Check 20 essential tips for your first trip to South Korea

When I was doing all the research for our vacation in South Korea, I was also looking for some tips to keep in mind during our two weeks there. If you want to see more details of our summarized itinerary, please visit this page. But don't forget to take a look at the articles about each city we visited.

I want to help you out with a list of 20 tips that helped us on our trip there. Save the list and remember to apply it when you get there.

1. Common expressions

It is advisable and recommended to know some simple, basic expressions. Koreans will be very happy and will not hesitate to smile. After all, it's also a form of respect for the country you're arriving in. Three basic expressions are considered to be: "hello” (안녕하세요, annyeonghaseyo), „thank you” (감사합니다, kamsahamnida), și „I'm sorry” (실례합니다, sillyehamnida)

2. Required applications

Be prepared ahead with a folder full of the necessary apps. They will really help you and make your vacation much easier. A detailed list can be found here, but the top 3 apps are NaverMaps (maps application), Papago (application for translation) and KakaoTaxi (taxi app). I think these three are the most important and you can do very well with them.

3. T-money card

As soon as you arrive, go buy a T-money card. It's essential to public transportation as well as for some convenience stores. It is very easy to use and easy to load, the vendomats are in English. You can pick up the card at vendomats located around metro stations and costs 5,000 won/person.

In order to be loaded, you need cash. In Seoul we only loaded it at the vending machines in the metro stations, but in Gyeongju and Busan we went to 7/11 or (Nice to) CU. To give you an idea, a subway ride in Seoul costs 1,400 won/person, in Busan 1,600 won/person, and by bus about 1,500 won/person. We charged it at 20,000 won/person every 3 days. You also have to validate the card when you enter the subway as well as when you exit. This is also mandatory in buses.

4. Public transportation

Take public transportation! It's very convenient and very well organized. Subways have lots of cars and connect the ends of the city extremely well, and buses can take you to even the country's most hidden villages or temples. Metro maps of several cities are available in the Subway app.In NaverMaps app, the station you need to get off at is listed, as well as the exit number and which direction you need to take when you exit the metro.

5. Public transport rules

When it comes to public transportation, you'll find special seats for pregnant women and the elderly everywhere. It would be better not to sit in these seats so as not to disturb anyone. They take these things into account and you don't want to attract any more attention. Also, if you catch the rush hour and there will be a lot of people in line, know that people will be lined up perfectly. If you don't take this into account, some people may draw attention to you. At bus stops, well-defined queues can form to wait.

6. Sim's options

You must have a sim card, e-sim or a portable Wifi because you'll need it to get around everywhere. The e-sim we tried is from KT Roaming, and the price we quoted was 40 euro for 2 weeks. You can also check the prices from Airalo, they may be more convenient, and if you are a new user, with the code NEWTOAIRALO15 you have 15% discount, and for any other user, the code AIRALOESIM10 gives you 10% discount.

7. Cash or card

Even though you can pay by card in most places, it's better to carry some cash in local currency, won. You'll need them when you reload your T-money card or eat at local markets.

8. Tipping money

For this aspect, you don't have to worry because there is no tipping culture here. It can be seen as rude, so don't leave extra money. A small bow and a thank you is enough. Also, they don't really ask for the bill, but you go to the cash register where you will pay the chef.

9. Giving or receiving things

Atunci când oferă sau primesc lucruri, coreenii o fac cu ambele mâini. De-asemenea, la magazine dacă plătești cu cash, să nu pui banii pe tejghea și apoi să îi înmânezi, pentru că banii devin “murdari”. Pe mine mereu m-au ajutat dacă vedeau că mă chinui să îi număr și aproape că îi puneam pe tejghea.

10. Always respect local customs

Here it is a custom to bow a little if you are thanking someone or greeting someone. You don't have to put your hands in the form of prayer as in Bali, but a little bow shows your respect for the people around you. It's also nice to bow when you meet a monk at the temple to show your respect.

11. At restaurant

Don't place chopsticks perpendicular into the rice because it's a burial ritual. Cutlery is usually in a small drawer in the table. Expect more food than you thought there was when you ordered. And on a personal note, I recommend going to as many local, small family-run restaurants as possible. The prices are lower, the food is home-cooked, and the looks the locals give you are something to remember.

12. Street food

You're probably afraid to try street food in general because of the conditions under which it's prepared, but here it's a different story. The street food area of Myeongdong, Seoul, or BIFF Square, Busan, is very clean, people cook with gloves on, everything is thrown in the garbage bags next to each food stall, and the food is extremely delicious and varied.

13. Waste and recycling

You will rarely, if at all, see trash bins because in Asian culture, trash is a personal thing and you don't have to show it to everyone. And where there are bins, make sure you dispose of everything according to the packaging. Recycling is very important to them. There's even a container for leftover ice from coffees and sodas.

14. Hiking trails

It would be a pity not to at least get to a mountain around Seoul, especially since you have plenty to choose from and you get there extremely quickly, by subway from downtown in 20-30 minutes. The trails are not hard at all, are very well laid out for everyone to walk, are well signposted and have water springs for hydration. Plus you can disconnect for a couple of hours from the hustle and bustle of the huge city. Throughout our vacation, we chose at least one hike in every city we visited.

15. Shopping

You have to devote a few hours of your entire vacation to shopping, be it for souvenirs, clothes or skincare products. I don't think there's a place in Seoul that doesn't have a small mall or an OliveYoung, the world famous store for skincare products. Save a special amount of money for these products because they are cheaper than in Europe, and the Koreans are well known all over the world for their miraculous skincare products. Remember to have your passport with you for Tax Free refund.

16. Stay in a Hanok

It's also a pity if you come all this way and don't try this type of accommodation. They offer a unique experience and you get to enjoy a bit of their culture. I recommend Dorandoran guesthouse in Gyeongju, but for sure you can find plenty of options in Seoul or Busan.

17. Temple-stay program

For even more getting into Korean culture and history, I recommend trying a Temple Stay program. Many temples offer tourists the opportunity to learn about Buddhist culture and is a unique opportunity for you. For more details on how was the weekend spent at Golgulsa temple, you can check here..

18. Safety around you

It's good to be cautious here too, like anywhere else in the world, because you never know what can happen. But the fact that there are surveillance cameras everywhere, even in the forests in the more unpopulated mountains, gives a very safe feeling. We didn't feel any danger at all, in fact we appreciated the extreme safety because we had an extra worry off our minds and could enjoy ourselves to the full. But, of course, we are cautious wherever we go.

19. Check for local festivals

If you've made up your mind about when to visit, check if there are any festivals in the areas you're going to visit because the experience is sure to be even more delightful. Personally, we were lucky enough to see tens of thousands of lanterns decorating the whole country and the Lantern Festival in Busan because in May is Buddha's birthday..

20. Coffee culture

Although you might not expect it, the coffee culture here is very developed and taken to another level. There are all kinds of coffee shops, with fake waterfalls, with cats or raccoons, or classic and traditional. The coffee is excellent, and the combinations with banana, mango, sea salt or sweet potato are something you wouldn't have thought of.

I know there are a lot of ideas written here, but I think if you read these, you'll at least have an idea of what to expect. I have written them as if I wished I had found them at the time. I hope these tips will make your vacation in South Korea even easier and feel free to leave me a comment if you want more details.