Useful Information
General Information
Currency
The unit of currency in Korea is the Korean Won (KRW), symbolized as ₩. Coin denominations include ₩10, ₩50, ₩100, and ₩500, while banknotes are issued in ₩1,000, ₩5,000, ₩10,000, and ₩50,000. As of February 5, 2026, the approximate exchange rate is KRW 1,466 to USD 1.
Exchange
Foreign currency can be exchanged at most banks and authorized money exchange centers.
Banking Hours: 09:00–16:00, Monday through Friday.
Credit Cards
Visa and MasterCard are accepted at most retail outlets. Diners Club and American Express are generally accepted only at major hotels, shops, and restaurants in larger cities. Please check with your credit card provider for detailed information on merchant acceptance and available services.
Electricity
The standard electrical supply is 220 volts AC at 60 Hz. Many hotels provide outlet converters for both 110V and 220V. Participants are advised to confirm availability with their hotel in advance.
Business Hours
Government offices are typically open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and closed on weekends. Banks operate from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays and are closed on weekends. Major department stores are open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., including Sundays.
Time Difference
Korea is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9) and does not observe daylight saving time.
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/time_converter.aspx
Tip & Tax
Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Korea. Service charges are often included in the bill for hotel rooms, meals, and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants.
Tax Refund
Upon request, visitors may receive a VAT refund of approximately 10% on purchases made at designated “Duty Free Shopping” outlets. To qualify, purchased goods must be taken out of Korea within three months. Only foreign tourists are eligible for this refund. Refunds apply to receipts with a minimum purchase amount of KRW 50,000 (approximately USD 50). To obtain the refund, present the refund receipts along with the purchased goods at the airport customs desk on the day of departure. Refunds can then be collected at the Cash Refund Office located in front of the airport duty-free shop.
Emergency Dial Numbers
119: Fire, rescue, hospital, and medical emergencies
112: Police
129: First aid services
These services are available 24 hours a day.
Useful Website
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Korea Tourism Organization: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/main/index.do
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Gateway to Korea: http://www.korea.net
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Visit Seoul: https://english.visitseoul.net/
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Korea Immigration Service: https://www.immigration.go.kr/immigration_eng/index.do
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: http://www.mofat.go.kr
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Incheon International Airport: https://www.airport.kr/sites/ap_en/index.do
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Gimpo International Airport: https://www.airport.co.kr/gimpoeng/index.do