|
|
 |
| ¡ß Incheon International Airport |
 |
Incheon International Airport (IIA), which is one of the newest transportation hubs in Asia, has over 64 airline offices and manages 455 inbound and outbound international flights each day. It is located approximately one hour away from downtown Seoul. For detailed information on the airport facilities and transportation, please refer to its website at www.airport.or.kr. |
 |
Seoul is served by two international airports, the Incheon International Airport and the Gimpo International Airport. Designed for comfort and convenience, the Incheon International Airport Expressway and the Airport Express Railroads make sure you reach your destination on time.
Both the limousine bus and the regular coach bus run to most parts of the country. It takes about 70~90 minutes to the Korea City Air Terminal adjacent to the congress venue, COEX and the operating interval is every 5-10 minutes. Single fare is about 15 USD.
The Incheon International Airport constructed a railway system for increased convenience. Traveling at a speed of approximately 150 km/hr on land and 120 km/hr underground, its projected travel time from the city center to the airport is about 45 minutes. The total distance covered is 61.5 km with 10 stations in between.
The Airport Express Rail, partially operating, will be connected to the high technology intensified Korea Train Express (KTX), The KTX runs at speeds of 300km/hr. It has an enormous impact on the lives of Koreans by enabling them to reach any destination in the country within three hours.
And within Seoul, the transportation network includes buses, subways, and taxis. Convenient bus and subway systems (8 lines) can get you around the city at a fairly low price. In particular, the subway system is very easy to use; and the subway stations are very easy to find around the city. It runs frequently, every 2-5 minutes. Seoul has many taxis at reasonable prices. You may choose the ¡®common¡¯ taxi or the plushier ¡®limousine¡¯ taxi, which costs just a bit more. |
 |
| ¡ß Time Zone |
| Korea is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +9) and does not observe daylight savings time. |
| ¡ß Currency and Foreign Exchange |
| The unit of Korean currency is the Won(£Ü). Coin denominations are £Ü10, £Ü50, £Ü100 and £Ü500. Banknotes are £Ü1,000, £Ü5,000 and £Ü10,000. As of May, 2008, the exchange rate was approximately KR£Ü1030 per US$1. |
1) Currency exchange |
| Foreign banknotes can be exchanged at most banks and other authorized moneychangers. |
| 2) Traveler's checks |
| Traveler's checks can also be exchanged at most banks, but may be difficult to change in smaller towns. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take Traveler's hecks in US Dollars. |
| 3) Banking hours |
| 09:30 -16:30, Monday through Friday |
| ¡ß Credit Card |
| Visa, and MasterCard are accepted at almost all retail outlets, but Diners Club and American Express may only be accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities. Check with your credit card company for details on merchant acceptance and other services which may be available. |
| ¡ß Business Hours |
| Public offices are generally open from 09:30 to 17:00 on weekdays but are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Most retail shops are open from 10:00 to 22:00 all week. |
| ¡ß Tip&Tax |
1) Tip |
| Tipping is not regularly practiced in Korea. Service charges are often included in the bill for rooms, meals, and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants. Koreans occasionally do tip when they are especially pleased with the services provided. |
| 2) Tax |
| Upon request, visitors can receive VAT refunds of about 10 percent for purchases at "Duty Free Shopping" outlets. Goods must be taken out of Korea within three months of purchase to be eligible for a tax refund. Only foreign tourists in Korea can apply for this tax refund. Visitors can receive refund on receipts with a minimum purchase amount of KR£Ü 50,000 (around US$ 50). 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. |
| ¡ß Telephone / Mobile Phone |
| To make international calls, dial the international dialing code (001, 002, 00700) + country code + area code + phone number. Most convenience stores, hotels and airports, sell domestic and international calling cards. Mobile phones can be rented at the airport or at major hotels. You will need your passport and a credit card to use the mobile phone rental service. |
| ¡ß Climate |
Korea¡¯s climate is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. In
May, which is when the congress is to take place, spring will just be ending and the weather will be warm and apleasant. The average daytime temperature of May is usually around 17¡É.
|
| Average Temperatures and Rainfall
|
|
| |
Seoul |
| Month |
C |
F |
H |
R |
| Jan. |
-2.5 |
27.5 |
62.5 |
21.6 |
| Feb. |
-0.3 |
31.46 |
61 |
23.6 |
| Mar. |
5.2 |
41.36 |
61.2 |
45.8 |
| Apr. |
12.1 |
53.78 |
59.3 |
77 |
| May |
17.4 |
63.32 |
64.1 |
102.2 |
| Jun. |
21.9 |
71.42 |
71 |
133.3 |
| Jul. |
24.9 |
76.82 |
79.8 |
327.9 |
|
|
Note: ¡°C¡±- Centigrade, ¡°F¡±- Fahrenheit, ¡°H¡±- Humidity (%), ¡°R¡±-Rainfall (mm).
This is the mean value from 1971 to 2000. |
|
| ¡ß Electricity |
| The standard electricity supply is 220 volts AC/60 cycles. However, outlets for 110 and 220 volts are available at hotels. |
|
|
|
