IDHOSPITAL

Whether you’re drawn to its rich history, vibrant culture, or the irresistible allure of its culinary delights, preparing for your journey is crucial to make the most out of your visit to South Korea. For many of our international patients coming for “plastic surgery tourism”, they look forward to the tourism aspect as much as the surgery. This guide meticulously outlines everything you need to know and prepare before you embark on your Korean adventure, ensuring a smooth and unforgettable experience. From essential pre-trip planning to navigating the bustling cities, we’ve got you covered.

Things You Need Before Your Trip

The Plan: Embarking on a journey to Korea requires more than just a ticket. Planning where to stay, dine, unwind, and have fun is essential. Even if you’re someone who loves more spontaneity on vacation, a basic outline is essential for getting the most out of your trip to Korea. Before you even look at a suitcase, you should have nailed down your travel dates, accommodation and a basic itinerary of what you want to do (see below for our recommendations). If you are someone with special dietary requirements, it’s especially important to plan out where and what you can eat in advance.

The Goods: Packing carefully so that you can have all your comforts while also avoiding overweight baggage fees at the airport is a delicate art. Here are our Korea-specific packing recommendations:

• Clothing for the Weather: Korea fluctuates between sweltering summers and arctic winters. You can look up the average temperature for your travel dates and pack accordingly, and remember the mosquito spray for summer.
• Masks: In a post-pandemic world, we are all more aware of how much germs can spread in environments like busy airports and airplanes. The last thing you want is to get sick on your trip!
• A Big Towel: Possibly one of the most unexpected culture shocks tourists can have in Korea is to discover that everyone uses little towels. If you’re someone who loves big, full body towels you can wrap yourself up in, it’s best to bring your own from home.
• A Power Bank & Plug Adapters: While you’re going to be using your phone a lot, it’s important to keep it charged. You can use a power bank to charge outside, but you’ll also need a plug adaptor. It can be hard to find an adapter that specifically says ‘Korea’ on it, but the good news is that Korea uses the same plug type as most of continental Europe. So if you can only find one for France, Germany or Spain, don’t worry, it should still work.
• Hygiene Products: If you’re a person who uses tampons or deodorant, you can buy these things in Korea but there isn’t much selection available. Therefore, some people won’t be able to find suitable products for themselves. It’s for this reason, we recommend bringing your own from home
• Basic First Aid Supplies: Because you never know.
  

 

 

The Knowledge: Whenever you go to a foreign country, you should always take note of that country’s emergency numbers. In Korea the emergency number for the police is 112, and for fire and ambulance it’s 119. It’s also for this reason that we recommend, alongside the words for “Hello” (안녕하세요 / An-nyeong-(h)a-sae-yo) and “Thank you” (갑사합니다 / kam-sa-(h)am-ni-da), we recommend you learn the word for “English” which is 영어 / Yeong-o. This way, if there is an emergency, you can quickly let people know what language you speak. A further tip is to avoid the two biggest national holidays in Korea – Seollal and Chuseok – because many businesses will be closed and transport can be affected.

The Tech: You’re in Korea, Google maps will not save you now. Korea has its own network of domestically-developed apps which are given preference over international rivals. Google maps has most of its features missing, and hardly anyone uses Whatsapp. We recommend installing the following apps as essentials:

• Maps App: Naver Maps / Kakao Maps
• Subway Guide: Korean Subway / Kakao Metro
• Taxi App: Kakao Taxi
• Translation App: Papago
  

Things You Need to Get at The Airport

Upon landing at Incheon International Airport, you’re at the gateway to exploring Korea. Here’s how to start your journey right:

When you travel alone, getting a prepaid SIM card will probably cover all your connectivity needs. For those travelling in groups, renting a portable Wi-Fi router / WIFI egg can be more cost-effective than individual SIM cards, allowing multiple devices to stay connected at the same time.

 

 

For currency exchange, while you can use credit cards in many places, having local currency (Korean Won, ₩) is essential for small vendors, markets, and as a backup incase of problems using your card abroad. Therefore, It’s often best to exchange some money at the airport for competitive rates.

For travelling, T-Money cards are extremely convenient and a must for anyone planning to take any public transport. These are cards that can be used on both buses and the subway, and can be recharged in cash at convenience stores and at machines in every subway station.

Things to Remember When Booking Accomodation

If you do happen to be coming to Korea to see us, we actually have affiliated hotels for our patients at a range of price points such as Riverside, VOCO, Anteroom, Patio 7 and Hotel Sunshine. So if you are coming with a company or hospital, check if they have affiliations with hotels in the area.

 

 

For other travellers, there’s a big variety of accommodation available. On top of the traditional hotels, hostels and short-term rentals, there are some interesting and unique stays you can book that are specific to Korea or Asia.

Capsule hotels, when operated well, can be surprisingly cosy and having limited sleeping space actually can help encourage you to spend more time outside experiencing the new surroundings. An increasingly popular unique stay is a stay in a traditional Korean-style house called a hanok.

Things to Keep in Mind When Choosing Activities

Korea is a treasure trove of experiences. You can customise your trip around any combination of interests like food, popular culture, local tours, shopping, history and nightlife.

 

 

Here’s a few less common, but still fun, activities:
Participate in a Korean cooking class
Experience Korean cafe culture
Attend a live show or concert
Visit a palace at night
Take a modern or traditional dance class
Go on one of Korea’s many hiking trails
Taking fancy group or solo pictures at a photobooth
Going bar-hopping in Korea’s hidden gem bars

Conclusion

 

 

As our comprehensive guide comes to a close, remember that the essence of travel lies in the experiences you gather and the memories you create. Korea is a country that offers endless opportunities for discovery, adventure, and cultural immersion. By preparing adequately and embracing the adventures that lie ahead, your trip to Korea will go much more smoothly and be more fun.