Visa

All visitors to the Republic of Korea must have a valid passport and visa. Visitors with round-trip tickets from countries that have special agreements with Korea may be exempt from the visa requirement and stay in Korea visa-free for periods up to thirty days or ninety days, depending on the type of agreement between Korea and the other country.

No Visa Entry

Australia, Fiji, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Marshall Islands, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, UN passport holders

Member countries under Visa Exemption Agreements

Bangladesh, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand

Member countries that should obtain Visa

Afghanistan, Bahrain, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, Vietnam

※ Please contact the Korean Embassy or consulate in your country to apply for visas.
※ Please refer to the website of the Immigration Bureau of Republic of Korea

For more detailed information

Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Korean Ministry of Justice
Korean Immigration Bureau

Currency and Foreign Exchange

The basic currency of Korea is won (KW). Notes include KW 1,000, KW 5,000, and KW 10,000 denominations, while coins include KW 10, KW 50, KW 100, and KW 500 denominations. Foreign bank notes and traveler's checks can be exchanged into Korean won at foreign exchange banks, airports, hotels and other authorized money exchange outlets. Hotels usually exchange currencies such as the US Dollar, the Euro, UK Sterling and Japanese Yen. In the case of other currencies, visit commercial banks. The exchange rate is subject to market fluctuations. (1USD is 947.8KW as of November 22, 2007)

Universal Currency Counter

Tax

Upon request, visitors can receive nearly 10 percent VAT refunds for purchases at the "Duty Free Shopping" outlets. Goods must be taken out of Korea within three months of purchase to be eligible for a tax refund. Only foreign tourists in Korea can apply for this tax refund. Visitors can receive a refund on a receipt for a minimum purchase of KW 50,000 (around US$ 49). To receive this refund, present refund receipts with the purchased goods at the customs desk at the Incheon International Airport when departing. These receipts can be cashed in at the Cash Refund Office in front of the Airport Duty Free Shop.

Climate

	Korea has four distinct seasons and enjoys its best weather from September through November. The autumn period is a little rain and mild temperatures. Average temperature in October is around 12℃-14℃.
	Korea Meteorological Administration

Time Zone

Korea is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time and does not have daylight savings time.

Electricity

The standard electricity supply is 220-volts AC/60 cycles. However, outlets for 110 and 220 volts are available at hotels.

Business Hours

Government office hours are from 09:00 to 18:00 during the week. The five-day workweek has been introduced in Korea and government offices are closed on weekends. Business hours for banks are generally from 09:30 to 16:30 on weekdays. All banks close on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Automated teller machines are widely accessible. Business hours for department stores are from 10:30 to 19:30.