Korea's climate is regarded as a continental climate from a temperate standpoint and a monsoon climate from a precipitation standpoint. The climate of Korea is characterized by four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. May is in the late spring. The average temperature range in the middle of May when the Congress will be held is between 20¡É and 25¡É. A light jacket is recommended early in the morning and at night.

Eating out is one of the great pleasures of visiting Korea, a country famous for its diverse native dishes. Korean cuisine is nutritious, well balanced and low-cal as it involves a wide variety of vegetables and fermented foods. Bulgogi (marinated, barbecued beef) and Bibimbap (Boiled rice mixed with vegetables) are the most famous. When having a meal, try to keep pace with others and do not hold the bowl in the hand. After a meal, put spoon and chopsticks on the spot where they were originally placed.

The unit of Korean currency is the Won (£Ü). 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. As of August 2007, the exchange rate is approximately US$1 to KRW 930.
Foreign bank notes and traveler¡¯s checks can be converted into the Korean won at foreign exchange banks and other authorized money exchange outlets. The exchange rate is subject to market fluctuations.

Diners Club, Visa, American Express and MasterCard are widely accepted at major hotels, shops and restaurants in the larger cities. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

The Korean time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9).

For international calls, dial the international dialing code (001, 002, or 008), country code, area code, and the individual number. Domestic and international phone card are available for sale at most convenient stores, hotels and airports.

Mobile phone can be rented at the airport or at major hotels. To apply for a mobile phone rental service, you will need an identification card (pass port) and a credit card.

Government office hours are usually from 9:00am to 18:00pm on weekdays and closed on weekends. Banks are open from 9:30 am to 4:30 am on weekdays and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Major stores are open every day from 10:30 am to 8 pm including Sundays.

It is advised to check with the hotel before hand. The standard electricity supply is 220-volts AC/60 cycles. Although Korea uses both the 110 and 220-volts systems, the use of 220-volts system is more widespread and common. Most hotels have 220-volt wiring installed, but hotels may provide outlet converters for 110 and 220 volts.

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.

Tax - Upon request, visitors can receive nearly 10 percent VAT refunds 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 a refund on a receipt for a minimum purchase of KRW 50,000 (around US$52). To receive this refund, present refund receipts with the purchased goods at the customs desk at the Incheon International Airport when departing. These receipts can be cashed in at the Cash Refund Office in front of the Airport Duty Free Shop.

International SOS Korea provides a 24-hour emergency service for participants, for a fee, acting as a link between the patient and the Korean hospitals. For Medical Emergencies dial 1339.
119 : Emergencies for fire / rescue & hospital services
112: Police
129: First Aid patient