Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
press train takes just 43 minutes to reach Seoul Station, but for people heading to the sub-
urbs or districts south of the Han River, express buses are still likely to be the faster option
outside rush hours. Bus fares from the airport to most destinations are around 20,000 won,
and taxis run about 60,000-80,000 won. If you decide to take a cab, try to make sure to bring
a contact number for your destination or the address in Korean script; many drivers speak
little or no English, and non-Koreans often struggle to pronounce placenames correctly.
While exploring a new place is bound to be a lot of fun, keep in mind this isn't a sightseeing
excursion, and make sure to fit in some activities that help you form a genuine picture of
what it's like to live in South Korea, even (or especially) under less-than-ideal conditions.
Some suggestions would be visiting a district office to see what kind of programs they of-
fer for new foreign residents, shopping for fresh produce at a wet market—where you're
often forced to bargain—rather than a department store, braving a busy subway station at
rush hour, frequenting a restaurant with no English menu, or taking public transportation to
a smaller town in the provinces where they don't see many foreigners.
South Korea being as safe as it is, and South Koreans being as helpful as they are, you
can tackle these kinds of challenges without fear of what will happen, and breaking out of
your comfort zone a little will give you far more rewarding opportunities for local interac-
tion than confining yourself to expat enclaves or a hotel room.
