Seoul is the capital South Korea, the city of the future and a place where both local residents and tourists feel good. Europeans, including Russians, have a special relationship here. Any Korean will help a lost tourist to the best of his ability, will be smiling and welcoming. Respect and maximum compassion local residents it pleasantly surprises a citizen who is not used to such a reaction. True, there are difficulties in communication: for full knowledge in English the majority of the local population should not be counted on. Nevertheless, everything here contributes to a wonderful holiday.

Flight

If you decide to visit South Korea, namely, the city of the future - Seoul, then first you need to decide on the date of the trip and the nuances of the flight. It doesn't matter whether to buy a ticket half a year before the expected date of travel or a month. The low cost of the flight depends on the specific dates of departure and return. The average cost of an economy class ticket for one person there and back is 35,000 rubles ($ 1,100). But if, for example, we extend the travel time to Korea by one day before the originally intended departure and, accordingly, fly a couple of days later, then the price of the flight will drop to 25,000 rubles ($ 760), thus, you can save up to 300 on the flight. $.

In this case, you will not be able to save on the total cost of the trip, because you will have to spend money on additional accommodation, meals, and so on. However, it is always better to see and visit more than on a shorter trip for the same amount.

A convenient search for cheap flights is offered by the Skyscanner service. And yes, there are apps for iOS, Android, or Windows Phone.

In my case, a round trip ticket cost about 26,000 rubles ($ 800) from Emirates airlines. Before booking a ticket on the company's website, you can independently choose a landing place, a desired menu of many dishes, etc. The flight took place on an Airbus A380 aircraft with 3-4-3 seats. Each passenger had a comfortable folding chair and their own 9-inch display for viewing modern films in a variety of languages, including Russian. Alternatively, you can simply listen to music or play games. The flight took 17 hours with one transfer in Dubai. You should not be upset about the wasted time due to a transfer, because, for example, in Dubai, the largest Duty Free in a world that works around the clock. So, take care of your money.

Moving around the city

Upon arrival in Seoul, you can order a taxi right at the airport. Passenger transportation services are provided by taxi drivers with special certificates and guaranteed knowledge of the English language. Taxis are relatively cheap: for an hour's drive across the city, we had to pay only $ 40.

The Seoul Subway is a separate topic. It is not easy to understand the metro map, so it is better to plan the route in advance in a quiet and quiet place rather than on the go. Although the Seoul metro is radically different from the same Moscow metro for the better: there are no queues, crowds of people and such chaos. Everything is as clear as possible, if, of course, you know the destination in advance. To get from one destination to another, you have to overcome a huge number of stations and repeatedly change from one line to another, so it is often much more convenient and faster to use by land transport or even on foot.

To travel by metro, you need a travel card, which must have a certain amount of money in advance. The fare is differentiated depending on the distance of the trip. When entering the metro, the minimum cost of the trip is debited from the card, and if it is too short to travel, the money will no longer be debited when leaving the pass. If you had to travel a lot, then when you exit the metro, the amount of the actually traveled distance will be additionally deducted from the card in excess of the minimum travel fare, which, by the way, is 1,050 won, which is approximately equal to 1 dollar (1,100 won).

Residence

At any modern capital there is a huge selection of places to stay. Seoul is no exception. In order to focus on the city and travel experience and not spend a lot of money on accommodation, I recommend choosing the hostels, which are in abundance in Seoul. On average, a night in a hostel for one person will cost about $ 20. During our trip to Seoul, we stayed in two hostels. And in each of them there are many free places, therefore, if for some reason you don’t like the room, right on the spot you can move into a completely empty 4-bed room next door. The atmosphere in hostels is always more than comfortable: everything is clean and tidy, there is free Wi-Fi or even stationary computers for guests. There are no surprises on this score.

In the next part I will talk about interesting places Seoul.

Since January 1 of this year, it has become much easier for Russian tourists to get to South Korea. However, the same can be said about Koreans who want to visit Russia. A visa-free regime has begun to operate in bilateral relations. Korea - interesting country, there is something to see, where to relax and how to spend your time interestingly. "RG" has previously written about the sights of Korea, and the Koreans themselves, for the most part, leave a favorable impression.

According to the latest data, the introduction of a visa-free regime has led to an increase in the number of Russian tourists in Korea by 36%, and Koreans came to Russia by 61% more than a year earlier, when visas were still needed for travel. Recently, the South Korean government also announced that it will stake on attracting Russians to the country. Thus, according to the plans of the Korean government, by 2017 the number of Russians visiting Korea should double, reaching 350 thousand.

In general, we can confidently say that Russia and South Korea got a chance to become even closer to each other, to get to know each other better. “The more often we visit each other more often, the better we will be able to understand: Russians are Koreans, and Koreans are Russians. Korea, "Russian Consul General in Busan Andrei Osmakov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

With this publication we continue the series of articles by RG devoted to the introduction of a visa-free regime between Russia and South Korea.

"Russian newspaper": Let's trace the entire chain that a Russian faces when visiting South Korea under a visa-free regime. Where do you start?

Consul: First, let's say that official name of the document, which entered into force on January 1, 2014, the following: Agreement between the Government Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the mutual cancellation of visa requirements. The introduced new regime does not mean the abolition of visas altogether, and therefore, on the eve of departure, you need to decide whether you need a visa. We emphasize right away: regardless of the duration of the visit - even if you are traveling for one week - you need a visa if you are going to study or work in Korea. It will have to be received, and this is directly stated in the agreement. Visas are not needed only for those who travel to Korea for tourist purposes or on a business trip.

"RG": Judging by the responses, many are interested in the question of the length of time a possible stay without a visa. There is some kind of intricate system ...

"TO": It’s not so confusing, everything is quite simple. The principle is as follows: within 180 days, that is, in six months, without a visa in Korea, you can visit a total of no more than 90 days. But at the same time, each race cannot be more than 60 days. That is, you have a limit of 90 days in six months, and you "choose" it: you can 60 + 30, you can 30 + 30 + 30, you can nine times ten, etc., but in any case you cannot be more 60 consecutive days. That is, 65 + 25 will not work. The 180-day period within which your 90 days are determined is calculated from the date of entry into Korea. As it expired, a new one begins, where you are again allowed to be without a visa for a total of up to 90 days, but no more than 60 days in one arrival.

"RG": With this sorted out. I am traveling as a tourist, and therefore I do not need a visa, I do not plan to stay for more than 60 days. Started to pass passport control and…

"TO": And here, again, there is one "BUT" that operates in any country, including South Korea. Even if you do not need a visa, the authorities of the country may deny you entry without giving a reason. As they often write on the visas themselves: "Having a visa does not mean a guarantee of your entry into the country. Final decision is accepted on the spot by a migration control officer. "And it is useless to be indignant," to demand a consul "- this is the host country's right not to let anyone in. And the authorities are not obliged to explain the reason. She won't explain anything to diplomats, and any attempts to put pressure on her will be interpreted as "interference in internal affairs."

RG: Did this happen often in reality? Based on your experience ...

"TO": Let's put it this way: when the Korean authorities refused to enter, they usually had good reasons for this. They didn’t always voice the reasons, but I don’t remember that “I’m in a bad mood - fly back to Russia”. As a rule, they "deployed" those who had previously had any "sins" in Korea: maybe they were conditionally sentenced, got on the "black list" for one reason or another. In general, all this is not out of the blue and, as a rule, the "offended" themselves understood "where the legs grow" from such an attitude, but they did not always admit it.

"RG": It may well be that someone previously had certain problems with the law in Korea, he returned to Russia and now wants to visit Korea again. What do you recommend to those so that he is not immediately sent home by the next plane?

"TO": It is necessary on the eve of the trip to come to the embassy or consulate of Korea, explain the situation and ask the Korean authorities to find out if there are any complaints against him. But this can only be done by the Korean authorities themselves. Russian diplomats cannot find out for every Russian, and Koreans are not obliged to provide such information to us. And if you do this personally, then you must be told: you can go or there are still some claims to you. And one more thing: you should not hope that you will be able to deceive the system and "slip" in a roundabout way to Korea. Everything is entered into a common database, which the Koreans with their technologies are in excellent condition. Therefore, at every point of entry - even at Seoul airport, at least Busan, at least at Sokcho port, in general, anywhere, everyone will know about you. A single database operates here.

"TO": Even if you do not need a visa, the officer has every right to ask you where you are going to live. Need to know the exact address residence. It will be great if you print out the hotel reservation sheet. This should be enough. There may be other general clarifying questions, but, as a rule, this does not happen - no one wants to create a queue. Usually, questions begin when you have an entry document (a small tear-off coupon that is filled out at the entrance) so that inevitably questions arise.
And again, I would like to draw the attention of potential students. If you are going to Korea on a tourist visa, but wrote that you will live at the university, then you will have questions and you may not be allowed in. We repeat: if you are going to study, you will get a student visa, even if you will study for only a month. If it becomes clear that you have decided to use the visa-free regime(and this is expressly prohibited by the agreement), then you will most likely be returned back.

RG: Okay, we passed passport control and here it is - the long-awaited Korea. Your general impression from the Korean police? Have you ever heard that law enforcement officers are trying to find fault with foreigners, as they say, "out of the blue"?

"TO": The Korean police have the right to detain any person for 48 hours, that is, for two days, simply without explanation. Then they must bring charges, extending the detention up to 10 days, after which they are obliged to refer the case to the prosecutor's office. But in practice, no one in this country will detain you "just like that". If you are detained, believe me, then there is most likely a reason.

The Korean police are very friendly. If you get lost, do not know something - feel free to approach and ask, it is perceived normally. Most likely, a "standard" Korean police officer will be able to say at least a couple of words in English. Many of the police officers are young guys who serve in the police instead of the army. So there is no need to be afraid of them, and they are well-disposed. I haven’t heard about any "harassment of foreigners out of the blue." If you do not violate Korean laws, then no one will think of approaching you, the police have their own business to do, and a foreigner is always a difficult legal situation, various formalities, and so on. In general, the likelihood that a police officer will start looking for an excuse to "fuck" something from you is very, very small, almost zero. Here, even a passport is rarely asked for nothing.

"RG": Do you need to carry your passport with you?

"TO": Better keep in a safe at the hotel so as not to lose yourself through negligence. And just in case, you can make a copy of the first page of your passport and carry it with you. This will be enough in the vast majority of cases.

RG: It is clear that Korea is a very safe and civilized country. But maybe there are such laws and regulations that we may not know about, and therefore may be in conflict with local laws simply out of ignorance?

"TO": Such a situation is possible. It is difficult to cover all possible problems, but one feature of South Korea immediately comes to mind. Consider the peculiarity of inter-Korean relations. The country has a National Security Law, which prohibits the import and distribution of materials from the DPRK. And this is not a joke. For this, they can be seriously punished - up to and including prison terms. In practical terms, this means that there is no need to bring North Korean newspapers, books, badges to South Korea, offer to listen to North Korean songs and so on. There is also no need to agitate for the "Juche Country" - this also falls under the National Security Law. By the way, the South Korean authorities are blocking access to the DPRK websites on the Internet. And we advise you not to try to get to North Korean sites from the South. In general, don't risk it. Local authorities are also likely to first warn, and only then "punish to the fullest extent", but they can deport, if you give an excuse in this direction.

RG: Well, can you talk about politics, or is everything strict too?

"TO": It is already quite liberal here. The opposition is influential in South Korea, and many Koreans will be the first to tell you what they think their leadership is doing wrong. You can calmly talk, ask, discuss here, including about the policy towards the DPRK. Many South Koreans may ask you this themselves, knowing that Russia is actively cooperating with both Seoul and Pyongyang. This is as much as you like, but, we repeat, it is not necessary to bring and distribute packs of newspapers from the DPRK. This will be punished quickly and severely.

RG: Is there anything else with which Korea is strict?

"TO": Very strict with weapons, drugs, violence in any form. Any hint of confusion in this - you immediately come under the scrutiny of the police and special services. The very weak distribution of drugs and weapons in Korea is primarily the merit of the authorities. This is being fought very hard. Even a starting pistol will be considered as a weapon, in general - no "traumatic", "pneumatics", "grass" and other things.

The Korean police seem to be very friendly, and they are. But if you gave a reason to suspect yourself of something illegal, then this whole system will immediately show its rigidity and thoroughness and uncompromising attitude. This is the case that "all are good as long as you yourself are good." Do not try to offer bribes - this will only complicate the situation and worsen your chances of receiving the mildest punishment.

RG: Let's say I wanted to stay in Korea, work or study, then ...

"TO": Then you must personally report to the Immigration Service and find out all the rules and procedures. It is possible that you still have to leave the country for this. But only employees of the Immigration Service can answer these questions, the embassy and consulate of the Russian Federation does not have the right to interfere in these issues. Only the applicant himself and only personally ...

RG: It is clear that no one of their own free will will seek problems for themselves, but anything can happen in life. Your advice?

"TO": Standard and well-known: try not to get into such situations, do not visit dubious establishments, if you consume alcohol, then in moderation. Many "stories" occur after excessive drinking. And don't let go of your hands. A fight, even if you just push a Korean, is perceived very badly and is punished severely.

There is one specific feature of Korean law. Let's say you had a fight with someone, and then agreed with him, even paid him money as compensation. But then this person can still go to the police and write a statement against you with all the legal consequences. It is enough for him to bring two witnesses who will confirm his words and the police will start an investigation. And "agreed - not agreed" - these are your problems.

By the way, the same thing, if you came to the police, you were interrogated, but then you - the offender and the victim - decided to come to an agreement. If there was any damage, a case was started, then the investigation and the court will be regardless of the fact of reconciliation of the parties. This may be taken into account, but the fact that the one "to whom you broke your nose already has no complaints" for the Korean Themis is not an argument. Once the case has been started, it must be completed, and the guilty person punished.

RG: Let's say that for one reason or another the Russian found himself in some kind of unpleasant situation, he was brought to the police station and interrogated. What do you advise?

"TO": If you don't speak Korean confidently, ask for an interpreter from Russian. This is your right, which they are obliged to fulfill and will fulfill. Demand clearly and steadfastly - this is not the first time that the Korean police have come across Russians, they have lists of people who help them as translators, so demand. If you think that the translator does not speak Russian well and does not provide the proper level of understanding with the police representative, ask for a replacement translator. Again, this is your right. And demand to notify the consulate or embassy. The police must also do this at your request.

RG: Maybe something else when communicating with the police?

"TO": General rule: if you don’t understand something, then never sign, demand explanations, translation. If you were released, having handed "some pieces of paper" - do not throw them away, but figure out what it is. There are frequent cases when a person was released, obliged to appear on demand. And if you do not appear, then this will not be interpreted in your favor and the maximum possible punishment will be assigned. There were cases when compatriots were released from the police, they left, and then at the border, when they returned to Korea, their immigration was no longer allowed. It turned out that the case was not closed, the Russian was summoned for repeated interrogations, although he had already gone abroad, then a trial, a verdict in absentia and a "black list". So make sure that there are no more complaints against you, and do not throw away any received documents and certificates. Koreans have an open court system, and on the relevant sites, by the number of your case, you can find out everything - what is the result, sanctions, and so on.

RG: What line of behavior do you advise to choose?

"TO": From the experience of various conflicts, I will say that there are two tactics of behavior. Some categorically deny everything completely and say: "And you try to prove it!". The latter recognize everything and ask for leniency. And therefore, if there really was an incident and you were taken "for business", then you must confess and repent. Most likely (if the conversation is not about serious crimes) you will simply be deported, given a suspended sentence. And then you will be able to enter again, you just need to make sure that your "non-entry period" has expired. And to flaunt, saying, "yes where are my fingerprints and other objective evidence", knowing that in fact "something happened" is not necessary. They can also appoint a serious term based on circumstantial evidence, most likely it will be so. The Korean court hates such self-confident suspects.

"RG": The season will begin soon " beach holiday"what should be borne in mind here?

"TO": Keep in mind that in Korea bathing season only from mid-July to late August. Many beaches are closed at night. This is especially true for small towns and villages. It is better not to go to the closed beaches at night, and in the non-swimming season too. Even in the swimming season, no one will let you swim far. Usually, an area is fenced off where you can reach the bottom with your feet - and splash there. And if you decide to swim farther, then rescuers will immediately return you back. So the situation here is somewhat different than on the beaches familiar to Russians.

Still we strongly advise against taking pictures. local girls in swimsuits - at least without their explicit and clear consent to this. On all major beaches, advertisements are constantly being voiced asking to report such "photographers" to the police. We know of a case when Indonesians were detained and then deported for photographing Korean women on the beach.

"RG": Many perceive eastern countries as an analogue of Thailand in terms of the prevalence of the sex industry.

"TO": Wrong country. In Korea, it is prohibited, although it is present in one form or another. And everyone will answer - the "priestess of love" herself, the pimp and the client. In general, it is, but it is punishable, and therefore we do not recommend it.

RG: Well, in the end, a few words about transport and traffic.

"TO": Yes, public transport conveniently arranged here. Bus traffic is very well developed, excellent high-speed trains KTH, an affordable taxi. Convenient and clean subway, which is not only in Seoul, but also in other large cities - Busan, Daegu, Incheon. In general, public transport is very good, but there are a lot of cars on the roads, and therefore you need to be careful. Cars sometimes pass at a red traffic light, they can try not to let pedestrians, etc., although, as they say, this does not come to "lawlessness on the roads", there is generally order here.

RG: Recently, many Russians are actively using car rental, and here the number of potentially conflict situations is growing. Your advice, comments?

"TO": Yes, when Russians get behind the wheel, they often start looking at Koreans differently. On the other hand, there are simply wonderful roads, a convenient road numbering system. As for the advice ... First of all, do not flatter yourself that you rarely see the transport police. Here everything is in cells, and therefore when necessary, then they will appear and very quickly. You should also take into account the "Korean style" of driving: some may not use "turn signals" when changing lanes. The driving style of taxi drivers and buses is often similar to our minibuses: sharp changes from lane to lane, rather aggressive driving, can cut short, and therefore you need to be careful with them. I wouldn't say about ordinary Koreans that they drive better or worse than Russians.

RG: Nobody wants to get into an accident, but it's better to know how to behave. Your advice?

"TO": Of course, it is better to miss the reckless driver, even if he is wrong, than to get into an accident with him. The proceedings usually take place between the commissioners of insurance companies, and therefore it is important to take insurance when renting a car. There is one Korean peculiarity: even if you are innocent by Russian standards, but made a movement, then some part of the sum insured will be "hung" on you. This can be 10-20%, but it is rarely admitted here that only one side is completely to blame. This is a general approach, not an attempt to deceive foreigners. Perhaps you need to stand in a parking lot or in front of a traffic light to get 0% written down. Otherwise, even if it is entirely the fault of the other side, at least 5% will also write to you.

In the case of pedestrians, it is better to let them pass everywhere and always, even if they cross in the wrong places. If you hurt someone while driving, even if a pedestrian has violated the rules, then 99.9% are for the fact that the driver of the car is found guilty. The situation is similar with motorcycles and mopeds. They drive very dangerous, but if there is a collision, then the car will most likely be the culprit, from the point of view of the police. The principle here is that whoever is weaker and more vulnerable is right, according to the police. This is what we were told at the time in the Analysis Group of the Transport Police. That is why it is very careful with pedestrians, mopeds, motorcycles.

RG: Well, maybe you want to say something to those who are planning to come to Korea?

"TO": We've done a great job of answering most of the common questions ahead of time. Therefore, we strongly advise you to visit the website of our embassy in Seoul and the consulate general in Busan (listed below in the "help" - approx. "RG") - there are tips and tricks and other helpful information, including the full text of the Agreement on the Reciprocal Cancellation of Visa Requirements. We also advise you to write off the emergency phone number from the site, just in case.

If you still have questions, please contact us on our "pages" on Facebook, Twitter or by e-mail. We are always in touch. In social networks, we respond very quickly, according to e-mail we also respond promptly - about three to five days.

We also advise you to register with consular officials. This can be done by visiting the representative office personally, but it can also be done through our websites - there are links there. It will take no more than 5-10 minutes. From time to time it happened that we had to urgently contact any of the Russians in Korea, but there was no contact information. The question may arise: "Why is all this?" The answer is: "Anything can be." Who knows what can happen at home, with your family or, again, with you. Maybe you will need to urgently inform you of something, but they contact us - at the consulate or embassy. It's in your best interest.

In general, we wish you a pleasant stay. South Korea is an interesting country with a rich culture and traditions, we hope that by coming here you will get only good impressions.

There are many more reasons to visit South Korea than just the abolition of visas.

1. Firstly, it is a very distinctive country with a rich history and unique cultural monuments.
2. Secondly, the stunning nature and many options for recreation - hot springs, beaches, ski resorts.

1. Thirdly, South Korea keeps pace with the times, and sometimes ahead of it. A rare fusion of tradition and innovation awaits you, so there are activities and entertainment for every taste.

In addition, South Korea is still not the most popular and even exotic destination, so if you are looking for unbroken routes, urgently book a ticket for a Moscow-Seoul flight.

When to go:

You can go to South Korea all year round, but remember that the country is located in a temperate zone, so the seasons are very clearly expressed there. Winter is a time for skiers, but not only. Koreans brighten up the cold with a variety of festivals with a winter theme. For example, in natural park Tebaksan hosts the Snow and Ice Sculpture Festival. Want to bask in the sun? Then you need to plan a trip for the summer and choose seaside resorts. At this time, the temperature rises to + 35C.

Sightseeing lovers should head to South Korea in the spring, from mid-March to June. At this time it is already warm, a lot sunny days and the monsoon season has not yet arrived. Spring is the season for cherry blossoms. But autumn is also good in South Korea - bright, colorful, without precipitation until the end of September.

How to get there:

Aeroflot and Korean Air operate direct flights from Moscow to Seoul. The flight will take about 10 hours. The cost of a round-trip ticket is from 30,700 rubles. Cheaper (from 26,242 rubles) will fly with a stopover in Dubai by Emirates or in Helsinki with Finnair. From international airport Incheon, located 52 km from Seoul, can be reached by express bus or taxi.

How to get around:

South Korea is a small country, so it is worth taking advantage of this and traveling outside the capital. It is very convenient to get around: the main cities are connected by rail, and travel is accompanied by the sound of wheels in the Hi-tech South Korea is quite pleased. Trains are divided into 4 types according to speed and comfort level. The most-most are the ultra-fast KTX. Then there are “Semaul” express, high-speed “Mugunkhwa” and passenger “Tongil”.

For foreigners, there are special general KR Pass tickets, which can be bought online. This is a kind of travel card for all types of trains, except for the metro, without restrictions on the number of trips. In addition, the Heran train runs for tourists with compartments similar to hotel rooms, a restaurant and an observation deck.

Very comfortable and commuter buses... They run often, are equipped with air conditioning, and sometimes even free. wireless internet... Do you want complete freedom? Rent a car. Well-known rental agencies operate in South Korea, for example, AVIS. However, keep in mind that traffic in the country is right-hand and in large cities is very heavy. Road signs are written in Korean and duplicated in English in small print.

Where to go and what to see:

The first thing that comes to mind is, of course, Seoul. The capital and the most Big City South Korea. Familiarity with the country usually begins with him. Planning cultural program? Seoul is perfect for you. There are four royal palaces of the Joseon Dynasty and the oldest Royal Palace the Gyeongbokgung era. The spirit of the past is still felt in the palaces, and magnificent ceremonies are still held today.

You can travel back in time by walking along Insadong Street, a piece of old Seoul. There you will find many cozy cafes and tea houses, restaurants with local cuisine and traditional souvenirs.

In addition to antiquities, one of the most popular entertainment among tourists is a trip to the Demilitarized Zone on the border of the South and North Korea... Foreigners are allowed to crawl through a secret tunnel dug 70 meters below the border. You can get to the Demilitarized Zone only with an organized tour.

But you can safely go to 4DX, 4D-cinema. It was in South Korea that the first such cinemas appeared. They differ dramatically from 3D, to which we are already accustomed: in addition to visual effects, in 4DX you can feel movement and smells, feel the wind and splashing water.

You can easily spend a week or more in Seoul, but the impression of South Korea will be incomplete, so go to other cities, and on the way do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting small villages.

Incidentally, two historic Korean villages, founded in the 13th-14th centuries, are even included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as important monuments of Confucian culture. These are Hahoe Village in Andong City (Gyeongsangnam-do Province) and Yandong in Gyeongju City (Gyeongsangbuk-Do Province). Andong is known not only as the cradle of Confucianism, but also as the residence of the Yangban, Korean nobles. Some of their traditional dwellings have survived to this day and function as hotels.

The entire UNESCO site is history Center the city of Gyeongju, the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla. Survived the old Buddhist temple Bulguksa and Chomseongdae, the oldest surviving observatory.

Busan, the second largest city in the country and also the sea capital of South Korea, is famous for its skyscrapers, and the largest department store in the world is located there. Shinsegae centum city will delight shopaholics.

Tired of megacities? Busan has many beautiful parks: Taejongdae National marine park Khale, Haeundae and Gwangalli Beaches, Geumgang Park and Monnee Hot Springs. In search of peace, tranquility and perhaps the meaning of life, head to Thondosa Monastery, where Buddhist relics are kept.

Daegu is beautifully nestled in a valley surrounded by low mountains and is a major Buddhist center with numerous temples. The main attraction and pride of Daegu is the highly revered Haeinsa Temple, which holds the Tripitaka Koreana, the most complete collection of Buddhist canons in East Asia... Don't miss the Chikchis Monastery with its ancient columns and thousands of small Buddha statues.

The city of Suwon is also interesting. Although the Hwaseong Fortress is not very ancient (only the end of the 18th century), it is very beautiful, and there is a Korean folk village nearby. Suwon itself enchants with a harmonious combination of new and old, especially on the streets of restaurants, where the aroma of kalbi, grilled ribs simply drives you crazy.

The islands deserve special attention. In the Yellow Sea lies the island of Ganghwa, and on it as many as 120 dolmens, ancient burial structures. It also houses the altar of Tangun, the legendary founder of the nation, and other younger sights.

Jeju Island - popular seaside resort with a mild tropical climate. If you are fond of golf, then you should definitely go to Jeju. It is home to 16 golf clubs and is known as the Island of Golf, one of the most popular sports in South Korea.

Dreaming of a winter fairy tale? For snow, skiers need to go to Yongpyeong, Phoenix Park and Hyundai Songgu.

But the most important thing, without which one cannot leave South Korea, is the natural hot springs. In an hour and a half drive from Seoul there are "Asan Spavis", thermal springs outdoors - you can swim in them even in cold weather. Pamper yourself with extraordinary treatments such as the jasmine pool or the yellow clay sauna.

The Koreans themselves love to soak up the hot water, but also go down with a breeze from water slide will not refuse. One of the most popular water parks, “Sorak Votopia”, is located near the Seoraksan Mountains on the coast of the Eastern Sea. Even if you are not very fond of water activities, it is worth visiting here: Seoraksan are part of the Kumgangsan mountain range, which means “Diamond Mountains”, and is considered one of the most scenic spots in the world.

What to do:

In addition to hot springs and golf, there are other entertainment in Korea, at the mention of which the heart of every Korean begins to beat faster. Oddly enough, this is baseball. Favorite American pastime is so loved in the East that it has become almost a national sport. If you have never been to the USA and have not seen this game, be sure to go, just study the rules in advance, otherwise it can be boring.

The second is walking in the mountains. Perhaps this is one of the secrets of Korean longevity: fresh air, physical activity and contemplation of scenic views greatly contribute to an increase in life expectancy.

What to try:

Koreans eat a lot of rice, but they really like soups and seafood dishes. An obligatory part of the meal is kimchi, that is, pickled and pickled vegetables. Fruit is usually served for dessert, while liqueurs and makori rice wine are popular drinks.

Koreans love to eat and take food very seriously, but fat people are rare. Probably, the whole point is that all the dishes, according to the Koreans themselves, are extremely healthy.

What to buy:

In South Korea, there is a lot of everything that is an everyday item for locals, and exotic and a good gift for foreigners. Here you can find very beautiful pearl items, caskets inlaid with mother-of-pearl, fans, embroidery, masks, wooden and ceramic items.

South Korea's special pride is ginseng. It is sold in different types- tea, tinctures, extracts, dried and dried ginseng, honey, alcohol, syrup. There are even chocolates and ginseng candies. Original and, as they say, useful.

South Korea has become the seventh country in our big trip across Asia. I must say that initially we did not plan a trip to Korea, but shortly before the travel preparations, news appeared about the abolition of tourist visas for citizens of the Russian Federation. After this good news, we began to consider South Korea in the list of possible countries to visit. The trip itself was organized quite spontaneously, being in Malaysia, without clear plans for the further route, we decided that why not dilute Southeast Asia with another Asia, and bought tickets to Seoul.

First impression of Seoul

We arrived in Korea completely unprepared. We didn't have any plans or routes, to be honest, we didn't even know much about the country. Sometimes it is pleasant and useful to dilute carefully planned trips with spontaneous ones.

Seoul

Seoul greeted us with a gloomy sky and light coolness (about 20 degrees Celsius), from which we have already gotten used to in the hot Southeast Asia. In my mind, Korea was supposed to be like Hong Kong, but it turned out to be more like Japan.

Seoul has a lot of faceless utilitarian concrete buildings and monotonous residential areas, but in some places they are diluted with colorful neighborhoods with low houses and shining skyscrapers of business districts.

Accommodation in Seoul

Seoul is not the most cheap city for the budget traveler. The cheapest accommodation we could find was Hostel Korea Original. A night in a private room cost more than $ 30. For the first few nights we managed to get a room with our own bathroom at a special rate, but then had to move to a room with a shared bathroom as the price of ours increased.

Although we dislike hostels, we really liked Hostel Korea Original. The inside of the hostel was clean, quiet and comfortable. There is everything a tourist needs: a kitchen, a washing machine and even free coffee. The rooms are quite small and austere but clean. In the morning, if you got up early, you could have time for a symbolic breakfast in the form of toast with jam, but they were quickly eaten, as they are simply put on the table in the kitchen.

The hostel was located in a nice area with narrow streets and low brick houses; you can get to the center by metro or walk a few kilometers.

Search for hotels in Seoul:

Food

We arrived at the hostel before check-in (check-in) hour, so we decided to go out to eat. Usually we rely on our strength, but then we decided to ask the administrator where it is better for us to eat, so that the food is vegetarian. The administrator guy turned out to be very helpful, and decided to show us off to the cafe himself. We already thought that now they would take us to another tourist point with huge prices, but the guy took us to a democratic in appearance and prices diner with Korean food, and also explained to the workers in Korean that we need food without meat. No one spoke English in the cafe, the whole menu was in Korean.

They brought us two hot pots with rice and vegetables, to which they served broth and kimchi - Korean pickles that are served with almost every meal. Strictly speaking, kimchi is spicy pickled Chinese cabbage, but kimchi snacks are not limited to it. Rice pots are called bibimbap and it is one of the most famous traditional Korean dishes. We liked the food very much, we returned to this place several times.

In Korea, rolls similar to Japanese are popular, but they use rice without vinegar and do not put raw fish. The rolls are wrapped in nori sheets, and the filling is filled with vegetables, omelet, ham and seafood. Such rolls are called gimbap, they appeared during the Japanese occupation of Korea (from 1910 to 1945).

Korean cuisine is quite spicy, but on a personal level, it is much less spicy than Thai or Indian.

Street food is popular in Korea, as in all of Asia. Tents with food are piled up in certain walk-through places, they look very decent in terms of hygiene.

Korea could not do without food that is a little crazy for a European look, for example:

Food prices in Korea far from Southeast Asia, and here a budget tourist cannot roam. In the most democratic places without waiters, you can hardly find dishes for $ 5-8, in the bulk of cafes a meal will cost at least $ 10-15 per person. For at least a couple of weeks, we have not been able to come up with anything cheaper than buying food in the supermarket.

In Korea, a tourist has the opportunity to stay without a visa for a maximum of two months. In 2020, the price of such a visa was $ 125 if there was a reservation at the hotel, and $ 195 if there was no reservation. The term for issuing a visa is 7 working days. The price increases for urgent visa processing in 3 days.

Itaewon Aliens Street in South Korea

If you want to stay for a longer period, Korea obliges you to register with the local migration service. For long stays and additional permits are required.

Allocate an F-2 visa, which is the essence of a residence permit in a form that is quite familiar to us. It turns out it in several ways. The simplest is the conclusion of a marriage union with a citizen of Korea: to obtain a residence permit, you must submit certain documents, including a marriage certificate.

Sample visa to visit South Korea

For the first time, the right to a long-term stay in the country is issued for three years. After the expiration of the established period, it is necessary to determine whether to renew this visa or immediately apply for an F-5 visa, which is permanent residence.

Another option for obtaining a residence permit in 2020 is rather vague - a residence permit is provided to foreigners who have lived in Korea for a long time and have made a significant contribution to the life of the country.

This path can be called difficult due to the fact that there are no clear criteria by which to assess the contribution to the development of the country.

Another method, not common, but still a good option. We are talking about "professional migration" or residence permit for specialists. An F-2 visa can be issued to foreigners living and working in Korea on the basis of a specific type of visa (engineers, master students, professors, etc.). To apply for a residence permit, you just need to collect the required number of points out of the maximum - 120. The minimum threshold is 80 points.

This is what an ID card looks like in South Korea

Nobody gives a guarantee of obtaining a residence permit, but when the minimum threshold is passed, the chances increase. If you still get this type of visa, then an F-5 visa is issued, which provides the opportunity to live in the country. After a certain time, you can. The advantage of this method is that a professional who has received an F-2 visa can bring his family to Korea on the same visa.
Visa can be renewed after one year, but it is important to show that the company is profitable and provides jobs for Koreans. Otherwise, there is a high probability of visa refusal.
The advantage of this method is that for 2020 the market in the country is not saturated and there is no need to open super-expensive production facilities, you can open, for example, an inexpensive restaurant.