deployed” those who had previously had some kind of “sins” in Korea: perhaps they had been given a suspended sentence, or were put on the “black list” for one reason or another. In general, all this does not come out of the blue and, as a rule, the “offended” themselves understood “where the legs grow from” such an attitude, but did not always admit it.

"RG": It may well be that someone previously had some problems with the law in Korea, he returned to Russia and now wants to visit Korea again. What do you recommend to those so that he is not immediately sent home on the next plane?

"TO": On the eve of the trip, you need to go to the Korean embassy or consulate, explain the situation and ask the Korean authorities to find out if there are any complaints against him. But only the Korean authorities themselves can do this. Russian diplomats cannot find out this for every Russian, and the Koreans are not obliged to provide us with such information. And if you do this personally, then they should tell you: you can go or there are still some claims against you. And one more thing: you should not hope that you will be able to deceive the system and “slip” through a roundabout route to Korea. Everything is entered into a common database, which the Koreans, with their technology, are in excellent condition. And therefore, at every point of entry - be it at the airport of Seoul, even in Busan, even in the port of Sokcho, in general, anywhere, everyone will know about you. There is a single database here.

"TO": Even if you do not need a visa, the officer has every right to ask you where you are going to live. You need to know the exact address of residence. It will be great if you print out the booking sheet from the hotel. This should be enough. There may be other clarifying questions of a general nature, but, as a rule, this does not happen - no one wants to create a queue. Usually, questions begin when your entry document (a small tear-off coupon that is filled out at the entrance) is filled out so that questions inevitably arise.
And again I would like to draw the attention of potential students. If you are going to Korea on a tourist visa, but have written that you will live at the university, then you will have questions and you may not be allowed in. We repeat: if you are going to study, get a study visa, even if you will only study for a month. If it becomes clear that you have decided to take advantage of the visa-free regime for your studies (and this is directly prohibited by the agreement), then you will most likely be sent back.

"RG": Okay, we passed passport control and here it is - the long-awaited Korea. What is your general impression of the Korean police? Have you ever heard of law enforcement officers trying to somehow find fault with foreigners, as they say, “out of the blue”?

"TO": The Korean police simply, without explanation, according to the law, have the right to detain any person for 48 hours, that is, for two days. They must then file charges, extending the detention to 10 days, after which they must transfer the case to the prosecutor's office. But in practice, no one in this country will detain you “just like that.” If you have been detained, believe me, there is most likely a reason.

Korean police are very friendly. If you are lost or don’t know something, feel free to come up and ask, this is perceived as normal. Most likely, a “standard” Korean police officer will be able to say at least a couple of words in English. Many of the police are young guys who serve in the police instead of the army. So there is no need to be afraid of them, and they are friendly. I haven’t heard about any “harassment of foreigners out of the blue.” If you do not violate Korean laws, then no one will even think of approaching you, the police have a lot of their own things to do, and a foreigner is always a difficult situation in legal terms, various formalities and so on. In general, the likelihood that a police officer will start looking for a reason to “extort” something from you is very, very small, almost zero. Here, even a passport is extremely rarely just asked for.

"RG": Do I need to carry my passport with me?

"TO": It is better to store it in a hotel safe so as not to lose it yourself through negligence. And just in case, you can make a copy of the first page of your passport and carry it with you. In the vast majority of cases this will be enough.

"RG": It is clear that Korea is a very safe and civilized country. But maybe there are laws and rules that we may not know about, and therefore we may find ourselves in conflict with local laws simply out of ignorance?

"TO": This situation is possible. It's difficult to cover all possible issues, but one feature of South Korea immediately comes to mind. Consider the peculiarities of inter-Korean relations. The country has a National Security Law that prohibits the import and distribution of materials from the DPRK. And this is no joke. This can result in serious punishment, including prison terms. In practical terms, this means that there is no need to bring North Korean newspapers, books, badges to South Korea, or offer to listen to North Korean songs, etc. You should also not agitate for the “Land of Juche” - this also falls under the National Security Law. By the way, the South Korean authorities are blocking Internet access to North Korean websites. And we do not advise you to try to get to North Korean sites from the territory of the South. Overall, don't take any chances with this one. Local authorities will also most likely warn you first, and only then “punish you to the fullest extent,” but they can deport you if you give a reason in this direction.

"RG": Well, can we talk about politics or is everything too strict?

"TO": It's already quite liberal here. The opposition is influential in South Korea; many Koreans themselves will be the first to tell you what, in their opinion, their leadership is doing wrong. You can calmly talk, ask, discuss here, including about policy towards the DPRK. Many South Koreans may ask you about this themselves, knowing that Russia is actively cooperating with both Seoul and Pyongyang. This is as much as you want, but, we repeat, there is no need to bring and distribute packs of newspapers from the DPRK. This will be punished quickly and severely.

"RG": Is there anything else that Korea is strict with?

"TO": Very strict with weapons, drugs, violence in any form. Any hint of involvement in this means you immediately come under the close attention of the police and intelligence services. The very weak distribution of drugs and weapons in Korea is primarily the merit of the authorities. They are fighting this very hard. Even a starting pistol will be considered as a weapon; in general, no “traumatic guns,” “pneumatic guns,” “weed guns,” or anything else.

Korean police officers look very friendly, and they are. But if you have given reason to suspect yourself of something illegal, then this whole system will immediately show its rigidity, thoroughness, and uncompromisingness. This is the case that “everyone is good as long as you are good.” Do not try to offer bribes - this will only complicate the situation and worsen your chances of receiving the most lenient punishment.

"RG": Let's say I wanted to stay in Korea, work or study, then...

"TO": Then you must personally appear at the Immigration Service and find out all the rules and procedures. It is possible that you will still have to leave the country to do this. But only employees of the Immigration Service can answer these questions; the embassy and consulate of the Russian Federation does not have the right to interfere in these issues. Only the applicant himself and only personally...

"RG": It is clear that no one will look for problems of their own free will, but in life anything can happen. What are your tips?

"TO": Standard and well-known: try not to find yourself in such situations, do not visit questionable establishments, if you drink alcohol, do it in moderation. Many “stories” occur precisely after excessive drinking. And you don’t have to give up. Fighting, even if you just push a Korean, is perceived very badly and is punished severely.

There is one peculiarity of Korean legislation. Let's say you got into a fight with someone, and then came to an agreement with him, even paid him money as compensation. But then this person can still go to the police and write a statement against you with all the legal consequences. It is enough for him to bring two witnesses who will confirm his words and the police will begin an investigation. And “we agreed or we didn’t agree” - that’s your problem.

By the way, it’s the same thing if you went to the police, they interrogated you, but then you - the offender and the victim - decided to come to an agreement. If there was any damage and a case was initiated, then the investigation and trial will take place regardless of the fact of reconciliation between the parties. This may be taken into account, but the fact that “the one whose nose you broke no longer has any complaints” is not an argument for the Korean Themis. Once a case has been opened, it must be completed and the culprit punished.

"RG": Let's say that for one reason or another a Russian found himself in some unpleasant situation, he was brought to the police station and began to be interrogated. What do you advise?

"TO": If you don’t speak Korean confidently, ask for a Russian translator. This is your right, which they are obliged to fulfill and will fulfill. Demand clearly and adamantly - this is not the first time that the Korean police have encountered Russians, they have lists of people who help them as translators, so demand. If you think that the translator does not speak Russian well and does not provide the proper level of mutual understanding with the police representative, demand that the translator be replaced. This is again your right. And demand that the consulate or embassy be notified. The police should also do this at your request.

"RG": Maybe something else when communicating with the police?

"TO": General rule: if you don’t understand something, never sign, ask for clarification and translation. If you were released after being handed “some pieces of paper” - do not throw them away, but figure out what they are. There are frequent cases when a person was released, obliging him to appear upon request. And if you don’t show up, it will be interpreted not in your favor and the maximum possible punishment will be imposed. There were cases when compatriots were released from the police, they left, and then at the border when they returned to Korea again, immigration would no longer let them in. It turned out that the case was not closed, the Russian was summoned for repeated interrogations, although he had already gone abroad, then a trial, a verdict in absentia and a “black list”. So make sure that there are no more claims against you, and do not throw away any documents or certificates you have received. Koreans have an open judicial system and on the relevant websites you can find out everything by your case number - what the result is, sanctions, etc.

"RG": What line of behavior do you recommend choosing?

"TO": From experience in dealing with various conflicts, I will say that there are two tactics of behavior. Some categorically deny everything completely and say: “Just try and prove it!” The latter admit everything and ask for leniency. Therefore, if there really was an incident and you were taken “into the case,” then you must confess and repent. Most likely (if the conversation is not about serious crimes) you will simply be deported and given a suspended sentence. And then you can enter again, you just need to make sure that your “non-entry period” has expired. And there is no need to show off, saying, “where are my fingerprints and other objective evidence,” knowing that in fact “something happened.” Based on circumstantial evidence, they can assign a serious sentence, and this is most likely what will happen. The Korean court does not like such self-confident suspects.

"RG": The season will start soon" beach holiday"What should we keep in mind here?

"TO": Keep in mind that in Korea the swimming season is only from mid-July to the end of August. Many beaches close at night. This is especially true for small towns and villages. It is better not to go to closed beaches at night, and also during the non-swimming season. Even during the swimming season, no one will let you swim far. Usually an area is fenced off where you can reach the bottom with your feet - and splash around there. And if you decide to swim further away, then the rescuers will immediately return you back. So the situation here is somewhat different than on the beaches familiar to Russians.

We also strongly advise against taking photographs of local girls in swimsuits - at least without their explicit and clear consent to do so. On all major beaches, announcements are constantly made asking people to report such “photographers” to the police. We know of a case where Indonesians were detained for photographing Korean women on the beach and then deported.

"RG": Many perceive eastern countries as an analogue of Thailand in terms of the prevalence of the sex industry.

"TO": Wrong country. It is prohibited in Korea, although it is present in one form or another. And everyone will answer - the “priestess of love” herself, the pimp and the client. In general, this exists, but it is punishable, and therefore we do not recommend it.

"RG": And finally, a few words about transport, traffic on the roads.

"TO": Yes, public transport is convenient here. There is a very well developed bus service, excellent high-speed KTX trains, and reasonable taxi prices. Convenient and clean metro, which is not only in Seoul, but also in others major cities- Busan, Daegu, Incheon. In general, public transport is very good, but there are a lot of cars on the roads, and therefore you need to be careful. Cars sometimes drive through a red traffic light, they may try not to let pedestrians pass, etc., although, as they say, this does not amount to “lawlessness on the roads,” there is generally order here.

"RG": B Lately Many Russians actively use car rental, and here the number of potential conflict situations increases. Your advice, comments?

"TO": Yes, when Russians get behind the wheel, they often begin to look at Koreans differently. On the other hand, the roads here are simply wonderful, convenient system road numbering. As for advice... Firstly, don’t delude yourself that you rarely see the transport police. Everything here is in cells, and therefore when needed, they will appear very quickly. The “Korean style” of driving should also be taken into account: some may not use turn signals when changing lanes. The driving style of taxi drivers and buses is often similar to our minibuses: sudden lane changes, fairly aggressive driving, can cut you off, and therefore you need to be careful with them. I wouldn’t say about ordinary Koreans that they are better or worse drivers than Russians.

"RG": Nobody wants to get into an accident, but it is better to know how to behave. What are your tips?

"TO": Of course, it is better to let a reckless driver pass, even if he is wrong, than to get into an accident with him. Litigations usually take place between commissioners of insurance companies, and therefore it is important to take out insurance when renting a car. There is one Korean peculiarity: even if you are innocent by Russian standards, but committed a movement, then some part of the insured amount will be “hung” on you. It may be 10-20%, but it is rarely accepted that only one side is entirely to blame. This is a general approach and not an attempt to deceive foreigners. Perhaps you have to stand in a parking lot or in front of a traffic light for 0% to be written down. Otherwise, even if it is entirely the other party’s fault, they will also write you at least 5%.

In the case of pedestrians, it is better to let them pass everywhere and always, even if they cross in the wrong places. If you hit someone while driving, even if the pedestrian violated the rules, then 99.9% of the time the driver of the car will be found guilty. The situation is similar with motorcycles and mopeds. They drive very dangerously, but if there is a collision, then, from the police point of view, the car will most likely be at fault. The principle here is this: whoever is weaker and more vulnerable is right, according to the police. This is what we were told at one time in the Transport Police Review Group. Therefore, be very careful with pedestrians, mopeds, and motorcycles.

"RG": Well, maybe you want to say something to those who are planning to come to Korea?

"TO": We've done a lot of work to answer most common questions up front. Therefore, we strongly advise you to visit the website of our embassy in Seoul and the consulate general in Busan (listed below in the “help” - RG note) - there are tips, recommendations, etc. helpful information, including the full text of the Agreement on the Reciprocal Waiver of Visa Requirements. We advise you to write off your emergency phone number from the website just in case.

If you still have questions, please contact us on our “pages” on Facebook, Twitter or by email. We are always in touch. We respond very quickly on social networks, and we also respond quickly by email - about three to five days.

We also advise you to register with the consulate. This can also be done by personal visit representative offices, but you can also through our websites - there are links there. This will take no more than 5-10 minutes. From time to time it happened that we needed to urgently contact one of the Russians in Korea, but there was no contact information. The question may arise: “Why all this?” The answer is: "Anything can happen." Who knows what could happen at home, with your family or again with you. It may be necessary to tell you something urgently, but they contact us - the consulate or embassy. It's in your best interests.

But overall, we wish you a pleasant stay. South Korea is an interesting country with rich culture and traditions, we hope that when you come here you will only get good impressions.

South Korea became the seventh country in our big trip across Asia. I must say that initially we didn’t really plan a trip to Korea, but shortly before preparing for the trip, news appeared about the abolition of tourist visas for Russian citizens. After this good news, we began to consider South Korea on the list of possible countries to visit. The trip itself was organized quite spontaneously, being in Malaysia, without clear plans further path, we decided that why not dilute Southeast Asia with another Asia, and bought tickets to Seoul.

First impression of Seoul

We arrived in Korea completely unprepared. We didn’t have any plans or routes; to be honest, we didn’t even know very much about the country. Sometimes it’s nice and useful to mix up carefully planned trips with spontaneous ones.

Seoul

Seoul greeted us with a gloomy sky and a slight coolness (about 20 degrees Celsius), which we had already gotten used to in the hot Southeast Asia. In my mind, Korea was supposed to be like Hong Kong, but it turned out to be more like Japan.

Night Seoul

Seoul has quite a lot of faceless, utilitarian concrete buildings and monotonous residential areas, but in some places they are diluted with colorful neighborhoods with low houses and shining skyscrapers of business districts.

Housing in Seoul

Seoul is not the best cheap city for the budget traveler. The cheapest accommodation we were able to find was Hostel Korea Original. A night in a private room cost more than $30. For the first few nights we were able to get a room with our own bathroom special price, but then had to move to a room with a shared bathroom as the price for ours increased.

Room at Hostel Korea Original

Although we don't like hostels, we really liked Hostel Korea Original. The inside of the hostel was clean, quiet and cozy. For a tourist there is everything you need: a kitchen, a washing machine and even free coffee. The rooms are quite small and austere, but clean. In the morning, if you got up early, you could have time for a symbolic breakfast in the form of toast and jam, but they were eaten quite quickly, since they were simply placed on the table in the kitchen.

One of the streets in the area where the hostel is located

The hostel was located in a nice area with narrow streets and low brick houses; you can get to the center by metro or walk a few kilometers.

Search hotels in Seoul:

Food

We arrived at the hostel before check-in time, so we decided to go eat. Usually we rely on our own strength, but then we decided to ask the administrator where it would be better for us to eat, so that the food would be vegetarian. The administrator guy turned out to be very responsive and decided to take us to the cafe himself. We already thought that we were now going to be taken to yet another tourist spot with huge prices, but the guy took us to a reasonably priced eatery with Korean food, and also explained to the employees in Korean that we needed food without meat. No one spoke English in the cafe; the entire menu was in Korean.

Bibimbap and kimchi

They brought us two hot pots of rice and vegetables, accompanied by broth and kimchi - Korean pickles that are served with almost every meal. Strictly speaking, kimchi is spicy pickled Chinese cabbage, but kimchi snacks are not limited to it. Pots of rice are called bibimbap, and it is one of the most famous traditional Korean dishes. We really enjoyed the food and returned to this place several times.

Kimbap

In Korea, rolls similar to Japanese ones are popular, but they use rice without vinegar and do not add raw fish. The rolls are wrapped in nori sheets and filled with vegetables, omelette, ham and seafood. These rolls are called kimbap, they appeared during the Japanese occupation of Korea (from 1910 to 1945).

Korean cuisine is quite spicy, but in my personal experience it is much less spicy than Thai or Indian.

In Korea, as throughout Asia, street food is popular. Tents with food are clustered in certain walk-through areas, and they look very decent in terms of hygiene.

Street food in Seoul

Korea couldn’t do without food that looked a little crazy to a European eye, for example:

Toast with whipped cream and caramel sauce
Ice cream that is poured into edible long spiral tubes
Canned silkworm pupae

Food prices in Korea far from Southeast Asia, and here a budget tourist cannot roam. In the most affordable places without waiters, you can hardly find dishes for $5-8; in most cafes, a meal will cost at least $10-15 per person. For at least a couple of weeks, we haven’t been able to come up with anything cheaper than buying food at the supermarket.

How much does a holiday in South Korea cost? We have collected prices in 2020 in Seoul for everything: tickets, food and groceries, transport, accommodation and attractions. We advise you on how to organize a trip to South Korea on your own and how to spend less.

We really liked the unique South Korea, the only thing that saddened us was the prices. In Korea they are measured in thousands, which after Bali and Vietnam is misleading. It seems like you’re paying some 10 thousand won for a dish, but it’s almost $10! You won’t be able to save much on your vacation, this is the country.

We visited glorious Seoul and, using the example of the capital, we will tell you about prices in South Korea in 2020, as well as how to save money.

Exchange rate: 1000 South Korean won (KRW) ≈ 55 RUB.

1 k = 1000

Namsangol Village - museum under open air. Nice place, free entry - we recommend visiting.

Visa to South Korea

You won’t spend a penny on it - Russians can stay in the country for 2 months without a visa. Passport control is super fast. We were not asked any questions, we were simply fingerprinted, photographed and given a piece of paper - we must keep it. There is no stamp in the passport.

Flights

Prices from Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2020:

• to Seoul - with transfers from 23,000 rubles, direct from Aeroflot - from 37,000.
• in Jeju - from 33,000.
• to Busan - from 37,000 rubles with transfers (for example,).

The cheapest way to fly to South Korea is from the Far East:

• from Vladivostok - from 11000.
• from Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk - from 24,000.

How to save money? Monitor ticket prices, catch promotions and buy in advance. You can fly to Korea cheaply if you are already traveling: for example, tickets from Japan cost only 5,000 rubles! It is a little more expensive to fly from China and some Southeast Asian countries - the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia - about 10-12 thousand rubles.

The experience of Marco Polo. We flew from Bali on AirAsia flights, and tickets with luggage cost 14,000 rubles per person. We flew from Seoul to Novosibirsk on S7 for 18,000 rubles per person.

Current prices for flights to Korea

Koreans love to wear old traditional clothes when visiting palaces and other attractions.

Prices for food and groceries in South Korea - 2020

Korea is drowning in food! There is no such cult of food in any country South-East Asia. In all this abundance, one thing confuses us - the prices. They are not Asian at all, and your appetite immediately disappears when you convert the prices into rubles or dollars. You know, it’s psychologically difficult to pay $7 for a simple noodle soup when the same soup in Vietnam costs $1-2.

But the devil is not as scary as he is painted! We were able to enjoy Korean food while spending very little: 164K ₩ ($140) for two people for 5 days. In other words, only $14 (900₽) per day per person - is that a lot?

Two-course lunch + free snacks = 16,000 won (850 rubles). Water is always free.

Hotel prices in Seoul - 2020

During independent trip In South Korea, a lot of money will be spent on hotels or renting an apartment - be mentally prepared.

Where to live? Stay closer to the center near a metro station - this way you will save on transport. It makes no sense to live on the outskirts if you are only here for a few days - you will spend more time and money on the road. We chose Anguk station - it has a strategically convenient location!

The experience of Marco Polo. We lived in a wonderful one for $36 a night in the Jongno-gu area near Anguk metro station, between two royal palaces - a very convenient location. There are many cafes in the alley. Book in advance - with a discount it costs $28 per night. The hotel is comfortable, there are various nice little things: bathrobes, hairdryer, toiletries, free noodles once a day and coffee.

If you want to feel like home, rent an apartment on Airbnb. In the summer of 2020, there are many options in the center of Seoul for $40-70 per night for two. Private rooms cost $30-50 for two.

Koreans love and appreciate the beauty around them - in Seoul you will see many beautiful houses, especially in the village of Bukchon.

Here are the prices for hotels and hostels in South Korea in 2020:

Housing type	Price for two per night	Example
The hostel is not in the center	from 8$/person	Birdsnest Hostel Hongdae
Hostel in the center	from 9$/person	Kimchee Downtown Guesthouse
Budget hotel not in the center	from 24$	Korstay Hotel
Budget hotel in the center (Jongno-gu)	from 27$	Jongro Alice Residence
Hotel 3*	from 35$
Hotel 5*	from 115$	Novotel Ambassador Seoul Yongsan

The highest prices in South Korea for hotels in July-August and New Year- good and inexpensive housing is quickly sold out. Book in advance!

National Ethnographic Museum of Korea.

If you want to get a special experience on vacation in South Korea, choose unique housing:

• traditional yogwan, where you need to sleep on the floor on a mat.
• Hanok- traditional house. Cost from $170 to $300 per day. Are situated in traditional village Bukchon is next to the royal palace. We found an inexpensive hanok on Airbnb with good reviews.
• Chimchilbang- sauna. Entrance for 12 hours: at night - 15k ₩, during the day - 12k ₩. There you can not only steam and wash, but also sleep. Instead of beds there are mats. There is a safe. The most popular sauna in the center is , but there are many others that are cheaper.

Hanok (Photo © Luke,Ma / flickr.com)

Transport prices in South Korea

The price of a public transport ticket in South Korea depends on the distance you need to travel, and starts from 1250₩. You can buy a one-time ticket, but you can only get out with it at the station to which it was purchased. When you return the ticket to the machine, you will be given a deposit of 500₩.

If you plan to travel a lot, buy T-Money card(costs 3k ₩) - it is valid in the metro and buses. With it, each trip is 100₩ cheaper, and transfers are free. And with it you can get off at any station, unlike a one-time ticket. You can buy a card in minimarkets or terminals, and it can be topped up at machines.

• Cyber ​​Station - build a route on the computer.
• Subway Korea is a subway route planner application ().
• Seoul Metro - how to buy a one-time ticket (in English, with pictures).

There are a lot of buses, you can also go to the suburbs of Seoul. Routes and schedules are detailed at the stops.

Taxi in South Korea is not cheap: the first 2 km - about 1600₩, then for each km - 650₩, an hour of waiting - about 13.5k ₩.

A liter of gasoline costs about 1700₩.

Cheonggyecheon Park is a stream park on the site of a former highway in Seoul.

Getting there from the airport You can by train and bus (there are also overnight ones). We went by bus - 10k ₩ per person to Anguk station. They paid the driver in cash.

You can travel around the country by buses, trains and planes. There are low-cost airlines: Air Busan (from Busan), Jin Air (in South Korea and to neighboring countries) and T"way Airlines (countrywide).

The experience of Marco Polo. How to save money? Hike! We covered 15-20 km a day. The city is colorful and interesting, and it would be a shame to go underground when there is such beauty all around. In general, take T-money if you need to travel. For transportation, we only spent 40k ₩ for two people on a bus from the airport and back.

It's interesting to walk around Seoul during the day...
... and in the evening.

Prices for attractions

In Seoul you can see almost everything for free or inexpensively. Many museums in South Korea are free or require a nominal entrance fee. For example, a ticket to the Royal Palace costs only ₩3k. But the prices for admission to amusement parks and observation decks sky-high, see below for yourself.

What to see in Seoul for free:

• Dongdaemun Design Plaza - Zaha Hadid building
• Bukchon Hanok Village with traditional houses
• Changing of the guard at Gyeongbokgung Royal Palace at 10:00 and 14:00
• N-Seoul Tower Outdoor Terrace and Park
• Namsangol Village - Open Air Museum
• Cheonggyecheon Park - a stream park on the site of a former highway
• Rainbow Bridge (Banpo Bridge)
• Beautiful hall with plants in Seoul City Hall (Seoul City Hall)
• Jeongdong Observation Hall on the 13th floor of the Seosomun Building
• Seoullo 7017 is a park on the site of the former overpass above Seoul Station. The views are stunning!

Bukchon Hanok Village with traditional houses.
Dongdaemun Design Plaza - Zaha Hadid building.
Seoullo 7017 is a park on the site of the former overpass above Seoul Station. The views are stunning!

Prices for attractions and entertainment in Seoul:

• Exhibitions at Dongdaemun Design Plaza - about 10k ₩.
• Entrance to the royal palaces - 3k ₩ each (museums on the palace grounds are included). You can buy a combo ticket for 10k ₩.
• N-Seoul Observation Tower - 10k ₩.
• Everland Amusement Park - 87k ₩ for 2 days, for 1 day (day) - 56k ₩.
• Lotte World Amusement Park - 54k-57k ₩. If you take the Magic Pass for 100 thousand won, you won't have to stand in line.
• Seoul Sky Observatory at Lotte World - 25.5k-35k ₩.
• Aquarium at Lotte World - 16.5k ₩.

The experience of Marco Polo. We spent only 16k ₩ on sightseeing for two people - we went to Gyeongbokgung and to an exhibition of Korean painters. Then we focused on free attractions. There was free entry to the Museum of Modern Art - lucky :)

Royal Palace Gyeongbokgung in Seoul.
Guard of Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. The Changing of the Guard can be viewed for free at 10:00 and 14:00.

Money

Tourists on the forums wrote that all ATMs in South Korea charge a commission of around $3 per transaction. And only at Citibank ATMs you can withdraw money without commission. We found only one - not far from the city hall, in the center.

The ATM will offer different options when dispensing cash. Important: do not select Check - these are traveler's checks and will have to be exchanged for cash at a bank branch. The first time we made a mistake: we thought that check was a receipt.

We exchanged very little at the airport - only for a bus ticket. The exchange rate is bad, but tolerable with a small exchange.

The ATM gave us this check for 100K won; we had to exchange it for cash at the branch.

Shopping in South Korea

A sea of ​​cute clothes in a casual style, famous Korean cosmetics, beautiful souvenirs - a paradise for a shopaholic. It’s easy to run into the market here; they occupy entire blocks. And almost every underground passage has a shopping center.

IN Tandaemun many shopping centers. Some only work at night! The most decent daytime center is Doota Mall, where things hang beautifully on hangers. Some shopping centers look like a collective farm, like a big one indoor market(eg Migliore).

Insadong I didn’t like it - it was all touristy, mostly monotonous souvenirs. Gwangjang unkempt - mostly flea market, traditional clothing and food. But there are vintage shops, look for them on the official website of the market.

The experience of Marco Polo. We hate shopping. But South Korea has such a powerful consumer society, so many markets and shops, that even we succumbed! We spent a significant amount on shopping and souvenirs - $280 (usually we don’t spend anything). We bought some clothes, souvenirs, a book and vinyl records that we couldn’t find in Europe.

We buy vinyl records in Seoul - the choice is huge!

How much does a trip to South Korea cost in 2020?

We calculated the budget for our independent trip to South Korea for 5 days for two. Look how much money we spent:

We didn’t count the tickets because we were flying from Bali (28,000 for two). If you subtract shopping, it will be only 24,500 rubles! For one day - about 5,000 rubles for two.

Refer to this table to understand how much your vacation in South Korea will cost. Add your tickets to this amount and budget more for shopping if you like shopping.

Beauty in Korean.

Seoul is the capital of South Korea, a city of the future and a place where it is good for both local residents and tourists. Europeans, including Russians, are treated differently here. Any Korean will help a lost tourist to the best of his ability and will be smiling and friendly. Respect and maximum sympathy local residents pleasantly surprises the average domestic citizen, who is not accustomed to such a reaction. True, there are difficulties in communications: for full knowledge in English The majority of the local population is not worth calculating. Nevertheless, everything here contributes to a wonderful holiday.

Flight

If you decide to visit South Korea, namely, the city of the future - Seoul, then first you need to decide on the date of your trip and the nuances of the flight. Whether to buy a ticket six months before the expected date of travel or a month does not matter. The low cost of a flight depends on the specific dates of departure and return. The average cost of an economy class ticket per person there and back is 35,000 rubles ($1,100). But if, for example, you extend the duration of your trip to Korea by one day before the originally intended departure and, accordingly, fly a couple of days later, then the price of the flight will drop to 25,000 rubles ($760), thereby you can save up to 300 on the flight $.

In this case, you will not be able to save on the total cost of the trip, because you will have to spend money on additional accommodation, food, etc. However, it is always better to see and visit more than with a shorter trip and spend the same amount.

Convenient search for cheap air tickets offers Skyscanner service. And yes, there are apps for iOS, Android or Windows Phone.

In my case, a round-trip ticket cost about 26,000 rubles ($800) from Emirates Airlines. Before booking a ticket on the company’s website, you can independently choose your landing location, the desired menu from a variety of dishes, etc. The flight took place on an Airbus A380 aircraft with a 3-4-3 seat configuration. Each passenger had a comfortable folding seat and his own 9-inch display for watching modern films in a variety of languages, including Russian. In addition, you can simply listen to music or play games. The flight took 17 hours with one transfer in Dubai. You shouldn’t be upset about lost time due to a transfer, because, for example, Dubai has the largest Duty Free in the world, which operates around the clock. So, save your money.

Getting around the city

Upon arrival in Seoul, you can order a taxi directly at the airport. Passenger transportation services are provided by taxi drivers with special certificates and guaranteed knowledge of English. A taxi is relatively cheap: for an hour's ride across the city we only had to pay $40.

The Seoul metro is a different story. Understanding the metro map is not easy, so it’s better to plan your route in advance in a quiet and quiet place, and not on the go. Although the Seoul metro is radically different from the Moscow metro for the better: there are no queues, crowds of people or similar chaos. Everything is as clear as possible, if, of course, you know the destination in advance. To get from one destination to another you have to overcome a huge number of stations and repeatedly change from one line to another, so it is often much more convenient and faster to use by land transport or even on foot.

To travel by metro you need a travel card, which must contain a certain amount of money in advance. The fare varies depending on the distance of the trip. When entering the metro, the minimum cost of the trip is debited from the card, and if you only want to travel a short distance, no more money will be debited from the card when you exit. If you had to travel a lot, then when you exit the subway, the amount of the actual distance traveled will be additionally debited from the card in excess of the minimum travel fare, which, by the way, is 1050 won, which is equal to approximately 1 dollar (1100 won).

Accommodation

At any modern capital There is a huge selection of places to stay. Seoul is no exception. To focus on the city and your travel experience and not spend a lot of money on accommodation, I recommend choosing hostels, of which there are plenty in Seoul. On average, a night's stay in a hostel for one person will cost about $20. During our trip to Seoul, we stayed in two hostels. And in each of them there are many free places, so if for some reason you don’t like the room, you can move to a completely empty 4-room apartment right on the spot. local number Next door. The environment in hostels is always more than comfortable: everywhere is clean and tidy, there is free Wi-Fi or even desktop computers for guests. There are no surprises in this regard.

In the next part I will talk about interesting places Seoul.

To be fully prepared for your trip to the Land of Morning Freshness and get answers to all possible questions before your trip, use our tips.

1. How and when to fly

South Korea is a pleasant place to travel all year round. If you want to bask by the sea, the ideal month for this is August: the rainy season will already be over, and the air will warm up to 27–30 °C. In autumn, Korea is warm and dry, you can walk along numerous national parks, enjoying the vibrant fall colors, admiring the famous red maples, and best time for this - the end of September - the beginning of November. In winter, temperatures rarely drop below -6°C, making this excellent weather for skiing and snowboarding. Spring in Korea is warm and sunny, with very little rainfall. And in the spring, cherries, dogwoods, and azaleas bloom, and this is worth admiring. Peak flowering occurs in April. Read more about what to do in different seasons in South Korea.

There is a seasonal direct flight from St. Petersburg to Seoul from the largest airline in South Korea, Korean Air, which means that from spring to autumn you can fly to the capital of Korea without unnecessary headaches and transfers. Departures are carried out daily, except Monday and Wednesday, the flight time is 8 hours 50 minutes.

2. How to get around the city

Seoul has a problem, like any other modern metropolis - traffic jams. Therefore, if possible, it is better to use the metro and other public transport. It's easy with a single T-money card, which will help you save 10% on each trip compared to a single ticket.

T-money and Cashbee transport cards are valid on buses and subways in Seoul and other regions of Korea (all major cities have subways), and you can also use them to pay for taxi fares.
City buses operate in all regions of Korea and have a specific color. All Seoul buses are painted in four colors: yellow - circular, green operate within one area between metro stations, blue serve several areas, red operate commuter service. Read more about Seoul buses and other types of transport in the “Transport” section on the website of the National Tourism Organization of Korea.

Sometimes it is more convenient to take a taxi. A lot of them. More budget taxis are orange (in Seoul; in satellite cities - silver), luxury taxis are black with a yellow sign on the roof.

3. Where to change money and should you tip?

The Korean currency is the won. The rate may change, but this moment 1000 Korean won (KRW) = 57.6 rubles, or just under $1. Almost everywhere, except for small shops and markets, cards of international payment systems are accepted.

It is best to exchange cash at Korean banks or specialized points located in tourist areas such as Insadong, Itaewon, Myeongdong. You can also exchange money in large hotels or directly at the airport (Incheon or Gimpo), but the commission will be higher than in the city.
Save your documents - you can exchange local currency that was not useful during your trip back into dollars only if you present a certificate from the bank.

Tipping is not customary in Korea. Trying to tip is perceived negatively by Koreans. However, in European or American bars in South Korea, where there are no Koreans among the staff or management, such a gesture will be appreciated as usual.

4. How and what to buy

Korea is called a shopaholic's paradise. Large department stores stock the world's high-end brands Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Hermes, Bulgari and many others. There are interesting clusters with clothes from local designers. Excellent cosmetics, beautiful products made of mother-of-pearl and pearls and, of course, souvenirs. The most popular are the Korean national costume hanbok, dozhagi ceramics, puchae fan and pok jumoni lucky bag.

Large shopping centers and markets often operate around the clock.
And further good news for shopping lovers: Duty Free, that is, a duty-free shopping zone, is available not only at airports and ports in Korea, but also in department stores of large brands (for example, local majors Lotte and Huindai).

In Korea, there is also the usual tax refund on goods purchased in the country - Tax Refund. Look for blue star stickers. If you don't find such a sticker, ask about Global Blue, Tax Refund or Tax Free from the staff. The minimum purchase amount is 30,000 won. The purchase price per purchase should not exceed 500,000 won, including tax. You will be able to return from 10 to 20% for jewelry. Save the receipts, fill out the Tax Free Form, prepare your passport and purchased items and go to the return point, which is not only at the airport, but also in the city center - they are indicated on receipts and at duty-free points. If you can't wait, use the Global Blue post office box located next to Customs. Drop in your completed, stamped Tax Free form with your receipts to receive a refund on your credit card.

And yet, every summer in Seoul there is a big summer sale (Seoul Summer Sale), where tourists can get up to 50% discount if they get a special card at the airport in advance.

5. What language to speak

Before traveling to a non-English-speaking country, the question always arises whether you need to acquire a phrasebook in order to somehow communicate with the locals if necessary.

The official language in South Korea is Korean. If you want to be known as a polyglot among your local acquaintances, remember a few useful phrases. “Hello” - “anyon haseyo”. In a more informal dialogue with friends, you can say “anyon” - “hello.” “It’s very nice to meet you” - “mannaso pongauyo.” “Thank you” - “kamsahamnida”. “Goodbye” - “annenyonhi keseyo” - is said to the one who remains. In order to make a good impression, these phrases will be quite enough.

But don’t be shy to ask directions or ask any other questions in English, because Koreans devote a lot of time to learning this language and will not mind practicing. If you don’t know who to contact on the street, look for the tourist police, whose representatives are distinguished by their blue uniforms and black berets. Its staff will help you find your way around or translate the sign on the sign (although most are dubbed into English). Information support is also part of their responsibilities.

6. How not to be left without communication

South Korea is famous for the fastest Internet in the world - 26.1 Mbit/sec, as well as its accessibility to the population. Free Wi-Fi is available in many establishments and hotels in Seoul, in museums, train stations and airports, and even on the subway, but outside the capital it is somewhat more difficult to find. Therefore, local operators offer portable Wi-Fi routers (also called Wi-Fi eggs), which allow you to access the Internet wherever there is cellular. You can rent a Wi-Fi router at the airport, although it is quite expensive.

Those who want to purchase a SIM card from a local operator can do so online in advance and then pick up the SIM card at the airport. Particularly popular among foreign tourists are 5, 10 and 30-day SIM cards that provide unlimited access to the Internet. SIM cards are also sold in large supermarkets and specialty stores. Don't forget to check if your phone is unlocked for use abroad.

It is worth noting that electricity in Korea is standard - 220V, 60Hz, sockets are the same as in Russia. So you don't need to buy any special adapters.

Dos and don'ts

In the house it is customary to take off shoes and walk barefoot.
It is not customary to pierce food with chopsticks like a fork. Chopsticks should not be left upright on a plate, especially stuck into rice. And you shouldn't use them as a pointer during a conversation.
Saying a categorical “no” is considered bad manners. Here evasive answers are accepted and there is practically no imperative mood.
In Korean culture, personal space is highly valued, so it is not customary to pat people on the back, hug strangers, or generally touch strangers.
It's better not to gesticulate: gestures that we are used to may have a completely different meaning in Korean culture and may even seem offensive.
In Korea, elders are respected - by age and position. There are many things you cannot do in front of your elders, and besides, you are supposed to treat them in a special way: bow deeply, wait for someone to give you a hand, and always return the handshake with both hands. Pouring wine and passing objects to the elder must also be done with both hands or holding the other by the wrist.
It is not customary to blow your nose in public, but you are supposed to sneeze loudly. And you can even slurp to show that you are enjoying the food.