Seoul belongs to the Temperate Zone featuring four distinctive seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The yearly average temperature of Seoul is 12.2 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in Seoul show large seasonal variation, reaching as high as 38.4 degrees Celsius in the summer and dropping as low as minus 19.2 degrees Celsius in the winter. October is in the middle of fall. The average daytime temperature in Seoul during the conference will be around 14¡ÆC, which will be nice and cool at this the continental high atmospheric pressure. We recommend bringing light jacket for late night and early morning.
Korean Food
Eating out is one of
the great pleasures of visiting Korea, a country
famous for its many native dishes. Korean cuisine
will provide unique tastes for visitors. There is
also a wide variety of American, Continental, Chinese
and Japanese restaurants. Korean food is nutritious,
well balanced and low in calories as it involves
a wide variety of vegetables. Seasonings include
garlic, red pepper, scallion, soy sauce, fermented
bean paste, ginger and sesame oil.
Currency
The basic currency of Korea is won.
Specifically, various notes and coins are used:
Notes include 1,000 won, 5,000 won, and 10,000 won
denominations, while coins include 10 won, 50 won,
100 won, and 500 won denominations.
Cash & Check
Foreign bank notes and traveler's
checks can be converted into Korean won at foreign
exchange banks and other authorized money exchange
outlets. The exchange rate is subject to market
fluctuations
Credit Card
Credit cards, including VISA, American
Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and JCB, are accepted
at major hotels, department stores, restaurants,
and retail outlets.
Business Hours
Government office hours are usually
from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Banks are open
from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and closed
on Saturdays and Sundays. Major department stores
are open from 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. including
Sundays.
Tip
Tipping is not a regular practice
in Korea. Service charges are included in your bill
for rooms, meals, and other services at hotels and
upscale restaurants. Koreans occasionally do tip
when they are especially pleased with the service
they receive.
Visa & Passport
All visitors to the Republic of
Korea must have a valid passport and visa. Visitors
with roundtrip tickets from countries who have
a special agreement with Korea may be exempt from
the visa requirement, and can stay in Korea Visa-free
for periods up to thirty days, or ninety days,
depending on the type of agreement between the
two countries. For more information, please contact
the local Korean consulate or embassy in your
country, or refer to the website www.korea.net
or www.moj.go.kr.
Countries under Visa
Exemption Agreements (62 countries)
Nationals of countries which have the visa exemption
agreement with Korea and of countries designated
by the government can enter Korea without a visa
on the condition that they do not engage in remunerative
activities during their stay. Designated countries
allowed to enter Korea without a visa (41 countries)
Nationals of the following countries are permitted
to enter without a visa according to the principles
of reciprocity or priority of national interests
up to 30 days.
¡Ø With the exception of Australia, Canada, Hong
Kong, Slovenia
Isurance
Participants are advised to take out
adequate travel and health insurance before leaving
their respective countries. The Organizing Committee
has no insurance coverage for the participants and
will not be responsible for any accident that may
occur during the Conference.
Electricity
Korea uses both the 110 and 220-volt
systems, although the use of the 220-volt system
is more widespread. Because most new hotels have
220-volt wiring installed, it is advised to check
beforehand. Most recently built houses are wired
with 220-volt systems.
Time Difference
In relation to Greenwich Mean Time,
Korea is + 9 hours.
Organized by ICROS(Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems)
Bucheon Techno Park 401-1506, 193, Yakdae-Dong, Wonmi-Gu, Bucheon-City, Gyeonggi-Do, 420-734, Korea
Phone : +82-32-234-5801/ Fax : +82-32-234-5807/ E-mail : conference@icros.org
Climate
