Population: 46,000 000

Area: 38,000 square miles

Language: Korean

Time: +12 hours from New York

Electricity: 100 volts AC is what you will usually find. Many places are now using 220 volts. Best to check before you plug your electric unit into the socket.

Geography: The Korean Peninsula juts out into the Sea of Japan ( Koreans prefer to call it the East Sea) for about 600 miles. The country has a single mountain range which runs north/south effectively diving the country east/west. South Korea is dotted with rice fields. You can'y go anywhere in the Republic of Korea and not see mountains and rice growing from the land.

Tipping: Asians are troubled by foreigners lack of commitment to service and usually are offended when tipping is done. A few small coins left as an acknowledgment of service. Asians, particularly Koreans, do not want to feel that that have to be bribed to give good service! When assisted by porters, barbers, hairdressers a small amount should be given. This is also true of taxi drivers.

Shopping: Larger stores do not open until after 10am and close at about 7pm. Small stores open and close earlier. Stores close one day a week most of them on Sundays. Seoul is a buyers dream with many things for sale at very low prices. There is not much here that the visitor is not able to find in some way back home. It is just that the prices here are so good. One trick if you are bargaining, go to the large stores first, check the price tags and see what items are really going for and then go to the markets. You will do much better. Do be very careful to buy electronic equipment which is compatible to circumstances back home.

Food and Drink: Korean food differs somewhat from its neighbors. Japanese food is more bland and Chinese is a little oil by comparison. Korean food is excellent and the selection equally good. When you get the bill do not be surprised to find the rates very reasonable. Try some "Sinsollo" which is a large casserole made of strips of meat and fix mixed with vegetables, gingko and pine nuts as well as eggs. Originally this was a feat only for royalty. Soft drinks are plentiful. There are a few local beers. There are a few wines of note produced on the peninsula.

Social: Koreans are rather friendly but not terribly forward. Ancient Confucian traditions brought rigid class structure only until recent times. Now women play a far more significant role in the social fabric of the country. Today you will find very few of the old ways unless you travel well into the countryside.

Business: English is spoken by many in business. You should have plenty of business cards which have a Korean translation on the reverse side. Business hours are usually 9-5 but meetings should be scheduled for the am hours and should be done by appointment. It is not unusual for a business meeting to last well into the evening with lots of entertainment.

Banking: Banks are open from 9:30am until 4:30pm weekdays and until 1:30pm on Saturdays.

Currency: The Korean Won

Money Exchange: Money is easily exchanged here. It is best at banks. Be sure to keep receipts of money exchanges. Sometime you will not be allowed to reconvert currency with out a receipt that you made the original transaction. Travelers checks should be no problem to exchange.

Credit cards: Master Card, Visa, American Express and Diners Club

Climate

South Korea's winter is not severe but it does have some snow, particularly in the north around Seoul. Even then, the streets are quickly clear and life just goes on as usual. Further south the winter is milder simply being chilly rather than cold. The spring comes to South Korea in early April with a burst of blossoms and color. The spring is mild. Summer are hot, particularly inland away from the moderating ocean which surrounds the peninsula. As summer wanes so doe the high humidity leaving pleasant temperatures and vivid color in profusion in the trees.