Ask me anything about Korea, especially Seoul.

[ahsiao80]

Hi all,

Seen many such similar threads created for other countries in HWZ, so figured why not create 1 under "Korea" too so that all questions can be consolidated under 1 thread! Will definitely do my best to try and answer most of the queries you guys have here, if not the rest of the gurus in HWZ do feel free to answer too!

Some background about myself:

My love for Korea started since 2016, ever since i have been travelling there yearly till date. Currently considering of migrating to South Korea upon my retirement or whenever i am ready

Note: I do not gain anything from helping here, so please do respect me and forgive me if i missed your message or late reply them as i do have my own commitment too. However. a simple increase of my reaction score will be appreciated! <3

 

[parchiao]

I have two questions.

First is how do the young folks tolerate the cold. Most do not even care to protect their ears and hands at -10 degrees that felt colder per all wether apps.

Second is why is there such a huge chasm between the looks of ladies in their twenties and those in their late thirties to early forties onwards?

 

[Some-one]

Questions here

1. It seems like a lot of Koreans know how to speak chinese. I am not sure whether they are Koreans or basically Chinese migrating from nearby china to work. At first, I thought they are china chinese migrating there to work but after speaking to some of them, they say they are Koreans. Their chinese sounds like China chinese though.

2. Is Kakao Taxi app working there? I seem to have a lot of problems trying to book cab from outside the hotel. It would keep on saying temporary error. If that is the case, is Uber preferred instead? I basically just want a reliable app to book taxi.

 

[Shutterbox]

Questions here

1. It seems like a lot of Koreans know how to speak chinese. I am not sure whether they are Koreans or basically Chinese migrating from nearby china to work. At first, I thought they are china chinese migrating there to work but after speaking to some of them, they say they are Koreans. Their chinese sounds like China chinese though.

2. Is Kakao Taxi app working there? I seem to have a lot of problems trying to book cab from outside the hotel. It would keep on saying temporary error. If that is the case, is Uber preferred instead? I basically just want a reliable app to book taxi.

1. Some of my Korea friends, mostly girls, learned mandarin in Beijing.
Some of their mandarin are better than sinkie Chinese

 

[ahsiao80]

I have two questions.

First is how do the young folks tolerate the cold. Most do not even care to protect their ears and hands at -10 degrees that felt colder per all wether apps.

Second is why is there such a huge chasm between the looks of ladies in their twenties and those in their late thirties to early forties onwards?

1. Well they have been living in that environment since young so i guess their tolerance towards the cold are much better? Personally, i was able to survive with a heat tech (top + bottom) + long sleeve shirt + a coat at -18 when i was there in Nov.

2. There is a reason why Korea is well-known for their beauty products

Questions here

1. It seems like a lot of Koreans know how to speak chinese. I am not sure whether they are Koreans or basically Chinese migrating from nearby china to work. At first, I thought they are china chinese migrating there to work but after speaking to some of them, they say they are Koreans. Their chinese sounds like China chinese though.

2. Is Kakao Taxi app working there? I seem to have a lot of problems trying to book cab from outside the hotel. It would keep on saying temporary error. If that is the case, is Uber preferred instead? I basically just want a reliable app to book taxi.

1. Areas that you spotted Koreans speaking chinese was at tourist area such as Myeongdong, Hondae?

2. Well Kakao T works for me there, you can actually register it in Singapore first before heading over to Korea. Personally, my preference are Uber -> KKT -> TADA, i have and will never flag down a cab on the street to prevent being "chop carrot" by their taxi drivers.

My recent experience with Uber in Korea was that my driver took me to "rounding" while on the way to my Airbnb and probably thought that i was unfamiliar with the area, resulting my fare (20k KRW) being close to twice the reflected fare initially (10k KRW Max). I simply submitted a complain and got refunded the 10k KRW.

 

[Some-one]

1. Areas that you spotted Koreans speaking chinese was at tourist area such as Myeongdong, Hondae?

2. Well Kakao T works for me there, you can actually register it in Singapore first before heading over to Korea. Personally, my preference are Uber -> KKT -> TADA, i have and will never flag down a cab on the street to prevent being "chop carrot" by their taxi drivers.

My recent experience with Uber in Korea was that my driver took me to "rounding" while on the way to my Airbnb and probably thought that i was unfamiliar with the area, resulting my fare (20k KRW) being close to twice the reflected fare initially (10k KRW Max). I simply submitted a complain and got refunded the 10k KRW.

1. MyeongDong, Jeju Dongmun market

2. I am able to sign up account for KKT but experience a lot of errors there. next time should use Uber instead.

 

[parchiao]

1. Well they have been living in that environment since young so i guess their tolerance towards the cold are much better? Personally, i was able to survive with a heat tech (top + bottom) + long sleeve shirt + a coat at -18 when i was there in Nov.

2. There is a reason why Korea is well-known for their beauty products

I have been in Seoul since the weekend which coincided with a cold snap. I can tell you most people cannot survive -18 with just what you described.

From your answers, I don’t think you know much about Korea to AMA.

 

[Beta_123]

Hi, do you think Seoul is kids friendly? Thinking of bringing my (then) 6 yo for a trip. Never been to Korea before

 

[rrr2015]

where to hunt for korea cherry blossoms?

 

[saffronsatire]

where to hunt for korea cherry blossoms?

Jinhae is popular, I think klook got day tour there

 

[rrr2015]

Jinhae is popular, I think klook got day tour there

better done from busan. but klook split into day & night tour. thanks will consider

 

[darcbleu]

where to hunt for korea cherry blossoms?

ya, 1st week or 2 in April will be a good week to go. should be almost full bloom. join the tour, it is quite easy. they will bring you to 2 places.

 

[ses009]

Which car rental company is easy to book from and reasonable rates?
Thinking of renting in Busan and explore out.

 

[spencery]

Hi
Plan to go Busan Jan 2024, as the free evisa for Singaporean expire 31st Dec 2023, flying in January need to apply evisa or ? Sorry as I not too sure what the new procedure will be.

 

[spencery]

Hi
Plan to go Busan Jan 2024, as the free evisa for Singaporean expire 31st Dec 2023, flying in January need to apply evisa or ? Sorry as I not too sure what the new procedure will be.

Mine bad.. i just read thru S. Korea info: So no need to reply/ TKS

<<The following groups of individuals do not require K-ETA or visa:

- Korean nationals

- APEC card holders (excluding US and Canada)

- Registered foreigners (i.e holders of Registration Card)

- UN passport holders

- Transit passengers who will not clear the immigration in Korea

- (with effect from 09 Jan 2023) Diplomatic and Official passport holders of K-ETA required countries

- (from 01 April 2023 to 31 December 2024) Nationals from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Macao, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, US (including Guam).

- (with effect from 03 July 2023) Nationals from K-ETA required countries aged 17 and below or aged 65 and above.>>

 

[vuzuuu]

I will be catching a flight at 1850 from Incheon International airport terminal 1 tomorrow. I’m staying in Myeongdong and thinking to take a sub way from Myeongdong to the airport Terninal 1 .
Should I travel from Myeongdong SUBWAY line 4 towards Seouls station and transfer to AREX train which connect to the Incheon terminal1.
Is there any other alternatives, like airport buses?

 

[saffronsatire]

I will be catching a flight at 1850 from Incheon International airport terminal 1 tomorrow. I’m staying in Myeongdong and thinking to take a sub way from Myeongdong to the airport Terninal 1 .
Should I travel from Myeongdong SUBWAY line 4 towards Seouls station and transfer to AREX train which connect to the Incheon terminal1.
Is there any other alternatives, like airport buses?

I was lazy to drag my luggage around, so I cabbed from myeongdong to seoul station, it's about krw7,000. Also, at seoul station, the subway to arex side quite a long walk.

Are you taking a korean airline? Can check in luggage and do immigration at seoul station if so, then no need drag luggage up the arex and at airport.

 

[twosix]

Which map apps support English input and works like Google map? Google map cannot do walking routes. Haha.

 

[saffronsatire]

Which map apps support English input and works like Google map? Google map cannot do walking routes. Haha.

I used kakao, not fully English but will do. I still bookmark places in Google as it's easier to refer. Alternative is naver. Do download uber or kakao taxi for cab booking too.

 

[rrr2015]

2024 lotte world tower countdown