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 Taxis
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There are three types of taxis in Korea:
General - the most common, Best Deluxe - full service
and Call Taxis. |
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• General
Taxis
General taxis, usually gray in
color, are available not only at taxi stops but also at
streets with a simple gesture. An available taxi can be
distinguished by the red light at the front or by the
cap lamp on the top. These features make it easy to find
an available taxi at night.
Some taxis with
"FREE INTERPRETATION" signs provide on-line phone
interpretation service. However, knowing some basic
Korean or area information ahead of time will make your
trip more convenient.
The basic fare is
currently 1,300 won (Feb 2001). It increases by 100 won
according to driving distance and riding time. After
midnight, an additional 20% of the total fare is
charged. The fare from Kimpo International Airport to
downtown Seoul is from 10,000~15,000 won and from Kimpo
to Jamsil is about 17,000 won |
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• Best
Deluxe Taxis
Black taxis with yellow caps
are called Best Deluxe Taxis. They provide various
convenient services including free car phones. Credit
card payment is also available, and they will give you a
receipt. You are able to find these taxis at general
taxi stops. Best deluxe taxis are easily found at
airports, main hotels, attractions and terminals.
As with general taxis, some best deluxe taxis
with "FREE INTERPRETATION" signs on their rear window
provide on-line phone interpretation service. Drivers of
taxis with a "Visitors Guide English (Japanese)" sign
provide you direct interpretation.
The basic fare
is currently 3,000 won (Feb 2001). It increases by 200
won according to driving distance and riding time.
Unlike the general taxis, best deluxe taxis do not
charge you extra fare after midnight. The fare from
Kimpo International Airport to downtown of Seoul is
approximately 20,000~30,000 won and from Kimpo to Jamsil
is about 35,000 won. |
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• Call
Taxis
You can call a taxi directly to
wherever you are by making a simple phonecall. One
advantage of this is that you can arrange for a taxi
with interpretation service if you do not speak any
Korean at all.
When you wish to call an
interpretation available taxi, call 82-2-3431-5100.
A certain amount of money will be charged when
you call a taxi. It varies by taxi company, so check on
this before making arrangements. |
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Buses |
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Korea has an urban bus system connecting
you to anywhere in the city, an airport bus linking the
airport with downtown and cross-country and express
buses running between cities |
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• Urban
Buses (village buses, circular city buses, seat buses,
luxury seat buses)
The urban buses include
four kinds of buses. They are village buses, circular
city buses, seat buses and luxury seat buses. Bus
stations are divided into those for village buses,
general buses and seat buses.
When you get on a
bus, use the front door and pay by putting money in the
fare box or by using a card machine placed next to the
bus driver. Keep in mind that sometimes you will not be
to receive change if paying with bills and that bus
fares differ slightly depending on the city.
As
of February 2001, the fares are 300won for village buses
(students 200won/ children 150won), 600won for circular
city buses (children 250won), 1200won for seat buses,
and 1300won for luxury seat buses. You will receive a
discount if you use a bus card.
If you want to
get off, push the button on the wall and get off at the
next station exiting through the side door. If you are
taking a seat bus with only one door, you may of course
get on and off at the front door.
Village buses,
circular city buses and seat buses run from 04:30 to
23:30, while luxury seat buses normally operate until
02:00. |
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• Airport
Buses
No. 600, No. 600-1 and No. 601 are
airport buses connecting the airport with downtown
Seoul.
It is possible to take a bus from the bus
station in the airport. They run every 10 minutes from
04:30 to 22:30. Use the airport bus the same way as the
urban buses. As of February 2001, the fare is 1500won in
cash and is 1380won if using a bus card. |
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• Cross
Country Buses & Express Buses
Cross
country buses and express buses run between cities. They
can be from bus terminals and the fare varies according
to distance. Express buses are divided into general
buses and deluxe buses. Though the deluxe bus is nice
for long distance traveling because it provides good
services including convenient seats, the fare is
expensive. The first bus usually departs between 06:00
and 07:00, and the final bus departs leaving enough time
for the bus to arrive at the destination before 24:00. |
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Subway |
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Subway service is available in
Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Incheon.
Because the
Seoul and Busan subways are linked with main government
offices, cultural assets, shopping centers, bus
terminals and the airport, foreign tourists can use them
conveniently.
Since in both subways each line
has a unique color and information is announced both in
Korean and in English, even those who are visiting Korea
for the first time can easily use the subway. When using
the Seoul subway in particular, you can easily recognize
transfer stations when you hear the birdcall on lines
1~4 and classical music on lines 5~8 when the transfer
station is announced.
As of February 2001, the
subway runs from 06:00 to 23:30 and the subway fare is
normally 600won for one section in the downtown area.
Extra charges are added depending on the section covered
from downtown to the suburbs or from suburb to suburb.
If you use the subway often, you can receive a
10% bonus ticket (students 20%) when using prepaid
subway tickets (10,000 won/20,000 won). You can also
purchase transportation cards (passes that charge 550won
for 1 section) which can be used for both the bus and
the subway.
To purchase tickets, use the ticket
offices or the ticket vending machines at the subway.
  
• How to Use
Ticket Vending Machines
1. Push a section
(1 section/2 section) and number of tickets
2.
Insert coins
3. Receive ticket and
change |
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Trains |
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There are three kinds of trains
in Korea: Saemaeul-ho, Mugunghwa-ho and
Tongil-ho.
Saemaeul-ho, the fastest, is an express train
equipped with a dining car and provides services of the
highest quality including a wireless public phone and an
area for using a notebook computer.
Mugunghwa-ho
is probably the most appropriate train service for
travelers. Mugunghwa-ho not only has the greatest number
of lines connecting city to city but also offers
reasonable prices and frequent operation compared to
Saemaeul-ho. There is also Tongil-ho, which runs between
small train stations in quiet country villages. If you
want to see in person the backgrounds of serene Korean
movies and soft operas, then taking this train is a
great way to do it.
The departure station
depends on the destination. Generally you can use
Cheongryangri Station when leaving Seoul for the
northern areas of Gyeonggi-do, Gangreung or Chuncheon,
and you can use Seoul Station or Yeongdeungpo Station to
reach the southern areas of Gyeonggi-do, Daejeon, Busan
or Gwangju. It is possible to reserve train tickets by
phone or by the internet. Fares may vary depending on
the distance. The first train normally leaves between
06:00 and 07:00 and the final train arrives at the
destination before 24:00.
In Korea, taking a
train is a good choice for a business trips or
long-distance trips because the train is rarely delayed
except in special circumstances like natural disasters
or accidents.
Korean Railway: http://www.korail.go.kr/
(Korean/English/Japanese/Chinese) |
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• KR PASS |
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A KR PASS allows foreigners who
visit Korea to use the train freely or to receive a
discount during a fixed period. This pass is convenient
for those who have to travel many times from city to
city during a fixed period (3, 5, 7 and 10 days).
It is free of charge for children under five
years old, a 50% discount is offered for children 6~12
years old, a 20% discount is offered for adolescents
23~25 years old and groups receive a 10% discount. As of
February 2001, the price of a KR PASS is $48 US for a
three day ticket, $72 US for a five day ticket and $106
US for a ten day ticket. |
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Airports & Airlines
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There are three international
airports in Seoul: Incheon International Airport, Gimhae
airport in Busan and Jeju airport in Jeju-do. Domestic
airports located in 13 cities connect with Gimpo Airport
in Seoul.
Incheon International Airport is
occupied with 35 airlines including Korean Air and
Asiana Air. They operate both domestic and international
flights and give passengers a choice of
airlines.
Korea Airport Authority: http://www.airport.co.kr/
(Korean/English)
Incheon International Airport:
http://www.airport.or.kr/
(Korean/English/Chinese/Japanese)
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From the Airport to
Downtown |
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As Incheon International Airport in Seoul is the
principal international airport representing Korea,
there are various forms of transportation linking it
with the downtown area and with other cities. Incheon
International Airport Expressway was opened for the
convenient transportation to the downtown of Seoul
within an hour.
• Urban Buses
There are
city buses departing for Yeongdeungpo, Sinchon and Seoul
Station and seat buses which run to City Hall,
Dongdaemun, Jamsil and Seodaemun.
As of February
2001, most buses depart every 5 or 10 minutes and run
from 06:00 to 22:30. The bus fare is 600won (seat buses:
1200won/ luxury seat buses: 1300won). Fares, routes and
operating intervals vary by bus company. Therefore, we
recommend checking the bulletin board at the station in
each building.
•
Limousine Buses
The limousine buses link
the airport with 18 main luxury hotels in Seoul, with
the City Air Terminal and with 16 main cities. The
limousine buses linking with main hotels and terminals
in Seoul are KAL limousine buses and City Air Terminal
limousine buses. It is possible to purchase a KAL
limousine bus ticket at terminals in the airport, at
major hotels and at KAL ticket counters throughout the
city. As of January 2002, the fare for KAL limousine
buses is 10,000 won.
City Air Terminal limousine
buses run from the City Air Terminal located at the
Korea World Trade Center in Samseong-dong, Seoul to the
airport without stopping. Those who use the City Air
Terminal can conveniently go from the departure
inspection to the boarding formalities area. The fare is
10,000 won as is the fare for a KAL limousine bus. The
operating hours are between 04:40 and 22:30. Buses
depart every 5 or 10 minutes.
Korean Air: http://www.koreanair.com/ (Korean/
English/ Japanese) /
82-2-2267-0386 (Seoul),
82-51-973-2168 (Busan)
Korea City Air Terminal:
http://www.kcat.co.kr/ (Korean/
English) / 82-2-949-2313 |
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Ferries |
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Korea has two international
ports, one in Busan and and one in Incheon connecting
Japan and China respectively.
These
international ports are entrances for tourists who
arrive at Korea by sea. The Busan international port is
used for those who came from Japan and the Incheon
international port is for tourists visiting Korea from
China.
• Ferries Between
the Busan International Port and
Japan
Busan International Port ~
Simonoseki: 82-2-738-0055, 82-51-464-2700
Busan
International Port ~ Hakada: 82-2-775-2323,
82-51-466-7799
• Ferries
Between the Incheon International Port and China
Incheon International Port ~ Weihai /
Incheon International Port~ Qingdao:
82-23271-6753,
82-32-886-6171
Incheon International Port ~ Tianjin:
82-2-517-8671, 82-32-888-7911 |
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