Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
liage, and crisp (but not cold) temperatures. Spring (late March to June) is a close second,
with similarly moderate temperatures and an abundance of blossoms, but it is sometimes
marred by the clouds of yellow dust that make their way to the peninsula from northern Ch-
ina. Summer is hot, muggy, and wet, and winters can be bleak and cold, particularly in the
northern parts of the country, but neither season is harsh enough to warrant avoiding a visit
altogether if they are the only times you're free to go.
Try to avoid traveling to South Korea during the Seollal (Lunar New Year) and Chuseok
(harvest festival) holidays, the dates of which vary according to the lunar calendar but
which generally fall in January-February and September-October, respectively. For the
week surrounding each holiday, flights and train tickets will be fully booked, the roads
packed, and many shops and offices shut down as millions of South Koreans make the jour-
ney back to their hometowns.
A handful of visitors make their way to South Korea by boat, but the vast majority land at
one of the country's international airports, most frequently Seoul's Incheon International.
The procedures at all international entry points are relatively quick and painless, and nearly
identical.
As stated earlier, visas are not required for most foreign visitors, but everyone has to
fill out an arrival card that will probably be given to you along with a customs form on the
plane prior to landing. The arrival card is a simple document with a few boxes that have to
be filled in with details such as your name, passport number, home address, and the purpose
of your visit. To avoid complications it's best to just write “tourism,” “holiday,” or the like
here until you have local employment or residency status, as any other response is likely
to result in a protracted conversation with an immigration officer—the South Koreans are
fairly sensitive about foreign nationals stopping by to scout out job opportunities.
There are usually separate immigration queues for locals and foreigners, and the lines
for both can be long but move quickly enough most of the time. After you reach the counter
and your passport and arrival card are inspected by the immigration officer, a small note
with your arrival date and the length of your permitted stay will be stamped into your pass-
port.
