Is it possible to travel to Korea with RMB. What you need to know before traveling to Korea? Medicine and insurance

South Korea has become a country of contrasts and unexpected ideas for me. Being in Seoul, I felt like I was in Asian America.

Around people with both European and oriental appearance. From food, fast food is very popular, in the summer there are gastromarkets on the street. Everywhere there are shops of famous brands, corners of both Korean and foreign cosmetics, various showrooms. There is even a museum of collectible sneakers here (you can also buy top sneakers there). And on the other side of the country - small villages and an abundance of Buddhist temples, where people do not think about new fashion and music. How can one get to such a contrasting country?

general information

The main thing you need to know: the most convenient way to be in Korea is to fly by plane. By air, the fastest and least problematic. There are 21 airports in South Korea, 7 of which are international. The rest accept only domestic flights. The most popular are the following airports:

Incheon is the largest airport in the country,
Gimpo,
Busan Gimhae,
Jeju.

Russian citizens flying from their own country usually land at Incheon Airport. Visa problems should also not arise, since citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa to visit the country for up to 60 days.

You can also get to Korea by ferry. Indeed, ships from Vladivostok and Zarubilo run to Donghae and Sokcho.

By plane

As I said, the best way to get to South Korea is by plane. This way you can fly to three parts of the country:

Seoul,
busan,
Jeju.

Let's talk about everything in order.

Air travel options

To Seoul

You can get from Donghae to Seoul either by bus (travel time is 4–5 hours, the ticket price is about 35 USD one way), or by train (the trip takes 5 hours, the ticket will cost about 20 USD).

To Sokcho

Also, once a week, a ferry departs from Vladivostok and Zarubino to Sokcho. Sokcho is a city in the northeastern part of South Korea. The transfer is carried out by the ferry company Stena Daea Line.

The ferry departs from Vladivostok on Monday and arrives in the port of Sokcho the next day (about 22:00). A one-way ticket will cost approximately 170 USD. From Zarubino, the ship departs on Thursday, the time is about the same as from Vladivostok. One way ticket from 150 USD.

When is the best time to go to South Korea

The high season in South Korea is from May to September. In May it is about +17 °С and it is dry here. In summer, the temperature is about +25–27 °С. Sometimes it rains, but, as I myself observed, it is short-lived and does not drag on for more than a day. September and October are still quite warm months. At the end of October, about +15 °C.

Of course, in the summer there is a lot more entertainment, open markets and a variety of street culture. But, despite the seasonality, in, I believe, you can go at any time of the year. In winter, there is little precipitation, and the temperature is about 0 ° C. It is better to go to only in summer, as it is a city on the sea, and in winter it is much less remarkable.

Prices for flights to South Korea and accommodation in the summer, of course, are higher. In December - January, direct flights can cost about 25,000. That is, the same as flights with transfers in spring - summer or even lower. But I flew in the summer and did not regret it at all :).

Passing the border

For the Russians there is a visa-free regime, and this greatly simplifies life :). However, do not forget about the rules that still remain. At the airport or at the seaport, when crossing the border, they may ask for information about the hotel (booking, address), medical insurance (health insurance policy can be done at any insurance company), tickets for the return flight or for the next flight after Korea, as well as confirmation of the availability of financial funds.

Moreover, at passport control you will need to hand over your fingerprints, as well as take a picture. All these devices are located directly at the control desk, the process will not take much time. It is also necessary to fill out an immigration card and a customs declaration. They are usually issued on the plane.

Holidays in South Korea will surely give you vivid impressions and emotions. The combination of modern cities with skyscrapers, traditional Korean culture and architecture, picturesque national parks, beautiful beaches, flavored with developed infrastructure, will make a trip to this country comfortable and memorable.

South Korea looks especially beneficial for residents of the Russian Far East, because flying here is closer than to Moscow and the European part of the country.

I present to your attention a large useful material about traveling to South Korea, where you will learn how to get cheaply, how to move around, where to live, what to see, and how much the trip will cost.

Korean women

Visa to South Korea: is it necessary?

Since 2014, Russians can enter the country without a visa if the period of stay does not exceed 60 days (but not more than 90 days a year).

Documents for visa-free entry to South Korea:

a passport that is valid for at least another six months from the date of entry
completed migration card, which will be given to you on the plane or other transport
completed customs declaration (if there is something to declare)

Instructions for filling out a migration card

On the Internet, I also met that I needed return flights and confirmation of the availability of funds (hotel reservations, a bank statement, cash, etc.). But we were not asked anything from this list, we arrived on a flight from Kuala Lumpur. However, I advise you to do it just in case.

Hotel reservations can be made on booking (choose the "free cancellation" option).

How to make an air ticket reservation without payment, wrote in detail at. Although it is ideal if you have real tickets back.

If you plan to stay longer in the UK, you will need a visa. They are working, student, research.

How to get to South Korea cheap?

The most convenient way to get into the country is by plane, as most tourists do.

There are direct flights from Russia to South Korea from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk and Vladivostok.

There are direct flights to Daegu from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok by T'Way Air and Hanh Air at a price of about 13-15 thousand rubles in both directions.

There are direct flights to Seoul from Vladivostok (S7, Aeroflot, Jeju Air, Korean Air), from Moscow (Aeroflot, Korean Air), from St. Petersburg (Aeroflot), from Khabarovsk (S7, Aeroflot, Asiana Airlines).

There are direct flights to Busan from Vladivostok (Aeroflot).

The cheapest way to get to South Korea is to catch the sale of the Korean low-cost carrier Jeju Air from Vladivostok to Seoul. Once they sold tickets for 3,000 rubles one way and 6,000 round trip. Unfortunately sales don't happen that often.

Airfare from Moscow

Transport in South Korea

Aircraft

The largest airlines are Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, which have flights between the capital and other cities in the country, as well as between provincial cities.

Also, pay attention to Air Busan, Jeju Air, Eastar Jet, T'way Airlines, Hanh Air if you are planning to take a domestic flight.

Jeju Air Counter at Jeju Airport

Prices are low, discounts are not uncommon at the beginning of the working week, but weekend tickets are more expensive, and besides, they are quickly taken apart. For example, we flew from Jeju to Busan for only 48,000 won for two (with 15 kg of luggage each).

Trains in Korea

The country also has a convenient railway system, although it does not cover all regions.

KTX high speed train

Trains come in three main classes:

KTX- high-speed, fly from Seoul to Busan in two and a half hours (it costs 59,800 won in economy class, 83,700 won in first class)

Saemaul- stop only in major cities, the same way costs 42,600 won.

Mugunghwa- the slowest, but still comfortable. Seoul-Busan costs 28,600 won.

If you plan to travel a lot on trains, buy an unlimited KR Pass, it will be more profitable. A one-day pass costs 81,000 won, and a three-day pass costs 113,000 won.

You can buy tickets at railway stations, travel agencies, as well as on the official website of Korean Railways. You can also check the train schedule there.

Buses

The bus system in the country is very developed, with thousands of buses plying the roads between all major and minor cities. There is no place you can't get to.

Buses are divided into express and intersity, which often arrive at different terminals in the same city. The former run between the main large cities, the latter between smaller provincial ones. In addition, there are also varieties by class: Ilban (regular) and Udeung (superior, with three seats in a row). Night buses are usually superior with a corresponding price.

Intercity bus

Vip bass with three seats in a row

In general, the bus ride is quite comfortable, the driver makes stops every 2-3 hours, and the roads have all the infrastructure with cafes, toilets and entire shopping malls.

As a rule, there is no need to buy tickets in advance, except for holidays and weekends. You can do this at the bus station before departure. You can view the schedule in advance at (in the upper right corner, select English).

Bus station in Busan

Ticket vending machine

Car rental in Korea

To rent a car in Korea, you will need an international driving license (issued over a year ago) and you must be over 21 years old. The road infrastructure is well developed here: you will find equipped parking lots, campsites, cafes, gas stations ... The roads are chic wide with a dividing fence, multi-level interchanges.

Road infrastructure is excellent

Ferries

Ferries run to numerous islands. We did not sail on these (more precisely, only from Jeju Island to Udo Island), but all information about the schedule and prices can be found at the ports.

Ferry from Jeju Island to Udo Island

Local urban transport

The best way to save money on moving around cities is to buy a special vehicle. T-money card. It is sold in special machines in the subway (on arrival at the airport too), or in supermarkets GS25, CU, 7-11 and costs 2000-2500 won. You can also top up your balance there. When entering and exiting the subway or bus, simply lean it against a special machine.

What is the main advantage of this card? It gives you a 100 won discount on each trip, plus the option to use one more mode of transport for free if you transfer within 30 minutes. Thus, it pays for itself in a day. We spent the rest of the card in the supermarket at the Seoul airport before the flight.

The subway is the most convenient urban transport, there are subways in 6 major Korean cities. The fare is usually from 1100 won, for long distances a little more. We never gave more than 1800 won for the subway.

Subway in Seoul

When is the best time to go?

The best months to visit South Korea are April, May, September and October (if you plan to actively travel around the country) and from mid-June to September (if a beach holiday is a priority).

In winter, you should come only if you plan to go skiing in the Olympic Pyeongchang and the surrounding area, it is at this time that there is snow in the mountains and all the conditions for a ski holiday.

In spring the weather here is warmer than in Russia. April is famous for cherry blossoms, it looks really incredible, and May is like summer in central Russia. However, a chilly wind can pick up in the evenings, so bring sweatshirts with you.

In summer, the beach season opens from late June to early September. Hot and humid. The ideal time for a beach holiday is at any of the many resorts, the most famous being Jeju Island and Busan.

In late September-October, autumn takes its toll, and the trees turn yellow-red. The best time for trekking and visiting national parks, besides, it's not so hot anymore.

When is the best time to go to Korea: spring and autumn

Housing

Finding where to spend the night in Korea is not a problem. In any more or less touristic city, you will find a large selection of accommodation from hostels to decent hotels of world chains.

If you are traveling alone, hostels are the best option. But sometimes it’s more profitable to rent a hotel room together.

You can book hotels on the website, which collects offers from different booking systems, such as booking, in one place.

An interesting accommodation option can be a hanok - a traditional Korean house converted into a guesthouse. You will sleep on the floor on a mattress, but the floors are heated, so the house is warm. A list of such houses throughout the country can be viewed at (Korean only).

You can feel like a Buddhist monk and spend the night in a monastery thanks to the Templestay program. More than 100 temples throughout the country are available for travelers. Read more on the official program.

Tents on the beach in Busan

In national parks, there is an opportunity to spend the night in campsites and shelters. It's not expensive at all, besides, there is the necessary infrastructure and amenities, and you don't have to drag a tent with you from home :) List of campsites with prices throughout the country. Choose a national park and look for the "Fee" section in the left menu.

Renting apartments from the owners will be beneficial for families with children, large companies and just those who like to feel at home. To do this, search

The highest prices and demand for hotels are in July, August, September on the coast and in October, November in national parks and nearby. Therefore, if you are traveling during this period, it is better to book in advance.

Breakfast is rarely included in the price, but there are still such options, it is very convenient. The staff usually speaks decent English, if you don't get completely out of the way.

Holidays in South Korea: resorts and attractions

Holidays in South Korea are quite diverse. There are both beach and ski resorts here, despite the small size of the country.

The peninsula is washed by three seas at once from three sides, so there are plenty of beach resorts to choose from. The most popular resort in South Korea among both locals and tourists is the volcanic jeju island. Gorgeous volcanic sand beaches, bombastic scenery and clear seas make it a very popular holiday destination.

On Jeju Island

Udo Island and volcano in the distance

Live in Seoul and receive a scholarship of 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 at foreign universities. At first I thought about Europe, but South Korean universities offered more money. At that time, the most famous Erasmus scholarship program paid an average of 500 € (36,159 R) per month. In South Korea, they pay me 770 € (55,685 R) per month, plus cover airfare home and back, and once again give 200 € (14,464 R) per quarter for study expenses.

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

Language

Admission to most Korean universities begins with the TOPIK - Test of Proficiency in Korean exam. This is an international Korean language proficiency test. You need to pass at least the third level - an analogue 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 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 a little less than a year. I did not 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 passed the TOPIK level 3 exam.

In vocabulary, I still swim a little, but this does not prevent me from continuing my studies in Korean. It is important to understand that the higher the TOPIK exam score, the more likely it is to receive 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 is difficult. It has many sounds that are not in Russian. With vocabulary and grammar, too, everything is not easy, sometimes they hardly lend themselves to the logic of a Russian-speaking person. In total, it took me two years to learn the language.

The local population hardly speaks 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 emphasis is on writing rather than speaking. Some people are very shy about making a mistake in a conversation. Others believe that since you came to Korea to study or work, then be kind 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

Foreign 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 sciences, 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 for the same 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 Korea Foundation International Korea Foundation or a master's degree from KOICA is the Agency of the Republic of Korea for International Cooperation. If you want a creative specialty, 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. Seoul National University has come up with the Silk Road Scholarship and Outstanding Student Scholarship.

How do I get a scholarship

Having passed the TOPIK exam, I returned home to Tashkent and literally in two weeks collected documents for two scholarships: a government scholarship at Chung-Ang University with a degree in film director and a KOICA scholarship at Korea University with a degree in visual culture.

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

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

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

Once a semester, students are entitled to another 240,000 ₩ (11,500 R) for reimbursement of educational expenses, the exact amount depends on the specialty. To receive this money, you must 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 hard. Some of the scholarship holders I knew could not stand it and went home. Studying lasts from Monday to Friday, but a moderate amount of lectures is compensated by a lot of practical exercises and homework.

After two years of master's degree in Korea, I received a diploma MFA (Master of Arts) majoring in film director. The final gift to all the defended 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 a postgraduate student at Chung-Ang University. This time I applied through the embassy. I am again paid a scholarship of 1 million won, reimbursed for my studies and air travel to Korea.

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

Relocation and visa

Since I am Korean by nationality, I applied for a "visa for foreign compatriots", or an F-4 visa. It needs to be updated every five years. The visa cost me $80 (5111 R). 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 (6479 R). Even for applying for a visa, I paid for a notarized translation of a diploma and an insert with grades.

According to the terms of the curriculum, the university paid for my ticket to Korea. The 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, a student is exactly the same citizen as the rest.

Taxes and salaries

A good salary in Korea is about 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 lawyer, teacher, doctor and civil servant. Koreans often stay late at work and work on weekends. A ten-hour day is the order of the day here.

Taxes in Korea are divided into local (city and provincial) and national. Regional ones are, for example, a tax on the maintenance of roads and a tax on the development of the region. City taxes are a trademark registration fee and a tax on tobacco products.

100 000 R

average salary in Seoul

Income tax refers to national and is charged on a progressive scale: from 10 to 22%. VAT in Korea - 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 get 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 - "our bank"), for which I receive a scholarship. I got it done in half an hour. I chose the bank that my university uses. This is convenient because ATMs are located right on campus. I do not pay for card service. For payments and transfers, you can use the Internet bank, where it is also easy to monitor the movements of the account. There is also a function of SMS alerts, but it must be connected separately - I do not need it.

In Seoul, you can pay with a card almost everywhere, paypass here also works absolutely everywhere.

0 R

I pay for the maintenance of a bank card because I am a student

Housing

There are four housing options for a student in Korea: dormitory, kosiwon, khasukchib, and renting an apartment.

Dormitories is no different from Russian: two students live in the same room. The average price for a place in a hostel is $ 200-300 (12 922 -19 383 R) per month.

Kosiwon- similar to a hostel, but here each student has his own tiny room. All amenities - kitchen, laundry, toilet, shower - are shared. There are cosivons with a private toilet and shower, but they are more expensive. The word "kosiwon" is formed from two hieroglyphs: "exam" and "home".

Now not only students live in cosivons, but also novice workers who have just got a job, and the poor. Prices for cosivons depend on the area and the conditions in the room. Rates range from approximately ₩250,000 (R14,000) to ₩350,000 (R20,000).

Hasukchib It's kind of like a boarding house. The owner and his tenants live in the house. The rooms are settled one at a time, for several rooms there is one bathroom and toilet, and the laundry is common to the whole house. The price includes breakfasts and dinners prepared by the hostess (usually an adult married woman).

To rent an apartment, as elsewhere, you need to conclude a contract 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 R). Utility bills are not included in this amount.

18 000 R

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

I managed to find a very 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 site for finding housing in South Korea, it is 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 university for 550,000 won (31,600 R) per month

People

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

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

Back in South Korea, there is a real cult of bosses. The boss is always right. In Tashkent, employees go home after work, while 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, you can get almost anywhere by public transport. 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 - 1950 ₩ (112 R). You can pay in cash or with a transport card. The card saves about a hundred won on travel, it also allows you to transfer between routes for free (you need to transfer to another transport in half an hour to get there for free).

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

Many people ride bicycles in Seoul. There are few hills here, the landscape is flat, it is convenient to ride. Bicycle paths are laid along all city parks and rivers, there is a city bicycle rental system. You can pay by paypass or card. A day pass costs 15,000 ₩ (860 R).

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

In a Seoul taxi, you can easily pay with a credit or transport card. Taxi drivers speak good English. Some machines have devices for simultaneous translation from Korean to English. There are three types of taxis: economy, luxury and international - the latter will definitely have an English-speaking driver. In an economy class taxi, the minimum price of 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 health insurance covers about 80% of the costs for doctors and the medicines for which I received a prescription from a doctor. The rest of the 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 - some procedures will not be covered by insurance. Even under insurance they will not treat STDs.

Several times I went to the doctor with a cold and paid 10,000 ₩ (575 R) out of my own 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 caught 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.

At the same time, it is customary to treat with antibiotics, sometimes strong ones. It doesn’t matter if you have the flu or it tickles your throat, they will pick up a medicine designed 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 to the standard: porcelain skin, a graceful nose, a 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 a school graduation, and for graduates of any gender.

Since South Korean surgeons are well versed in the perfect European eye shape, facelift and rhinoplasty, people from other countries often come here for plastic surgery. From Russia to Seoul, special tours are organized with characteristic names, such as "Youth and Beauty". 8 days in the plastic surgery clinic cost from $682 (43,500 R) - this is the price only for accommodation and transfer, air travel and operations are not included here.

1 of 5

Korean women had plastic surgery

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

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

On the streets of Seoul, there are an incredible number of well-groomed girls. Korean women do not leave the house without makeup and styling, and South Korean cosmetics are popular all over the world. There is a whole ritual of daily self-care. First, they wash themselves with hydrophilic oil, then with foam, then they apply a tonic, then potent agents like serum or essences in special capsules, then they put a tissue mask on the face, then they also use a cream. And so every day. It was the Koreans who came up with the "b-b-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
cheekbone correction - from 247 000 R
botox for one area of the face - from 12 000 R

I like Korean cosmetics, for skin care I completely switched to local brands here. Almost all the products here slightly whiten the skin and help a lot with 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 communication and Internet

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

South Korea has excellent internet. In Seoul, there is free Wi-Fi almost everywhere - in any restaurant, mall, museum, or just a tourist place. I also have internet connected at home, it is included in the rent. The average cost of high-speed unlimited internet in Korea is ₩29,000 (R1665) per month.

760 R

on average I pay for mobile communications per month

In all my time in Korea, I have never experienced any communication problems.

Leisure

I am an art student and I love going to museums. There are many unusual museums in South Korea - for example, the museum of illusions, the museum of the toilet, or the museum of teddy bears. A ticket to an exhibition in Seoul costs an average of 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 performances.

After a hard day at work, Koreans are very fond of dropping 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, then a lot.

Holidays in Korea are short, they rarely go abroad. Mostly students travel - they travel with a company to Europe, but more often to the nearest countries of Southeast Asia: Thailand, Malaysia or the Philippines. The rest of Koreans have a rest within the country: they visit royal palaces, Buddhist temples, amusement parks. For shopping in Seoul, there are two popular streets - Myeongdong and Insadong. There are many cafes and restaurants in the 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 (1030 R )

Cafes and restaurants

There are a lot of great restaurants in Seoul where you can eat inexpensively. For lunch in a small Korean restaurant, I spend about 5000 ₩ (290 R) - for this money you can eat soup, or fried rice, or Korean noodles.

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

Before we set off, we talked with Russian expats who now live in Korea and read a couple of blogs, but did not receive significant help, so we decided that we would study the country on our own and find answers to our questions in a practical way.

Visa, currency and language

Citizens of Russia and the CIS do not need a visa to South Korea if the period of stay does not exceed 60 days. The currency of the country is the South Korean won, € 1 - ₩ 1275.

In South Korea they do not speak English at all, people do not know it and do not even try to learn it. And this applies not only to ordinary shops, but also to establishments that work directly with foreigners, for example, the international airport. Having gone through it from and to, we found only one employee who, on his fingers and with the help of basic words, tried to advise us. The further you get to Busan, the less likely you are to meet at least such people.

How to get there?

The most profitable way to get to South Korea is from the countries of Southeast Asia. The cheapest flights are from China and the Philippines. You can grab tickets from ₩16958 to ₩84790 (€13.3 – €66.5). We traveled by low-cost Air Asia from the Philippines. Tickets were bought as soon as they heard about discounts from the airline, and the ticket cost ₩ 59,353 (€ 46.5) per person. The flight lasts 3 hours 20 minutes.

In addition to Air Asia, there are 4 other airlines that most often arrange sales for their flights in Southeast Asia: Air Qatar, Airways Emirates, Korean Air, Cebu Pacific. Tickets from Russia (Moscow, St. Petersburg) start from ₩678,322 (€532) one way, from Siberia (Novosibirsk) from ₩339,161 (€266). It is most profitable to fly from Vladivostok: tickets can be found from ₩135,664 (€ 106) to ₩ 203,497 (€ 160). Most often, we track tickets on the Skyscanner and Aviasales websites, but during our travels we subscribed to all mailing lists of Asian airlines: this makes it possible to be the first to know about ticket sales in different directions and buy them at a bargain price.

Incheon Airport is not located in Seoul, but nearby, on a neighboring island. You can get to the city by bus for ₩ 15,262 (€ 12) or taxi for ₩ 110,227 (€ 86), but the most profitable way is by metro: travel from the airport to the city center will cost ₩ 8,479 (€ 6.5).

Public transport in the country is quite expensive. Bus fares cost ₩ 1,250 (€ 0.9) one way per person, the fare will be slightly less, but not much on a monthly scale. In the subway, you can use a travel card or buy a card with 1 trip, the cost of which includes a deposit for its safety (there are no tokens in Korea). After the trip, you can return the card to a special machine and the money will be returned to you. The cost of the trip depends on the number of stations and starts from ₩ 1250 (€ 0.9).

It is better to order a taxi in Korea through the Uber application or in a specialized company, the cost starts from 2 km - ₩ 1600 (€ 1.25), for each next kilometer - ₩ 650 (€ 0.5). For example, a 15-minute ride will cost no more than ₩8,000 (€6), while a half-hour trip will cost around ₩15,000 (€12). Get ready that if you catch a taxi on the street, then the drivers will turn up the prices 5 or even 10 times higher. There are also frequent cases when taxi drivers, even in specialized companies, tried to inflate the price, since you are a tourist.

Traffic in the country is not very intense. Busan is quiet, there are practically no traffic jams. There are traffic jams in Seoul, but they are not at all comparable to Moscow, and even more so to big cities in other Southeast Asian countries, such as Bangkok or Ho Chi Minh City.

When to go?

In South Korea, all seasons are pronounced. In spring, everything blooms and you can enjoy walks under the sakura. In summer, the weather is sunny and it's a good time to visit Jeju Island and the city of Busan (Korea's second city after Seoul). Incredibly beautiful autumn with leaf fall against the backdrop of mountains and walks in national parks. Snowy winter and Christmas-decorated Seoul.

We managed to catch a real Busan autumn and Christmas Seoul. The weather in Busan is warmer than in Seoul, there is much more sun, and therefore the onset of winter is not so strongly felt. When we arrived in Seoul, the first snow fell the next morning. It was very slushy and a strong wind was blowing. It was only -2 outside, but it felt like -20. Petersburgers know firsthand what it is like. The climate is very similar.

Also, smog from China often comes to Korea. At this time, it is better not to appear on the street. In 2019, the smog stood for the first few weeks in January. Here is the answer to the question why Koreans wear masks all the time.

Busan

Usually we mark the places we want to visit on the map in advance and plan the route in such a way that during the day we can see several places that are next to each other.

If you are going to Busan for a week, then there is every chance to get to know him from all sides. And the first thing to do is to start exploring the city with Gamcheon Culture Village(Gamnae 2-ro, Saha-gu, 203). Gamcheon Cultural Village is the most Instagrammable place in Busan. This is a concentration of colorful houses and narrow streets, painted walls and amazing installations. Here you can find a location with the "Little Prince", look into the Grand Budapest Hotel, take pictures with Van Gogh - and this is just the beginning. If you get hungry or want to keep a souvenir from the village, there are many street cafes and cozy restaurants on the territory, as well as cute shops where you can buy souvenirs and notebooks with your favorite Korean bands. It is better to go to the cultural village for the whole day in order to have time to get around all the locations. The place is open from 9 to 17 every day. Entrance to the territory of the village is free, fees are charged separately for entrance to some sites.

Every big city has a TV tower, which is considered one of the main attractions, Busan is no exception. The 120-meter-high Busan TV Tower is located in a small park Yongdusan Park(Yongdusan-gil, Jung-gu, 37-30). When you climb the tower, you will have a view of the whole city. A more impressive sight will be if you climb the tower in the evening, when lights are lit throughout the city. Busan Tower is a favorite place for Korean lovers. According to legend, next to the entrance to the building there is a secret place where you need to hang a lock in order to spend your whole life with your loved one. Entrance to the Busan Tower costs ₩10,000 (€8) per person, and the ticket includes popcorn and a drink. The tower is open from 10 am to 11 pm daily.

After the tower, be sure to check out the largest seafood market in Asia Jagalchi Fish Market(Nampo-dong, Jung-gu). There is everything here: huge crabs the size of a 6-year-old child, meter-long squids and sea cucumbers the size of a little finger, moray eels, fish whose name you don’t know. You can not only buy seafood for yourself at home, but also ask for it to be prepared for you on the spot.

“There is everything here: huge crabs the size of a 6-year-old child, meter-long squid and pinky-sized sea cucumbers”

Impressed by the huge amount of seafood, indulge in Korean street food and visit the most popular walking street in Busan BIFF Square(Nampo-dong, Jung-gu). This is definitely the best place for shopping. Biff Square has many cafes, shops and small restaurants. Many of them were filmed by Korean celebrities, so each institution already hangs out photos from popular TV shows or series as its business card at the entrance. Let me remind you that in Korea they do not know English at all, so if you want to try street food, you will have to act blindly, trusting your intuition - no one will explain to you what this or that dish is made of. If you look at the asphalt, at the very beginning of the street you will see the Korean Avenue of Stars with the prints of famous Korean actors and filmmakers.

The nature of Korea is beautiful almost at any time of the year (except for winter), but it opens up especially beautifully in October or April. Mountains and fallen leaves, green trees or pink sakura. Nature, in my opinion, is the main attraction of South Korea. To enjoy it in Busan, you should definitely look into the city parks: Park Taejongdae(Dongsam-dong, Yeongdo-gu) and Igidae Park(Yongho-dong, Nam-gu). It is impossible to single out one, but it is worth going to them for the whole day. A beautiful view of the sea and ships opens from here, fishermen are fishing below the rocks, at the very edge of the parks there are lighthouses that you can climb into. The territory of city parks is very large, so even a bus runs through them. In the park, you can see how persimmons grow and even pick up a handful of wild berries. Entrance is free around the clock.

In addition to admiring nature and exploring Korean culture, be sure to visit the Shinsegae business district. Take a photo at the famous Busan skyscrapers and walk around Shinsegae Centum City(U-dong, Haeundae-gu, 1495). This shopping center in 2009 was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest shopping center in the world. To be honest, we got a little lost in it and instead of getting out, we ended up on a glass bridge, from which we once again appreciated Busan at night. In the shopping center you will find stores of world brands (Gucci, Shanel, Louis Vuitton), several food court areas, saunas, spas and separately located entertainment floors.

Not far from the mall is one of the most beautiful bridges in all of South Korea. Busan Harbor Bridge(Nam-gu). During the day, it looks like the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, and in the evening it begins to shine with all the colors of the rainbow. It’s definitely worth a look, especially since there is a cinema embankment next to it, walking along which you can take photos with Spider-Man or Superman, appreciate modern installations and go to the most beautiful beach in Busan Haeundae Beach(Haeundae-gu). It is "alive" at any time of the year. It's nice to walk along the beach and take great photos. Koreans here go in for sports, play backgammon and just enjoy the views. Nearby there are many places to eat, the alley of artists and the secret alley of lovers.

seoul

The main modern attraction of Seoul, in my opinion, is Dongdaemun Design Plaza(Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, 281). This is a futuristic art center. Its design was developed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid. From the outside, it looks like a huge spaceship, but inside it is completely snow-white. This place is a paradise for perfectionists and all lovers of minimalism. The art center hosts exhibitions, shops and cafes. And next to it is an installation of 25,500 LED roses. At night it looks very large, incredibly beautiful and romantic. The center is open every day from 10 am to 7 pm. Admission is free. Some exhibitions require a separate ticket.

It’s worth starting your exploration of Seoul from the most popular shopping district Myeongdong Shopping Street(Jung-gu). It is a favorite place for young people and the best place to get acquainted with modern Korean culture. Here you can try street food, go shopping, even get to a mini-concert of street musicians.

After shopping at Myeongdong, take a walk to Seoul TV Tower YTN Seoul Tower(Namsangongwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, 105). She is considered a symbol of the city and is depicted on most of the postcards of Seoul. The height of the tower is 236 meters, and the views from it are simply beyond words. In the evening, Seoul is especially beautiful from above. You can visit the tower daily from 10 am to 11 pm, entry ₩ 10,000 (€ 8).

Continuing the evening route through the city, include in your list of places Banpodaegyo Bridge. This is the longest fountain bridge in the world (1140 meters). In the evening, the show begins and it glows with all the colors of the rainbow.

If you want to get closer to the culture and traditions of South Korea, go to a traditional village Bukchon Hanok Village(Gyedong-gil, Jongno-gu, 37). The national houses of Koreans are called hanok. Walking along the alleys and looking inside the houses, you will get acquainted with the 600-year history of the country and even be able to try on hanbok - the Korean national costume.

Cafe hidden among the modern streets of Seoul 943 King's Cross Harry Potter cafe(Seogyo-dong, Mapo-gu, 417), which will immerse you in the world of magic and sorcery. Here you can try on the mantle of a Hogwarts student, drink a mug of butterbeer and ask the distributing hat which faculty you will study in. Three floors of photo locations, souvenir dexterity and food in one place. Open from 11.30 to 22.00.

Food

In Korea, food is given a lot of attention - Koreans have a kind of food cult. If you watch them, you will notice that they look at photos of food when they ride in transport; film themselves on the phone when they eat; while talking about food. Even their greeting "siksa haschessoe?" translated into Russian as "Have you eaten yet?".

There is a lot of food in South Korea and it is varied, but national dishes are more popular. Here is a list of the most popular.

In the first place, without which it is impossible to imagine a Korean table is kimchi. Favorite dish of all generations. This is sauerkraut in hot red pepper, most often it is used as a side dish for the main course or as an appetizer. The secret of kimchi has been passed down from generation to generation.

The second most popular dish is bibimbap, a large bowl of rice tossed with vegetables, egg and sauces added to them. For a piquant taste, nori seaweed, kujut, soy sprouts and kimchi are added to the dish.

“Koreans look at pictures of food while riding in public transport; film themselves on the phone when they eat; talk about food while talking

Definitely worth a try for meat lovers. kalbi, bulgogi And samgepsal. Kalbi prepared from marinated beef: pieces of meat are fried in sauce and eaten with spices. Bulgogi is sweet meat fried in sauce and served with various seasonings. Samgepsal are pork cuts that are fried and served with vegetables and traditional Korean snacks. The older generation consumes all these dishes exclusively with soju (rice vodka).

Kimbap These are traditional Korean rolls. Rice and fresh vegetables wrapped in nori sheets are drizzled with sesame sauce and served as a side dish to the main course. Koreans are very fond of meat, so you can often find rolls stuffed with beef or pork instead of the usual fish.

And for dessert, the favorite sweet delicacy of Koreans. Tteok is a pastry made of glutinous rice with a nut or fruit filling. Its taste is very specific, but it's definitely worth a try once.

One dish in any establishment, ranging from ordinary cafes to restaurants, costs at least ₩ 8500 (€ 6-7). But when ordering food, do not forget that in South Korea they serve large portions. One serving can feed two, checked!

Housing

It is better to book accommodation in Korea in advance, at least a few months in advance, and preferably six months in advance. For a bed in the simplest hostel in a room for 10 people, you will pay ₩ 34,000 (€ 27). Rooms on Airbnb and double rooms in hotels start at ₩59,500 (€47) per night.

During the trip, we decided to live in housing from different price categories in order to compare the pros and cons. In Busan, we lived in a good hotel and were able to appreciate the level of Korean service. But as I said above, English is difficult in Korea, so we assessed the level, but everything had to be negotiated through an interpreter. Although at the very end of the stay, the receptionist learned one phrase in English - “clean room”.

Service in Korea at a high level. In the morning, when cleaning your room, you will definitely be given a new bathrobe and a refreshing face mask along with a bottle of water. Breakfast is included in almost every hotel and there is a free vending machine with coffee and popcorn next to the reception. The rooms are all very technologically advanced and clean.

In Seoul, we were less fortunate. We lived in a hostel, the standard of living there is much worse. But what saved us was that the Koreans were good-natured and, even without understanding English, tried to answer our questions and help.

Before moving into the hostel, we spent the first few days in Korean saunas. What are Korean Saunas (Jimchilbang)? Most often, these are large centers where Koreans come to relax with family or friends. The so-called "sanatorium in the city." These centers have it all: spas, steam rooms, entertainment rooms, food, and more. There you can relax and spend the night. Fixed price: ₩ 17,000 (€ 13) for 12 hours. In small areas, this is the place where people come to bathe and spend the night. You are given sleepwear, soap supplies and a key to your closet. You sleep on a yoga mat with a round pillow under your head. This pleasure costs ₩12,000 (€ 9) for 12 hours. Frequent visitors to such places are drunken Koreans and young people who did not have time to go home.

Korea is one of the safest countries in the world: neither a large number of thefts, nor drug addicts, nor robberies, and public morality is so developed and strong that it is almost impossible to hear rudeness addressed to you.

If you decide to go to South Korea, namely to, decide in advance on specific dates, because the cost of the flight will depend on them, and not on how far in advance you buy plane tickets. The cheapest tickets to South Korea are, and.

If we talk about transport in Seoul, then you will need an international driving license to rent a car - Russian plastic is not suitable. All public transport and orange taxis (state) are paid for by the T-money system - a plastic card on which money is deposited through the terminal.

Everything is like in Russia - you put the card to the turnstile, it tells you the balance of funds, and you go on.

The subway is quiet and calm inside the cars, but no one waits for people to leave and enter immediately, so get ready to push a lot and for a long time. If you live in Moscow and think that this will not surprise you, you are mistaken, everything is much tougher in Korea.

There are yellow corrugated paths in the subway and on the streets - landmarks for the blind. In Seoul, everything is quite well equipped for people with disabilities, so if you or your relatives were afraid to face the problem of the unsuitability of Korean streets, then feel free to brush aside all fears.

Money. You should not rely on credit cards - they are accepted, but rarely and reluctantly: Koreans are very fond of cash. Therefore, exchange part of the money immediately at the airport, and the rest - in banks. When you go shopping, pay attention to the price tags. If they are not there, the price of the goods is most likely too high, and you will not be able to bargain.

If you smoke, take a supply of cigarettes with you, because Koreans hardly smoke, and it can be difficult to buy cigarettes.

Before the trip, you must also remember the traditional greeting - you need to bow slightly. As a form of gratitude, Koreans also prefer to bow rather than say the word "thank you". Direct eye contact, by the way, can be regarded as a threat and disrespect. You can also shake hands, but this also has a special ritual: they serve and shake both the right and left hands, although preference is given to the right - the left hand is placed under the right. If you do not follow this rule, you will get the impression that you are a very uncultured and far from polite person.

If it turns out that you will be drinking with one of the Koreans, you should never fill your glass - pour it for others, not for yourself.

Since we are talking about alcohol, it is worth mentioning the food. You can’t start a meal until the eldest in age sits at the table. When choosing food, do not think that only dogs and insects are cooked in Seoul, you can find perfectly normal European cuisine there, but the food is often spicier than we are used to. Also, not all cafes and restaurants have tea, but water is always brought free of charge. But be prepared for the fact that in some restaurants and cafes, plates are washed right on the road, and you are watching all this.