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Current rates for these and other currencies are available from XE. These checks are privately issued by banks and can be used instead of cash for larger purchases, such as hotel rooms. Credit card acceptance at shops, hotels and other businesses on the other hand is very good, and all but the very cheapest restaurants and motels will accept Visa and MasterCard. This works well since credit cards have good exchange rates, however if you are using a foreign card then you should ensure with your bank that there isn't a fee for this foreign transaction.
ATMs are ubiquitous, although using a foreign card with them is rather hit and miss, except for foreign bank ATMs like Citibank. There are however many special global ATMs which accept foreign cards. Before heading to the countryside where foreign cards are less likely to be accepted, be sure to have cash or another source of money. T-money smart cards are an alternative source of payment accepted widely, especially for public transportation. If you plan on staying in South Korea for a longer time, you'll probably want to set up a bank account at a Korean bank such as Woori Bank, which can then be used at the bank's ATMs throughout the country.
Even some non-local accounts can do this, e. Many banks will even allow you to open an account on a tourist visa, though the services you will be able to access will often be very limited. Some of the larger banks may have English-speaking staff on hand at their major branches. South Korea is fairly expensive compared to most Asian countries, but is a little cheaper compared to other modern developed countries such as Japan and most Western countries.
Seoul is more expensive than the rest of the country, and has become particularly expensive competing in many ways with Tokyo , but this has eased since the financial crisis. Tipping is not expected anywhere in South Korea and is not practiced by Koreans. It could be considered an insult between Koreans as it is regarded as giving someone charity, although people generally know of American tipping culture and would be understanding of a foreigner doing this. Bellhops, hotel maids, taxi drivers and bars frequented by Westerners will not reject any tips that you care to hand out.
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Restaurants sometimes provide complimentary food or drinks to customers as a sign of generosity or to reward customer loyalty. Colloquially, this is known as "service". At certain retail outlets with a "Tax Free Shopping" or a "Tax Refund Shopping" sign, you can obtain a voucher and get a large percentage of your taxes refunded.
When you leave South Korea, go to customs and have it stamped then go to the "Global Refund Korea" or "Korea Tax Refund" counters near the duty-free shops. However to get a refund you must leave within 3 months of purchase. Bargaining is common at outdoor markets and applies to everything they may have to offer. However, do not state a specific monetary amount. Doing this once or twice will suffice.
However, you will rarely be discounted more than a few dollars. Widely considered to have medicinal properties, it can be found in special mountain areas throughout Korea. A thick black paste made from ginseng is popular, as is ginseng tea and various other products. There are many grades of ginseng, with the best grades potentially fetching millions of US dollars at auctions.
A good place to check out the different types of ginseng would be Gyeongdong Herbal Medicine Market in Seoul. Visitors looking for traditional items to bring home can find a wide variety of choices.
You can find a blue-jade celadon from the Goryeo Dynasty, handmade traditional costumes, paper kites and ceramic pieces that depict human emotions in their designs at the numerous markets and souvenir shops. Insadong in Seoul would be the first place to shop around. After a while one store might start to look like every other store but chances are you'll find what you need. Keeping up with the latest fashion trends, shoppers and boutique owners alike flock the streets and markets every weekend. Centered largely in Seoul with popular places such as Dongdaemun, Mok dong Rodeo Street and Myeong dong, fashion centers can be divided into two large categories; markets and department stores.
Markets are affordable and each shop will have trendy similar type clothing that appeal to the masses. Also, be aware that you cannot try on most tops. So better to know your size before shopping there. Though department stores will have areas or floors that have discounted items, they are considered overpriced and catering mostly to an older, wealthier crowd. While a traditional hanbok requires visiting a specialist shop and customized fittings, making it rather expensive, more casual versions that are more practical for daily use and significantly cheaper can also be found.
A popular place to get a traditional hanbok is the second floor of Gwangjang Market in Seoul , where you can find many traditional hanbok tailors, each with a wide array of fabrics to choose from. When wearing a hanbok, it should always be wrapped left over right. For all things considered antique , such as furniture, calligraphic works, ceramics and books, you can go to Jangangpyeong Antique Market in Seoul. Items over 50 years old cannot leave the country. Electronics are widely available, especially in larger cities like Seoul and Busan.
South Korea has most of the latest gadgets available in most Western countries and some that are not. In fact, when it comes to consumer technology, South Korea is probably second only to Japan. However, you would probably have to contend with having the instruction booklets and functions being written in Korean. K-pop is a large element of the Korean Wave hallyu phenomenon that took East Asia by storm at the beginning of the 21st century, so you might want to buy the latest Korean music CDs by popular K-pop singers and groups — and discover some of the less known.
K-pop artistes are signed by talent agencies and record companies at a very young age, and typically train arduously for many years before they are allowed to debut. Controversially, aspiring K-pop artistes are made to sign contracts that give them little control over their private lives, often banning them from dating in order to maintain the illusion of "availability" to their fans. Most music is now consumed as digital downloads, but there are still some music shops selling CD's to be found.
And if you want to see them live , there is of course no better place for that than South Korea.
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K-dramas are massively popular in Asia and a boxed DVD set of a drama will certainly last you many rainy afternoons. Drama serials and movies sold in South Korea are for the Korean market and usually do not have subtitles, so check before buying; outside of Korea, you could likely buy the same media dubbed in another Asian language such as Cantonese or Mandarin.
CDs and DVDs are not particularly popular anymore in South Korea, the younger generation having moved onto digital downloads some time ago. Korean cuisine is becoming increasingly popular outside of Korea, especially in other parts of East Asia and the U. It can be an acquired taste, with lots of spicy and fermented dishes, but it's addictive once you get used to it and Korean food is definitely in a class of its own, mixing spicy chilies and copious amounts of garlic with delicate ingredients like raw fish.
Although Korean food is quite low in fat, a fact attested to by the observation that very few South Koreans are overweight, those with sodium-limited diets should beware, as Korean cuisine can be heavy in salt. The humblest meal comes with three types while a royal banquet may well feature twenty types of banchan. Many different dishes are made using kimchi for flavoring, and kimchi is served as a side dish as well.
It is not uncommon to find Korean tourists carrying a stash of tightly packed kimchi when travelling abroad. A common perception among Koreans is that foreigners don't like spicy food , so you might have to spend some time convincing people otherwise if you really want to eat something hot.
And while Korean food undoubtedly has the neighboring bland-dieted Japanese and northern Chinese breathing fire, if you're accustomed to, say, Thai or Mexican food, you may wonder what the fuss is about. Foreign food restaurants are also popular, albeit usually with a Korean twist. Fried chicken has been adopted and many believe it better than the American original.
Pizzas are also ubiquitous although you may wonder quite where the inspirations behind the toppings came from.

Vietnamese and Mexican food appeals to Koreans as well. Japanese restaurants of all varieties are very common. Unique in Asia, Koreans use chopsticks made of metal , which don't burn when used over a hot grill and are easier to wash and reuse. Restaurants typically provide stainless steel chopsticks, which unfortunately for the chopstick learner, are very difficult to use!
These thin and slippery sticks are not as easy as the wooden or plastic chopsticks but you'll still manage with some fumbling. Spoons are used to eat rice, soup, and porridge.
Koreans find it strange that their Asian neighbors eat rice with chopsticks. Many Korean restaurants may also offer Western cutlery to a Westerner. When eating as a group, communal dishes will be placed in the center and everybody can chopstick what they want, but you'll still get individual portions of rice and soup. Unless you are eating royal cuisine, most dishes are served family style. In many traditional households, children were taught that it is impolite to speak during meals.
Don't be surprised if there's complete silence while eating.