[Travel tips] How to survive in Korea?

How to travel around Korea if you have no clue at all about korean language?

If you're going to tourist hotspots, definitely no worries because there are tourist helpers who can speak fluent English, Chinese or even Japanese walking around in places like Myeongdong.

If you're lost or you want to find any shop within that area, don't hesitate to approach them.

Trust me, they know the area very well, is like walking around their houses. LOL

If you're too shy to ask them for help (well, they don't bite), there are a few awesome apps available in play store or apple app store.

1. Translation app: Korean - English Translator
It can be translated into Korean directly by just talking to it in English and vice versa!
Recently I found a super useful translator which is LINE! :D
You just gotta add ENG-KOR translator official account and then type in whatever you want to translate and send!

Easy to use right? I personally think that LINE translates better than google translator (just saying)

2. Subway map: MetroidHD
You can select your subway location and destination, then it will show you the best path (shortest and minimum transfer path) as well as the departure and arrival time!
They also show you the arrival time at any selected subway station (which is awesome), so that you don't have to run like a crazy person in the subway station to find out that the train has left.

Let's say I'm travelling to Myeondong from Hongik University (Line 2)

This app will show you the total distance, stops, fare and also estimated arrival time!

3. Google map or Naver map 

It looks pretty cool swiping your smart phone while walking (actually feeling terrified of getting lost, but must act cool a bit)

At least it's better than holding a mega physical map that will always end up looking like a trash in the bag.

All my korean friends told me that Naver map works better in korea, so if you know how to read hangul, Naver map is a better choice yo!

Some of these apps can function offline, but some requires internet connection. 

So it's extremely important to be able to connect to internet!!! 

How to live without internet? Facebook?! Instagram?! Twitter?!

Click here to know more!

Last but not least, definitely do some homework before you go, including the direction to the shop.

I usually plan my trip according to the areas.

For example, I list down all the recommendations in a particular area and decide my schedule later, depending on my mood. That's the beauty of a free and easy trip where you don't have a fixed and tight schedule on where to go and what to do.

Travel/holiday is about relax, not being stressed out like ''Omg I should have been doing this or been to that place at this time, why am i still stuck here?''

Don'r afraid to get lost.

Just follow the flow.

Continue walking and eventually you will find your way.
Body language communicates pretty well too.

ENJOY.

Don't lose connection with the world when you're travelling.

Generation Y just can't live without Facebook-ing, Twitter-ing, Instagram-ing and Whatsapp-ing!

 Especially the insta-worth moment! For example, meeting the girls generation? (the insta photo will definitely make your friends jealoussss!)

There are several options available for tourist to be connected to the internet in Korea. (I only tried one of the options and was pretty satisfied with it!)

Option 1 is more suitable if you are travelling with 4 to 6 people which is renting a WiFi egg!

Usually a WiFi egg can connect up to 5 devices concurrently (depending on the plan/Telco you choose)
Rental fee is usually 5000krw - 8000krw per day with unlimited data
You can pick up the device at the airport or they can send it to your hotel.

Pros: cheap (shared by the users), portable, easy to use
Cons: cannot call people in Korea, battery life is limited (usually up to 8 hours only), internet connection may be slowed if many users are connected at the same time, requires deposit (it may be troublesome if you do not have credit card)

So, for solo travellers, this may not be the best option.

Option 2 is Olleh WiFi Prepaid.

You can choose to pay for 1 hour (1100krw) or 24 hours (3300krw)
You can purchase it in most of the convenient stores in Korea (sometimes the staff will give you that blank stare as they are not very familiar with this)

It is super easy to use!
Just connect to Olleh WiFi and then register with the pin written on the WiFi Prepaid receipt.
Tadaaa! You can now connect to any olleh WiFi!

Pros: For people who don't need internet everyday during the stay in korea, not so expensive
Cons: it can be expensive if you accumulate, you have to purchase it on a daily basis, Olleh WiFi is technically not everywhere (but most of the places do have Olleh WiFi coverage)

 Option 3 is EG sim card (the best option for tourists.No joke.)

This method suits people who stay more than 5 days or longer as it will be cheaper than renting a WiFi egg and you get to call people (if needed)

If you're purchasing it offline (at the convenience store), it costs 30000krw (24000krw will be reloaded into your account and 6000krw is the price of the sim card)

 25500krw if purchase online (20000krw will be reloaded into your account and 5500krw is the price for the sim card)

You will want to check out the type of sim card your phone requires because there are 2 different prices for the sim card.

Micro sim: 5500krw

Nano sim: 9900krw

You can choose to pick up at places located in the airport itself.
The places is listed here

I have seen a lot of people encounter problems such as can't access to the olleh wifi etc as they are required to activate the account themselves.

So I highly recommend you to get the sim card directly from premium travel center!

The staffs there are so nice, oh and they can speak mandarin too, so no worries if you dont understand korean.

They will help you with all the activation procedures, all the way until you're able to connect to the internet using data. If you have any problem, you can always go back there and they will settle it for you.

They are just so nice! I didn't get my sim card from there, but at that point of time I was so lost that i didnt know who should i ask. I wasn't even sure if the number was still usable, so i went there and they actually helped me to check.

Premium travel centre is located at Seoul station.

Just take the escalator to basement level 2 then you will see it on your right.

If you purchase 500MB (11000krw) or 1GB (16500krw) data, you can connect to Olleh WiFi for freeee!!!

To activate your olleh wifi, you will need to register your details to the network management system and then change the settings on your phone. (I didn't know that, so i relied solely on my data on my first day in Korea)

It is actually very easy!!

Just follow these steps, then you can always connect to the olleh wifi!

In order to connect to the free olleh wi-fi after purchase offline or online, you will have to request your device details information so that we will register yours info to the network management system.

< After purchase offline >
Requests Procedures is as below.  
Step 1 : Open the browser 

Step 2 : Visit our website: http:// www.egsimcard.co.kr

Step 3 : Tap  My account > Check Phone Number

(1) Enter phone number on the sim card envelope.

(2) Scroll down to the trouble shoot wireless problem.

(3) Enter last 3 digits serial no. on the sim card label.(Extract letter “F”) 

Step 4 : Fill in the application form.
(1) Enter IMEi and Wi-Fi Mac address and phone model name

(2) Tap the Register button

Step 5: We will register your device details information requested that you requested above within business hours below. And it is processing time only less than 10 minutes.

Step 6: Reboots your phone if the procedures is completed.

* If connected to the network signal and then reboots your phone, 
   you may get some message or pop-up and so on and   

   system will send an email to you if the registration successful. 

(For more information, visit EG Sim Card FAQ)

How to connect to Olleh Wifi?

For android, tap to connect to the OllehWifi (WITHOUT LOCK!!!)
PS: If you are re-using your EG sim card, you will need to register your WiFi Mac Address again after you have purchased the data (500MB or 1GB) in order to connect to OllehWiFi!
Tadaaaa! You should be able to connect to OllehWifi now!

The connection is usually stronger near subway (be it underground subway or above ground)

This is the reason why you always see koreans surfing net or loading video in subway!
Now, you can be like a korean too! :p