Currency & Banking

The unit of currency is Korean Won (KRW), expressed as ￦. Coin denominations are ￦10, ￦50, ￦100 and ￦500. Bank notes are ￦1,000, ￦5,000, ￦10,000 and ￦50,000. As of February 14, 2024 the exchange rate is approximately KRW 1,334 for USD 1.

Currency exchange
Foreign banknotes can be exchanged at most banks and other authorized moneychangers.
Banking hours
09:00 - 16:00, Monday through Friday

Credit Card

Visa, and MasterCard are accepted at almost all retail outlets, but Diners Club and American Express may only be accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities. Check with your credit card company for details on merchant acceptance and other available services.

Electricity

The standard electricity supply is 220 volts AC/60 cycles. Most hotels may provide outlet converters for 110 and 220 volts. Participants are recommended to check with the hotel beforehand.

Business Hours

Government office hours are usually from 9am to 6pm on weekdays and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Banks are open from 9am to 4pm on weekdays and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Major department stores are open every day from 10:30am to 8pm including Sundays.

Time Difference

Korea is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +9) and does not observe daylight savings time.
If you need more information, please visit here.

Tip & Tax

Tip
Tipping is not regularly practiced in Korea. Service charges are often included in the bill for rooms, meals, and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants.
Tax
Upon request, visitors can receive VAT refunds of about 10 percent for purchases at "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 refund on receipts with a minimum purchase amount of KRW 30,000 (around US$ 30). To receive this refundable, present refund receipts together with the purchased goods at the customs desk at the airport on your day of departure. These receipts can be cashed in at the Cash Refund Office in front of the Airport Duty Free Shop.

Emergency Dial Number

119: Emergencies for fire, Rescue & Hospital Services, Medical emergency
112: Police
129: First Aid Services
※ These services are available 24 hours.

Useful Website

Korea Tourism Organization: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr
Gateway to Korea: http://www.korea.net
Seoul Tourism Organization: http://www.miceseoul.com
Seoul Metropolitan Government: http://www.visitseoul.net
Korea Immigration Service: http://www.immigration.go.kr
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: http://www.mofat.go.kr
Incheon International Airport: http://www.airport.kr
Gimpo International Airport: http://www.airport.co.kr/gimpo/main.do