DETUR P O N S MU NDO Living in Seoul
Living in Seoul A GLANCE AT THE CAPITAL The capital of the Republic of Korea stretches across both sides of the Han River and is a bustling, modern city of 11 million people. As one of Asia s great cities, Seoul is home to a large expatriate community which is warmly welcomed by its Korean hosts. Dulwich College Seoul is situated just south of the river in the prosperous Seocho District. WEATHER Seoul has four distinct seasons with hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Spring and autumn are generally sunny and warm, with a beautiful mixture of colours. Winter sees plenty of snow in the hills north of the city which are a popular destination for sports enthusiasts. Throughout the year, Seoul usually enjoys clear and bright weather conditions with blue skies, despite the changes in temperature. PERSONAL SAFETY Violent crime is rare in Korea and Seoul must be one of the world s safest capital cities. People live in a well ordered society where manners and proper conduct play an immensely important part of everyone s daily lives. Koreans are always eager to help foreign visitors, even though the language barrier is an initial problem. The greatest danger is probably the busy roads, although this is no worse than other large cities in the region. LANGUAGE Korean is spoken throughout the peninsula and is a non-tonal language. It has its own unique alphabet, hangul, which is surprisingly easy to learn, although important signs throughout the city are also written in English. The language can be challenging to master, but learning a few key phrases will make life easier and is very well received by the locals.
CURRENCY The Republic of Korea (often known as South Korea to the outside world) uses the Won (KRW) as its unit of currency. All major currencies are readily exchanged in Seoul and foreign credit cards are accepted in most of the larger stores and restaurants in Seoul. GROCERIES There are many well-stocked supermarkets in Seoul and 7-Eleven style stores are ubiquitous in most neighborhoods. Imported goods are usually expensive (mostly American brands), as are non-seasonal fruits and vegetables. Most items are on a par with Western prices, sometimes less. Once you have mastered a little Korean, good quality produce can be purchased more cheaply from the local markets which are scattered around the city and easy to access. Item Milk (1litre) Loaf of bread Chicken (500g) Subway (average trip) Cup of coffee Fast food meal Basic Korean meal Cinema ticket Price (approx) 2500 KRW 4500 KRW 7000 KRW 1200 KRW 4500 KRW 5000 KRW 7000 KRW 9000 KRW SHOPPING Seoul provides a range of shopping from the latest designer wear to traditional markets. Haggling is the norm in the markets and they provide a wide range of goods from traditional Korean crafts to a dazzling array of electronic items. Insadong and Itaewon are popular shopping destinations for foreign visitors in search of a bargain or three! Some cosmetics and larger Western clothes and shoes sizes can be hard to find. LEISURE There is a rich variety of leisure activities to suit all tastes when living in Seoul. Well-equipped gyms are plentiful in the city and many of these offer a range of associated activities such as aerobic and yoga classes. Saunas are a way of life to many Koreans and public baths are very popular. A range of sports is available from tennis to expatriate football leagues, or for the more adventurous the chance to learn the marital art of taekwondo in its home country. Hiking and cycling are popular and you do not have to travel far outside of the city to enjoy some of Korea s beautiful national parks, mountain resorts and traditional villages. Classes in Korean art, drumming, cooking and language are popular with many visitors. Seoul has an ever increasing reputation for the performing arts and has outstanding art galleries and theatres. These host local cultural events as well as visits from world renowned artists in the fields of music, drama and dance. There is plenty to do for children with playgrounds, zoos and amusements parks. Finally, in light of the world-wide success of Oppa Gangnam Style, it would be impo-ssible not to mention Seoul s varied and exciting music scene.
EATING OUT Prices vary enormously in Seoul. Good Korean food can be enjoyed at reasonable cost from smaller restaurants and has a wonderful variety of flavours and styles (noodle shops provide dishes for as little as 4,000 won). Koreans enjoy their food and love eating out. Main dishes are usually served with a colourful array of side dishes. Chopsticks are used for most meals. Western style establishments are generally expensive, although the multi-national fast food chains are usually a bit cheaper than in the West. HEALTH Seoul is well served by a number of excellent medical facilities. With the influx of foreigners in recent years, and the city s encouragement of overseas investment, many medical centres are opening international clinics. Staff with regular medication should check that their prescriptions are available before travelling, as some Western medicines may not be available. ACCOMODATION Seoul is definitely a busy, crowded city, with the associated traffic problems. However, for those people who want to experience life in a different culture, Seoul offers a host of advantages that have yet to be fully appreciated by the outside world. In short, living in this well ordered, extremely safe and friendly society, with state-of-the art amenities, has made most people s time in Seoul a memorable experience which they fondly remember long after they have left.
COST OF LIVING Korea is a developed country where you can enjoy a comfortable standard of living on a thoughtful budget, although this obviously depends on the type of lifestyle one wants to follow. Whilst imported goods are usually expensive, local produce and supermarket goods are the same or often less than prices in Western cities. Public utility bills are reasonable, although expect to pay higher than usual prices for mandatory refuse disposal bags. TRAVEL The school provides new overseas recruited staff with accommodation in good quality, Western style, furnished apartments. The flats have modern facilities and include under floor heating and air-conditioners for the cold winters and hot summers. Most residential areas are near to a full range of local amenities including supermarkets, fast food outlets, post offices, banks and links to public transport Korea has been described as a public transport dream and is connected by efficient, competitively priced domestic flights and high-speed trains. The Korean countryside provides a range of destinations seldom travelled by foreign tourists, from green forested mountains, colourful Buddhist temples and unspoiled offshore islands (including the temperate holiday resort of Je-judo). Many destinations are easily reached in weekend trips from the capital. Seoul is well served by two international airports and is an excellent base to explore China and Japan, as well as the rest of Asia. GETTING AROUND Public transport is cheap and efficient, although the streets are extremely busy during rush hour. The subway runs from early morning to around midnight, is well served by English signs and is easy to use. It gets very crowded during peak times, although separ-ate compartments are available for women, children and the elderly. Buses are more complex to navigate, but cover a wider range of routes than the subway trains. Regular taxis are much cheaper than in Western countries, are clean and often have access to translation services. Destination (direct) Busan Jejudo Beijing Shanghai Tokyo Bangkok Hong Kong Singapore London Sydney Travel Time (approx) 1 hours 1 hour 30 minutes 1 hour 45 minutes 1 hour 40 minutes 2 hours 6 hours 3 hour 30 minutes 7 hours 11 hours 10 hours
Seoul is an enigmatic city that embraces the latest advances in technological innovation whilst preserving its vibrant 5,000 year old historical traditions and culture.