09.08.18 144 728 139

How to make money in South Korea

Hourly wages, free lunches and scammers in the labor market

In October 2016, I quit my job and decided to fulfill my childhood dream - to visit South Korea, and at the same time earn money.

Alexandra Chagai

went to live and work in South Korea

Now I work at one of the car factories and help Russians find jobs. I’ll tell you how to find a job in South Korea and avoid becoming a victim of scammers.

Moving and visa

Since 2014, the visa regime between Russia and South Korea has been abolished. Citizens of both states have the right to stay in the countries for no more than two months.

Russians often come to South Korea as tourists and then get a job. This is illegal: a visa is required for legal employment. There are several types of such visas.

RUB 110,950

average salary in South Korea. In Russia, the average salary is almost three times lower

S-4- short-term visa, issued for long-term business trips from three to six months.

D, E, H- such visas are issued to foreigners who plan to work in the country or come for business purposes for more than two months. These same visas are issued to students and graduate students entering local universities.

F-1- family visa, it is issued to foreigners who are married to Korean citizens.

F-2- for long stays.

F-3- accompanying a relative.

F-4- issued to ethnic Koreans.

E-1, E-3, E-5- issued for scientific research.

Illegal immigrants are often cunning. For example, they receive a study visa, pay for the first months of training, and then get a job. Recently, this loophole was closed by canceling the monthly payment for studying at the university - now you will have to pay money for the entire semester at once.

Some immigrants enter into sham marriages with ethnic Koreans and receive a family visa F-1 and find employment. According to the law, you can’t work everywhere with such a visa, but employers often turn a blind eye to such things.

IN Lately Another method of legalization in the country is gaining popularity among Russians: immigrants apply for political asylum and receive a visa G-1. While the application is being considered, you can legally stay in Korea. Even if it is rejected, nothing prevents you from filing an appeal and again waiting for a decision for several months while continuing to work.

I'm ethnically Korean, so I got the visa easily. F-4, with which you can live in the country indefinitely and get a job without any problems.

Who to work with

The easiest way for a foreigner to get a job is one that does not require any qualifications. At the same time, the salary will still be two to three times higher than in Russia.

They just pay more there

Our compatriots come to the country for high salaries: the average salary in Russia (according to Rosstat for January 2018) is 38,400 RUR, in South Korea - 2,000,000 won (110,950 RUR).

For example, a motel maid earns 1.5-1.8 million won (83,210-99,850 R) per month, while also providing a free room for accommodation and meals.

The salary of a waiter is 1.3-1.7 million won (72,115-94,305 R) per month, an agricultural worker - from 60,000 won (3,330 R) per day, a factory worker - 1.3-3.5 million won ( 72,115-194,160 R) per month, fisherman - from 80,000 won (4,440 R) per day.

4440 R

what a fisherman earns in South Korea per day

I work at one of the Hyundai car plants in the city of Ulsan, which is about three and a half hours drive from Seoul.

The city of Ulsan in South Korea looks like this. Photo: v15ben, Flickr

In total, the company has about 50 Russian-speaking employees - all visitors from Russia and the CIS countries. Hyundai factories are scattered throughout the country. Each enterprise produces a separate part: one makes rubber seals for doors, another makes plastic pistons, and a third makes seat covers. Then, in a separate production facility, it all comes together.

At large enterprises, male and female labor are clearly separated. For example, women check parts for defects and correct defects, and men work on machines: pressing parts, controlling robot welding.

How to find a job in South Korea

There are many ways, I’ll tell you about the most popular ones.

There are sites on the Internet where you can ask questions to people who are already working in Korea and ask them for help with finding a job. Russians actively help each other, often for free. We must use this enthusiasm. For example, even if you find a suitable vacancy, getting a job yourself without knowing the language is problematic. You'll have to find a translator. It is better if you already have friends in South Korea.

Through an intermediary It’s worth looking for a job if you have neither knowledge of the language nor friends. Services cost from $150. Such people often have their own vacancy databases.

150 $

cost of intermediary services in job search

For an additional fee, they will meet you at the airport, help you with paperwork and opening a bank account, renting an apartment, and so on. Throughout the entire period of work, you will have a personal life consultant in South Korea who will solve problems with insurance, pension contributions, salary delays, and more. If the job you apply for turns out to be difficult, the intermediary will find another vacancy.

This is exactly how I got my first job, no problems arose. The only thing I would advise is not to give money in advance, but to pay for services after getting a job.

Scammers

Among the intermediaries there are also scammers who negotiate in advance with dishonest business owners. The intermediary publishes advertisements offering work even to those who do not have a visa.

When a whole group of foreigners is recruited, they are hired at “their” enterprise. Then salary delays begin, but the intermediary reassures that this happens and we still have to wait.

Recently, there are more and more such cases. On social networks, victims of scammers post detailed information about such intermediaries, photographs, videos, links to vacancies, phone numbers. Therefore, if you decide to use someone’s services, then it’s worth reading communities on social networks so as not to run into a swindler.

Employment centers suitable for foreigners who know the language at least at a basic level. Some of these centers ("samushil" in Korean) help with work even for visitors who do not have a visa or registration card.

They do not offer permanent work here; you will have to work in a new place every day. The earlier in the morning you get in line at the Samushil, the higher the likelihood of getting a job. Considering that the centers open at 6 am, you will have to get up early. There may be several employment centers in one city.

You can find the nearest one through the special Cocoa Map mobile application.

The work can be very different - from packing fruit and cleaning apartments to construction. Salaries are paid daily: men receive from 80,000 won (4440 R), women - from 55,000 won (3050 R). The “samushil” takes the 10% commission for himself.

If some employer likes you, you may be offered a permanent position.

from 3050 R

you can earn money in a day through the employment center

I used the services of the centers twice, and the impressions were mixed. On the one hand, the work was not difficult. For example, I was packaging medical face masks: the masks arrive on the conveyor belt, you need to count out 10 pieces, then assemble the box and put the masks in it. On the other hand, when you get hired through “self-employment” there is no stability: today you weren’t hired and you were left without money.

When you arrive at a new place of work, pay attention to what nationalities people work there. This says a lot about the employer. According to my observations, the Chinese choose easy jobs, regardless of the salary level. If only Filipinos work, I decided for myself that the work is harmful or dirty. If there is not a single Russian, I always double-checked the employer - most likely, the work will be hard or low-paid.

There is also a rule in South Korea: don’t stand still. Having finished work early, you cannot rest unless a break is announced. You definitely need to keep yourself busy with something, like cleaning workplace. The main thing is not to stand, but to create the appearance of vigorous activity.

Interview

You will have to undergo an interview before being hired for a permanent position. The main attention will be paid to your external data, and education, for example, does not play any role. Knowledge of the language will be an advantage, but not required.

They can even refuse because of excess weight. If the choice is between a candidate of sciences and a handsome guy without an education, they will choose the second one. This is why plastic surgery is so popular in South Korea. And in the standard application form when applying for a job, there is even a column where you need to indicate your weight. There are also age restrictions - people over 45 years old will not find it easy to find a job.

At the same time, there is no need to come to the interview looking too presentable: it is better for a woman to get by with a minimum of makeup and not wear high-heeled shoes. Koreans believe that an overly well-groomed person is not suitable for physical work. Once I witnessed two girls from Russia come for an interview - both wearing denim shorts, T-shirts with bare shoulders and flip-flops. They were not hired and told not to come again.

Knowing the language is good, but it is much more important to learn local etiquette and traditions. One of my friends was fired for calling his boss with his palm turned up. This is how they call dogs in Korea. People only wave with the palm facing down.

In South Korea, serious attention is paid to sharing meals - “hwaesik”. Colleagues gather after work to eat and drink something strong. If a person older than you invites, and especially if he is a boss, then you cannot refuse.

You need to remember a variety of little things. For example, if a glass of alcohol is served, it must be taken with both hands. You also need to clink glasses while holding the drink in both hands. This is how you show your respect to the person. If you are clinking glasses with someone who is senior in position, then you should hold your glass a little lower. You should drink alcohol with your face turned to the side, and the more you drink, the more you will delight the Korean.

If you do not follow all these numerous rules, then relationships with colleagues and superiors will quickly deteriorate.

"Nunchi"

In South Korea there is such a thing as “nunchi”. This word cannot be translated into Russian. In general terms, “nunchi” is the ability to perceive non-verbal cues when communicating with other people, understand the situation and respond to it. "Nunchi" is very important in Korea.

For example, if your boss calls you, you need to speed up your pace. By doing this you show his authority and your respect. You cannot argue with your superiors, even if you are one hundred percent right. If you are being reprimanded, you cannot make eye contact, you must lower your head and listen in silence or agree with the words: “Yes. I got it".

Salary and schedule

The salary directly depends on the number of hours worked. It also depends on the shift you worked: day or night.

The minimum hourly wage is established by law and is equal to 7530 won (414 R). The working day starts at 8-9 am. After 17:30, “overtime” begins - each subsequent hour of work is paid at one and a half times the minimum rate - that is, a minimum of 11,295 won (622 R) per hour. Night shifts are also paid at one and a half rates.

414 R

The employer must pay the minimum per hour of work of the employee

If you work on weekends or holidays, hourly payment will be at a double minimum rate - 15,060 won (829 R).

Most often, night and day shifts alternate: you work day shifts for a week, night shifts for a week. If you agree with your superiors, you can work only on the day shift or only on the night shift. In the second case, you will be able to earn much more. There are enterprises that do not work at night.

Increase in wages

From January 1, 2018, the cost of an hour of work in South Korea increased by 16.4%. This is a record rate increase in the entire history of the country.

In 2017, the minimum rate was 6,470 won (356 R) per hour, now it is 7,530 won (414 R).

In January 2018, after switching to new tariffs, I earned almost 3 million won (RUR 165,000). After deducting income tax and accommodation (87,208 won - 4799 R), payment for housing and utilities (153,400 won - 8440 R), I was left with 2,759,392 won (151,842 R).

How much did I earn in January 2018

Day

Overtime

Night

Holidays and weekends

RUB 161,994

I started working in January 2018

Bonus systems vary from company to company. It all depends on the employer: somewhere there are all types of bonuses, and somewhere only weekly, or monthly, or only the thirteenth salary.

In South Korea, there is an “out” system: if you get a job in the first half of the month, you will receive your salary for the first 15 days only in the next month - on the 15th-17th. Then they will start paying as expected, every month.

Salaries are transferred to a bank account. In South Korea, anyone can open an account. There are banks here that do not pay attention to the client’s documents at all.

Food and insurance

The lunch break at large enterprises usually starts at 12:00 and lasts from 30 minutes to an hour. They are fed at the enterprise in the local canteen. The menu is always the same: boiled rice, soup, three or four types of salads, hot dishes.

If the working day exceeds 8 hours, then the employer can also feed employees dinner. I know that some enterprises even have an afternoon snack - they give you milk and a bun.

Healthcare is very expensive in South Korea, so I recommend having insurance, even though not all employers require it. When you officially get a job, insurance opens automatically. If you come to Korea with your family, you have the right to include all close relatives in your insurance. Your premiums depend on how much you earn and how much you pay for your home. If there is no official work, then insurance will cost 90,000 won (4952 R).

What's it like to live here

In Korea you can earn money faster than in Russia. The work is physically more demanding: in most cases, the entire working day is spent on your feet. But I never regretted my decision to move.

There is always something to do here in your free time. I used to often go to Seoul on weekends for shopping and exploring. Two days in the capital cost 320-530 thousand won (17,610-29,165 R). This amount includes accommodation, meals in restaurants, shopping, visiting a nightclub, and slot machines.

from 17,610 RUR

I spend two days shopping in Seoul

Korea has a pleasant climate, although there is a lot of humidity. Autumn and winter are not as harsh as in Russia. There is a sea and many beaches, a lot of attractions. In cities, ancient palaces coexist with mirrored skyscrapers. Everything is very bright - signs, colorful buses, taxis. In addition, the country is very safe - you can safely walk around the city at two in the morning.

You can simply go for a walk in Seoul. Photo: Dickson Phua, Flickr

In Korea, everything is done for the comfort of people. For example, at the entrance to a shopping center there will definitely be a machine for wrapping a wet umbrella in cellophane so that it does not drip. In a restaurant, you can place an order and pay for it at the terminal at the entrance, and then just sit at the table and wait for everything to be brought. Moreover, they will bring you more than you asked for: you paid for one soup, and on top they will give you ten snacks for free: kimchi, radish kimchi, onions, bean paste, seaweed, pepper, lotus roots, pickled quail eggs and much more.

Koreans themselves are smiling and friendly people; they are friendly towards foreigners. Although in general, locals take a long time to get used to new people in their environment. For example, in a team, at first a newcomer will be treated coldly, but then the ice will melt and you will become part of a large family.

22.06.18 46 678 21

Live in Seoul and receive a scholarship of RUB 688,000 per year

I dreamed of getting a creative profession abroad.

Olga Khan

went to study in South Korea

In 2010, I started looking for scholarships in foreign universities. At first I thought about Europe, but South Korean universities offered more money. At that time, the most famous scholarship program, Erasmus, paid an average of 500 € (36,159 RUR) per month. In South Korea they pay me 770 € (55,685 RUR) per month, plus they cover air tickets home and back, and once a quarter they give me 200 € (14,464 RUR) for educational expenses.

In 2013, I entered Chung-Ang University to major in film directing. I moved to Korea from Tashkent and am now continuing my studies in graduate school in Seoul. In total, I have been living in Korea for five and a half years.

Language

Admission to most Korean universities begins with the TOPIK exam - Test of Proficiency in Korean. This international exam for knowledge of the Korean language. You need to pass at least the third level - the equivalent of pre-intermediate in English.

It was possible to learn Korean at home, but I decided to immediately immerse myself in the language environment and went to courses at Sungkyunkwang University in the city of Suwon, not far from Seoul. Most often, language courses in Korea are held at some universities.

Studying at the language school began in March 2012, cost $600 (38,766 R) per month and lasted just under a year. I didn’t pay for accommodation: I lived with family friends. During the course, I met scholarship holders from Uzbekistan, who advised me to apply for one of the Korean grants. After graduating at the end of February 2013, I immediately took the TOPIK Level 3 exam.

I'm still a little confused in my vocabulary, but that doesn't stop me from continuing my studies in Korean. It is important to understand that the higher the TOPIK exam score, the greater the chances of receiving a grant to study at a Korean university. You can also study in English, but in this case the choice of scholarship programs is reduced by 90%.

Korean language is difficult. It contains many sounds that are not found in Russian. With vocabulary and grammar, everything is also not simple; sometimes they are difficult to follow the logic of a Russian-speaking person. In total, it took me two years to learn the language.

The local population speaks almost no English, so going to Korea for a long time without knowing Korean is almost pointless. Many Koreans, especially young people, of course, learn English at school, but the main emphasis is on writing rather than speaking. Some people are very embarrassed to make a mistake in a conversation. Others believe that since you came to Korea to study or work, be kind enough to speak the language of the country. At the same time, Koreans are very friendly and love to make acquaintances with foreigners.

Scholarships for foreigners

International students can receive one of three scholarships in South Korea.

Government scholarship - Korean Government Scholarship. It is received by future bachelors, masters and doctors of science, as well as trainees. This scholarship pays 1,000,000 ₩ (57,380 R) per month - this is the maximum scholarship amount in Korea.

₩

The national currency of South Korea is the South Korean won.

Scholarships from Korean organizations are issued in the same way and for the same purposes as in the first case, but they usually pay less: 600,000-700,000 ₩ (34,000 -39666.7 R) per month. For example, an internship to study the Korean language from the International Korean Foundation Korea Foundation or a master's degree from KOICA - this is the Agency of the Republic of Korea for International Cooperation. If you want a creative major, you can try to get an AMA scholarship, it is given to students studying theater, film and television.

There are also individual scholarships from different universities. In Seoul national university came up with the Silk Road Scholarship and the Outstanding Student Scholarship.

How I received a scholarship

After passing the TOPIK exam, I returned home to Tashkent and literally in two weeks I collected documents for two scholarships: a government scholarship at Chung-Ang University in the specialty “film director” and a KOICA scholarship at Korea University in the specialty “visual culture”.

I won both grants and chose the government scholarship at Chung Ang University because it was bigger. As part of the grant, I was paid for a ticket to Seoul.

Since the level of my Korean according to the results of the TOPIK exam did not reach the 5th level, I was sent to improve it at language courses in the city of Daegu. The courses are also paid for by a scholarship. The scholarship program itself distributes students to cities where language training will take place. It takes about 4 hours to get to Daegu from Seoul by bus.

I received a scholarship all year - 900,000 ₩ (51,500 R) per month. During my studies, I managed to improve my language skills by two levels, as required. Two weeks after finishing the language program, my master's degree began in Seoul. For my improved knowledge of Korean, my monthly stipend was increased to 1,000,000 ₩ (57,380 RUR).

Once a semester, students are entitled to about 240,000 ₩ (11,500 RUR) to reimburse educational expenses; the exact amount depends on the specialty. To receive this money, you need to provide a personal study plan: you must prove that the additional payment will be used to reimburse materials and teaching aids.

13,000 R

on average they give South Korean students once a semester - this is money to reimburse educational expenses

Study in Korea

Studying in South Korea is difficult. Some scholarship recipients I knew couldn’t stand it and went home. Classes run from Monday to Friday, but the moderate number of lectures is offset by plenty of practical exercises and homework.

After two years of master's studies in Korea, I received a diploma MFA (Master of Arts) majoring in film director. The final gift to all successful participants of the scholarship program is a ticket for a direct flight home.

Six months later, I returned to Korea again and since September 2017 I have been studying at graduate school at Chung-Ang University. This time I submitted documents through the embassy. I am again paid a stipend of 1 million won, reimbursed for my study expenses and airfare to Korea.

Studying in Korean graduate school is not much different from Russian: you study subjects in your specialty, pass exams, and write a dissertation. You not only have to read a lot, but also translate a lot, because all training is only in Korean.

Moving and visa

Since I am Korean by nationality, I applied for a “foreign national visa”, or F-4 visa. It needs to be updated every five years. The visa cost me $80 (5111 RUR). Other international students renew their visas every six months to a year. In Russia, the average cost of an “ethnic visa” to Korea is $100 (6,479 RUR). To apply for a visa, I also paid for a notarized translation of the diploma and insert with grades.

According to the terms of the study program, the university paid for my ticket to Korea. A return ticket is also paid, but only if the student successfully defends a diploma or dissertation within six months after graduation.

80 $

I paid for the visa

In Korea, there are no discounts for students on travel or anything else. With regard to all kinds of payments, the student is exactly the same citizen as the rest.

Taxes and salaries

A good salary in Korea is approximately 3,000,000 ₩ (172,000 R) per month. The average salary in Seoul is 1,500,000-2,000,000 ₩ (86,000 -114,667 R) per month.

The most prestigious professions are considered to be lawyer, teacher, doctor and civil servant. Koreans often stay late at work and work on weekends. A ten-hour work day is par for the course here.

Taxes in Korea are divided into local (city and regional) and national. Regional - this is, for example, a maintenance tax highways and a regional development tax. City taxes are a trademark registration fee and a tax on tobacco products.

100,000 R

average salary in Seoul

Income tax is national and is charged on a progressive scale: from 10 to 22%. VAT in Korea is 10%. Income tax is also paid on a progressive scale: from 6 to 40%, depending on the level of income.

I am a foreign graduate student and do not pay taxes to the state.

Banks

To apply for a card, deposit or loan, you need to go to the bank. Bank employees, in my experience, do not speak English very well. All banks have mobile applications.

I have only one Woori Bank card (translated from Korean as “our bank”), for which I receive a scholarship. It was completed for me in half an hour. I chose the bank whose services my university uses. This is convenient because ATMs are located right on campus. I don't pay for card maintenance. You can use online banking for payments and transfers, where you can easily monitor account movements. There is also an SMS notification function, but it must be connected separately - I don’t need it.

In Seoul you can pay with a card almost everywhere; paypass works absolutely everywhere here too.

0 R

I pay for the service bank card because I'm a student

Housing

There are four housing options for a student in Korea: dormitory, kosiwon, hasukjib, and apartment rental.

Dorms is no different from Russian ones: two students live in one room. The average price for a place in a hostel is $200-300 (RUR 12,922 -RUR 19,383) per month.

Kosivon- looks like a dormitory, but here each student has his own tiny room. All amenities - kitchen, laundry, toilet, shower - are shared. There are kosivons with a private toilet and shower, but they are more expensive. The word "kosiwon" is formed from two hieroglyphs: "exam" and "house".

Nowadays, not only students live in kosivons, but also beginning workers who have just gotten a job, and the poor. Prices for kosivons depend on the area and the conditions in the room. Prices vary from approximately 250,000 ₩ (14,000 R) to 350,000 ₩ (20,000 R).

Hasukchib- it's something like a boarding house. The owner and his tenants live in the house. The rooms are occupied one at a time, several rooms share one bathroom and toilet, and the laundry room is shared with the whole house. The price includes breakfast and dinner, prepared by the hostess (usually an adult married woman).

For renting an apartment, as elsewhere, you need to conclude an agreement and pay a deposit. The amount of the deposit is determined by the owner. The average price for a one-room studio apartment in a good area of ​​Seoul is 500,000 ₩ (28,700 RUR). Utility payments are not included in this amount.

18,000 R

on average I pay rent for a one-room apartment per month

I managed to find very a budget option: I rented a studio apartment in a good area of ​​Gwanak for 330,000 ₩ (19,000 R) per month. When I signed the lease, I paid a deposit of 1 million won. This amount will be returned to me when the contract ends.

You can rent housing through agencies or directly from the owner. I found the apartment on Seoul Craigslist. This is the most popular housing search site in South Korea, used by both foreigners and locals.

Width="2000" height="1187" class="outline-bordered" style="max-width: 1000.0px; height: auto" data-bordered="true"> Studio near the university for 550,000 won (31,600 R) per month

People

In Tashkent, where I was born, there is patriarchy. People get married early there, and weddings often occur as a result of parents' matchmaking. The husband supports his wife, and she takes care of the children. This is not the case in South Korea. Here it is customary to get married after 30 years, and divide all expenses in the family in half.

In Seoul, people are smiling, they line up at bus stops, they don’t make much noise and don’t show too much emotion in public places.

Even in South Korea there is a real cult of bosses. The boss is always right. In Tashkent, employees go home after work, and in Korea, they most often go to a bar for a drink - this is how they relieve stress after hard work.

Transport

In Seoul, everyone travels by bus and subway. There are about two hundred different bus routes, on public transport you can get to almost anywhere. Buses are multi-colored: red, blue, green and yellow. The route depends on the color. Red and yellow go from Seoul to the suburbs:

Fares depend on the route. A ticket within Seoul costs about 1150 ₩ (66 R), a trip to the suburbs costs 1950 ₩ (112 R). You can pay in cash or transport card. The card saves about a hundred won on travel costs, and it also allows you to transfer between routes for free (you need to change to another transport half an hour in order to get there for free).

The Seoul subway has nine lines, including two train lines: Chung'anseong and Pundanseong. Station names are duplicated in English.

Many people travel around Seoul by bicycle. There are few hills here, the landscape is flat, and driving is comfortable. There are bicycle paths along all city parks and rivers, and there is a city bicycle rental system. You can pay by paypass or card. A day pass costs 15,000 ₩ (860 RUR).

There are a lot of cars in Seoul, so there are traffic jams in the city in the mornings and evenings, and on weekends too. In my experience, people in Korea do not drive very carefully and often violate traffic rules. There are also many car sharing services here - for example, Socar, Greencar, Easycar. Each of them has its own mobile application. Car sharing is very popular among Koreans: driving them is several times cheaper than taking a taxi. A good car for 4 hours in car sharing will cost approximately 25,000-40,000 ₩ (1400 -2240 R).

In Seoul taxis, you can easily pay with a credit or transit card. Taxi drivers speak good English. Some cars have devices for simultaneous translation from Korean to English. There are three types of taxi: economy, luxury and international - the latter will definitely have an English-speaking driver. In an economy class taxi, the minimum price for a trip is about 3000 ₩ (172 R). For the first 2 km they pay 1600 ₩, for each subsequent kilometer - 650 ₩ (37.3 R). At night prices increase by 20%.

Medicine and insurance

My medical insurance covers about 80% of expenses for doctors and those medications for which I received a prescription from a doctor. The remaining conditions are standard: the insurance does not include everything related to pregnancy and dentistry, as well as a urologist for men. The gynecologist is included, but partially - insurance will not cover some procedures. Also, insurance will not treat STDs.

Several times I went to the doctor with a cold and paid 10,000 ₩ (575 R) out of my pocket. Then I took the documents from the clinic to the university, and 80% of the expenses were returned to me.

550 R

On average, I paid for a doctor's appointment when I had a cold.

Medicine in South Korea is developed at a very high level. Here, for example, oncological diseases are treated very well. There are even companies that organize medical tours to Korean clinics. The hospitals here are comfortable and have the most modern medical equipment.

In this case, it is customary to treat with antibiotics, sometimes strong ones. It doesn’t matter if you have the flu or a sore throat, they will select a medicine that will last for 3-5 days. Antibiotics are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. And the dose will be lethal. A stuffy nose is also treated with antibiotics.

Plastic surgery and beauty

Plastic surgery is very developed in South Korea. Koreans strive to fit themselves into a standard: porcelain skin, graceful nose, chiseled V-shaped chin and huge eyes. According to statistics, every fifth Korean woman went under the scalpel for the sake of perfection. Many consider plastic surgery to be the best gift from parents for school graduation, and for graduates of any gender.

Since South Korean surgeons have mastered the ideal European eye shape, facelift and rhinoplasty, people from other countries often come here for plastic surgery. From Russia to Seoul are organized special tours with characteristic titles, for example “Youth and Beauty”. 8 days in a plastic surgery clinic cost from $682 (43,500 RUR) - this price is only for accommodation and transfer, air travel and operations are not included.

1 of 5

Korean women had plastic surgery

But in my experience, there are still a lot of girls and guys here who are against plastic surgery. I have not had plastic surgery and do not plan to.

This is roughly how many Korean women change throughout their lives. Source: medicaldaily.com

There are an incredible number of well-groomed girls on the streets of Seoul. Korean women do not leave home without makeup and hair styling, and South Korean cosmetics are popular all over the world. There is a whole ritual of daily self-care. They wash their face first with hydrophilic oil, then with foam, then apply tonic, then potent products like serum or essence in special capsules, then apply a fabric mask to the face, then use cream. And so every day. It was the Koreans who came up with “bi-bi cream” - a special type of foundation that simultaneously cares for the skin and protects from the sun.

Prices for plastic surgery in South Korea:
correction of the lower jaw - from 420,000 R
eyelid surgery - from 84,000 R
correction of cheekbones - from RUB 247,000
Botox for one area of ​​the face - from 12,000 RUR

I like Korean cosmetics; for skin care here I have completely switched to local brands. Almost all the products here slightly whiten the skin and are very helpful for problem skin with acne. If you are interested in cosmetics, I recommend the brands Etude House, It’s Skin, Tony Moly, The Face Shop, Skin Food, Nature Republic, Innisfree. These are inexpensive brands, some of them can be bought in Russia.

Mobile communications and Internet

I use the simplest tariff - calls and SMS. I pay about 14,000 ₩ (800 R) for it. An Internet tariff costs about 73,000 ₩ (4200 R) per month. In general, I rarely call; more often I write messages.

South Korea has excellent internet. In Seoul there is free Wi-Fi almost everywhere - in any restaurant, shopping center, museum or just tourist place. I also have Internet connection at home, it is included in rent. The average cost of high-speed unlimited Internet in Korea is 29,000 ₩ (1665 RUR) per month.

760 R

on average I pay for mobile communications per month

During my entire time in Korea, I never experienced any problems with communication.

Leisure

I am a creative student and love going to museums. There are many unusual museums in South Korea - for example, the Museum of Illusions, the Toilet Museum or the Teddy Bear Museum. A ticket to an exhibition in Seoul costs on average 10,000-13,000 ₩ (570 -741 R). In Seoul, I usually take guests to coffee shops with animals and themed cafes like vintage. I also love amusement parks and horror shows.

After a hard day at work, Koreans love to pop into a bar. Almost half of Korean men smoke, but women rarely smoke. All Koreans drink beer and Korean vodka, often mixed. If they drink, they drink a lot.

Vacations in Korea are short and people rarely travel abroad. Mostly students travel - they travel in groups to Europe, but more often to nearby countries South-East Asia: Thailand, Malaysia or the Philippines. The rest of the Koreans vacation within the country: visit royal palaces, Buddhist temples, amusement parks. There are two popular streets for shopping in Seoul - Myeongdong and Insadong. There are many cafes and restaurants in traditional Korean style, souvenir shops and small shops where you can rent a traditional South Korean outfit - hanbok - for a few hours.

Width="720" height="900" class="" style="max-width: 720px; height: auto"> I rented this traditional hanbok outfit for two hours for 18,000 won (RUR 1,030)

Cafes and restaurants

Seoul has a lot of great places to eat inexpensively. For lunch at a small Korean restaurant, I spend about 5,000 ₩ (290 RUR) - for this money you can eat soup, or fried rice, or Korean noodles.

In a mid-level Seoul cafe, a hearty lunch for two will cost 20,000-25,000 ₩ (1150 -1437.5 R). Restaurants in Korea are small and cozy, and the food is delicious everywhere.

Width="2000" height="1330" class="" style="max-width: 1000.0px; height: auto"> “Cafe with dogs” - Cafe Gaene Myeongdong. Entrance fee - 6000 won (322 R). A coffee drink costs 4,000 won (345 R). You can play with dogs as much as you like

As always, we conclude our independent travel to south korea the final article, from which you will learn about how to move around the country on your own and by hitchhiking, where to look for registration, how to find cheap food and in general about our budget and route.

Travel map.

Cheap food and prices.

The currency of South Korea is the Korean out. At the time of our stay in the country, 1000 won = 1 $ or 35 rubles.

We exchanged currency at one of the bank branches; at the airport the rate was slightly worse than in the city.

Some examples of other prices:

• attractions - purely symbolically, no more than 5,000 won ($5).
• clothes - on sale you can buy for the same money as here in Russia from 5,000 won. For example, I bought pure Korean sweatpants good quality for 40,000 won (though I had to bargain hard).
• bus fare - on average from 800 to 4000 won (depending on the distance).
• food in a cafe - average price 4000 or 5000 won, you can find it cheaper or more expensive.

Registration and housing.

Since we are talking about one of the most expensive Asian countries, and we are frugal travelers, hotels are out of the question. Although one day we managed to spend the night in a motel thanks to the compassion of a hospitable Korean. If I correctly looked at the price tags on the stand, then the number cost him up to 60,000 won.

Only once we pitched a tent somewhere in the bush, after getting off the highway late in the evening. The rest of the time we managed to live in guests or churches. South Korean churches are the best option for a hitchhiker, because more often than not, even if the “padre” is not there, other people try to help us instead.

Only once were we denied an overnight stay in a church, but even then there were guys who helped us find a roof over our heads for as many as 3 days.

In the capital, and in others big cities(if you're lucky) you can use - om. For example, in Seoul we were lucky, but in the rest populated areas I had to think about housing on my own. If you like to think through everything in advance, I advise you to use the search for cheap hotels around the world.

Koreans.

If you carefully read everything that is written above and were not too lazy to read the articles, then you are probably convinced that Koreans are one of the nicest Asian peoples.

Very well-mannered, cultured, hospitable and trouble-free. They are ready to sacrifice their personal time and even work to help or “save” a tourist. For all their curiosity, they do not stare and try not to interfere.

It is not difficult for them to treat food or even arrange a whole dinner for a guest of the country. And driving an extra 50 km in the opposite direction is not a problem at all. In this way they are very similar to the Omanis, and have earned our love for themselves as a nation for a long time!

Personal review.

Despite the fact that Korea is not cheap country, it is very comfortable to move around thanks to the sincerity and hospitality local residents.

In the first couple of days, you may have to deny yourself something, but after a couple of days you already find cheap food options and how to see the sights for free. In addition, Koreans are not too keen on controlling foreigners, as, for example, in Sri Lanka.

If we consider the country from the point of view of an ordinary tourist, then perhaps the most interesting places in Seoul, Gyeongju, and Jeju Island. For a sophisticated traveler, the country will be a one-time destination. We may not have visited everything, but we have already seen a lot in other countries.

Today I am more brief than ever :). If you have any questions, we can talk in the comments to the article, and we say goodbye to you, dear friends, to the next country. As I promised, we will begin to publish articles on the topic of traveling around Central Asia. Thank you for your attention!

30.08.19 13 453 14

In April 2019, my husband and I went to South Korea for 17 days.

Valentina Alekseeva

went to South Korea

During this time we visited three regions: Seoul, Jeju and Sokcho. We looked at the cherry blossoms, visited national parks and conquered two volcanoes. In South Korea, there are tropical islands, like in the series “Lost,” and megacities, and luxurious spas with programs for only 500 RUR.

Expenses for 17 days per person - 78,551 RUR

Air tickets Moscow - Seoul

RUB 23,243

RUB 20,480

RUB 20,930

Transport

RUB 11,686

Attractions

2212 R

Route

We planned the route without hesitation. First to the metropolis - Seoul. From there to national park Seoraksan near the city of Sokcho. This park is popular among lovers of hiking - short hikes in the mountains along specially equipped trails. After that we went to Jeju Island to look at the volcanoes.

We also wanted to see the cherry blossoms. In South Korea, major sakura festivals are held in Seoul and Jeju Island. The time of cherry blossoms depends on the location: in Jeju the trees bloom at the end of March, in Seoul - from the second week of April. We only had time to look at sakura in Seoul.

Flights

We bought tickets to Seoul in December 2018 at an Aeroflot sale. A direct round-trip flight cost RUB 23,243 per person. The same flight in September 2019 already costs about 40 thousand. The price of the air ticket included a seat for hand luggage, luggage up to 23 kg, dinner and breakfast on the plane - flight 9 hours.

We flew to Jeju Island from Seoul on a local airline T-Way. Two round-trip tickets with luggage up to 15 kg cost 108,800 ₩ (2950 RUR). The flight was an hour long, and only water was given out for free on board.

RUB 46,486

we paid for tickets to Seoul and back

We flew from two airports in Seoul - Incheon and Gimpo. international Airport Incheon is similar in size to a city, so I advise you to arrive there at least 2.5 hours before departure. And Gimpo is a small airport with mostly domestic flights.

Korea has an unusual procedure for checking checked luggage: first you check it in at the check-in counter, and then wait 10-15 minutes for it to be scanned. If something suspicious is found during the contactless check, you will have to be present during the search of the suitcases. Without your presence, the suitcase cannot be opened or passed on. Only when they say that everything is in order can you go to passport control.

Width="2000" height="1670" class="outline-bordered" style="max-width: 1000.0px; height: auto" data-bordered="true"> 23,340 RUR are tickets for March 2020 from the airline "ES-7" on the route Moscow - Seoul with a transfer in Irkutsk width="2000" height="1479" class=" outline-bordered" style="max-width: 1000.0px; height: auto" data-bordered=" true"> Korean airlines are more expensive: a flight with Korean Air from Moscow to Seoul and back in April 2020 will cost 43,616 RUR

Visa

Russians do not need a visa for a tourist trip to South Korea. But passport control officers have the right to demand return tickets, financial guarantees and hotel reservations. Therefore, we printed out all reservation confirmations in advance and took a bank statement. At Seoul airport you need to fill out a migration card - this is a standard procedure.

On passport control We were asked for the return flight date and given a form to enter the country. South Korea no longer puts stamps on passports. There is no fear of losing the form, because upon departure, border guards check the date of entry in a special system using the passport number. It is not clear, however, why this form is needed at all.

Housing

In Seoul, the price of accommodation depends not so much on the area, but on the type of housing. A bed in an eight-bed room in a hostel with breakfast will cost 600 RUR. Small apartment on Air BBC or room in guest house with a private bathroom costs from 2000 RUR per day, a room in a three-star hotel - from 4000 RUR. Lovers of comfort and five-star hotels will have to fork out: the minimum price I found is 10,400 RUR per night.

Inexpensive options sell out quickly, so it’s best to book your accommodation several months in advance. We decided to stay in guest houses. These are small private hotels in which all rooms are rented separately. Unlike hostels, guests in such houses live in conditions close to home - as if they had come to stay with relatives.

Find out how to relax for pennies

In Seoul, we stayed at the Oh My Guest House in the very center. It is 10 minutes from Gyeongbokgung Palace, the city's main attraction. We spent 4 nights there, it cost us 128,000 ₩ (7180 RUR). For this money we got a double room with a private bathroom and breakfast.

We booked another night directly from the hosts for 32,000 ₩ (1800 RUR), although at that time the price from aggregators had increased to 40,000 ₩ (2270 RUR). We saved 470 RUR - I advise you to extend your stay not through Booking, but directly to save money.

₩

Won, the national currency of South Korea

We spent our last night in Seoul, on the eve of our flight to Russia, at the Holiday Inn Express Seoul Euljiro hotel. For 92,565 ₩ (5515 R) we got a spacious room and a buffet breakfast. Two minutes from the hotel there was a bus stop that goes to the airport.

On Jeju Island we stayed in three different places to see as many natural attractions as possible. We traveled around the island by car so as not to have to adjust to the public transport schedule.

In the south we wanted to see waterfalls and huge bridge"7 Nymphs", green cliffs near Songaksan Mountain, O'Sullok tea plantations and Sanbangsan Mountain against a backdrop of yellow flowers. To do this, we stayed at The Areumdaun House: three nights cost 115,678 ₩ (6350 R). This price includes a separate apartment with a kitchen and a private bathroom.

It was convenient to get to Hallasan from the Thai Story Pension - largest volcano on the island, as well as to the small extinct volcano Ilchubong. There we spent 2 nights in a hotel, which cost us 125,530 ₩ (6890 RUR). We booked a standard room, but upon arrival the hotel owners gave us a free upgrade to a deluxe room - so we got a house with an area of ​​48 m2 with a kitchen and a bathroom.

RUB 40,960

the two of us spent 17 days on housing in South Korea

We spent our last night in the main city of the island - Jeju. Jeju Hotel B&B has easy access to the airport, with a bus stop a five-minute walk away. The car was returned the day before departure, because an additional day of rental was more expensive than 2 bus tickets from the airport and back. A night at the hotel cost 39,109 ₩ (2146 RUR).

In the city of Sokcho, located on the seashore, we chose the guest house With You, a two-minute walk from the bus station. For 4 nights we paid 206,270 ₩ (11,079 RUR) and got a double room with a bathroom, washing machine and breakfast.

Cherry blossom festivals

Cherry blossom festivals in Seoul were held in three parks: Yuido, Namsan and near the Lotte World amusement park. We only managed to visit the first two. Entry is free everywhere.

Sakura blooms for only 7-10 days in the first half of April. Flowering dates depend on the weather: if the spring is cold, flowering will be late, and vice versa.

Some companies are adapting to the cherry blossoms: for example, Starbucks and Coffee Bean produce coffee glasses with pink cherry blossoms on them. And beer producers make cherry-flavored drinks in special packaging.

What else to see in South Korea

In Seoul. Tourists come to the South Korean capital for three reasons: to test advanced technologies, look at palaces and eat delicious food. At Seoul airport, tourists are greeted by robots that tell them how to get to the desired sector or boarding gate. On the subway and shopping centers there are huge panels with touchscreens, and in tourist centers robots recognize speech and respond in different languages. South Korea also has the fastest wireless Internet in the world - 5G.

Korean corporations Samsung, LG, Hyundai, SK Hynix show their latest developments for free in exhibition pavilions in Digital Media City and Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

We started our exploration of Seoul with a visit to the palaces. A combined ticket to all palaces of the Joseon Dynasty costs 10,000 ₩ (560 RUR). It is sold only at the box office and is valid for a month. The ticket includes visits to Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung, Changgyeonggung palaces and Jongmyo Shrine.

The palaces have large territories, and the buildings themselves have been perfectly preserved since the 14th century. The buildings are similar to each other in architecture and interior decoration, but the surrounding space of each palace is decorated in a special way. In the first half of April, sakura blossomed everywhere, and visitors had photo sessions in traditional costumes.

Width="1000" height="459" class="outline-bordered" style="max-width: 1000px; height: auto" data-bordered="true"> Combined ticket, which saved us time in queues at the ticket office , and another 4000 ₩ (about 200 R)

To Jeju the main thing is nature. This is an island of volcanic origin, on which there are several national parks and other natural attractions. Everywhere there is an entrance fee, tickets cost us 34,000 ₩ (2000 RUR).

Seongsan Ilchulbong Park - the island's visiting card and object world heritage UNESCO. Dormant volcano there it rises straight out of the sea and is connected to the mainland by a small isthmus. The crater is surrounded by a crown of sharp rocks, and in the center it is overgrown with grass and resembles a huge football field. We bought a ticket there on the spot for 2000 ₩ (112 R).

O'Sulloc is a tea plantation that stretches to the horizon. The O’Sulloc Tea House museum is also located here. It tells visitors about the tea culture of Korea: the history and traditions, as well as the processes of growing and preparing tea. We tried different types of tea with desserts. Visiting the plantations and museum is free.

Cheonjeyeon is a place in Seogwipo Province where a river flows out of a cave and forms first a crystal clear pool and then a cascade of three waterfalls. People move between waterfalls along special wooden paths. Admission ticket costs 2500 ₩ (140 R).

Jeongbang Falls is the only waterfall in Asia that falls directly into the sea. Its height is 23 meters and its width reaches 8 meters during the rainy season. The ticket costs 2000 ₩ (112 R).

4424 R

we spent on sightseeing trips

Hallasan Volcano is located in the center of Jeju Island. It is popular among hiking fans. Actually in national park Hallasan is not one volcano, but as many as 368 so-called oreums - side cones of one large volcano. Hiking routes open all year round, their length ranges from 6 to 10 km depending on the slope.

Due to the sharp difference in altitude in some areas, the climb takes up to 5 hours. Therefore, you need to be at the top no later than 14:00, otherwise you will not have time to descend before dark. This is strictly monitored by local rangers. Entrance to the park is free. I advise you to arrive by 9 a.m. to secure a parking space, otherwise you will have to leave your car far from the park entrance.

Sokcho- city on east coast Korean Peninsula. We found local beach absolutely deserted. Swimming season it lasts from June to September, and in April the water temperature is only about +14 °C. There is a pine forest around the beach.

Seoraksan National Park and hot springs are the main attractions of this region. Entrance to the national park costs 7,000 ₩ (392 R). There are several hiking trails in the park, but only two were open in April: to the top of Mount Ulsanbawi and to the waterfalls. Both routes, with a total length of 12 km, can easily be completed in one day. Bring a windproof jacket as it can be windy at the top.

After hiking and climbing the mountain, we went to Cheoksan Hot Springs. Entrance costs 7,000 ₩ (412 R) per person. Men and women bathe separately. We counted 10 pools with water of different temperatures.

Cafes and restaurants

Korean restaurants are a godsend for budget-conscious tourists. When you order any dish, you will receive 3 to 7 additional appetizers and a bottle of water for free. Also, in South Korea it is not customary to leave a tip.

Local residents said that it is cheaper to eat in a cafe than to cook at home. Therefore, in the evenings the establishments are crowded and noisy: after a hard day at work, locals go out to dinner and drink “soju” - a traditional Korean alcoholic drink infused with sweet potatoes. We didn’t like the soju; in my opinion, it’s even worse than Russian moonshine.

“Is it true that all Koreans eat dogs?” - the first question that my friends asked me when I returned from Korea. This is the same myth as the fact that bears walk the streets in Russia. If anyone eats dogs there, it’s only older Koreans in special restaurants. They can serve “posinthan,” or “longevity soup,” which is very expensive even by the standards of people with an average monthly salary of $4,000.

Korean street food is cheap and tasty. Here's what we were recommended to try, everything costs up to 2000 ₩ (112 R):

1. Dak-kochi - skewers of chicken and vegetables, hearty and especially tasty with your choice of sauce.
2. Pondegi (Beondegi or Pupa) are steamed silkworm pupae, which we didn’t dare try because of the smell, but Koreans swallow them like seeds.
3. Tteokbokki is a broth with savory dumplings made from mashed rice in the shape of a sausage.
4. Twigim - seafood, vegetables or deep-fried potatoes.
5. Gyeran-ppang - egg in bread.

RUB 41,860

spent on food

To save money, we had breakfast at the hotel, ate ready-made food from the supermarket in the afternoon, and had dinner in a cafe. Food prices are approximately the same throughout the country:

• dumplings with pork or beef in a cafe with a Michelin star - 15,000 ₩ (55 R);
• sashimi at the fish market - from 15,000 ₩ (855 R);
• a dish in a diner for locals without a menu in English - 9000 ₩ (514 R);
• chicken kebab, fried shrimp, small flatbreads, kimbap roll, egg in a bun from a street stall and other street food - about 2000 ₩ (115 RUR).

In Seoul, the eateries at the Tongin market don’t speak English at all, but they serve three of the most popular soups in Korea, starting at 7,000 ₩ (380 RUR):

• samgyetang - spicy chicken soup with ginseng, which, according to legend, helps against all diseases;
• gamjatang - rich soup made from pork, potatoes and vegetables;
• yukgaejang - thick spicy soup in beef broth with fern and mushrooms.

width="1000" height="667" class="outline-bordered" style="max-width: 1000px; height: auto" data-bordered="true"> We have dinner at a cafe in Jeju. A large portion of soup and rice cost 7000 ₩ (about 400 R), they were served with snacks

Street food in Seoul. The portions are small, and to get enough food you still need to spend the same amount as in a cafe

Supermarkets

Sometimes we bought ready-made food in supermarkets. Prices for dishes from the culinary department in supermarkets are about 30% lower than in any cafe. At 7-Eleven and CU we took onigiri triangles - this is rice with filling, wrapped in nori seaweed leaves, they cost 700-1000 ₩ (40 -60 R) per piece. When scanning at the checkout, the system warned if the onigiri expired on the same day.

In general, products in South Korea are much more expensive than in Russia:

• 1 kg of strawberries - 9900 ₩ (565 R);
• 16 packs of Activia yogurt - 6000 ₩ (342 R);
• 1 kg of bananas - 5980 ₩ (341 R);
• 15 eggs - 4890 ₩ (280 R);
• 1 kg of apples - 1480 ₩ (85 R);
• instant noodles - 800 ₩ (45 R).

141 R

costs a liter of milk in a supermarket - because Koreans practically don’t drink milk

Locals often eat instant noodles. In Seoul, we came across a special ramen soup machine right next to a mini market. A pack of dry ramen is sold in a special package, where you put the noodles and all other ingredients, and then fill it with water from the machine. Without noodles, the machine will not work.

	width="495" height="667" class="" style="max-width: 495px; height: auto"> At the eMart supermarket you can eat in the food court. The price of one dish is 7000 ₩ (about 400 RUR)
width="495" height="667" class="" style="max-width: 495px; height: auto"> Onigiri is a triangle of rice with filling. Healthy snack for 40 RUR	width="495" height="667" class="" style="max-width: 495px; height: auto"> Sushi from the supermarket. The price of such a package is 19,000 ₩ (about 1080 RUR). If the set is not purchased within 3-4 hours, it will be given a 30% discount.

width="495" height="667" class="" style="max-width: 495px; height: auto"> At the eMart supermarket you can eat in the food court. The price of one dish is 7000 ₩ (about 400 R) width="495" height="667" class="" style="max-width: 495px; height: auto"> Onigiri is a triangle of rice with filling. Healthy snack for 40 R width="495" height="667" class="" style="max-width: 495px; height: auto"> Sushi from the supermarket. The price of such a package is 19,000 ₩ (about 1080 RUR). If the set is not purchased within 3-4 hours, it will be given a 30% discount.

Public transport

In Seoul and Sokcho, we used public transport and paid for the trip with a T-Money card. We bought it immediately upon arrival at Incheon airport at the CU store for 4,000 ₩ (224 R). The cost of travel on the Seoul metro depends on the distance: up to 10 km - 1250 ₩ (70 R) for every next 5 km you need to pay another 100 ₩ (6 R). The T-Money card gives a discount on travel from 100 ₩ (6 R). For a trip from Gyeongbokgung station, where our guest house was located, to Yeouinaru station, near which the sakura festival was held, 1150 ₩ (64 RUR) will be debited from the card. Each passenger must have his own card - it will not be possible to travel with one.

The T-Money card works on the subway, buses and taxis. You can top it up only in cash at machines at metro stations or in GS25, CU, 7-Eleven stores.

The T-Money card must be applied to the turnstiles at the entrance, exit and at transfers, so the final price of the trip is clear only at the exit of the transport. For subway travel with two transfers from Incheon Airport to the station where our guest house was, we paid about 8,000 ₩ (450 R). We saved about 500 ₩ (27 R) on this trip using the card.

Bus fares depend on their type. In Seoul, yellow buses run around the city center, green buses run within city districts, blue buses run between districts, and red buses go to the suburbs. Travel can be paid in cash or by T-Money card - travel on yellow buses costs 1,200 ₩ (68 R).

On the day of our flight to Moscow, a taxi driver approached us on the street and offered to take us to the airport for 30,000 ₩ (1690 RUR) for two. We agreed because it would have cost us the same amount to take a shuttle bus to Incheon Airport, which is located 35 km from Seoul. In the taxi we paid with the same T-Money card.

It took us two hours to get from Seoul to Sokcho. intercity bus. The price of a ticket depends on the type of bus: on a regular intercity it costs 13,800 ₩ (805 R) per person, and on a bus increased comfort with leather seats, like in business class on an airplane, and increased legroom - 17,900 ₩ (1052 R).

RUB 23,372

we spent on transport

The transport system in South Korea is well developed: there are many buses, all routes are described in detail, there are information boards at stops, however, all the information is only in Korean. So, without outside help, it’s impossible to figure out how to get to the right place: Google Maps doesn’t work in South Korea, and standalone maps.me doesn’t show public transport routes.

One day we were walking around the city when suddenly it started to rain. At the nearest bus stop there were 20 routes, which one is ours is a mystery. We asked advice from local residents who were also waiting for the bus, showing them our address on the map. guest house. Five people immediately got involved in a heated discussion and eventually gave us the route number - and we successfully got home. We were impressed that all the people at the stop volunteered to help.

Width="1000" height="667" class="outline-bordered" style="max-width: 1000px; height: auto" data-bordered="true"> Every subway station in Seoul has automatic lockers. We handed over our things for 6 hours and paid 8,000 ₩ (about 450 RUR) for it. Storage of things was paid for with the same T-Money card

Car rent

On Jeju Island, we rented a car from the Sixt rental company. The reservation was made online through the Skyscanner website a month before the trip.

Five days of renting a Kia Morning with an automatic transmission cost us 102,600 ₩ (5572 R). The price also included unlimited mileage, insurance against accidents and theft, and a built-in navigator. Russian and international rights were required from the documents. They didn’t take a deposit from us, but they recorded our details credit card.

An International Driving Permit is not valid without a National Driving Permit in any country that is a signatory to the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic

The rental company was located outside of Jeju Airport, but they sent a free bus to pick us up. On the spot, we signed the rental agreement, inspected the car, recorded all damage and fuel level.

It took us 5 days to calmly explore all the sights of the island. We drove 300 km. We spent 52,470 ₩ (3102 R) on gasoline. The roads are good everywhere, we didn’t meet any reckless drivers. We saw several police checkpoints, so it’s better to follow the traffic rules.

Jeju has both paid and free parking. The cost of parking in a multi-level parking lot is 5000 ₩ (90 RUR) per day, we paid for it at a machine or at a kiosk on the ground floor of the parking lot.

To save money in South Korea

1. To travel on public transport, buy a T-Money pass.
2. When booking hotels, compare prices on different aggregators.
3. Go to local eateries - they taste better and are cheaper.
4. Buy ready-made food at 7-Eleven, GS25, eMart and CU supermarkets - they are very tasty.
5. It is more profitable to buy combined tickets to visit several attractions at once.

13453 August 30, 2019 Map Icon - Neutral Kim Jong-Un by Benjamin Bours from the Noun Project Tags

Became popular a long time ago tourist area. This country is characterized by an interesting historical heritage and amazing beauty nature. Tours to South Korea have also become very popular among Russians. There is a visa-free regime for tourists from Russia in 2020.

Beautiful night panorama of the capital of South Korea - Seoul

Holidays in South Korea are popular among both young people, families with children, and the elderly.

Russian citizens do not need a visa to South Korea. The corresponding resolution was adopted on January 1, 2014, after which Russians were able to visit the Republic of Korea without a visa. This applies to travel or visits to relatives for up to 2 months; you can read about this on the official website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

The maximum period of stay on the territory of the Republic for Russians is 90 days in one half-year (180 days). However, during this time you can continuously stay in the country for no more than 60 days.

In case it is planned long stay in the country for the purpose of acquiring education or employment, you will need to obtain a long-term visa of the appropriate category.

See a detailed analysis of how to go through the customs declaration and fill out the Arrival Card upon arrival in the country.

What do you need to cross the border?

In order to travel to South Korea or visit relatives in 2020, you will need the following papers and documents:

1. International passport, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months to enter Korea.
2. Tickets back or to a third country.
3. Confirmation of solvency for the period of visiting the country. That is, you need to have with you either a printout confirming your hotel reservation or a voucher from a tour operator. The Migration Service of the Republic of Korea is not too picky with tourists, and therefore does not require certificates from their place of work or bank statements.
4. Migration card.
5. Completed customs declaration.

Customs declaration to fill out when entering South Korea

These documents are quite enough to vacation in South Korea or go in transit through it to a third country, since there is a visa-free regime between Russia and South Korea. If the visitor has other goals that take more time to implement, then obtaining a visa is a mandatory procedure.

Long-term visa to South Korea

Long-term visa may be of several types. They are mainly divided into two broad categories:

1. Long-term visa (D, E, H).

Let's look at each of these types of visas in more detail. We will also determine what papers are needed to obtain them, the procedure for registration, how long it will be valid, the duration and cost of the procedure.

Long-term visa (D, E, H)

Such visas are issued for a period of 3 months to 2 years with the possibility of extension (does not apply to E visas). In order to extend the validity of a visa, it is enough to contact the Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea.

Who is issued these visas:

1. Students wishing to receive education at one of the educational institutions of the Republic of Korea.
2. Master's and graduate students wishing to obtain the necessary scientific degree under the program of one of the universities in Korea or undergo a professional internship in the country.
3. Those on a long business trip.
4. Officially employed. This includes both the search for work by unqualified personnel and highly qualified specialists, executives, senior managers, and scientists.

Obtaining such a visa is mandatory for everyone who wants to stay in the country legally and get an official job. In order to do so, you must contact the embassy with a corresponding request, providing a certain package of documents. This will be discussed a little later.

Foreign National Entry Visa (F-4)

The F-4 visa is not available to all ethnic Koreans. Only the following foreign compatriots can apply for it:

1. Qualified specialists who have carried out their professional activities in the Republic of Korea for 6 months or more.
2. Masters, graduate students (and above) who received their academic degree (not lower than a master's) at one of the educational universities in South Korea.
3. Highly qualified workers who have previously stayed for some time in the territory of the Republic of Korea, without violating the laws and visa regime of the country.

Consulate of South Korea in Moscow at Krasnopresnenskaya embankment, 12

In order to obtain any type of visa, you must contact the South Korean Embassy and submit an application and other documents for consideration.

Step-by-step instructions for obtaining a visa by invitation

For a period of more than 60 days, simply. The first thing that is necessary for this is that the party from Korea, who will act as your guarantor while you are on the territory of the state, submits a petition to the Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea.

The guarantor can be a legal entity, for example, an employer, or an individual - a relative or friend who is a citizen of the Republic of Korea or has permanent resident status.

After the guarantor submits the application, the applicant must submit to the visa department of the embassy a package consisting of the following documents:

It is worth noting that in some cases it is possible to obtain an electronic visa without specifically contacting the embassy for this. This applies to issuing visas E-1, E-3, E-5. Visas of these categories are issued online via the Internet.

The visa fee is paid in the same way. You must print your e-visa at the time of travel. This will ensure unhindered entry into the Republic of Korea and hassle-free stay in the country.