48
votes
Do many Japanese people speak Korean?
No. Most Japanese people do NOT speak Korean. However, the English language is a required subject in the Japanese secondary education; although English education has not gone very well for Japanese ...
- 9,651
40
votes
Accepted
Photographable location from "Gangnam Style" music video
The whole point of the song is to mock Gangnam poseurs, and some of the humor in the video comes from showing Psy somewhere that turns out to be a rather some ordinary, unglamorous place— a ...
- 42.9k
30
votes
Dual Citizenship (US, S. Korea) and entering Korea
Have you already completed your mandatory military service? The reason I ask is that many of the young Koreans that I know who do this sort of thing (show their USA passport when they enter S Korea) ...
- 16k
28
votes
I overstayed in South Korea, and now I want to go back to my home country (the US) after two months
If you are a US citizen - you can always return to the US. The US is not going to be enforcing Korean laws, so your overstay in Korea is of no consequence in the US. There may be consequences in other ...
- 16.6k
19
votes
Accepted
Why are there so many websites for the Korean K-ETA?
There's only one real K-ETA website, from the government: https://www.k-eta.go.kr/portal/apply/index.do
All others may or may not be legit, and even if they actually provide you with a K-ETA, they'll ...
- 4,382
18
votes
Dual Citizenship (US, S. Korea) and entering Korea
Just buy the ticket with the name in your Korean passport and travel with your Korean passport. You can check in for your flight leaving the US with your Korean passport. It's possible that nobody ...
- 131k
18
votes
Taking birth-control pills to South Korea
Having a prescription or not does not matter. Many countries, among them South Korea, only allows you to bring medication for personal use for a period of three months when arriving from abroad. If ...
- 54.8k
14
votes
How long does it take to get US from South Korea by Container Ship?
It is presently not possible to travel from S Korea to the US, or anywhere else, via freighter. Since the Sewol sinking, Korea has restricted embarkation for passengers on freighters, as reported to ...
- 341
14
votes
Accepted
How to travel by sea (ferry / boat / ship) between China and South Korea
There are quite a few routes to travel by sea between China and South Korea. Most of them go through the Port of Incheon and that is what my answer will cover.
Routes
The following is a map from the ...
- 583
13
votes
Accepted
Importance of cherry blossom season in South Korea
Blossom viewing is common to all East Asian cultures, and the cherry blossom is the most prominent spring blossom in Korea. I would not say it is central to the culture the way it is in Japan, however....
- 42.9k
13
votes
Dual Citizenship (US, S. Korea) and entering Korea
now the Korean government is making people who hold short term visas quarantine in a government-designated facility for 2 weeks at their own expense (~$1200!!), and I would really like to avoid that.
...
- 54.3k
12
votes
Accepted
Do tickets for these Korean trains have to be booked in advance?
I'm a South Korean, so I guess I can give you the appropriate answer
The ITX is neither a fast train, nor a train that runs between Seoul and Busan. You just need to consider buying KTX ticket.
...
- 311
12
votes
Accepted
Avoiding spicy food while touring South Korea
I can answer this question because I am Korean, but I think I can't answer this question for just yes or no.
If you plan to go to main cities of South Korea, I think some of local restaurant offers ...
- 136
12
votes
Accepted
How full are KTX trains between Seoul and Busan usually?
Usually, in my experience if you travel during the regular weekday and not on a weekend, during Seolal (Lunar New Year) or Chuseok (Harvest Moon Festival) there are several seats available between ...
- 971
12
votes
Accepted
Can one travel from Jeju island to Seoul without a passport?
You need an ID for domestic flights. They need an ID to pass through security, and those who are not authorized to visit the mainland will be turned back (at Security or check-in).
Accepted IDs: (...
- 936
12
votes
I overstayed in South Korea, and now I want to go back to my home country (the US) after two months
No, there's nothing for the US to gain by caring about it in the slightest. As US citizens have a universal right to enter, all they're likely to care about is that you're not smuggling any goods and ...
- 75.9k
11
votes
Do tickets for these Korean trains have to be booked in advance?
Do tickets for these Korean trains have to be booked in advance?
Apparently not, according to The Man in Seat 61:
You can buy tickets at the station, but trains are busy on Fridays and Sunday ...
- 28.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Is it legal to receive services from shamans in Korea?
The referenced article is not accurate, as freedom of religion in South Korea is provided for in the South Korean constitution.
Article 20 [Religion, Church]
(1) All citizens enjoy the freedom of ...
- 35.3k
10
votes
Accepted
Traveling in South Korea's countryside as an English speaker
It'd be helpful if you indicated which locations you plan to visit as the situation can vary depending on whether it is a popular tourist destination or not. But here's more or less a general answer:
...
- 401
9
votes
Wi-fi at airports in Japan and South Korea
Yes, all three major airports (Haneda, Narita, and Kansai) in Japan provide free Wi-Fi. And in South Korea, Incheon International Airport also provides free Wi-Fi.
You can learn how to connect to it ...
- 14.8k
9
votes
Do tickets for these Korean trains have to be booked in advance?
I've been to Korea with some friends two years ago and we could simply buy the tickets at the station. Most stations will understand English, and the ones you are going to should. Smaller/less ...
- 253
9
votes
Does South Korea stamp the passports of US citizens?
No, since November 2016 South Korea does not give any exit stamps to anyone.
I added this answer to clarify the discrepancy between the other answers and give a clear source for the information.
...
- 12.6k
9
votes
Accepted
How safe are ferries within and travelling from Korea?
Asking if South Korean ferries are safe in light of the Sewol sinking is like asking if high rises in the UK are safe in light of the Grenfell fire or if air travel in the US is safe in light of the 9/...
- 2,172
9
votes
Do Asians generally want a tourist/visitor to "act Asian", or "be different"?
You're overthinking this. Do what's polite back home, and nobody will be offended, because people understand that you're a foreigner and not familiar with local customs.
"Asia" is also way ...
- 99.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Is there a popular non-Google Korean-English-Korean translator app?
Naver provides one: see here.
It also provides a English-Korean dictionary: link's here.
- 701
8
votes
Transit a day in Seoul (Indonesian citizen)
Yes, Indonesian citizens (ordinary passport) require a visa to enter Korea for stopover
for 1 day/night. Transit without of visa (twov) is possible for
Indonesian citizens provided they remain in ...
- 11.8k
8
votes
About Jeju Island visas
Republic of Korea Ministry of Justice has a new restriction on Jeju Visa-Free entry, restricting visa-free status to 12 additional countries, effective August 1, 2018.
Bangladesh
Egypt (Effective ...
- 936
8
votes
Accepted
Using Korail trains in South Korea without advance booking?
Based on personal experience, it is practical to just show up at Seoul Station during the week and buy a ticket for a KTX train on the spot. If all of the seats have been reserved, there are standing ...
- 4,584
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible