The basic unit of currency is the won (W). Notes are available in denominations of W1,000, 5,000 and 10,000, and coins are denominated as follows: W10, 50, 100 and 500.

Banking Hours are Monday-Friday 9:30 am-5 pm. ATMs are found in banks and subway stations. Keep in mind that most ATMs in the subway stations do not display English language on the screen.

Foreign Currency and Traveller's Cheques can be exchanged at banks. Remember to keep a good supply of cash on hand for weekends when banks are closed.

Credit Cards are widely accepted in large department stores and hotels, but will not be accepted by many smaller shops or in rural areas.

A value-added tax of 10 percent is included in the price of most goods, and a few services.

Don't tip, it’s often considered degrading (the service charge is generally included in the bill), but do give a slight bow and say thank you. Hotel porters, however, customarily receive a bit of change, as do taxi drivers-but only if they assist with the luggage.

Shopping Hours at department stores are usually 10:30 AM-7:30 PM, including Sundays (though they close for one day during the week). Smaller shops keep hours of 8:30 AM-6 PM (though some remain open quite late), and are open most days of the week.

Visitors are allowed to import duty-free, for their personal use, 1 litre of spirits, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars, 250 grams of pipe tobacco, 100 grams of snuff, 100 grams of brick tobacco (or any combination of the above tobacco within 500 grams limit), 60 millilitres of perfume and gifts up to W300,000.

Watches, cameras, jewellery, precious metals, jewels, and furs that are not declared upon entry will be subject to tax upon departure. Departure tax is W8,000 per person.

Crafts, sculptures, paintings, etc. must be evaluated by the Art and Antiques Assessment Office in Kimpo, Tel. +82 (2) 662-0106, or Tel. +82 (2) 664-8997, before you leave. Items considered to be of cultural value will be retained by South Korea.

The international telephone access code is 82. The area code for Seoul is 02, for Pusan 051, for Kwangju 062, and for Taejon 042. Omit the 0 if calling from abroad. To place an outgoing directly-dialled international call, dial 001 or 002 plus the country code and number. To reach an international operator, dial 0077, and for local directory assistance, dial 114.

In Korea, especially at restaurants other than 4 star establishments, you may want to order your meat to be cooked a little more than you usually would. If you like your steak medium, order it medium well, if rare then order medium rare, etc. Chefs will generally take your meat off the grill a little early if you don’t request this.

Throughout the country, call 112 for police and 119 for the fire department or to summon an ambulance.

The current is either 110 or 220 volts AC, 60 Hz. You'll find plugs with two flat pins (110 volts) or with two round pins (220 volts). Visitors from abroad who wish to operate personal small electronic items, should bring a plug adapter and a transformer.

You can enter Buddhist temples even if a service is under way. Enter through a side door, leave your shoes by the door and sit down at the side of the hall. Don't sit or stand directly in front of the main Buddha image. Dress modestly, covering shoulders and below the knees.

Avoid tap water unless it has been boiled, filtered, or chemically disinfected (e.g. with iodine tablets); only eat fresh fruit and vegetables that’s been cooked or peeled; be wary of dairy products that might contain un-pasteurised milk, and be highly selective when eating food from street vendors. If you develop diarrhoea, be sure to drink plenty of fluids, preferably an oral re-hydration solution containing lots of salt and sugar.

Local laws and legal processes can be very different from those in your home country. A violation of local laws may result in a jail sentence, served in a local prison. Consular assistance cannot override local law, even where local laws may appear harsh or unjust by your home country’s standards.

The Republic of Korea does not recognise dual nationality. This may limit the ability of some country officials to provide consular assistance to those with dual nationality such as an Australian/Republic of Korea dual national who is arrested or detained.

Some criminal laws, including - but not limited to - those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, have extraterritorial effect. Anyone who commits such offences outside of their home country may be prosecuted for those offences.

Seoul is one of the world's largest cities so it is important to use common sense and be street-smart. Purse snatchings and pick-pocketing, especially those targeting foreigners are somewhat frequent. Incidents of sexual harassment of foreign women have occurred, therefore if you are a single female dress modestly and avoid isolated places.

The Republic of Korea has one of the highest rates of traffic deaths for a developed country. There is a strong presumption that car drivers are at fault in accidents involving injury to pedestrians. Criminal charges and heavy penalties are common in accidents involving injury.

Seoul is only 30 miles south of the Demilitarized Zone, one of the most heavily fortified and tense borders in the world. However, with the exception of incidents along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and occasional attempts by North Korean agents to infiltrate the South, peace has prevailed on the peninsula for 50 years. While peace has been maintained under an Armistice Agreement, political tensions have the potential to escalate with little warning. Demonstrations are frequent and may turn violent. However, should it ever be necessary, the Embassy and U.S. Forces Korea have worked together for plans to evacuate non-combatants from the peninsula.

Civil defence air raid drills are usually conducted on the 15th of each month. The drills are always announced in advance in English newspapers and AFKN. The alerts last about 20 minutes. During that time, all local business activities cease, and traffic comes to a complete standstill. If indoors, people remain there until the all-clear siren sounds. If people are on the street, they must go indoors or into an underpass or subway station for the duration of the drill.

Banks and most businesses close on New Year's Day and the day after (1-2 January), Lunar New Year (three days in January or February; dates vary), Independence Movement Day (1 March), Arbor Day (5 April), Children's Day (5 May), Buddha's Birthday (May; date of celebration varies), Memorial Day (6 June), Constitution Day (17 July), Liberation Day (15 August), Ch'usok, or the Harvest Moon Festival, also known as Korean Thanksgiving (celebrated for three days in September or October; dates vary), National Foundation Day (3 October), and Christmas Day (25 December).

If you have an onward ticket, visitors from almost anywhere - except countries not recognised by South Korea (Cuba, Laos and Cambodia) – you can stay in the country for 30 days without a visa. If you're from Western Europe, Australia or New Zealand, you can get up to 90 days visa-free. Canadians receive a six-month permit and citizens of Italy and Portugal receive 60-day permits. Everyone else has to extend after their first 30 days.

Seoul’s climate grants the variety of four distinct seasons, with spring and autumn being the most pleasant time of year. Average temperatures then range from 12°C-20°C (55°F-70°F) with few days of rain. Autumn (October-November) brings sunshine, blue skies and spectacular fall foliage. Spring (April to May) can be beautiful too, but it’s also the most popular time with many tourists and you'll have trouble getting mid to top-end accommodation. The summertime from June through September brings hot weather, heavy monsoons and high prices. Temperatures range from 16°C-35°C (62°F-95°F) with the likelihood of typhoons. Winter is cold but dry and a good time to visit if you like skiing, snow-draped temples, very few tourists and below freezing weather. The city’s temperatures can drop as low as -6°C (20°F), occasionally warming up to a cool 10°C (53°F) with January bringing the most snow.