Seoul bus guide. Seoul has a very extensive bus system. Buses are very useful for those hard to reach areas or places far away from train stations.

There are four main buses in Seoul:

Blue Bus: The blue bus connects the suburbs and the city centre. This bus usually takes a direct route with minimal [...]]]>

Green Bus Seoul

Seoul bus guide. Seoul has a very extensive bus system. Buses are very useful for those hard to reach areas or places far away from train stations.

There are four main buses in Seoul:

Blue Bus: The blue bus connects the suburbs and the city centre. This bus usually takes a direct route with minimal detours.
Yellow Bus: This bus provides transportation around the city centre covering business areas, shopping areas and sightseeing areas. This is the bus that most tourists will use. Usually the bus will stay in the same zone.
Green Bus: These buses have more stops and usually go from one side of the city to the other. The green bus connects to a lot of Blue bus stops to make transferring easier.
Red Bus: The red bus connects downtown Seoul with the border areas of Seoul and Gyeongi-do.

Which bus do I get?

It is recommended while travelling in Seoul to stick to the subway. It is convenient and has English information. Buses  can be more complicated to use and sometimes no English is provided.
To use the bus you must have geographical knowledge of Seoul. Each bus has a 3 part number on the side. The first number is the zone in which the bus journey began and the second number is the zone in which the bus journey will end. The third number is the bus number.

The Zones are listed on this map. This is a general guide of where the bus will start and finish. To find out all the bus routes and stops visit Korea Public Transportation Guide. On this site you can search for buses by location or bus number.

Zone system: If the bus number is 503 this means the bus starts in Zone number 5 and finishes in Zone 0.  3 is the bus number.

Some buses have some of the major stops listed on the front and side.

How much will it cost?

Buses in Seoul cost 1,000 won cash. When you enter the bus you put the money into the machine.
Many people use the T-money system. The fare is 900 won.  After using the subway and leaving the station you can ride the bus for free or 100 won for longer routes only with the T-money system. You must get on the bus within 30 minutes after leaving the station ticket gate.

How do I use the bus in Seoul?

First of all, find out which bus you will be taking. Wait at the bus stop until the bus arrives. Buses will stop at the bus stop if people are waiting there. You must enter the bus at the front. After entering put 1,000 won cash into the machine or use your T-money card and swipe it over the T-money machine.
When you hear the name of your stop press the stop button on the side of the bus and the driver will stop at your bus stop. When leaving you, must use the exit in the middle of the bus. If you paid cash you can just leave the bus. If you used your T-money card you must swipe it again before your leave. The t-money machine will be beside the exit.

Leave a comment below and let me know how it went.

The Twin Tombs of Princess Uihye and Han Gyeong-rok (Local Historic Site of Uijeongbu No. 14).

Princess Uihye (1521-1564) was the daughter of King Jungjong, the 11th king of the Joseon Dynasty and Queen Munjeong . She was married in 1531 at the age of 11 to Han Gyeong-rok (1520-1593), the second son of Han [...]]]>

Twin Tombs of Princess Uihye and Han Gyeong-rok

The Twin Tombs of Princess Uihye and Han Gyeong-rok (Local Historic Site of Uijeongbu No. 14).

Princess Uihye (1521-1564) was the daughter of King Jungjong, the 11th king of the Joseon Dynasty and Queen Munjeong . She was married in 1531 at the age of 11 to Han Gyeong-rok (1520-1593), the second son of Han Seug-gwon who served as the magistrate of Chuncheon Provincial Administrative Agency. Han Gyeong-rok who was the vice chief of Five Military Commands Headquarters during the Japanese invasions in 1593 and is said to have died in battle.

Princess Uihye is noted for her independent lifestyle against the social atmosphere of the male-dominant Joseon Dynasty. In her life she practiced the idea of self-innovation and self-development beyond her social status of the royal family. The stele (statue) standing in front of the tombs has relatively well maintained its original shape. People say it was imported from China by King Myeongjong, a brother of the princess.

The tomb of Princess Uihye and Han Gyeong-rok is definitely not in the guide books. Finding any information about this tomb in English has been difficult. The tomb is hidden away close to one of the entrances at Bukhansan National Park. The tomb is on a hill and surrounded by trees and mountains.

How to get to the Tomb of Princess Uihye and Han Gyeong-rok:

The tomb is located in Gyeongi-do just a few hundred metres over the border from Seoul.
The tomb is hidden away in the forest so it’s easy to get lost.
The Tomb of Princess Uihye and Han Gyeong-rok is a 15 minute walk from Dobongsan station on Line 1. Leave exit 1, turn left and head straight. After about 8 minutes you will see the American Army Base. Turn left here and walk straight until you find a river. When you get to the river turn left and follow the river until you arrive at the entrance of Bukhansan National Park. Follow the trail for 2 minutes and you will see the tomb on the right through the trees and then some small steps leading up to the tomb.

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Before you call Korea you should check out and see what time it is in Korea. You don’t want to be waking up friends in the middle of the night. The country phone code for Korea is +82.

Cell Phones in Korea are 11 digit numbers e.g 010-1234-5678. From 2005 all [...]]]>

Calling Korea

Before you call Korea you should check out and see what time it is in Korea. You don’t want to be waking up friends in the middle of the night. The country phone code for Korea is +82.

Cell Phones in Korea are 11 digit numbers e.g 010-1234-5678. From 2005 all cell phone numbers in Korea begin with 010.

To dial out of your country you must use an international call prefix. This is the number which you use to call a line outside you’re country. Most countries use 00 however the United States and Canada use 011.

How to call a cell phone in Korea :

For this example I am going to use the international call prefix number 00. If the number you want to dial is  010-1234-5678 you must first dial 00(international call prefix) then 82, this is the international country code of Korea. When dialing mobile phones you must omit the first 0. So you would dial 0082-10-1234-5678.

It is the same procedure when calling landlines in Korea. Don’t forget to omit the first 0 of the number.

Changpowon Park is also know as Seoul Iris Garden, opened on June 7th, 2009. The park covers an area of 52,417㎡ and was a wasteland area before the park was developed and opened. The name of the park, Seoul Iris Garden comes from the fact that there are more than 130 species of the Iris [...]]]>

Changpowon Park Entrance

Changpowon Park is also know as Seoul Iris Garden, opened on June 7th, 2009. The park covers an area of 52,417㎡ and was a wasteland area before the park was developed and opened. The name of the park, Seoul Iris Garden comes from the fact that there are more than 130 species of the Iris Plant making up a total of 300,000 Iris Plants.

After entering the main entrance of the park you will notice the visitor’s centre building to the left. Here you can find out information about the development of the park and the many kinds of plants and trees that are in Seoul Iris Garden. After the visitors centre you can start to explore the park. The park has 12 themes. Each theme has different plants, flowers and trees. The main themes are the Iris Garden and the Medicinal Botanical Garden. The Medicinal Botanical Garden has flowers and plants that were used to treat diseases.

Each theme in the park has a sign beside it with pictures and information about the trees, plants and flowers that make that theme special.

How to get to Seoul Iris Garden:

Take line 1 or 7 to Dobongsan Station and leave exit 2.

Ho Bar is a chain bar in Korea. There are tons of them around Korea and in some areas there are so many that they have to start giving them numbers so people don’t get confused e.g Ho Bar I, Ho Bar II, etc. Popular with foreigners for pre- drinks before they hit the night [...]]]>

Ho Bar in Sinchon Entrance

Ho Bar is a chain bar in Korea. There are tons of them around Korea and in some areas there are so many that they have to start giving them numbers so people don’t get confused e.g Ho Bar I, Ho Bar II, etc. Popular with foreigners for pre- drinks before they hit the night clubs or even crazier bars. Ho bar has a more relaxing atmosphere then other bars and people come to hang out, have drinks or play pool or darts. If you stick to Korean beer you can get Max or Cass in a bottle for only 2,500 won. In some of the Ho Bars in Hongdae it can be as inexpensive as 1,900 won. If you opt for drinking import beers, the price is expensive. There are also some good value sets such as a bottle of Vodka with juices and some side dishes or Miller. Prices start from 35,000 won. This is a good option if you’re out with a group of people.

There are many Ho Bars in Seoul. The map below is for the one in Sinchon. What is your favourite Ho Bar in Seoul? Leave a a comment below and let us know.

How to get to the Ho Bar in Sinchon, Seoul:

Bar Fly is a Nightclub bar in Sinchon, Seoul. It is popular with foreigners and Koreans.
It is open from 5pm – 5am. There are 2 levels inside with seating. To accommodate dancing at the weekend the seating arrangements are changed. Like most bars / clubs there is a foosball table  and darts.

Happy [...]]]>

Bar Fly Sinchon Entrance

Bar Fly is a Nightclub bar in Sinchon, Seoul. It is popular with foreigners and Koreans.
It is open from 5pm – 5am. There are 2 levels inside with seating. To accommodate dancing at the weekend the seating arrangements are changed. Like most bars / clubs there is a foosball table  and darts.

Happy hour is from 6pm ~ 9pm and Tequila shots are only 1,000 won. During happy hour Vodka Tonic/Orange/Cranberry are 3,000 won. On Friday and Saturday nights there is a Live-DJ, (Hip hop / Electronic) and a best dressed and best dancer event.
Ladies Night is Wednesday and Thursday where punch cocktails and a single shot is free.
Admission is free.

How to get to Bar Fly in Sinchon, Seoul:

Mike’s Cabin in Sinchon, Seoul is a popular western bar / club. It is located not too far from Sinchon station. On weeknights and weekends you can find many foreigners and Koreans at Mike’s Cabin having fun. They host a lot of parties and have a live DJ. Also they have a darts board, foosball [...]]]>

Mike's Cabin Entrance

Mike’s Cabin in Sinchon, Seoul is a popular western bar / club. It is located not too far from Sinchon station. On weeknights and weekends you can find many foreigners and Koreans at Mike’s Cabin having fun. They host a lot of parties and have a live DJ. Also they have a darts board, foosball table and even beer bong. A pitcher of beer is 10,000 won and seems to be the favourite among customers. Another treat is the microwave popcorn that they sell for 3,000 won. Other events are held at Mike’s Cabin and usually they start early in the evening before it gets too wild and loud. One of the popular events is the wall painting event. Huge sheets of white paper are stuck to the wall and it gives artists or anybody who wants to have fun a chance to express their creativity or just draw some cool pictures.

How to get to Mike’s Cabin in Sinchon:
Take line 2 to sinchon station and leave exit 2. Head straight until you arrive at a big church and make a left. Keep heading straight until you see Mike’s Cabin on the left.

The Korean Military Academy is a great spot to visit and definitely off the the beaten tourist track. The Korean Military Academy is a prestigious academy famous for their strict regime, patriotism and high ranking graduates. The academy follows the motto: wisdom, integrity and courage. Until 1997 the Korean Military Academy was off limits to [...]]]>

Korean Military Academy

The Korean Military Academy is a great spot to visit and definitely off the the beaten tourist track. The Korean Military Academy is a prestigious academy famous for their strict regime, patriotism and high ranking graduates. The academy follows the motto: wisdom, integrity and courage. Until 1997 the Korean Military Academy was off limits to tourists but now it is open for all. The academy is huge but only select parts are open to tourists for security reasons.

The tour starts off at the visitors centre and the first stop is the Korean Army Museum which has a wide range of weapons on display alongside military treasures and documents relating to the Korean War. It is very interesting to visit and is almost deserted even at weekends.

The next stop is Hwa Rang Parade Ground. This is a enclosed field. It is here that all the ceremonies are held such as graduation, festivals, national holidays and the remembrance for the dead. Also, sports events such as horse riding. Scattered around the academy you will see statues of heroes who have died while serving their country. Also included is a statue of James A. Van Fleet a General of the United States Army who made outstanding contributions to improve U.S.-Korean ties.

Next there is a pond, park and picnic area. It is here that many local families stop by on the weekend to relax, have some food and let their children run free. Beside the park is the outdoor Weaponry Exhibition Area. Tanks, rockets, guns from both North Korea and South Korea used during the Korean War are on display here.

Finally we visited Memorial Hall Tower. Memorial Hall Tower is over 66 meters high and offers a stunning view of the academy and surrounding mountains and cities. On the first floor and basement floor of the building you can learn about the academy and students. This entails What they study, how they sleep to what clothing they wear. Unfortunately Memorial Hall was the last stop of the tour.

If you visit Korean Military Academy you must bring some form of identification. One per group is fine. I don’t think they are too strict as to what I.D as I gave my student card. It is also possible to visit the Korean Military academy and wander around by yourself. I visited on a Saturday and it was empty. This is a great spot to get some rest at the weekend, see some cool war exhibitions and learn some history.

Official site of the Korean Military Academy http://www.kma.ac.kr/english/

Opening Hours / Admission:
Open Monday ~ Sunday: 10:00 ~ 17:00

There is no admission and you are free to look around the academy by yourself. If you wish to join a tour they start at 10:00, 14:00 and 15:30. a Reservation is needed.

How to get to the Korean Military Academy:
The academy is quite far away from the station but if you wish to walk view the map below.
Take line 6 to Hwarangdae Subway Station, leave exit 4 and walk for 15minutes following the map below.
BUS:
Take line 6 to Hwarangdae Subway Station, leave exit 1 and take bus number #202, #1155, #1156, #1225 and get off at the Seoul Women’s University stop and the academy will be on your right.

Tesco launched in South Korea in 1999 in a joint partnership with Samsung. To become more popular they changed their name to Homeplus. Currently Homeplus is one of the top 5 supermarkets in Korea.

A while back I noticed some posters in train stations that showed products from Tesco and looked very similar [...]]]> Tesco launched in South Korea in 1999 in a joint partnership with Samsung. To become more popular they changed their name to Homeplus. Currently Homeplus is one of the top 5 supermarkets in Korea.

A while back I noticed some posters in train stations that showed products from Tesco and looked very similar to the shelves at their supermarkets. I thought it was some sort of cool advertisement but it was more than that. The posters have the same layout and same products as their supermarkets with a QR (Qucik Response) code attached to each product. The idea is that when the busy South Korean people are going home after a long day’s work they can go shopping while waiting for their train. They browse the posters, scan the QR code with their phone, pay online and when they return home the food will be delivered.

This saves a lot of time for the busy South Korean’s as they are known to work the longest hours at work alongside the Japanese.

Check out this cool video I found;

The National Flag of South Korea is called Taegeukgi. The flag was first established as a symbol of the Kingdom of Korea on May 22nd, 1882 however it was not until 1948 that it was officially adopted as the National Flag of South Korea.

The blue and red circle in the centre is called Taegeuk [...]]]>

National Flag of South Korea

The National Flag of South Korea is called Taegeukgi. The flag was first established as a symbol of the Kingdom of Korea on May 22nd, 1882 however it was not until 1948 that it was officially adopted as the National Flag of South Korea.

The blue and red circle in the centre is called Taegeuk which represents yin and yang and the need for opposites to exist. This symbol has been used for centuries in Korea and a similar version is also found in China. Around the Taegeuk you will find four symbols. Each symbol represents different things that make up the universe.

In the top left corner you can see ☰ (Geon). This symbol represents: Heaven/Sky
In the top right corner you can see ☵ (Gam). This symbol represents: Water
In the the bottom left corner you can see ☲ (Ri). This symbol represents: Fire
In the bottom right corner you can see ☷(Gon). This symbol represents: Earth

Another variant of the Taegeuk (Yin and Yang Symbol) is the Sam-Taegeuk which is made up of 3 colours, Red, Blue and Yellow. It  appears in the official logo for the 1988 Olympics in Korea and you can also find it around Korea in subway stations or out on the streets. It is also painted onto a lot of supporter’s faces at sports events especially football.

A Taegeuk variant symbol is also used by Korean Air which can sometimes be confused with the Pepsi logo: