The unit of currency is Korean Won (KRW), expressed as ₩. Coin denominations are ₩10, ₩50, ₩100 and ₩500. Bank notes are ₩1,000, ₩5,000, ₩10,000 and ₩50,000. The exchange rate is approximately ₩1,470 for $1 (USD).

Currency exchange

Foreign banknotes can be exchanged at most banks and other authorized moneychangers.

Banking hours

09:00 - 16:00, Monday through Friday

Visa, and MasterCard are accepted at almost all retail outlets, but Diners Club and American Express may only be accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities. Check with your credit card company for details on merchant acceptance and other available services.

Outlets for 220 Volts/60Hz are mostly used in Korea. In order to convert the power into 110 volts please contact the hotel housekeeping and current transformer will be available.

Government office hours are usually from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM on weekdays and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Banks are open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays and closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Major department stores are open every day from 10:30 AM to 8:00 PM including Sundays.

Korea is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +9) and does not observe daylight savings time.

http://www.worldtimeserver.com/time_converter.aspx

Tip

Tipping is not regularly practiced in Korea. Service charges are often included in the bill for rooms, meals, and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants.

Tax

Upon request, visitors can receive a VAT  refund of about 10 percent for purchases at "Duty Free Shopping" outlets. Goods must be taken out of Korea within three months of purchase to be eligible for a tax refund. Only foreign tourists in Korea can apply for this tax refund. Visitors can receive refund on receipts with a minimum purchase amount of KRW 50,000 (around US$ 50). To receive the refund, present refund receipts along with the purchased goods at the customs desk at the airport on your day of departure. These receipts can be cashed at the Cash Refund Office in front of the Airport Duty Free Shop.

Police : 112 / Fire & Ambulance : 119
※ These services are available 24 hours.

• Incheon International Airport  https://www.airport.kr/ap/ko/index.do
• Gimpo International Airport  https://www.airport.co.kr/gimpoeng/index.do
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trades  https://www.mofa.go.kr/www/index.do
• Seoul Dragon City  https://sdc-club.com/en/
• About Korea  http://www.tour2korea.com
• About Seoul  https://english.visitseoul.net/index