Russians in Korea. Dangerous places in Korea or why it is better to avoid Russian areas Russians in Seoul

  (aboutkorea.ru)
  About 50 million people live in the Republic of Korea. Different sources indicate that Koreans make up from 99 to 99.9 (!)% Of the population. This homogeneity is unprecedented for countries with large populations and developed economies. In the guides, the ethnic composition of the population is not indicated at all.

According to unverified data, the largest diaspora can be considered the Chinese (about 100 thousand people), and the next largest "non-Koreans" in the country are the US military (28 thousand people). A rather large stratum is now made up of foreign businessmen, and in connection with the rapid development of the Korean economy, there are more and more of them, as well as students receiving education in Korea.

  Russian forums in South Korea

Hamkke.Borda.ru - forum "Hamkke" - Russian emigres living in Korea communicate here
  Job offers. Contractors and illegal immigrants in South Korea. Korean. Search for friends and relatives. Cultural activities

KoreanSpace.ru - Russian-speaking Korean forum

RussianKorea.com - Russian forum in Korea
  Jobs in South Korea. Buy, sell, give. Leisure. Common topics

  Immigration to South Korea

South Korea: Visa Policy and the Regulation of Labor Immigration (rospersonal.ru)
  In regulating the entry, stay and employment of foreign citizens, a visa policy is of great importance. The main documents for the entry of foreigners into South Korea are a passport and a visa. At the same time, 32 types of visas are established by the immigration legislation of the Republic of Korea.
  Theoretically, transit passengers or sightseers can stay in Korea without a visa for 30 days if they have a return ticket with a fixed date. However, this rule does not apply to stateless persons and to representatives of a sufficiently large number of countries, including Russia.

  Business, work and study in South Korea

What specialties can I find a job in South Korea? (03/27/2012 - metamal.com)
  Work in this specialty should:
  1) exist in Korea
  2) do not depend on your appearance (race)
  3) do not require knowledge of the Korean language
  4) do not require Korean citizenship
  5) do not require Korean education
  6) do not require a large knowledge of Korean specifics in any field

South Korea has never been a country particularly attractive to immigrants. It is not such now. Well, at least from Russia and the countries of the former Union. In the early 90s, after the relations between our countries, in fact, established, here they mostly looked for easy money, girls of easy virtue, and sometimes sailors swam. Due to their constant squabbles, as well as the subtle Slavic beauty of our young ladies, the Korean public's opinion about Russia has developed a behavior corresponding to them here. That is, not so hot. It was at this time that the basic stereotypes of Koreans about Russia were laid: cold, beautiful girls, mafia and tanks. Later, Putin added to the big picture. However, all of the above was fully relevant to him (and Kabaeva in addition), so the image of Russia has not undergone any changes. For the sake of justice, we note that the Russians were not particularly interested in Korea, and besides Samsung smartphones they knew little about it. And all the more rare Russian thought came to mind about immigration to this strange country.
Now, as we all know, we managed to overcome the situation by mutual efforts. While Russia, having successfully passed the fat 2000s, began to rapidly sink back to its knees, South Korea confidently grew up in the same way, and neither American beef, nor a channel across the country, nor even German-Korean, could stop it shaman girlfriend: scandal by scandal, and all indicators of business activity are growing, despite the bankruptcy of the largest logistics company. And even the exploding pride of the Korean smartphone industry could not break the general trend. Our compatriots turned their eyes to the tiny piglet sandwiched between Japan and China and the Russian-speaking one, I am not afraid of this word, the community began to grow. According to the Immigration Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2015, almost 189 thousand citizens of the Russian Federation, 57 thousand citizens of Uzbekistan and almost 54 thousand citizens of Kazakhstan entered the country. This is many times more than before the dancing of the ruble with the dollar at the end of 2014. For comparison, in a fat and financially stable for Russia in 2011, South Korea was blessed with its presence 153 thousand Russians. This is before all the bonds, sanctions, our Crimea and other psychologically important dollar marks. The numbers will be even more interesting if you look at the number of “illegally registered illegally” (term of the Immigration Office). Simply put, we have more Russian and Russian speakers here. Has it gotten any fun?
It is clear that each individual case is unique in its own way, but we will try to derive general trends. Conventionally, all Russians in Korea can be divided into several large and clearly separated seams.
The first group is students and, more broadly, who in general are somehow connected with education. A weak stream wanting to learn Korean or study at a Korean university is gradually turning into a fairly springy stream, the same statistics of the same Immigration Office clearly show us that the number of student visas issued to citizens of the Russian Federation, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and everything else formerly grows steadily days and hours. Children watch films and TV shows, listen to Sai and Shayni, and come to Korea enchanted in a desire to touch the beautiful. Not everyone can withstand the harsh Korean reality, and the overwhelming majority comes back, but the proportion of those who remain, get a job and settle in Korea, is also growing, merging into the lower and middle middle classes of Korean society. These people, as a rule, are well integrated in Korean society, work for Korean employers, pay all taxes and insurance, at least superficially monitor what is happening in Korea, without losing, in most cases, their ties with their historical homeland. They speak Korean, and in general they are of much use to both Russia and Korea. Although they themselves sometimes do not think so. It is through these people that the little thread that connects Koreans with the post-Soviet space passes through.
Engineers working in Korean conglomerates stand out as a separate layer. This group differs from the others in a set of very distinct signs: they don’t speak Korean (or say “hi-bye”), they come here as whole families, they live very crowded and zonal, rarely go to Big Korea and have little in common with it . From a financial point of view, this is such a confident upper middle class of Korean society, their salaries are average and above average, sometimes even large, but because of their poor integration into Korean society, it would be wrong to consider them a part of this society. These people, as a rule, do not associate their old age with Korea due to the specifics of their specialty: you can work for several years here, save up money and experience, and then go to work in well-known American or European companies, where they are taken with a very large hunting and good bonuses. Even if they have been living here in families for several years, their children still go to Russian or international schools, and if they speak Korean, it doesn’t matter. From the point of view of the Korean state, they are very good residents: they sit quietly and peacefully, pay all taxes and deductions, they develop Korean industry pretty well and are relatively unpretentious and easy to use. They create affinity clubs, chamberly celebrate their strange holidays for Koreans like New Year and March 8, they do not bother anyone and, unlike the first category, Koreans do not get their enthusiasm to change the world.
The third, and perhaps the oldest, group is the wives. Surprisingly, no matter how much you read these of your Internet, anyone describing always highlights this group of people separately, and no matter what country it is about. I also saw articles about wives in the notes of people from America, Europe, Turkey, China ... And almost always they all have more similarities than differences: everyone always moans, how bad it is here, the country of frightened idiots, no culture, food sucks and further down the list. All this fully applies to Korea. I also set my wife with their own Hamke forum (“Together” translated from local) apart. They differ slightly from their foreign colleagues: the echoes of Yaroslavna’s crying about how bad things are in Korea are heard in almost all corners of the Russian-speaking Korean Internet. Creepy and bone-crunching stories about how difficult it is to get from Seoul to Daegu on New Year's Eve (according to the lunar calendar which), how my mother-in-law makes Twengzhan Chighe cook, and my husband does not watch “The Irony of Fate” on December 31, you can read it with enthusiasm on different forums or local newsletters and magazines. Nevertheless, in fairness, I note that this layer of society is gradually changing. If earlier in the category of “wives” one could meet almost exclusively women workers of the most ancient profession, who found here their simple female happiness in retirement or representatives of a really Russian hinterland, where everything is really very bad, now the number of marriages is growing really for love. First of all, due to the very students described above who came here to study, they remained to work and prostrated themselves before a great feeling with a representative of the local population. But you should not overestimate this trend either: once again looking at the statistics of our old friend of the Immigration Office, you can see that local marriages with Russian girls did not even fall into the top ten most popular destinations.
The fourth category is laborers in the factories, fields, forests and meadows of our vast Korean land. As a rule, illegal. Although even legal ones do not differ very much from them. It is this category that is growing at an unprecedented pace, it is these people who make us all the statistics of entries. And everything would be amazing if it were not for the simple fact that the vast majority of them are located and work in the country illegally. That is, they entered here relatively correctly, using the right of visa-free entry for citizens of the Russian Federation, they only stayed much longer than the 90 days set by them. But the difficult economic conditions in the homeland (be it Russia or Uzbekistan) push them to make money in not entirely honest ways. The Koreans, of course, do not like this state of affairs, therefore, the immigration authorities periodically arrange raids on places of military glory of illegal immigrants (and these places are well known to everyone), grabbing everyone who comes to hand and deporting them from the country. Sometimes Koreans act generally cleverly, and try to nip the problem in the bud, that is, deploy suspicious individuals right at the border and send them back to rising from their knees. In such cases, a wave of stench immediately rises on the Internet about which Koreans are not villains and do not want to help the poor and afflicted to break the law. Leading world politicians can envy the hypocrisy and arrogance of those who write such posts. In this regard, a good sociological section of this category of citizens is the 82 Avenue Facebook group. The commentary and grammar (or lack thereof) of the writer immediately shows which group he belongs to above. Personally, I am always pleased with posts like "an immigrant bus was seen in Ansan, all hide!" And it’s not known to the authors of these posts that 82 Avenues is read, including in the Immigration Office (yes, they also speak Russian), and in this way they themselves help to catch all the illegal immigrants, and even substitute yourself. Fun in general.
To come to Korea to earn money, whether to stay here forever is a personal decision of each individual person. From the point of view of the law, obtaining a Korean residence permit or citizenship is a rather complicated procedure and tends to be even more complicated, although it cannot be called absolutely impossible (as, for example, in China). It is much simpler to legalize in the USA or Europe, and, frankly speaking, if something absolutely important and strong does not connect a person with Korea, then I personally would advise you to go to countries that are easier for immigration. The specific Asian culture, the peculiarities of the local political, economic and social sandbox are far from suitable for everyone, but getting lost in Korea and abstracting from the rest of society, as, for example, can be done in America, you will not succeed here.

calendar of events

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3	4 US and South Korea may conduct military maneuvers in California North Korea cut off passenger traffic from outside due to coronavirus	5 In South Korea, the number of coronavirus infected rose to 18 Koreans accuse Chinese air carriers of sending Korean stewardesses to coronavirus-hazardous routes At the airports in South Korea, special corridors have been created to receive passengers from China The number of defectors from North Korea to South Korea fell to a record low	6	7	8	9 Korean police promise to severely punish "jokers" speculating on coronavirus The number of coronavirus infected in South Korea has risen to 27 Chinese authorities allow Chinese relatives of Koreans to be removed from Wuhan
10	11 Media: Moon Jae-in will take part in the 6th Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok	12	13	14	15	16
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"FOR TRAVELERS IN SOUTH KOREA - USEFUL TIPS OF CONSULES"

From January 1, 2014  Russian tourists have become much easier to get to South Korea. However, the same can be said of Koreans who want to visit Russia. In bilateral relations, a visa-free regime began to operate. Korea is an interesting country, there is something to see, where to relax and how interesting it is to spend your time, and most Koreans themselves leave a favorable impression.

According to recent data, the introduction of a visa-free regime has led to a significant increase in the number of Russian tourists in Korea. Recently, the South Korean government also announced that it would bet on attracting Russians to the country. So, according to the plans of the Korean government, by 2017 the number of Russians visiting Korea should double, reaching the mark of 350 thousand people.

Let's trace the whole chain that a Russian person faces when visiting South Korea on a visa-free regime. Where to start?

"Consul":  To begin with, we say that the official name of the document, which entered into force on January 1, 2014, is as follows :Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Republic of Korea on the mutual abolition of visa requirements . The introduced new regime does not mean the abolition of visas at all, and therefore, on the eve of departure, you need to decide whether you need a visa. We emphasize right away: regardless of the duration of the visit - even if you are traveling for one week - you need a visa if you intend to study or work in Korea. It will have to be received and this is explicitly stated in the agreement. Visas are not needed only for those traveling to Korea for tourist purposes or on a business trip.

Judging by the responses, many are interested in the question of the length of the possible stay without a visa. There is some kind of confusing system ...

"TO": Not so confusing, everything is quite simple. The principle is this: within 180 days, that is, six months, without a visa in Korea, you can visit a total of no more than 90 days. But at the same time, each race can not be more than 60 days. That is, you have a limit of 90 days for six months, and you “choose” it: you can 60 + 30, you can 30 + 30 + 30, you can nine times ten, etc., but in any case you can’t be more each time 60 days in a row. That is, 65 + 25 will not work. The 180-day period within which your 90 days are determined is counted from the date you enter Korea. As it expired, a new one begins, where you are again allowed to be without a visa for a total of up to 90 days, but no more than 60 days per race.

We figured it out. I am traveling as a tourist, and therefore I do not need a visa, I do not plan to stay more than 60 days. He began to pass passport control and ...

"TO": And here again, one “BUT", which operates in any country, including in South Korea. Even if you do not need a visa, the authorities may refuse to enter you without giving a reason. As they often write on visas themselves: “Having a visa does not mean a guarantee of your entry into the country. The final decision is made on the spot by the migration control officer. ” And to be indignant, “demanding a consul” is useless here - this is the right of the host country not to let anyone in. And the authorities are not obliged to explain the reason. At the same time, it is useless to contact or call the Russian representative offices in Korea - the migration service will not explain anything to diplomats, and attempts to put pressure on it will be interpreted as "interference in internal affairs."

In reality, has this often happened? Based on your experience ...

"TO":  Let’s put it this way: when the Koreans refused entry, they had good reason for this. They did not always state the reasons, but just like “I have a bad mood - fly back to Russia” - I don’t remember that. As a rule, they “unfurled” those who previously had any “sins” in Korea: they could have been conditionally convicted, or, for one reason or another, have been blacklisted. In general, all this is out of the blue and, as a rule, the “offended” themselves understood “where the legs grow” from such an attitude, but did not always admit it.

It may well be that someone had some problems with the law in Korea before, he returned to Russia and now wants to visit Korea again. What do you recommend so that he is not immediately sent home by the nearest plane?

"TO":  It is necessary to come to the Korean embassy or consulate on the eve of the trip, explain the situation and ask the Korean authorities to find out if there are any complaints about it. But this can only be done by the Korean authorities themselves. Russian diplomats cannot find out for every Russian, and Koreans are not obliged to provide such information to us. And if you do this personally, you should be told: you can go or you still have some complaints. And one more thing: you should not hope that you will be able to deceive the system and "slip" in a roundabout way to Korea. Everything is entered into a common database, which the Koreans with their technologies are in excellent condition. Therefore, at every point of entry - at least at Seoul airport, at least Busan, at least in the port of Sokcho, in general, anywhere, everyone will know about you. This is a single database.

"TO": Even if you do not need a visa, the officer has every right to ask you where you are going to live. You need to know the exact address of residence. It will be great if you print out the reservation sheet from the hotel. That should be enough. There may be other clarifying questions of a general nature, but, as a rule, this does not happen - no one wants to create a queue. Usually questions begin when you have an entry document (a small tear-off ticket that is filled in at the entrance) is filled so that inevitably there are questions.

And again, I want to draw the attention of potential students. If you are traveling to Korea on a tourist visa, but have written that you will live at the university, then there will be questions for you and they may not let you in. We repeat: if you are going to study, get a study visa, even if you will only study for a month. Getting a visa will not take much time, but there will definitely not be any problems. And if it becomes clear that you decided to use a visa-free regime for study (and this is expressly prohibited by agreement), then you will most likely be returned back.

Well, we passed passport control and now it is the long-awaited Korea. What is your overall impression of the Korean police? Has it ever been heard that law enforcement officers are trying to somehow find fault with foreigners, as they say, “out of the blue”?

"TO":  The Korean police simply have the right to detain any person, including you, for 48 hours, that is, for two days without explanation of the law. Then they must bring charges, extending the detention to 10 days, after which they must transfer the case to the prosecutor. But in practice, no one in this country will detain you "just like that." If you were detained, believe me, the foundation means good.

Korean police are very friendly. If you get lost, don’t know anything, feel free to come and ask, this is perceived normally. Most likely, at least a few words “standard” Korean policeman in English will be able to say. Many of the cops are young guys who serve in the police instead of the army. So there is no need to be afraid of them, and they are well-disposed. About some "harassment of foreigners out of the blue" did not hear. If you do not violate Korean laws, then no one will think about approaching you, the police have a lot to do, and a foreigner is always a difficult legal situation, various formalities and more. In general, the likelihood that a police officer will find a reason to “fuck” something from you is very, very small, almost zero. Here, even a passport is extremely rarely just asked.

Do you need to carry your passport with you?

"TO":  It is better to store in a safe in a hotel, so as not to lose yourself by negligence. And just in case, you can make a copy of the first page of your passport and carry it with you. This is overwhelmingly enough.

It is clear that Korea is a very safe and civilized country. But maybe there are such laws and rules that we may not know about, and therefore can be in conflict with local laws simply out of ignorance?

"TO":  This situation is possible. It is difficult to cover all possible problems, but one feature of South Korea immediately comes to mind. Keep in mind that the country has a difficult relationship with North Korea. The country has the National Security Act, which prohibits the import and distribution of materials from the DPRK. And this is not a joke. They can be severely punished for this, up to long prison sentences. In practical terms, this means that you do not need to bring North Korean newspapers, books, badges to South Korea, offer to listen to North Korean songs and more. This is interesting for many Southerners themselves, recently the rules in this regard are much less strict and are far from always applied, but we strongly advise against taking risks. It’s also not worth campaigning for the “Juche Country” - this also falls under the National Security Law. By the way, the South Korean authorities are blocking Internet access to the DPRK websites. And you are not advised to try to get to the North Korean sites from the South. In general, do not risk it. Local authorities are also likely to warn first, and only then “will be punished in all severity”, but they can deport very easily - if you give an occasion in this direction.

Well, can you talk about politics or is it all strict?

"TO":  But this is as much as you like. The opposition is influential in South Korea, many Koreans will be the first to tell you what their leadership is doing wrong. You can calmly talk here, ask, discuss, including about the policy regarding the DPRK. Many South Koreans themselves may ask you this, knowing that Russia is actively cooperating with both Seoul and Pyongyang. This is as much as you like, but, we repeat, it is not necessary to bring and distribute bundles of newspapers from China. They will be punished for this quickly and severely.

But is there anything else with which strictly in Korea?

"TO":  Very strict with weapons, drugs, violence in any form. Any hint of embarrassment in this - you immediately come under the scrutiny of the police and special services and will not leave you until they find out that you are clean or are arrested and bring the case to court. The very poor distribution of drugs and weapons in Korea is primarily due to the authorities. They are fighting this very hard. Even a starting pistol will be considered as a weapon, in general - no “traumatism”, “pneumatics”, “weed” and other things.

Korean police look very friendly, and they are. But if you gave reason to suspect yourself of something illegal, then this whole system will immediately show its rigidity, thoroughness, and uncompromising attitude. This is the case that "everyone is good, while you yourself are good." Do not try to offer bribes - this will only complicate the situation and worsen your chances of the mildest punishment.

Let's say I wanted to stay in Korea, work or study, then ...

"TO":  Then you should personally come to the Immigration Service and find out all the rules and order. It is possible that you still have to leave the country for this. But only employees of the Immigration Service can answer these questions, the embassy and consulate of the Russian Federation does not have the right to intervene in these questions. Only the applicant himself and only personally ...

It is clear that no one will voluntarily seek problems for himself, but in life anything can happen. Your advice

"TO":  Standard and well-known: try not to get stuck in a situation, do not visit dubious establishments, if you consume alcohol, then in moderation. Many "stories" occur precisely after excessive drinking. And do not give up your hands. A fight, even if you simply push the Korean - it is perceived very badly and is severely punished. If any conflict arose, we advise you not to bring it to the police, it’s better to just decide with the opposite side.

But there is one feature of Korean law. Suppose you had a fight with someone, and then agreed with him, even paid him money in compensation. But then this person can still go to the police and write a statement on you with all the legal consequences. It is enough for him to bring two witnesses to confirm his words, and the police will begin the investigation. And “agreed-not agreed” - this is your problem.

By the way, the same thing, if you came to the police, you were interrogated, but then you - the offender and the victim - decided to agree. If there was any damage, the case was started, then the investigation and the court will be independent of the fact of reconciliation of the parties. This may be taken into account, but the fact that "to whom you broke your nose already has no complaints" for the Korean Themis is not an argument. Once a case has been opened, it must be completed, and the perpetrator must be punished.

Suppose that, for one reason or another, the Russian was in some kind of unpleasant situation, he was brought to the police station and began to interrogate. What do you advise?

"TO":  If you don’t speak confidently in Korean, immediately demand a translator from Russian. This is your right, which they must fulfill and will fulfill. Demand clearly and adamantly - maybe someone will be too lazy to look for a person, but this is not the first time the Korean police have run into Russians, they have lists of people who help them with translators, and therefore demand. If you consider that the translator is not fluent in Russian and does not provide the proper level of understanding with the police representative, ask for a replacement for the translator. This is again your right. And demand that you notify the consulate or embassy. This police must do as your request.

Maybe something else when dealing with the police?

"TO": General rule: if you don’t understand something, then never sign, ask for clarification, translation. If you were released by handing “some pieces of paper” - do not throw them away, but figure out what it is. There are often cases when you are simply released, obliging to appear upon request. And if you don’t come, then this will be interpreted not in your favor and the maximum possible punishment will be assigned. There were times when compatriots were released from the police, they left, and then their immigration did not let them go on the border at a second visit to Korea. It turned out that the case was not closed, the Russian was summoned for re-interrogations, although he had already gone abroad, then a court, an absentee sentence and a “black list”. So make sure that you have no more complaints, and do not throw out any documents and certificates received. The Koreans have an open judiciary, and you can find out everything on the relevant sites by the number of your case - what is the result, sanctions and so on.

What line of behavior do you recommend?

"TO":  From the experience of the proceedings of various conflicts I will say that there are two tactics of behavior. Some categorically deny everything at all and say: “And try to prove it!”. The latter recognize everything and ask for leniency. And therefore, if the incident really was and they took you “to business,” then we must admit and repent. Most likely (if the conversation is not about serious crimes) you will simply be deported, given a suspended sentence. And then you can enter again, only you need to make sure that your “non-travel period” has expired. But flaunting, saying, “where are my fingerprints and other objective evidence”, knowing that in fact “something was”, is not necessary. They can also appoint a serious term according to indirect evidence, most likely it will be so. The Korean court does not like such self-confident suspects.

Sooner or later the “beach holiday” season will begin, what is there to keep in mind?

"TO": Keep in mind that in Korea, the swimming season is only from mid-July to the end of August. Many beaches close at night. This is especially true for small towns and villages. At night, it’s better not to climb closed beaches, and in the non-swimming season too. They still remember how North Korean saboteurs landed on the coast, and therefore there are enough calls for “being vigilant”. Yes, even in the swimming season, no one will let you swim far. Usually a territory is enclosed where you can get to the bottom with your feet - and dabble there. And if you decide to swim away, then rescuers will immediately return you. So here things are somewhat different than on the beaches familiar to Russians.
Still categorically we do not recommend photographing local girls in swimsuits - at least without their explicit and clear consent to this. On all major beaches, announcements are constantly being voiced asking them to report such "photographers" to the police. We know the case when Indonesians were detained for photographing Korean women on the beach and deported very quickly.

Many perceive the eastern countries as an analogue of Thailand in terms of the prevalence of the sex industry.

"TO":  Wrong country. This is not to say that there is no prostitution in Korea, but it is prohibited. And everyone will answer - the “priestess of love” herself, the pimp and the client. In general, it is, but it is punishable, and therefore we do not recommend it.

Well, in the end, a few words about transport, traffic on the roads.

"TO":  Yes, public transportation is conveniently arranged here. Very well developed bus traffic, wonderful high-speed trains KTX, inexpensive taxi. Convenient and clean subway, which is not only in Seoul, but also in other major cities - Busan, Daegu, Incheon. In general, public transport is very good, but there are a lot of cars on the roads, so you need to be careful. Cars sometimes pass by a red traffic light, may try not to let pedestrians, etc., although, as they say, this does not come to “lawlessness on the roads,” the order is generally present here.

Recently, many Russians are actively using car rental, and here the number of potentially conflict situations is increasing. Your advice, comments?

"TO": Yes, when the Russians drive, they often begin to look differently at Koreans. On the other hand, there are simply wonderful roads, a convenient road numbering system. As for the tips ... First, do not flatter yourself that you rarely see traffic police. Everything is in the cameras, and therefore, when necessary, then they will appear very quickly. You should also take into account the “Korean style” of driving: some may not use the “turn signals” when changing lanes. The driving style of taxi drivers and buses is often similar to our minibuses: sharp changes from one row to another, quite aggressive driving, can undercut, and therefore you need to be careful with them. About ordinary Koreans, I would not say that they drive better or worse than the Russians.

Nobody wants to get into an accident, but it is better to know how to behave. Your advice

"TO":  Of course, it is better to skip the scorcher, even if he is wrong, than to get into an accident with him. The proceedings usually go between the commissioners of insurance companies, and therefore it is important to take out insurance when renting a car. There is one Korean peculiarity: even if you are innocent by Russian standards, but have made a move, then some of the sum insured will be “hanged” on you. This may be 10-20%, but it is rarely recognized that only one side is to blame. This is a general approach, not an attempt to deceive foreigners. Perhaps you need to stand in the parking lot or in front of a traffic signal so that you are recorded 0%. Otherwise, even if completely the fault of the other side, you, too, will write at least 5%.

In the case of pedestrians, it is better to skip them everywhere and always, even if they cross in the wrong places. If you hurt someone while driving, even if the pedestrian violated the rules, then 99.9% of the fact that the driver of the car is found guilty. A similar situation is with motorcycles and mopeds. They drive very dangerous, but if the collision, then the guilty, from the point of view of the police, is likely to be a car. Here the principle is this: whoever is weaker and more vulnerable is right, according to the police. This is what they told us at one time in the Transport Police Parsing Group. And therefore it is very neat with pedestrians, mopeds, motorcycles.

Well, maybe you want to say something to those who plan to come to Korea?

"TO":  We have done a great job to answer most common questions in advance. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you visit the website of our embassy in Seoul and the Consulate General in Busan ( given below in the "help") - there are tips, recommendations and other useful information, including the full text of the Agreement on the mutual cancellation of visa requirements. We advise you to write off the telephone number for emergency communication just in case.

If you still have questions, please contact us on our "pages" on Facebook. Twitter or email. We are always in touch. In social networks, we respond very quickly, we also respond quickly via email - about three to five days.

We also advise you to register with the consulate. This can be done through a personal visit to the representative office, but it is also possible through our sites - there are links there. It takes no more than 5-10 minutes. From time to time it happened that we had to urgently contact any of the Russians in Korea, but there was no contact information. The question may arise: "Why all this?" The answer is: “Anything can be.” Firstly, relations with the DPRK in the South sometimes enter an “acute phase”, and therefore, sometimes there is talk of a possible evacuation of Russian citizens, and secondly, who knows what might happen in your homeland, with your relatives or, again, with you. It may be necessary to urgently tell you something, but they turn to us - at the consulate or embassy. It is in your own interests.

But in general - we wish you a pleasant stay. South Korea is an interesting country with a rich culture and traditions, we hope that when you come here, you will get only good impressions.

reference

Website of the Russian Embassy in Seoul: http://russian-embassy.org/en

Website of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Busan: http://www.pusan.mid.ru

We thank the staff of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Busan (Republic of Korea): Consul General Osmakov Andrey Ivanovich, Consul Moshkutelo Vladislav Ivanovich and Vice Consul Stepanov Mikhail Alexandrovich for their help in preparing this material.

CURRENCY OF SOUTH KOREA AND EXCHANGE OF FOREIGN MONEY

South Korean currency - won. In circulation are banknotes of 50 thousand, 10 thousand, 5 thousand and 1 thousand won. Next come the coins of 500, 100, 50, 10 won. Coins in 5 and 1 won are practically not used.

Various credit cards are widely used. The most common are Visa and Master Card. True, the markets often ask for cash in order not to pay commission to credit card companies. When paying in cash, the price is slightly lower.

You can exchange currency at any of the banks (just go to the office and indicate your desire for the employee to change the currency, they will show you where to go). The rate depending on the bank may vary, but slightly. There are also exchangers at the airports upon arrival. There, the rate is somewhat different from banking, but also insignificantly.

In hotels, as a rule, the course is disadvantageous.

You can also exchange currency in the markets. Usually there are small "booths" with images of symbols of various currencies and the inscriptions "Currency Exchange" in different languages. On markets, the course is the most profitable, the probability of cheating is low.

The most common and widely accepted currencies in South Korea are the US dollar, Japanese yen, and Chinese yuan. However, an exchange for the euro can also be found.

The exchange rate has fluctuated in recent years in the corridor of 1000-1100 won for 1 US dollar. That is, if you consider it "very rude", then 1000 won \u003d 1 dollar. It’s easier to navigate prices: remove three zeros from the Korean price and get (approximately) in US dollars.

"WHAT TO SEE? SIGHTS OF SOUTH KOREA"

G ory, sea, monasteries, medicine or what is worth seeing in South Korea

Since January 1, 2014, South Korea has become much closer to the Russians - primarily in practical terms. Now, citizens of the Russian Federation can visit the country of morning freshness for tourist purposes without visas. The period, moreover, is allotted for a “sightseeing” considerable - 60 days for one race and a total of 90 days for six months.

Details about specific sights can be found in the appropriate sections on the site, but here we will outline in general terms what kind of places to visit in the Land of Morning Freshness. And believe me, they are enough in Korea.

For almost every taste ...

Despite the relatively small size of the country (approximately 450 per 300 km) in South Korea, you can find a variety of attractions. Based on your preferences, hobbies, needs, available time and wallet thickness, you can prepare for yourself a variety of programs.

There is a lot in this country: large modern megalopolises filled with the most modern high-tech electronic markets, enchanting glass and concrete buildings with their futuristic design, old Buddhist monasteries, royal palaces, beautiful mountains, several coasts that are completely different in landscape, ski resorts and much more.

As part of a short story, it is impossible to “embrace the immense”, telling “at once everything and everything”, there is only a kind of “top ten” of the most famous sights.

Seoul

For Korea, Seoul is the center of everything or almost everything. This is really the largest political, cultural, financial center, where a large number of historical monuments are also concentrated. To get an idea of \u200b\u200bSouth Korea, Seoul definitely needs to be included in the program of its trip. If you came to see “ultramodern Korea”, then you need to go to the quarters of Yydo (financial center), Gangnam, take a walk in the center around the city hall.

Here you can visit the main royal palaces of the country - Kenbukkun, Toksugun and Chandokkun, as well as visit the National Museum of Korea. If you want to continue your trip to museums, you can visit the very interesting Museum of the Korean War.

Fans of shopping will find the Dongdaemun, Namdaemun, Itaewon and Mendon fashion quarter, where you can often buy very stylish and fashionable outfits at affordable prices. If you are interested in boutiques, then you must again go to Gangnam or go to large department stores. Electronics is sold in several markets, the main of which is Yongsan.

To stretch your legs or enjoy nature, you can again within Seoul, where there are mountain parks, Bukhansan, Gwanaksan, as well as various parks.

Separately, it is also worth mentioning a couple of “visiting cards” of the Korean capital - the Chonghekhon stream, which has been turned into a resting place for citizens, as well as Mount Namsan in the center with a TV tower, which offers a beautiful panorama of the city.

Fans of nightlife with bars, restaurants with live music, discotheques, nightclubs are waiting for Itaewon quarters, which is a gathering center for foreigners, as well as Hongdae and some areas of the same Gangnam.

Busan

Located clearly on the outskirts of the country opposite Seoul, Korea’s second largest metropolis is not so far away. You can reach it on a comfortable express train in less than three hours. This is the largest port in the country. Sea, sea romance is felt there everywhere. The Russians in Busan are well known, and therefore the chance to meet compatriots here is great.

They go to Busan primarily overseas and beaches. It is in this city that the country's largest Haeundae Beach is located. Among other beaches, mention should be made of Kwanan, Sondo and several others.

In general, Haeundae is a kind of center for all kinds of recreation - here the beach, the sea, bars, discos, numerous hotels, as well as the major exhibition center VEHSO, where they hold numerous international events. There is also the Marine City residential quarter, which immediately catches the eye with its residential skyscrapers of ultra-modern design.

If there is a need to purchase, then you need to go to the Busan station area to the international market. Not far from there is also the largest Jagalchha seafood market in Korea.

You can admire the natural beauties: the sea, rocks, pines in Busan in the Taejongdae region, as well as in the local small but pretty mountains of Kyumzhongsan or Changsan.

Jaejuo

This subtropical island is rightfully considered the main resort of South Korea. There again, the warm sea, beaches, waterfalls, mountains. Jeju, frankly, is full of sights. If we talk about natural places, then in addition to the same beaches, one should mention the highest mountain in South Korea (1950 m) - the extinct volcano Hallasan, which is interesting to climb at any time of the year. In the east there is another crater - Sonsan. It is lower, but no less picturesque. You can also mention the famous lava tunnels of Chejudo Manchzhangul, which are included (along with Sonsan and some other objects) in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In an effort to attract as many tourists as possible, new museums constantly appear in Chejujo like mushrooms after the rain, supplementing the existing ones: a museum of miniatures, chocolate, cars, sex and health, green tea, teddy bears and more.

For lovers of outdoor activities there are also a lot of different attractive offers: scuba diving, yachting, trekking in the mountains and much more. It is worth visiting the nearby small islands - Marado and Udo.

Jeju is so crowded with sights and various "leisure facilities." So when you visit him, you just need to know what you want to see, not forgetting to leave time for “your beloved”. Otherwise, there will be a continuous kaleidoscope, after which you will already want to rest again, but already calmly.

Gyeongju

If in Russia the cultural capital is St. Petersburg, then in South Korea it is the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla, the city of Gyeongju, which is 300 km southeast of Seoul. This is primarily a place of history. Here is located one of the main Buddhist monasteries - Pulguksa and Sokkuram Temple. There are royal tombs here, some of which are open for visitors, an ancient observatory, various museums, temples, quarters of traditional buildings and much more.

Buddhist monasteries

One of the main religions of South Korea is Buddhism, and therefore there are many monasteries. In total there are about 10 thousand monasteries. If you wish, you will find a Buddhist temple in almost any city. In general, the monasteries are very similar to each other, but there are several major and famous, which nevertheless stand out from the total. Among these, in addition to the Bulgux temple already mentioned during the conversation about Kenzhu, Hainsa in the Kayasan Mountains, where the famous Buddhist scriptures of Tripitaka, Thondos (near Busan), Hvaoms (Chirisan mountains), Naxans (the east coast in the area of \u200b\u200bthe city of Kannom), Haeunguns, is noted (on the south coast) and others. Probably when visiting Korea everyone can be advised to visit a Buddhist monastery, even the most ordinary one. You will get an idea of \u200b\u200binteresting architecture and an important cultural section of the country.

The mountains

More than 70% of South Korea is located at an altitude of more than 700 meters. In Korea, almost never (with the exception of the sea) you will not see the horizon - your eyes always rest on one or another mountain or hill. The mountains here are beautiful, interesting, but at the same time relatively low. There are paths everywhere, so you don’t need special climbing skills to visit them - only suitable shoes and a desire to look at Korea from the height of one of the peaks.

Among the largest mountains, the already noted extinct Hallasan volcano on the island of Chejudo (height 1950 m), the Chirisan mountains in the south (1915 m), the picturesque mountains of Seoraksan (1709 m) in the east and others stand out. There are about 20 national mountain parks. They can be found in the vicinity of almost any large city.

Seas and islands

According to the Koreans themselves, they have three seas: East, West and South. They are named, as you might guess, on those sides of the peninsula that are washed. For Russians, these seas are better known under the following names - Japan (or East), Yellow and Korean Straits. The only advice - in Korea, it’s better not to recall the “Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan”, but to say “East”. This issue is crucial for Koreans, who have been arguing about this with the Japanese for years.

All three of these seas are very different in nature. The coasts are different too. The eastern (Japanese) sea is deep, with clear water and a very small number of islands. The coast is replete with cliffs, mountain views with pine plantings. The east coast is generally one of the most popular holiday destinations among Koreans.

The Western (Yellow) Sea is shallow, the water is muddy, water fluctuations are strong depending on the ebb tide, a large number of small islands.

The South Sea (the Strait of Korea) is deep enough, but there are many islands, picturesque cliffs, and tides are noticeable.

There are enough beaches on almost all three coasts; the swimming season in Korea opens only in mid-July and lasts until the end of August. Outside it is not accepted to swim, and this rule is generally respected. However, it is unlikely that they will simply “plunge” into you, if only not at night, when this is forbidden.

If you have time and desire, then you can visit any small islands, of which there are a lot of around Korea. There, the situation is somewhat different from the mainland and life is felt "in harmony with nature." In addition to Chejudo, which although it is an island, but is a separate province, you can advise to visit Ullyndo (East Sea), Hondo-Hiksando (Yellow Sea), Komundo, Chuzhado (Korea Strait), Pennendo (Yellow Sea) or find any others.

Outdoor activities: skiing and more

Fans of outdoor activities will also not have to get bored in Korea. Firstly, these are mountain hiking. If simple “trekking” on “ones” is not interesting, then you can negotiate and visit the rocky “walls”, where you will need the entire arsenal of a climber and a climber. By the way, it is in Seoul in the Bukhansan mountains that many Korean climbers train.

Secondly, these are ski resorts, which are already well known to many Russians. In Korea, even a special ski festival RuSki is held, aimed at our compatriots. Ski slopes with good accompanying infrastructure can be found in the vicinity of Seoul, but the largest are located in the east - in Gangwon-do province. It is no coincidence that Pyeongchang is located there, which will host the Winter Olympics in 2018.

In the same Gangwon-do province in the summer, you can find places for rafting along the rivers (routes of moderate difficulty). If desired, you can find cycling routes, places for paragliding, scuba diving. In general, and in terms of outdoor activities, Korea has something to please overseas guests.

Medical tourism

In recent years, the direction of medical tourism has begun to actively develop in South Korea, and the Russians are considered one of the main clients, if not the most important. They come to Korea from the countries of Southeast Asia, China, the USA, Japan, and Russia. The reasons for all are different: general medical examination, treatment of serious diseases, plastic surgery, etc.

In every major clinic in South Korea there are "international centers" focused on the reception of foreigners. There are translators, including those who speak Russian. Korea offers a very competitive combination of “price-quality-speed of service”, and therefore the influx of foreign “medical tourists” is growing from year to year. At the same time, we repeat once again: Russians are one of the main clients that many clinics are oriented to.

Korean highlight:

Toward the close of our story about the main attractions of South Korea, a few words about what can be called the "Korean highlight". That is, what can only be seen in Korea or what Korea is especially famous for.

It should immediately be noted the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) - a heavily guarded border separating South and North Korea. The tours there are put on stream and are interesting in terms of the fact that it can not be seen anywhere else, only in Korea. And therefore, in this regard, attractive trips to the DMZ with a visit to the border itself, the village of Panmunjj, North Korean “invasion tunnels” and other things. One can really feel that “unusualness” and some tension that exists in relations between South and North Korea.

Other highlights include leaf fall tours (October to early November) or flowering (March-April). In different places of Korea there really are very picturesque places that are very surprising in their beauty at these times. In terms of autumn foliage, for example, the Nejansan National Mountain Park in southwestern Korea is famous.

South Korea can also be called a "country of festivals." Here, almost always, in one place or another, festivals are held devoted to particular events or topics. According to some estimates, over 700 festivals take place in the country per year. Among them are very interesting ones: Buddhist lanterns, healing mud, snow, space, dinosaur expo, winter fishing, fall foliage, blooming azaleas and many others.

In recent years, temple stay tours have been very popular among foreigners (and Koreans too), that is, staying for a short time in Buddhist monasteries. For a couple of days you are given the opportunity to plunge into the atmosphere of a Buddhist monastery: you are dressed in nuns, go to prayers together, get up at 4 in the morning, do meditation, teach you green tea ceremonies and more.

"South Korea is becoming more interesting ..."

“Koreans can be objectively praised. Every year the country becomes more and more interesting. New monuments, sights, interesting places constantly appear. It is noticeable that wealth has appeared in the country, funds that they are directing, among other things, to restore historical sites or create something new for tourists, ”said Andrei Osmakov, who until 2014 held the post of Consul General of the Russian Federation in Busan.

One can only agree with the words of the diplomat. Even in the already known recreation areas, Koreans create something new, complete, improve, and create new objects, which are not a pity to spend time visiting.
The Koreans themselves, for the most part, are friendly and responsive, and the country has enough attractions that will appeal to foreign tourists with a variety of hobbies and interests.

INTERESTING SOUVENIRS, PURCHASES OR WHAT TO BRING FROM KOREA

Korea is full of a wide variety of goods, products, souvenirs, but you can advise you to pay attention to a number of the following products that advantageously combine price and quality: local Korean cosmetics, clothes and shoes (but you need to measure it, since sizes can be different, and often proportions Korean figures differ from European ones), some types of food (dried seaweed, if the lover is local spicy kimchi cabbage, etc.), ginseng, green tea.

From souvenirs, you can recommend paying attention to mother of pearl products, ceramics (vases, mugs, plates, etc.), there are a lot of cute key chains and so on. Strange as it may seem, electronics is often more expensive in Korea than in other countries.

NATIONAL KITCHEN OF SOUTH KOREA

Korean cuisine has a lot of spicy dishes. If you are not a big fan of spicy foods and want to avoid it, then visually spicy dishes can be “revealed” quite simply: if red is present, then most likely the dish is spicy.

Korean cuisine is quite diverse, so you can find non-spicy dishes.

Almost always, every dish of Korean cuisine is served with white rice and a large number of small snacks.

Koreans also widely consume meat, they love a wide variety of seafood, there are dishes from noodles, soups (meat, fish) are common.

CUSTOMS

Weapons, drugs, pornographic materials, etc., are banned in South Korea. Materials glorifying the DPRK are also banned.

The restrictions on duty-free import are as follows: no more than $ 400 for the total amount of goods, up to 1 liter of alcohol, 200 cigarettes, 60 ml of perfume, oil, honey, etc. - up to 5 kg, nuts - up to 1 kg, beef - up to 10 kg, ginseng - up to 300 gr., medical herbs - up to 3 kg.

Russian tourists are often "caught" in an attempt to import cheese and sausage into Korea. This is also prohibited. Usually, customs officers pass by the luggage with specially trained dogs, who reveal sausage and cheese well. In case of detection, they will most likely not be fined, but they will not let me bring in - they will throw them away.

Currency, traveller's checks and securities worth more than 10 thousand US dollars must be declared upon entry.

COMMUNICATION IN SOUTH KOREA

Korea uses the CDMA mobile standard. You can rent a device of this standard in the offices of operators at international airports by paying a deposit of about 400 US dollars or by providing a credit card (the deposit is returned after the rental device is returned).

The communication system is very modern. There are three types of pay phones - working on magnetic cards two types (sold in hotels, newsstands and shops), “coin-operated” (coins of 10, 50 and 100, 500 won are used) and working with international credit cards. You can call abroad from any “card” payphone, as well as using special services 001, 002 and 008 (they differ in tariffs and grace periods). Domestic calls can be made from any payphone (about 50 won in three minutes of a call). Calls from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m., as well as around the clock on Sunday and on holidays, are usually 30-50% cheaper.

The Internet is one of the fastest in the world. As a rule, in hotels, many cafes, free Wi-Fi is provided (although in "five-star" hotels they may charge a fee for the Internet).

TRANSPORT IN SOUTH KOREA

Different types of transport are very well developed in South Korea - rail, bus, air.

By rail  both high-speed KTX trains and “ordinary” trains run. There are no sleeping cars, only sitting ones, since the country is small. Wagons and seats are comfortable. From end to end of the country (Seoul - Busan), the high-speed train CTX takes 2 hours 40 - 2 hours 50 minutes.

By bus  You can get to almost anywhere in the country. In each settlement there is a bus station, in large cities - bus stations (sometimes several). Buses are also convenient.

Major cities have their own airportsso you can get there by plane. The role of the country's main airport is performed by Incheon (near the city of Incheon, 40 km from Seoul) international airport. There are international airports in other places - Seoul (Gimho), Busan (Gimhae), Tyagu, Gwangju, Yangyang and others.

Motorways and roads  in general, in South Korea they are maintained in very good condition, because sometimes it makes sense to rent a car (they can also offer a navigator in English). But Russians need international law to rent a car.

Given the large number of islands, it is quite developed and marine passenger transport. The largest islands are Jeju, Ullyndo, Kanghwado.

In the cities themselves there is a subway (Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, Busan and others), and intercity bus routes are widely developed. You can also use a taxi (carry on the counter, facts of deception are rare, tips are not accepted).

RUSSIANS IN KOREA

There are various estimates regarding the number of Russians in South Korea. Often the problem is who to consider: permanent or at least a long time living? Or include tourists who came for a couple of days here? Should women be considered Russians who married Koreans and changed their citizenship to Korean? Should we consider Russian speakers from the CIS countries, which for many Koreans are also “Russians”? and so forth

Nevertheless, if we take the Russians living in Korea for a long time, then we are talking about three to four thousand. The figure will increase by a thousand or two if you add Russians married to Koreans here. If we also consider Russian-speaking people from the states of Central Asia, Belarus, Ukraine, ethnic Koreans of the former USSR, then probably the total number of “Russians” in South Korea for a long time will be about ten thousand people.

One often hears the question: "Is there a Russian quarter in any of the cities of Korea?" There are probably two places that can claim this title - the quarter near Dongdaemun Market in Seoul and the Texas area opposite Busan Central Station. The Central Asian element is still strong in the first one (restaurants of Uzbek cuisine, as well as a large number of immigrants from Central Asian countries).

Among the other “Russian places” of Korea, one can also note the Orthodox Church in Seoul, the monument to Pushkin in front of the Lotte Hotel in the very center (near the Myonon shopping area) of Seoul, St. Petersburg Square and the monument to the cruiser “Varyag” in Incheon.

As for official representations, in Seoul there is an embassy of the Russian Federation, a trade representative of the Russian Federation, and in Busan - the Consulate General of the Russian Federation.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SOUTH KOREA

Otherwise consider age

Korea has adopted its own methodology for calculating age, as a result of which, in Korean, your age is one to two years longer than in the usual sense for Europeans. This happens because the time in the womb is also counted as one year of age, and then another year is added when changing the calendar year. It turns out that if the child was born on December 31, then on January 1 he will be two years old in Korean: the year of birth + one more year, since the calendar year has changed. However, Koreans are well aware that the world is a different system. In order to avoid confusion, you can ask in what year the Korean was born. Then you can already calculate his or her age yourself.

Many namesakes

If in Russia “Ivanov” is often given out for the most common surname, then for Koreans it will be Kim. From year to year, the statistics vary slightly, but in general, approximately every fifth Korean will be Kim, every eighth - Lee, every tenth - Pak. The thirteen most common surnames account for approximately two-thirds of the population of South Korea. Just in case, here they are: Kim, Lee, Pak, Choi, Jung, Kang, Cho, Yun, Chan, Lim, Han, Sim, O.

An abundance of questions to strangers

The Koreans accepted and it is considered absolutely normal to fall asleep only the person with whom I just met, a bunch of questions: What is the name? Age? Married? How many children? What are you and your parents doing? When did you come to Korea and how much do you intend to stay here? etc. Take it easy - it's a common thing, not an interrogation. In response, you can arrange a detailed questioning for the Korean, and he will be happy to answer your questions. If you don’t feel like answering questions at all, then say that “it’s not customary for us to ask so many questions at once”. As a rule, Koreans after that are a little embarrassed and stop tormenting you with questions. But such an interest is considered in Korea as a kind of respect and display of attention to the interlocutor.

The best airport in the world

South Korea's main international airport - Incheon - has been recognized as the best in the world for ten consecutive years (up to and including 2014). Indeed, the airport, which was built for the 2002 World Cup, is very good and convenient.

Driving license epic

An elderly Korean woman, Cha Sa Sung, can rightfully be considered "the most persistent student in driving courses." In 2010, when she turned 69 years old, she eventually passed the “theoretical part” of the law exam, but she needed more than 950 (!!!) times for this. So many times she took part in exams since 2005, coming to tests as work - almost every day. She passed the practice much faster. To do this, she needed “only” 10 attempts. The stiffness of character made this woman a national heroine, and the Hyundai Motor company, after the successful completion of the story, gave her a car.

Bad Number 4

In China, Korea   and Japan, the number 4 is considered unlucky, because it is consonant with the word "death". In these countries, floors with numbers ending in four are often missing, or instead of the number 4 they write LatinF (from English four - “four”). However, gradually they begin to relate to this with lesser prejudice..

Their names for the nearest seas

Koreans use their names for the seas that wash the Korean peninsula. If from our point of view the peninsula is washed from the west by the Yellow, from the east by the Sea of \u200b\u200bJapan (East) and from the south by the Korea Strait, then Koreans call the same seas as, respectively, the West, East and South. A particularly important issue for Koreans is the name of the sea, which is located in the east. They will never call it Japanese, but only Eastern. This topic is the subject of conflict between Japan and Korea (both South and North), but in Korea use only the "East" sea.

You just can’t say Korean in Korean

In Korean you can’t say “Korea” at all. From the name it immediately becomes clear whether we are talking about the Republic of Korea (South Korea) or the DPRK (North Korea). Moreover, southerners and northerners have their own names for two parts of the peninsula, and therefore it will immediately be clear where you or where you learned the language from. In the South Korean version, South Korea sounds like "Hanguk", and North - "Bukhan." The northerners will call their country "Joseon", and the South - "Namchoson".

"The country of morning freshness?"

Korea’s most widely used poetic name is Country of Morning Freshness or Country of Morning Calm. Koreans may begin to convince you that the hieroglyphics that spell the name of a country are translated in this way. In fact, the hieroglyphs were most likely chosen for "Korea" in antiquity so that they most closely reflected the Chinese pronunciation of the name of the country. Over time, the pronunciation has changed, but the characters remained. Hieroglyphs have many different meanings, and therefore the beautiful phrase "Country of morning freshness" is rather an attempt to find the most beautiful combination of a wide variety of meanings.

The most scientific alphabet

In Korea, they write in alphabet, not in hieroglyphs. The alphabet is called " hangul"- quite simple, it was created artificially in the XV century, safely forgotten and reborn again and began to be widely used in the XVIII-XIX centuries. Hangul somehow even received the title of "the most logical and scientific alphabet" in the world. The language itself is quite complex with difficult grammar. It’s not difficult for a tourist to learn a few phrases, but if you set the task to master Korean more seriously, then you need to thoroughly sit down and plan for a long time to study.

The most fortified border due to the ongoing war

The Korean Peninsula is divided into two states - the DPRK and the Republic of Korea. The border (demilitarized zone) runs in the region of the 38th degree of northern latitude, and therefore this border is often called the “38th parallel”. The inter-Korean border is considered the most fortified in the world. In addition, until now formally the South and North of Korea are at war, there is only an agreement on a “temporary ceasefire", which has already dragged on for more than 60 years.

Drank, drink and will drink

According to statistics, South Korea is one of the most “drinking” countries in the world. The culture of alcohol consumption is widespread, there are even separate courses for businessmen, where they are taught how to do ruff.

Flag "Varyag"

Flags of the legendary cruiser Varyag and the gunboat Koreets, which in 1904 took an unequal battle in Incheon Bay, are still stored in South Korea, in the Incheon Municipal Museum. South Korea for some time transferred flags in Russia for temporary rent, in 2014 Russia returned flags in connection with the expiration of the lease term. So these relics are still in Korea.

FAMOUS KOREAN OR WHOM IS Proud of South Korea?

There are a number of compatriots whom the Koreans are very proud of and whose names for them sound like something special. Among the main historical national heroes are Lee Sung Sin (the admiral who defeated the Japanese in the 16th century), Sejong the Great (the king who made a great contribution to the development of the country, he is also credited with inventing the modern Korean alphabet, lived in the 15th century), An Joon Geun (wrestler with the Japanese occupation, shot the Japanese governor general).

Of the modern people, the most popular are Kim Yong-ah (Olympic champion and female figure skating star), Pak Tae Hwan (swimmer, Olympic champion), Park Ji Song (former footballer of the national team and Manchester United Club), Ban Ki-moon ( UN Secretary-General) Kim Dae-jung (former president of the country, the first and only of the Koreans, Nobel laureate). Among the ex-presidents, many often recall Park Jung-hee (with it went the “economic miracle” of Korea, reigned in 1961-1979) and No Moo-hyun (fighter for democracy and human rights, 2003-2008) But about Pak Jung Hee and No Moo Hyun have enough critics too.

The former coach Guus Hiddink is also popular in Korea, in which the country's football team reached the semifinals of the World Cup in 2002. The Dutchman is still well remembered and loved in Korea.

WHO REALLY RULES KOREA OR A FEW WORDS OF STATE DEVICE

Head of Stateand in South Korea is the president. The term of the board is five years. A number of stormy features of the recent history of South Korea have led to the fact that the same person can be president only once, without the right to re-election. Elections are held in late December (1997, 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, etc.), inauguration - in late February of next year. But it is precisely with the president that the fullness of the executive branch is really concentrated.

There is no vice president in Korea.

Head of Government - Prime Minister. This post is more formal; in its influence, the prime minister in Korea is very inferior to the president. The head of government is more like a “senior minister” and nothing more.

The minister is assisted by two deputy prime ministers and about two dozen ministers.

Legislative authorityit is in the hands of the National Assembly (Parliament).  Parliament is unicameral. The exact number of deputies varies from time to time, but in general is a little less than three hundred. In the National Assembly, there are often heated battles between deputies from different parties, sometimes it comes to assault, which ordinary people watch with great interest.

Deputies are elected by a mixed principle - by majority districts and party lists. There are a lot of political parties and they like to change names. But looking at the political history of South Korea, we can say that there is one “main” ruling party and one “main” opposition. Tiny parties of similar ideological orientation “revolve” around them. In the presidential election, it all comes down to a real confrontation between two people - one candidate from the ruling party and one from the opposition.

Political life in South Korea is very dynamic, replete with loud and often unexpected scandals. Ex-presidents, prime ministers, ministers, their relatives, influential politicians, public figures, leading businessmen, and others come to the dock. In general, South Korean policy does not let you get bored, and it is often more interesting to watch its perturbations than to read a famously twisted detective story.Chuseok) is also called Thanksgiving or Harvest Day. It is celebrated in late September-early October (also determined by the lunar calendar, in September 27, 2015). On these holidays, Koreans usually go to the house of the head of their clan, and therefore there are heavy traffic jams on the roads. Three days off for these holidays: the day of the holiday itself, one day before it and one after.

Other days off:

March 1 - Independence Movement Day (in honor of the 1919 Independence Demonstration for 1919)

April 5 - Planting Day (recently ceased to be a weekend)

End of April - beginning of May - Buddha's birthday

The 1 of May - it is not officially a day off, but government agencies and many companies often do not work.

SAFETY

One of South Korea’s main strengths is its safety. This is one of the safest countries in the world, although, of course, some incidents do happen. There are no areas where "should not go", at night it is also safe. However, if desired, and especially when intoxicated, foreign tourists can still find an “adventure” on their own.

Theft is also not common. In this regard, the Koreans are very "relaxed" - they can easily leave their things and go somewhere far away, not afraid that the property will be stolen. They may not close their car. But still do not do this to foreigners. It is advised to pay attention and “open your mouth” in markets, public transport, train stations, but it should be recognized that cases of theft and violence are extremely rare.

PEOPLE AND POPULATION OF KOREA

The population of South Korea is considerable - about 50 million people. Population density is one of the highest in the world. At the same time, about half of the entire population is concentrated in the metropolitan area - Seoul, its satellite towns and the capital province of Gyeonggi.

The absolute dominant nation in Korea is the Koreans.

The national minority is only one - about 20-30 thousand Chinese. Recently, Koreans have nevertheless begun to be "diluted" with foreign blood. Koreans themselves say they are "turning into a multicultural society." All this is mainly due to foreigners who marry Koreans (this is especially often observed in the provinces).

But all the same, people of European appearance, and even more so blacks, are rare for Korea. Most of the foreigners who became Koreans' wives are women from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, ethnic Koreans from other countries, and therefore Koreans are very similar in appearance to the inexperienced look.

NATURE AND CLIMATE OF SOUTH KOREA

Koreans like to be proud that they have four distinct seasons of the year - spring, summer, autumn and winter. Probably affected by the relatively short distance to the countries of Southeast Asia, where, as a rule, two seasons - dry and wet. Therefore, they consider such a division into four seasons, which is customary for Russians, to be something special.

In general, the climate in Korea is very pleasant. Spring is soft, sunny, the whole country is buried in flowers that bloom at different times, and greenery. The temperature is also comfortable - in the region of 10-20 degrees above zero. Summer is probably the most unpleasant season - it is very hot and stuffy. From the second half of June to the beginning of August, a period of very strong monsoon rains begins. About 60-70% of the annual rainfall falls during these one and a half months. In combination with a temperature of 30 degrees this reminds me of being in a steam room from time to time. By early August, the rains gradually stop, it gets even hotter, and the humidity is still high. Autumn, along with spring, the Koreans consider the two best times of the year. In autumn, the whole country is covered with a beautiful carpet of leaves changing color, creating landscapes of remarkable beauty. If in the spring Koreans often go to admire the flowering of flowers, then in the fall walks are popular for admiring leaf fall. Winter is soft and pleasant enough. The temperature most often ranges from minus to plus five degrees, there is little snow, but the sun often shines. So the bright blue sky and the sun seriously brighten up the cold period.

Although the distance between the two largest megacities located on opposite ends of the country - Seoul and Busan - is relatively small (about 400 km), the temperature and climate still differ. In Busan, which is located directly on the seashore, the climate is milder, warmer in winter, and somewhat cooler in summer than in Seoul.

Separately, in terms of climate, the resort island of Jeju, located in the very south, is separated. There is already a subtropical climate, while the rest of the country is in the monsoon climate zone.

As for the general landscapes and nature, then in South Korea there are a lot of mountains, which, however, are not very high. The highest peak is 1950 m, and there are so many hills several hundred meters high and peaks in the region of 1 km high. Due to the abundance of mountains, the gaze usually “rests” somewhere, on some side of the mountain. There are few spacious fields and plains. The southern part of the country is more gentle and lower than the north and especially the northeast.

There are no major rivers in South Korea. Basically, these are small rivers that expand as they approach the sea, but still they can not be compared with the large rivers of Russia. There are no analogues of the Volga, Lena, Yenisei in Korea.

There are also practically no natural lakes. What is indicated on the map as “lakes” are most often reservoirs artificially created for household needs.

Forests are mainly of mixed type - pine, spruce, oak, maple, Manchurian walnut, etc. In the south there are thickets of bamboo, palm trees come across. Due to the high population density there are practically no “wild” natural areas. Wild animals are rare. All stories about tigers and bears in the mountains of Korea date back to more than a century ago. True, several bears from Russia were brought to the Chirisan mountains ten years ago, but they are constantly being monitored, and the chance to meet them is negligible. In some places in the mountains you can meet hares, roe deer, wild boars, squirrels and other animals. In coastal areas, a wide variety of birds, especially during the period of seasonal migration - geese, ducks, storks, cranes, cormorants, passerines and others. Sometimes in wild places snakes and snakes come across, but it is extremely rare.

There are a lot of fish in coastal waters, so fishing is one of the most popular (especially among men) leisure activities.

PRACTICAL GEOGRAPHY OR ORIENTED IN KOREA

Speaking very rudely, South Korea is a rectangle 450-500 km long and 250-300 km wide. On three sides it is washed by the seas. At the opposite ends of the country there are two largest megalopolises: in the “upper left” (northwest) corner is the capital, the city of Seoul, in the lower right corner (southeast) is Busan. They are connected by the main highway and railway. Between Seoul and Busan about 420 km. This road is divided into three approximately equal sections: after Seoul comes Daejeon, then Daegu and Busan along the coast.

The largest cities of the country in addition to the already mentioned (Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon) - Incheon (on the west coast, near Seoul), Ulsan (50 km north of Busan, on the east coast), Suwon (essentially a satellite city of Seoul) , Gwangju (southwest). You can also mention Gangneung and Sokcho - one of the main cities of the northeast (on the coast).

Apart is the resort island of Jeju, which is allocated to a separate province. Cheju is located in the south, about 90 km from the southern tip of the mainland.

The highest peak of South Korea - the extinct Hallasan volcano - is located in the center of Jeju, its height is 1950 m.

Other main mountain parks in Korea are Chirisan (1915 m), Seoraksan (1707 m), Thebeksan, Togusan, Sobeksan and others.

The largest islands - Chejudo, Ullyndo, Kanghwado, are known for their beauties Hondo, Chuzhado, Komundo, Pennёndo and others.

The constant growth of economic indicators has a positive effect on the situation in South Korea. In 2019, the country is considered one of the most prosperous countries in the East. High salaries, the opportunity to be treated in clinics that have become famous around the world, the chance to get a prestigious education - this makes life in Korea attractive to Russians. However, before you go to conquer the country, you should better get acquainted with its features.

Benefits of Living in South Korea

The economic well-being of the state is reflected primarily in its citizens. Russians in Korea who have achieved citizenship in the country will have access to benefits that can be taken advantage of by a fairly narrow circle of people. True, as in any other country, people's capabilities depend on the part of the state where they are located. It is worth remembering that living in Seoul, which belongs to the developed cities of the world, is different from staying in the province.

The capital, which is the center of culture and industry, will gladly welcome foreigners who want to invest in enterprises, or specialists with unique skills. The influx of professional personnel is facilitated by a high level of salaries and the ability to quickly climb the career ladder, especially having unique knowledge and skills. Moreover, one of the main advantages of employment is equal opportunities for the indigenous population and foreigners. Real professionals in their field will be respected regardless of skin color and historical homeland.

In South Korea, the lives of ordinary people are also at a high level. Anyone can access the most modern achievements of civilization, whether it is advanced medicine or education. Almost all the country's indigenous people graduate from higher education institutions, and access to technical innovations has long been known around the world. The number of mobile phones registered in the country exceeded the number of citizens, fluctuating at around 51 million.

Level of welfare

Relocation must always be prepared in advance. You need to know more about the country that is the final destination. People from abroad who decide to move to this state are primarily interested in the pros and cons of living in Korea. The benefits include:

• high level of remuneration;
• the demand for foreign personnel in various industries: from seasonal work to employment in large corporations;
• modern medical care;
• an opportunity to receive a prestigious education;
• development of services and infrastructure;
• low crime rate;
• accessibility of entertainment.

However, a European or a Russian who has moved to a country will have to face some disadvantages:

• commitment to the way. Koreans sacredly honor traditions, especially the cult of age;
• obtaining Korean citizenship is extremely difficult;
• labor leave is shorter than in Europe;
• some familiar products are not available on the shelves;
• for full communication, it is important to know the Korean language, which is rather difficult to learn.

However, the benefits usually outweigh the possible difficulties associated with local traditions, mentality and other features. Therefore, migrants from all over the world flock to South Korea, especially from the former CIS countries.

Product Prices

The specificity of Korean cuisine determines the range of products on store shelves. Here you can find far from all the food products that Russians are used to. Food prices in Seoul and the provinces of South Korea do not differ much, being at the level of such large cities of Russia as Moscow and St. Petersburg.

But some products are present in limited quantities and quite expensive. For example, if we compare how much bread will cost in Russia and in South Korea, then the advantage is on the first side. The price of the most important product in the Country of morning freshness in terms of ₽ fluctuates at the level of 110-130 rubles. Popular food items can be purchased at the following prices:

• a liter of milk - 88-124 p.;
• 10 eggs - 110-140 p .;
• apples 160-200 r. per kg;
• oranges - 120-150 p. per kg;
• a kilogram of cheese - 700-850 p.

However, high salaries allow residents not to deny themselves anything and include a variety of dishes in the menu.

Rental and purchase of housing

When moving to another country, you should first familiarize yourself with the real estate market. Housing prices in Seoul are quite high. Koreans prefer to settle in high-rise buildings, foreigners also prefer this type of room. You can find out in a real estate agency, but for a square meter you will have to pay about 5-8 thousand US dollars, depending on the location of the housing and a number of other conditions.

Investments in real estate made by wealthy foreigners pay off quickly enough, because renting is also not cheap. For renting out you can get a solid profit, since a month of living in a one-room apartment in downtown Seoul will cost $ 700. The cost of renting the same housing in a residential area is slightly lower and fluctuates at the level of 400 US dollars. Three-room apartments located on the outskirts of the capital will cost $ 1,000 per month.

Russians in Seoul who came to search for work are quite common. In the capital there are a lot of large enterprises that employ foreign specialists. Most in demand:

• iT workers
• engineers
• translators
• designers
• lawyers;
• industrial electronics specialists;
• chemical industry workers.

Provinces are also ready to offer migrants a job. However, specialists in the fishing industry and the agricultural industry are most in demand here.

Job Search

For a normal life in a foreign country you need a stable income. It is fraught with a number of difficulties, which primarily include the search for a suitable vacant place. You can stay in the country and get a visa authorizing employment if you have a valid offer from the employer and you conclude an agreement with the company. Search for vacancies is carried out in the following ways:

• through specialized recruiting agencies;
• with the help of print media - South Korean newspapers and magazines;
• by contacting the employer directly;
• using the sites where available vacancies are posted.

The latter method is considered the most popular, as you can search even from outside South Korea. The advantage of the information system is also the constant updating of vacancies and the absence of costs in the process of selecting a workplace.

Taxation

After moving, you need to be ready to give part of the money earned to the treasury of the country. The tax system in South Korea is similar to the Russian one. Payments in favor of the state are divided into state and local. Taxation and interest rates of a legal entity within the country: VAT - 10%, individual consumption tax - 5-20%, legal entity tax - 10%, income tax (for residents) - 6-35%. The state tax is the tax levied by the state from citizens for the formation of the state budget. The tax on a legal entity includes three types: income for each financial year, debt repayment, land income.

Entrepreneurs from abroad who decide to carry out activities within the South Korean state are given a special loan that allows them to pay taxes during the formation of the business. However, it can be obtained only if the enterprise does not belong to the manufacturing sector. The money is used to pay off VAT on purchases of products and goods necessary for work.

Features of the tax system allow foreigners to feel on an equal footing with the indigenous population. Fees from labor migrants are identical to those charged to citizens of the country. Among the taxes unusual for Russians, in the first place is the duty levied when undergoing some cosmetic procedures. A face or chest lift is accompanied by additional payments in favor of the state.

Medical service

South Korean clinics are considered one of the best in the world. The highest service, the moderate cost of treatment, as well as the constant introduction of the latest developments, attract people in need of treatment to the state from all over the world. The authorities strive to maintain national medicine at a high level, investing heavily in its development. The most popular areas of medicine among patients are:

• ophthalmology;
• oncology;
• cardiology;
• neurology;
• dentistry.

A medical visa is not mandatory for Russians. For patients, free entry into the state is organized. Necessary tests can also be taken upon arrival at a medical institution.

Education in Korea

South Korean schools are considered no less prestigious than European ones. But to get an education, it’s not enough to know English. The national language plays a major role in the process of mastering the chosen profession. Of course, it provides for special programs in which classes are held in English. However, for further employment and residence, knowledge of the national language is crucial. In total, there are about 40 universities in Seoul, the most famous of them:

• Ihva is the world's largest women's higher education institution;
• Kunming - graduates in 15 fields, including Japanese studies;
• Hanguk is an institute of foreign languages, one of the three world leaders in its profile.

For admission, you need to undergo special testing, as well as submit a number of documents.

Recreation and entertainment

The leisure sector is considered one of the most developed in Korea. Anyone can find an occupation to their liking. The country has its own ski resorts, and each city boasts the presence of museums, galleries and other popular holiday destinations among tourists and indigenous people.

Korean holidays

In South Korea, much attention is paid to traditional celebrations, allowing numerous relatives to get together. The largest are: Chuseok, which marks the harvest, and Sollal - the analogue of the New Year. Traditionally, they are considered to be just family ones, although mass festivals have recently become popular, especially among young people.

Restaurants and Cafes

Numerous catering establishments serve mostly traditional Korean food. The basis of the menu is rice, vegetables and fish. Meat is much less common, although pork is often used in cooking. This creates problems for tourists and students coming from Muslim countries - it is quite difficult for them to find a restaurant serving beef or chicken.

National food is characterized by a severity unusual for a European and a Russian. Therefore, when tasting a new dish, special care should be taken. Restaurants in Korea are classified by type:

• cafe with instant food, for example, pizzerias;
• traditional food establishments;
• special "meat" items;
• reminiscent of Japanese sashimi serving raw fish dishes.

Food prices are very affordable. Lunch for two will cost 1000 rubles in Russian currency, and you can have breakfast in an inexpensive cafe by paying 150 r.

Attitude to sports and healthy lifestyle

People living in the East are constantly on the move. Lifestyle in Korea also implies compulsory sports. The population of the country does not suffer from overweight due to regular jogging, cycling and popular gymnastics. The country has national sports, but the most developed are the disciplines that came from Europe. Badminton, diving, golf and bowling are especially popular.