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South Korea
Business Etiquette and Culture |
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Here is
a quick overview and some general information on South Korea
Contact the
Korea National
Tourism Organization, or call 1-800-868-7567, for travel and tourism
information on South Korea.
Passports and Visas
Currency Information and Money
Matters
Electricity
Language
Travel Insurance
Travel Warning
The following information was taken from the CIA World Fact
Book
An independent Korean state or collection of states has existed almost
continuously for several millennia. Between its initial unification in the 7th
century - from three predecessor Korean states - until the 20th century, Korea
existed as a single independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese
War, Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was annexed
as a colony. Korea regained its independence following Japan's surrender to the
United States in 1945. After World War II, a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up
in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government
was installed in the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US
troops and UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South
Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. An armistice
was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about
the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with
per capita income rising to roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1993,
KIM Young-sam became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years
of military rule. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In
June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's
President KIM Dae-jung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il. In October 2007, a
second North-South summit took place between the South's President ROH Moo-hyun
and the North Korean leader.
Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its partial "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products. For additional information, visit https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/an.html
You will need a passport to visit Andorra. You have to travel to
Andorra through either France or Spain. Andorra accepts any passport or passport
replacing document that is valid for either France or Spain.
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Passport Visa Express specializes in obtaining Passports for United States Citizens who wish to travel internationally within the next 30 days. We work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency assisting you in expediting your passport application in as fast as the same day! Our passport consultants have many years of direct experience working with the Passport Agency. |
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Currency Information and Money Matters
The currency is the South Korean won (KRW). South
Korean won per US dollar - 929.2 (2007), 954.8 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005), 1,145.3
(2004), 1,191.6 (2003).
Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare. Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious! Current Exchange Rate: Check Today's Exchange Rate
The official language is Korean however, English widely taught in junior high and high school and you will find many people that speak some English. I have found that it helps to know at least a little bit of the language as I travel in other countries. You do not have to be able to be a fluent speaker, but knowing a few key words and phrases will really help. I have found that, although almost everywhere I go I can find someone who speaks English, knowing just a few words of the local language can really be a help. And, it lets others know I am at least interested in their language. Visit the Getting Away Language Learning Center where you can find out how to learn another language, or where to purchase books, dictionaries, electronic translators, software and more
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
Electricity
Be sure to take your adaptor and converter kit. Find the converter you will need in the
Getting Away
Travel Store. Additionally, you will find just about anything and
everything you will need when you travel. Across the state, country, or
to a destination on the other side of the world, you'll find what you
need in the Getting
Away Travel Store!
Travel
Insurance
If you need medical
care while you are away, it is best to be aware that medical providers may not
accept payment through your insurance company and that you will therefore to pay
in full for your treatment and file a claim with your insurance company for
reimbursement. Therefore you should have access to cash, either from a credit
card or by wire transfer. If you need assistance contact the country's local
embassy or representative. For compensation, you must be treated by licensed
medical personnel and provide your insurance company with proper documentation
and receipts. It is advisable to always ensure you have a comprehensive travel
insurance policy which covers you for repatriation to your home country. Visit
the Getting Away
Health
and Safety Tips for Travelers
page for additional information about insurance.
Travel Warning
Travel Warnings are issued to
describe long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or
unstable. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to
assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or
consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff. The countries listed below
meet those criteria. Additionally, the State Department issues
Country Specific Information for every
country of the world with information on such matters as the health conditions,
crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability, and the
location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country. Check with the U.S. State Department for
Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets & Public
Announcements.
Books, Maps and Other Resources
My favorite guidebooks when I am traveling is
Fodor's. I find them to be quite complete, easy to use, and almost always on the
money with helps and tips for traveling in the country I am visiting. Click on
Fodor's Travel Guides
to find the perfect guidebook for your travels.
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I always research the destinations to which I intend to travel with books and maps. I normally use Fodor's as I find their guidebooks very informative and easy to read and understand. Click on the Amazon logo to search for travel books and maps. If you don't find what you are looking for, click on the Getting Away Travel Bookshelf to find some of my favorites! Still can't find what you need? Contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com |
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
A great way to get to Korea (and Asia) is on Singapore Airlines. They operate non-stop service from San Francisco to Seoul.
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At
Travelocity, not only can you find
the lowest fare or best schedule on over 400 airlines, but you can also
find
Great
Car Rental Deals, Low hotel rates when you click on |
Getting
Around In South Korea
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you
believe I should add to this section, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
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Cities and
Towns In South Korea There are Marriott properties in Busan and Seoul
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Some Things To See And Do In South Korea
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Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you
believe I should add to this section, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Some
Suggestions For Accommodations In South Korea
For accommodations and reservations in South Korea,
including the cities of Gyeongu, Jeju, Pusan, Seoul and Mt. Seorak National Park
and the rest of South Korea, click on
Accommodations in Korea
There are Marriott properties in Busan and Seoul
| My preferred hotel chain is
Marriott |
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| Click on The Hilton Family of Hotels to search for Hilton Hotels along with Conrad Hotels, Doubletree Hotels, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton. Looking for a better hotel rate? They're at Hilton.com |
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| Click on South Korea for suggestions for accommodations in South Korea prepared for Getting Away by the Hotel Club Hotel Club Discount Hotel Reservation System. |
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| Asiarooms.com, Asia's leading hotel information and reservation service on Internet, can offer discounts of up to 75 % from hotels published rates. Getting Away and Asiarooms.com have teamed to give you the most powerful search tool for accommodations and is the leading travel reservation system in Asia, the Pacific, and Oceania to include Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. For accommodations, tours, and cruises, check Asiarooms.com first! |
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Hotel Guide features hotels in over 200 countries. Their site steers the user to the best deals by scanning multiple websites within seconds. hoteguide.com then pulls out, leaving the booking service provider offering the best deal to close the transaction with the user. The idea is to guide users through the bazaar of online hotel booking websites allowing users to see the best deals at once and to make a wise choice. hotelguide.com - check it out before you check in! |
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Some
Suggestions For Dining In South Korea
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you
believe I should add to this section, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Some Favorites
In South Korea
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you
believe I should add to this section, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Some
Interesting Links For South Korea
National Parks Authority of Korea
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
i-to-i is one of the world’s fastest growing adventure travel organizations. It is unique as they specialize in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) training and volunteer placements overseas. Each year, thousands of i-to-i volunteers are literally building bridges among communities and earning respect from some of the most important care agencies in existence. The examples speak for themselves. When Save the Children approached i-to-i for assistance with their on-going development programmed for Intibucá, one of the poorest regions in Honduras, they supplied volunteers who are now building homes and teaching English to the indigenous Lenca people. Along with Korea, they also operate in several other countries including: Australia, Bolivia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Ghana, Honduras, India, Ireland, Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. For additional information, visit their website at www.i-to-i.com or send them an E-mail.
South Korea Business
Etiquette and Culture - An excellent guide to business
culture and etiquette in South Korea.
Executive Planet™
provides valuable tips on business etiquette, customs and protocol for doing
business worldwide. Our guides are co-authored by experts in international
business etiquette, who are available to answer your questions on the discussion
board.
This guide to South Korea business etiquette and culture covers many aspects of doing business in South Korea. It is our goal to provide practical, accurate, and up-to-date tips on South Korea business culture and etiquette, written by experts in business consulting in South Korea. We encourage visitors to leave questions or comments on our discussion boards, moderated by experts in intercultural training and business. Click On: Executive Planet - South_Korea.
This guide contains the following articles:
Let's Make a Deal - negotiating tactics, the value of connections, recommended
business card style and content, business card protocol, sitting and presenting
yourself in meetings, language for brochures and promotional material, pace of
business, preferred presentation styles, final agreements, thinking styles,
adherence to company policy, and more on South Korea business culture . . .
Prosperous Entertaining - typical mealtimes throughout the day, best venues for
business entertaining, punctuality for social events, dinner table seating
etiquette, mealtime etiquette, importance of alcohol, toasting, guidelines for
hosting a banquet/social event, what foods should be served/avoided, accepting
and declining invitations, and more on South Korea business etiquette. . .
Appointment Alert! - typical vacation times, recommended appointment times,
length of the lunch hour, signals that indicate beginning or end of an
appointment, best arrival time (early, late, right on time), and more on South
Korea business culture. . . Gift Giving - recommended gifts, gifts to avoid,
good and bad colors for wrapping paper, how to present a gift to individuals and
groups, guidelines for receiving gifts, and more on South Korea business
culture. . . First Name or Title? - using titles such as 'Doctor', naming
conventions to avoid, when to use first names, and more. . . Public Behavior -
how to greet strangers and introduce yourself, the rules for men shaking hands
with women, acceptable demeanor, rules for eye contact, gestures/sayings to
avoid, and more on South Korea business culture. . . Business Dress - is dress
modest, conservative, etc., specific dress requirements for men and women, what
visitors should wear to social functions, and more on South Korea business
culture. . Conversation - welcome and unwelcome topics of conversation, the role
of compliments, the tone of voice to be used, whether your hosts are physical or
more reserved, and more on South Korea business etiquette. For additional
information, click on
http://www.executiveplanet.com/index.php?title=South_Korea
