South Korea Warnings Or Dangers

  Itaewon -- A lot goes on here
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  • Itaewon -- A lot goes on here
      Itaewon -- A lot goes on here
    by acommon1
  •   Warnings Or Dangers
    by Big-Damian
  • Watch out!
      Watch out!
    by schwein
  •   Warnings Or Dangers
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Most Viewed Warnings Or Dangers in South Korea

76.

Other Stuff   Seoul

Other Stuff, Seoul

 21 Reviews  Recently, I visited Seoul on business and, despite a busy schedule, had time for sightseeing on a Friday night. This visit was my first to Seoul - my work usually takes me to Japan. I am embarrassed... 

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77.

Health & Well-Being   Seoul

Health & Well-Being, Seoul

 13 Reviews  For those readers who may be abstaining from alcohol I'd like to say: good luck! Korea is a drinking country. They consume over FOUR BILLION (285 ml) bottles of soju here a year (that's over 1.5 per... 

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78.

Shopping & Money   Seoul

Shopping & Money, Seoul

 10 Reviews  Getting money can be a big problem sometimes. Many ATM's don't accept foreign cards, even a VISA card logo does not guarantee your VISA will be accepted. Many banks don't offer the service. Usually... 

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79.

Language Barrier   Seoul

Language Barrier, Seoul

 8 Reviews  Due to the imperfect nature of translating Korean writing into romanized characters, you will find a lot of confusing variation in place names. For instance "G" and "K" seem to be used interchangably... 

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80.

Driving et al   Seoul

Driving et al, Seoul

 13 Reviews  In addition to some of the various other rules you might see in Seoul or other areas, beware that buses are on a schedule and stop lights, signs and various traffic controllers do not apply to them.... 

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81.

Protests   Seoul

Protests, Seoul

 6 Reviews  We experience the police preparing for a protest at City Hall, since we were staying at the Westin. I wish I was able to go see it but the next day we realize that there was almost 200,000 people at... 

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82.

Weather   Seoul

Weather, Seoul

 2 Reviews  Bring an umbrella for any time of the year. Even in the summer it can provide you with shade. Alot of Koreans use them here. You can buy one here also. They are most useful. It's hot hot hot in the... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Getting a Haircut in Seoul/Korea

by jburron

It's not as easy as it may seem. Although the hairdressers here all have training from technical school (where they learn everything from how to hold a comb to dying and other effects) and you can walk into a local salon anytime and get a cut (especially if you're a guy), actually getting the trim is the tough part.The main problem is language. I was surprised today to find my stylist spoke some English, but, for the most part, language has been a big barrier. The gals may have a nice smile, but it's difficult to explain how you want your hair done with pure body language.Here's the solution: go with a Korean bud (i wouldn't hold my breath waiting for another one that can speak English to come along). The good news is that there are many, many shops all over the place, there is hardly ever a wait (as mentioned), the cost is just 8,000 won (USD 7) for men and even ladies' sophisticated...

Speak Slowly and in Simple Sentences

by jburron

Impossible as it may seem in a country that has 99.9% literacy and kindergarden English classes, you must brace yourself for the possibility that almost every Korean you meet will know little English.In business meetings, casual conversations or various service capacities (driver, waiter) many Koreans cannot follow English sentences. More tough is they will rarely let on to the fact--they may nod, have a stone face or fall asleep (which I've seen a few times). If you have an accent things get even worse because many learned from Canadian or US teachers (and US soldiers).The rules:(i) Speak slowly. This is not patronizing, it is polite. If the listener says it's ok to speed up then do so, but make sure everyone listening understands the words that are coming out of your mouth.(ii) Use simple sentences. This is especially hard for us who like sarcasm and double entendres. Only use...

The Streets are Alive with the Sound of Honking

by jburron

Well, not really. There is not much honking in Seoul, but there are A LOT of cars. And Koreans seem to love to drive--on the major holidays the roads (and trains) are packed but you can get a plane ticket pretty easily...odd.Anyways, cars rule here. They can drive as they like and they are usually parked on the sidewalks in many areas. Some streets you'll have NO WAY to cross (use the underpasses, or Ji-Ha-Ba-Do) while you can stroll unscathed on others (esp. in Myoungdong or more residential areas).Motorcycles are as likely to be on a sidewalk or crosswalk as on the street...but I've never heard of anyone being hit by one.Buses have no rules. They go through red lights, crosswalks (legally no vehicle can enter a crosswalk when the sign is green) and cut in and out of traffic at will.

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Bank Machines in Korea

by jburron

A few things to keep in mind when travelling here:1. Bank machines are closed from about 11:30PM - 8AM. (I think this is to promote the use of credit cards, but it can get real frustrating if you need cash for something.)2. Although there are many bank machines and 'foreign' bank machines in town I have yet to go to one and have my friends get any money out of them. (I've seen others pull it off, just no one in my company...an I bad luck or something?) There is always an error message...and even HSBC or Visa and other 'international' cards did not work!Best idea is to bring USD and change it at a bank (2% spread). If you use your credit card here the spread is probably 4%, and getting won from banks outside of Korea can have a 5-8% spread....so watch out! The INcheon airport is not bad--just 4% spread.3. For those of us with local accounts, remember there is usually a 600 won (USD 0.50)...

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Pharmacies, Clinics and Hospitals (pt.3)

by jburron

(I'm putting these in Warnings because most people only go to these places if something is wrong.)Hospitals: Perhaps there is a reason for having funeral chapels in the basements of the hospitals here in Korea: because once you're in there maybe you won't get out. I'm not saying that Korean hospitals are lax in their care, it is just an interesting factoid.Having never been in one myself I can't give you first-hand knowledge but from what I hear sometimes patients are mis-diagnosed and either sent home or treated incorrectly here (of course, you only hear the horror stories).Korea is still a young country, despite its millenia of advances in many fields. Medicine, however, is still something of a throw-back in some ways. Koreans believe in and learn Western medicine if they are outside Korea but it seems that even highly-educated doctors fall back into the old ways when they are in...

A few words about Korean public toilets.

by jburron

1. There are 2 kinds: Western/throne and Asian/hole-in-the-floor. Most places have both, but some have one or the other. Most newer buildings have just the Western style (which is fine by me). To use the 'hole' squat facing the 'hood' (men, you'll figure out why there is a hood in about 2 seconds). Some say it is anatomically more correct to squat...for us Westerners it's a little brutal at first--especially after some soju!2. Privacy is an option. Many washrooms do not have the usual privacy walls or layout that we see in the West. People walking by can often look right into it (and the urinal area)...this why the ladies room is usually first down the hall or in another part of the floor/building (they don't need to worry about walking past us guys). Heck, at Hangang Park there are special urinal outhouses that have as little as a thin cloth between you and the great outdoors/everyone's...

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Korean Police

by jburron

In the US police officers speak English as well as (maybe) Spanish. In Canada they speak English and some French. In Korea they speak Korean....period. Well, not quite; some may have KATUSA (Korean Army Training with US Army) training which gives them some ability--but by and large don't expect ANY English from a Korean police officer.Police cars here have their lights on all the time, so only if you hear your license plate numbers being heralded on a loudspeaker should you pull over.Drinking and driving is a serious offense here and they have roadside screening all over the city...it is mandatory to blow. Take a cab!If a Korean is being taken in by an officer they can hit the officer--all he can do is say: hey, settle down. If you hit one...I think that's a different story, and I'm not ready to test the theory. K-police will generally ignore foreigners unless we are impinging on a...

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Motorcycles, Motorcycles Everywhere

by jburron

One thing you'll notice here is the motorcycles (and the fact that pitifully few of their riders and passengers wear helmets--don't get me started on having KIDS with no helmets on these things).They drive on the roads, sidewalks, crosswalks...anywhere. Usually they go slowly where warranted (like in a crowd of people) but even having them around (i.e., right beside or behind you) as you walk can unnerve some people. I've heard foreingers complain that these machines endanger their kids, but I've never seen an accident involving one yet. I also believe that Korean kids develop some sort of sixth sense quite early here in order to sidestep the many possible dangers.No matter, these delivery mules are needed. Everything is delivered in Seoul: food, documents, boxes of oranges, cooling fans, carpet, pipes--I've seen all of these strapped somehow onto these little bikes. Just keep your head...

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Parking and Parking Lots in Korea

by jburron

First, a warning. If you're walking down a sidewalk and hear dull bell/alarm sound (similar to the recess bell at school) and see a revolving red light be on the lookout for a car. Since space is at a premuim here, most underground parking lots open right onto (busy) sidewalks and the alarm and light is set off my a motion sensor a little ways down the 'tunnel'. If you hear/see it watch out, a car is coming your way.When parking, you may notice that the spaces are a little cramped. Let passengers get out first then park. A neat thing here is double parking in the lots. Since virtually all parking lots are very level, many drivers will park perpendicular to cars already in spaces. It looks like they are blocking them in, but they always leave (i) their cars in neutral so they can be pushed and (ii) enough room somewhere down the line (there gets to be a line of cars parallel parked behind...

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Don't Drink the Water!

by jburron

Especially in Seoul, DO NOT drink the tapwater. It is for external use only (although, in concert with the pollution, some children get atrophy-dry skin-and adults too). I can't even brush my teeth with the tapwater here it makes me retch.Buy bottled water. If you're in an apartment, the best value usually is to get a pack of 6 1.5 or 2 litre bottles from a corner store or grocery store (corner stores are, literally, on every corner, and then some, here). Delivered water is convenient, but can get costly and there is the rental or purchase of a dispenser to deal with as well.Waterfountains in parks should be good, but I don't chance it. Even in some restaurants they serve tapwater to guests (you'll figure out which ones they are quickly--there is a definate taste to it).For bottled water there are a few kinds. One is reverse-osmosis water; it is kind of synthetic water that is purified...

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Safety Tips in South Korea

Top 3 Hotels in South Korea

Lotte Hotel Seoul  Seoul

 7 Reviews and 699 Opinions  We stayed here for a week. It is very nice but DO NOT have your laundry done by them, a piece of... 

 Hotels in Seoul

The Westin Chosun Busan  Busan

 4 Reviews and 150 Opinions  My wife and I have stayed twice at the Westin Chosun within the last three months. The rooms are... 

 Hotels in Busan

Youngpyung Resort  Kangwon-do

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 Hotels in Kangwon-do

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Warnings Or Dangers: Cities in South Korea
  1. Seoul Warnings Or Dangers
  2. Busan Warnings Or Dangers
  3. Incheon Warnings Or Dangers
  4. Suwon Warnings Or Dangers
  5. Kyongju Warnings Or Dangers
  6. Sorak-sanmaek Warnings Or Dangers
  7. Jeju (city) Warnings Or Dangers
  8. Yongin Warnings Or Dangers
  9. Sokch'o Warnings Or Dangers
  10. Okp'o-dong Warnings Or Dangers
  11. Andong Warnings Or Dangers
  12. Koje-do Warnings Or Dangers
  13. Tanyang Warnings Or Dangers
  14. Kangnung Warnings Or Dangers
  15. Naejangsan-kungnip-kongwon Warnings Or Dangers
  16. P'aju Warnings Or Dangers
  17. Sobaek-sanmaek Warnings Or Dangers
  18. Ich'on Warnings Or Dangers
  19. Ulchin Warnings Or Dangers
  20. Osan Warnings Or Dangers

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Questions and Answers

Angrylilazngrl profile photo

Q:  Hi all, I am traveling to South Korea from 4/15-4/21 for a friend's wedding on 4/19 in Seoul. The majority of the wedding... 

dreamybd profile photo

A: Have a nice trip and fun. Be sure to visit the two tourist kiosks to get maps and guides. One is next to the express bus terminal while the other is beside the main train... 

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