1, pay attention: voltage OK! But don't be too happy too soon, Korea's plug and China's plug is not the same, so the socket is not the same. If you want to bring laptops, curling irons and other electrical appliances from China, you need to use a conversion plug. Some hotels in Korea have adapter plugs for guests to borrow, and some hotels have sockets in the guest rooms that can be used for Chinese appliances, so check in advance if you need them. If you can't, you can buy one at the airport or at a store for about 3,500 won.
2, note: yuan universal? Change money! Counterfeit money?
Can I use RMB when dining and shopping? This varies from store to store. Some stores do take RMB, but the vast majority still do not. So, changing money is a must. Many people may be in the domestic exchange of Korean currency to bring over or to the airport immediately change money, but in fact, in Seoul city money exchange is also very convenient, in addition to banks, hotels, department stores can change money, in the Myeongdong, Dongdaemun, Itaewon roadside numerous money exchange can also be assured of changing money, these are certified regular money exchange. There is also a sight in Namdaemun Market where some elderly grandmothers set up personal money exchanges on the street, but these are illegal personal money exchanges, so it is advisable to be careful. In addition, there is no counterfeit money in Korea, so you don't have to check the authenticity of a bunch of Korean currency.
3. Note: The most convenient form of transportation is the subway!
From the crisscrossing subway map, you can see how developed Seoul's subway is! Indeed, by taking the subway, you can get to almost anywhere in Seoul. Therefore, the most convenient and money-saving means of transportation is none other than the subway. And when you ride the subway, you may find so many empty seats where people stand and don't sit, why? Can you go and sit down? It turns out that these seats are special seats for the elderly, sick, disabled, and pregnant, generally at the end of each subway car, and in the middle of some cars, there are also seats labeled "Priority for Pregnant Women", and many seats are even made pink. Koreans are generally more conscientious and will not sit in those seats unless they have to, and sometimes they will give up their seats in a hurry when an elderly person, pregnant woman, or parent with a child gets on the train after sitting down. If you are not aware of this situation and take up those special seats when there are such people on the bus, it would be rude. If you meet a bad-tempered, righteous man or woman, you may even be scolded a few times.
4. Note: Ice water everywhere?
Chinese people traveling to South Korea, often do not adapt to South Korea everywhere is the habit of serving ice water. Some people say that because Koreans are anxious, some say that because Koreans have the habit of eating ginseng from small so that leads to the body heat, and in winter everywhere is also a warm heater ...... In short, the Korean people all year round in favor of ice water. Go to the restaurant, served up are cold cold white water or barley tea; drinking fountains are mostly only ice water and hot water, and there is no concept of room temperature water; go to the store to buy water to quench their thirst, bottled mineral water are basically placed in the freezer. If you are not accustomed to drinking ice water, you must learn to say to the waiter, "Dade Tanmuer Group Sai Yo (please give me hot water)", or bring your own cup with you.
5, note: there is no tipping culture
Taking a cab, hotel baggage handlers to help carry luggage, restaurant waiters enthusiastic service ...... such times, you may hesitate to tip it? There is no tipping culture in Korea. So you can justifiably enjoy excellent service without being compelled to tip. Of course, if you want to express your gratitude to the cab driver, baggage handlers, waiters, etc. for the service or help they provided you, and you want to do it spontaneously, it's okay to give a tip.
6, note: please do not haggle
In China, haggling is fun when you shop at stalls and stores, and people even think that if they don't haggle, they will be ripped off. In Korea, this shopping mindset has to be adjusted. Korea's clearly marked department stores, commercial buildings, needless to say, is the street stores, stalls, night markets and other occasions, do not eat this set of bargaining. As a result, merchants generally do not ask for exorbitant prices. Don't try to haggle like in China and end up making both parties unhappy. However, in some places, such as Dongdaemun's Mirai and hello apM, the shopkeeper may give you a discount of 1,000 to 5,000 won if you pay in cash.
7, pay attention: a strong sense of queue
Korean people have a strong sense of queue, when there are a lot of people usually stand in line on their own. They will line up in front of a popular store to buy something, and they will also stand in line by themselves when there are many people at the checkout. When you take the subway or bus, you stand in line to get on the bus instead of swarming. When you go to the public restroom, you don't stand in front of the door of each restroom, but you start lining up at the entrance. Also, it's not hard to notice that when going up an escalator, Koreans also line up on the right side, which leaves the left side open for those in a hurry to quickly climb the ladder. No matter what, don't be in a hurry, just queue up in first-come-first-served order!
8, note: you have to adapt to the "self-service"
Korea has fully entered the self-service era. Sometimes in some restaurants, there is a delay in the waiter on the water, looking at other people's tables have some small dishes but no one to bring their own ...... Do not wonder, pay attention to the store whether hanging "SELF" sign. There are many restaurants that have set up self-service for water and food. There are also some stores, especially fast food restaurants, cafes and food courts, where you have to help yourself to the recycling table after you finish your meal, throw away the rest of the garbage according to the type, or return it to the recycling rack. Know this beforehand and don't be rude when you arrive.
9, pay attention: do not expect to go out and find a breakfast store
Speaking of Korean people's breakfast habits, with lunch, dinner is no different, at home a table of small dishes, soup and rice. So there's basically no scenery in South Korea where China's rows and rows of breakfast places flourish. Occasionally, you just bump into a 24-hour store on the street, where you can go for a breakfast soup and rice or something. If you are staying in a hotel that does not provide breakfast, you can choose to make a special trip to the noble and elegant breakfast restaurant to have a big meal, or you can choose to go to a convenience store, subway station near the toast store, nori bao restaurant or something to have a simple, cheap breakfast.
10, note: do a T-money card more convenient
Korea is a card world, people are used to swipe the card everywhere. Especially when traveling in Korea, the most popular card used for basic transportation is the T-money card, a prepaid transportation card commonly used by Seoul residents. By purchasing a T-money card and recharging it, you can easily swipe the card to get on the train and use it to travel on all subways and buses in Seoul. If you do not have a T-money card, you will need to have change to buy a bus ticket or a disposable subway card before taking the subway or bus, and the disposable card requires an additional deposit of 500 won at the time of purchasing the card, and you will have to go to an automatic return machine to get a refund, which is inconvenient for tourists who have a lot of time on their hands. Moreover, T-money cards offer discounts on public transportation. You can also use your T-money card at many franchised stores and some traditional markets. The T-money card is getting more and more adorable these days, and there are a lot of different ways to use it!
The Republic of Korea (Korean:, English: Republic of Korea), referred to as "South Korea" (South Korea). Located in the south of the Korean Peninsula in East Asia, with a total area of about 100,000 square kilometers (45% of the area of the Korean Peninsula), the main ethnic group for the Korean people, general Korean, with a total population of about 51.45 million. The capital is Seoul.