Hello everyone! We are Creatrip, your group of Korean travel experts.

Getting to Korea isn't difficult, but there are many problems that all travelers face once they arrive, such as transportation, currency exchange, and other simple issues. Despite how common these problems are, there doesn't seem to be much information on the Internet. So today, we prepared some answers to the Frequently Asked Questions by tourists visiting Korea.

Traveling Korea FAQ

1. If I arrive at Incheon Airport at 10 PM, can I catch the subway?

Many people due to arrive at Incheon by a late flight are unsure if they can catch the subway. Just remember that if you get to the subway platform by 11:32, you can catch the last train.

Note: There is a train departing from T2 at 23:50, but its last stop is Digital Media City and will not reach Hongdae or Seoul Station.

It takes about an hour after the plane lands to go through customs and collect your luggage, not counting delays. So, if you're arriving at 10 PM, you can still catch a subway. But if you're arrival is after 10:30 PM, you will probably miss the last train.

If you apply for automatic customs clearance before coming to Korea, you can go through customs faster and more conveniently, without having to wait in a long queue. The first train from Incheon Airport to Seoul is scheduled 05:18, and the first train from Seoul Station to the airport is scheduled 05:20.

2. Can I bring my own hair dryer / curling iron to Korea?

The voltage in Korea is 220V. For phone or camera chargers, they can be used in Korea as long as they can be plugged into adapters, because they have a voltage converter function built into them.

However, in the case of most hair dryers and curling irons which don't have voltage conversion functions, even if you connect them to an adapter, they will burn and may cause a fire or power outage in the whole building. Please don't try.

The fastest and safest way is to check whether your appliance has a conversion function, or to purchase a new one after you arrive.

3. I'm arriving at Seoul at night, is it too late to exchange currency?

The best places for currency exchange in Seoul are the Myeongdong Embassy and Myeongdong Ilpumhyang. Their operating hours end at around 20:00 to 21:00, depending on the how large the crowd is that day. If you're arriving at Incheon Airport at around 7 PM, you probably can't get there in time to exchange your currency.

We recommend making use of the self-service currency exchange machine. Not only do they offer similar rates to the currency exchange places, they are also very convenient and are everywhere around Seoul

4. What do I do if my first name and last name on my ticket are switched?

While Koreans generally put their surnames in front of their given names, "last name" or "family name" generally (for airlines) still refers to the surname, and "first name" or "given name" still refers to the given names.

Names are not case-sensitive; most booking sites will preset you name to be capitalized, and will not allow spaces to be typed in.

If you've switched your surname and given name, it's usually not a big mistake and won't cost you anything to switch, but you still need to ask the airline to switch the names. If you've misspelled your name, you need to pay related costs.

If you really have switched your surname and given name, make sure to check with the airline to avoid the chances of being stopped from boarding by the ground staff due to the ticket name being inconsistent with your actual name.

5. I want to go to the supermarket, but it appears to be a holiday?

The Korean government has designated a mandatory public holiday for supermarkets each month. In order to protect the survival of small and medium sized supermarkets, Lotte, Emart and Home Plus all have public holidays.

Usually the public holidays are on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, but this is subject to change. You can refer to our summary of supermarket holidays for each month!

6. Can I bring instant noodles back home?

The African swine fever epidemic is not yet over, and baggage from South Korea often is subject to inspection. Some products are permitted, some are not, and some depend; it's too inefficient to go through all sorts of different products. Just remember the following general rules.

However, because there are so many custom officers' opinions, the safest way is to go to customs when you go back home.

7. Can I eat on Korean public transportation?

For Seoul buses, foods and drinks are forbidden, and you are not even allowed to board with a drink in your hand. You can only board with a tumbler if it is inside your bag. While there are no such restrictions for trains or the subway, we suggest not eating for the convenience of other passengers on board.

The restrictions don't apply for airport buses departing from Incheon, but we recommend not boarding with food.

8. Can I exchange other foreign currencies? Can I exchange currencies in small amounts?

Currently the currencies with the best exchange rates are the US dollar, Japanese Yen, Chinese Yuan, Hong Kong Dollar, Taiwan Dollar, and the Singapore Dollar, which are also the most commonly listed. Although not listed, the relatively unpopular Australian Dollar, Thai Baht, British Pound and Euro can also be exchanged.

However, these currencies certainly won't have as good exchange rates as the popular US Dollars or Taiwanese Dollars. We recommend asking at the exchange center in person, but also try to prepare the more popular currencies just in case.

As for small amounts, you normally can exchange, but the exchange center may not accept (some shoppers have reported that they were denied exchange by the exchange center). Moreover, the currency rate will certainly be worse than it was for larger amounts.

9. Do I have to buy a transportation card? Which one should I buy?

You don't need to buy a transportation card, but it will be a hassle every time you use public transportation. You'll have to prepare cash, coins, etc. With a transportation card, all you need to do is swipe the card at the station, and you'll also enjoy discounts on your rides and when transferring to different rides.

Cashbee and T-money can be used in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, and Daegu, and can be used on buses, subways, and taxis. However, Cashbee cannot be used in Daejeon.

10. You can't eat alone at a Korean restaurant?

People seem to ask this question every single day. The answer is "no, there are a bunch of Korean restaurants where you can eat alone". There are only some restaurants where you absolutely cannot eat alone, such as bulgogi or hot pot restaurants where portions are for at least 2 people. Korean buffets aren't included in this list; they allow you to dine alone.

If you want to eat bulgogi or hot pot alone, you have to go in the restaurant and order a meal for two to be seated at a table. In addition, most Korean restaurants allow you to dine alone with no issues. 

11. Korean cafes don't allow children to go in?

Instafamous cafes, terrace cafes, or animal cafes are quite special; children may be banned from entering because they disturb other customers.

If you're looking to go to a cafe to take a break, we recommend parents go to chain brand cafes such as Starbucks or Ediya Coffee.

12. Is it really easy for tourists to get ripped off?

Prices are generally higher around tourist spots, but there may also be some stores or merchants that give different menus and charge different prices for foreign tourists. We recommend comparing different stores and their prices before going in, and maybe even speaking a few sentences in Korean to frighten them into giving you the prices they would charge locals.

That's it for our answers to frequently asked questions about traveling Korea! These are common issues, but always seem to be a problem for everyone. I hope this was helpful for those of you new to Korea!

This posting was about Common Problems When Traveling Around Korea. If you have any questions please leave a comment or send us an e-mail. We'll get right back to you! Then, we'll see you next time!