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General Information about Seoul

Location

Seoul is located at the north-west corner of South-Korea, 50 km from the border of the De-Militarized-Zone (DMZ) with North-Korea. Toward the west is the neighboring major port-city of Incheon, which is normally included in the Greater Seoul Area. Seoul itself covers an area of 600 km2, but Greater Seoul includes Incheon and numerous satellite cities. The city is surrounded by 8 mountains, with Namsan Mountain in the middle, and is split by the Han River, passing through the city and flowing into the Yellow Sea.

 

Weather

Seoul knows 4 distinct seasons. Its climate can be described as a land-climate, despite its proximity to the seas. The summers are hot with a high humidity, but are also inclusive of Seoul's raining season, between June and September. Influenced by the Pacific winds, the temperature can vary between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius. In the winter the city is affected by Siberian winds, which takes the average temperature down to 0 to -10 degrees Celsius. Spring and autumn are considered the most comfortable seasons.

 

Population

Seoul is one of the most populated cities in the world. The Greater Seoul Area has almost 23 million inhabitants of which 10.3 million are residents of the Seoul city itself. Therefore, the Greater Seoul Area is the second most populated metropolitan area in the world, following only Greater Tokyo. Because of Seoul's relatively small area it is also one of the densest cities in the world.

Time zone

Seoul is located in the +9 PM (past meridian) from Greenwich Mean Time.

Korean Currency

The Korean currency is called Won. 1 Euro = 1250 Korean won. The won is a reliable and stable currency, with its biggest banknote being 10.000 won.

Street names/Landmarks

When you walk the streets of Seoul, you will soon find out it is sometimes difficult to determine your location. Korean addresses exist normally as only street names, with no numbers. Remembering an address might therefore be useless. Instead, find your way by landmarks such as office buildings, sights, subway-station or area's. The subway-station provides maps at every exit with an overview of the area you are entering.

Before you are on your way to a location, ask a Korean to write down the address in Korean (Hangul), or ask someone to mark it on the map you are always carrying with you.

Mobile Phone

The first problem you will face arriving in Korea is with your mobile phone. The Korean mobile phone network system is more advanced than the one used in Europe or North-America. The phone you brought with you will probably be useless in Korea, because of the different network.

The solution is to rent a mobile phone at Incheon Airport. At the ground floor you will find plenty desks offering phones for rent. Renting or buying a mobile phone is your only option to be connected in Korea, because your phone is simply not suitable for the Korean network.

I rented a mobile phone at the airport for 3000 won a day. Losing the phone or bringing it back broken will cost you 400.000 won. I rented the phone for 10 days in total, which cost me a total of 80.000 won, all inclusive.

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