Is South Korea Safe? 8 Things You Should Know

8 Things You Should Know About Safety in South Korea

Whenever traveling to another country, safety is always a concern. But is South Korea safe? It sure is! But there are still some things any future visitor or resident should know about. Here are 8 things you should know about safety in Korea!

North Korea

1. Should I be Scared?

Depending on where you live, news about North Korea can be really crazy. And you might be worried about coming to Korea whenever there’s some North Korean nuke news. And sure it is a valid reason to be afraid. But aside from military skirmishes ranging from minor to sorta serious, not much has happened to the general public since the Korean War; the Kim family up north usually keeps the armistice intact. And because nothing too serious has happened, most people in South Korea probably pay less attention to it than you do. Think about it like this. If you have a crazy neighbor that’s been screaming threats about your stuff on his property for 50 years, but he never really does anything about it, you keep an eye on him, but don’t freak out with every threat. Just keep on mowing your lawn, friends.

Here, check it out how South Korea views North Korea.

Natural Disasters

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2. Volcanoes

The only active volcano on the Korean peninsula is Mt. Baekdusan, which is located all the way up north on the border between North Korea and China. Although it last erupted more than 100 years ago (1903), experts do say that it erupts every 100 years or so. But is that really going to stop you from coming to buy Kpop socks?

3. Earthquakes

Although earthquakes aren’t unheard of in Korea, they’re rare enough that you can live an entire lifetime in Korea without feeling one. But when they do occur, they’re usually weak enough for you to confuse it with one of dad’s taco night farts.

4. Typhoons (a.k.a Tropical Storms)

Typhoons occur anytime between May and November every year. They sometimes get strong enough to cause some damage, but it’s rare for them to be so strong to cause any severe damage. Most of the time they’re just really wet and windy days for you to stay indoors and look at cat pictures on Facebook all day.

Crime in South Korea

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5. Violent Crimes

Like all countries, crimes exists in Korea. But for foreigners, there’s not much to worry about. Violent street crime is very rare and that means you don’t have to worry about muggings, random beatings, kidnappings, etc. Also, guns are super illegal (see it explained in this video). That all equates to you feeling very safe while in Korea (trust us). There are sometimes alcohol-fueled altercations, but generally if you keep to your own business, you’ll be a-ok :). Most of the time it will be Koreans beefing with other Koreans as foreigners get somewhat overlooked as victims regarding “face-to-face” crimes. That’s because Korean criminals are unsure how crazy some foreigners can be (kind of kidding, but kind of not :P).

6. Non-violent Crimes

Foreigners, however, are not exempt from “non-face-to-face” crimes, such as theft and robbery. These crimes are rare too, so they’re not anything to worry too much about either. That’s because common sense (i.e. take your wallet with you when going to the bathroom, lock your doors when you leave the house/hotel) will usually be enough to deter thieves. Just use what your momma gave you — your brain!

Tip: There are neighborhoods that are more dangerous than others. But the places most tourists/foreigners are interested in (i.e. Hongdae, Myeongdong, Insadong, Gangnam, etc.) are very safe.

Traffic in Korea

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7. Cars

Although you don’t have to worry about violent crimes while you’re walking down the streets of Seoul, you definitely have to be aware of cars. That’s because cars (especially those in Seoul) are extremely aggressive, even with pedestrians. If you’re walking down a small street, be aware. Many cars will come zooming past you really, really close. If you make one step to the left or the right, you might be in trouble. You can always give them stank eye, but that’s pointless if you’re on your way to the hospital. Also, be careful of big streets. Even when the signal tells you to walk, you still might find some super aggressive driver that sees you walking but thinks he can squeeze past you. Walking the streets of Seoul can be scary for those not used to it. And if you’re a tourist or new to living in Korea, it’s something we recommend being aware of.

Tip: Be careful of buses too. They’re just as aggressive. And bigger!

8.Taxis

Taxis deserve their own section on this list. Not to say all taxi drivers are criminals. Far from it! The majority of taxi rides end with no problems at all. But they do come with some unique problems. First, taxis are notorious for being extremely agressive. It’s probably a few drivers giving the rest a bad reputation, but you should take note of them when crossing or walking in narrow streets. And a few years ago they were notorious for being really mean and robbing unsuspecting tourists or foreign residents of money. But Korea’s been trying to clean this up and recently have started to offer cash rewards for reporting such activities. But we suggest you give this a read anyway :):
How to Not Get Ripped Off by Taxi Drivers

How to be a local in Seoul

How to be a Seoul local: 10 tips on faking it

Essential shortcuts to make it appear like you've lived here forever

Another local litmus test: How well you resist the insistent calls of women offering cheap makeup at storefronts. These women (obviously tourists) could learn a thing or two from this guide.

With an insatiable desire to be the best at everything in the most wired city in the world, Seoulites don't have time to mess around.

Neither do you.

You could invest a significant chunk of your life slowly assimilating into the culture, but we'd rather push you off the deep end.

10. How to communicate

The stuff that real relationships are made of.

First thing to do when you get to Korea: get a smartphone. Then download the Internet chat application KakaoTalk -- it's pretty much the only line of communication here nowadays.

So much so that the name is most frequently used as a verb. “Katalk me,” means “I like you! Let’s be friends and talk with emoticons for hours."

If you actually call someone right away, they’ll freak out and not answer because your number isn't entered into their phone.

Don't be a dork and suggest something like "iMessage” or “WhatsApp.”

The most important part? The KakaoTalk profile picture: it’s the Korean equivalent of a Facebook profile -- and updated much more frequently.

Also, when you compose your messages, even if you can't quite bring yourself to smile (^^), use the tilde liberally.

Otherwise you just sound cold~

9.How to avoid running into people

It may not be rush hour, but these two have been conditioned the right way.

When using public transportation, walk like you drive -- always, always on the right.

On escalators, stick to the right if you want to stand, and if you're in a hurry, switch to the left lane, where people glide up and down like Dementors on a mission.

While subway stations often post signs begging pedestrians to stand still on the escalators, obey them at your own peril. The locals will be hemming and hawing behind you, with death stares burning into your back.

8. How to walk up subway stairs

Korean fanny pack.

Sure, Korean girls have nice legs.

But that's not all that's required to wear those micro-minis you see everywhere, winter or summer, work or play.

To really pull off a skimpy skirt without looking like a floozy, you need to do as Korean girls do when going up stairs and escalators: put a bag on it. Or behind it.

Take a handbag or a tote bag and hold it with both hands behind your butt, covering the edge of the skirt. A bit awkward? Perhaps.

As for men, don’t look up when you’re walking up the stairs. It's all too easy to be mistaken for a pervert.

7. How to eat

When eating from a public bowl, make sure you're handy with the chopsticks. Communal eating can be a cold war when everyone is hungry.

Most Korean food is communal. Some might say even communist.

Everyone orders together and shares equally. Don't be surprised if your meal buddy's chopsticks find their way onto your plate at some point -- and yes, you’ll be dipping your spoon into the same stew pot as your companions.

Squeamish about double-dipping? Go ahead and say so, but just know you’ll be judged as being a stuck-up prude ... and worse. Good thing you don't speak Korean.

Also on CNNGo: 10 best Korean restaurants

Table manners are dictated by hierarchy according to age or position.

If the silverware hasn't been laid out before your arrival, the youngest of your party needs to get out the napkins, spoons and chopsticks from boxes on the table.

The youngest also brings in the water. With meat, the youngest grills.

Finally, never take the last piece of food on the plate. All your arguments -- you're hungry, children in other countries are starving or the meat is sizzling to a black crisp on the grill -- will fly out the window once you've popped it into your mouth and feel the chill of disapproval descending from the others around the table.

6. How to pay

The Check Dance.

If the above entry made it sound as though Korea’s a tough deal for youngsters -- it’s not.

Because when the check dance comes around, guess who leads? The oldest.

Nonchalantly saying, “So, how much was my dish?” is the equivalent of social suicide -- especially if you’re one of the older people in your party.

If you’re among the youngest, you’ll sound cute, so feel free to offer up the hollow offer to pay.

This also explains why your age is one of the first things Koreans will ask about, often quite abruptly.

5. How to drink

From left to right: A typical evening of drinking in Seoul. You start out happy and end up passed out.

Drink until you pass out and have to be stuffed into a cab or laid gently on a subway bench, to be photographed and posted on blogs like Blackout Korea. Drink like there's no tomorrow, because tomorrow you'll have to go to work like you didn't down five bottles of soju the night before.

For true locals, there's no such thing as a casual beer with friends on a Thursday night. When Seoulites go out, they go all out, with the evening divided into multiple stages -- il-cha (stage one), e-cha (stage two), sam-cha (stage three) and so forth.

Stage one is usually dinner. Dinner is usually meat, consumed with a light alcoholic beverage, like Cass beer or soju "watered down" with beer.

Stage two is another bar, where more alcohol is consumed. This is when the harder stuff comes out, and when Koreans will begin to test your ability to ingest neurotoxins.

Koreans aren't pretentious with their alcoholic beverages. Don't discuss the superiority of certain cocktails over others, and never swirl anything around in your mouth with a thoughtful expression. Just down your shot and hold out your glass (both hands) for more.

Stage three, when everyone is varying degrees of tipsy, can mean more bar hopping. Inevitably, one or two members of the party will want to hit a karaoke room (noraebang).

Like Mexicans, all Koreans are, inexplicably, amazing singers. This might be because one always goes karaoke-ing when drunk, but in any case, don't be intimidated by the local singing prowess. It's more about how much fun everyone has, and that means poppy chart-toppers and dance numbers.

Don't overdo it on the mournful ballads or obscure one-hit wonders that you only know because you listened to a lot of oldies radio back home. When in doubt, lean on the Backstreet Boys -- “As Long as You Love Me.” Everyone will approve.

4. How to address people

Ajumma or imo? If you want generous servings of her tteokbokki, it had better be the latter.



A true mark of whether the locals have accepted you as one of their own is when they stop calling you by name. 

A name may sound like the most intimate way to address someone, but not so here.

For women, older female friends are "unni." Older male friends are "oppa."

For men it's "nuna" and "hyeong."

You may have heard of "ajumma," the Korean word that insultingly and affectionately refers to a middle-aged woman with a curly perm, a certain amount of weight gain and the manner of a hustler.

When flagging a waitress, you might get better results with the more neutral "imo," the Korean word for "auntie." You’ll be surprised at the difference in smiles and service that one word will you get you.

3. How to look like a vampire

Circle lenses, pale skin, guy-liner. Vampire or K-Pop idol?

Forget about the gloomy town of Forks -- the Cullens from "Twilight" should really have moved here instead, because Koreans are more afraid of the sun than any family of diamond-studded bloodsuckers.

While the summer sun can get hot, Korea is still temperate, not tropical. We wish we could claim that it was about sun cancer prevention, but that's just a positive side effect. The local obsession with remaining pale is very much cosmetic.

Some of the older, less fashion-conscious ajummas sport black visors that cover their entire face, sometimes with a handkerchief to protect the back of their neck, and carry frilly umbrellas on sunny days.

Don’t think it’s just a girl thing -- go into any Korean cosmetic store and you’ll see that most of the models are male -- beautiful, pale-skinned males.

The other big Korean beauty product apparently developed with the aim of spreading the love of vampires are circle contact lenses, which supposedly make your eyes look larger, darker and dewier.

Stars wear them, girls wear them, guys wear them.Who cares that optometrists warn that circle lenses may cause blindness?

2. How to eat spicy food

Who knew? Milk and peach juice (unfortunately named Cool Pis) are potent ingredients for guarding against a swollen tongue.

The ability to eat spicy food is a primitive but effective way to gain respect as one of the locals.

When we talk about spicy Korean food, we don't mean kimchi. Five-year-olds eat kimchi.

We mean foods like buldak, or "fire chicken," which will burn a trail of pain from tongue to tummy.

To relieve the agony, drink milk like the Koreans do.

It makes sense. Buldak will make you cry like a baby, so drink what babies drink when they cry.

1. How to look good, always

Korean actor Jang Geun-seok's flawless skin is 50 percent Mother Nature, 50 percent Photoshop, and 100 percent snail cream.

There are two rules regarding appearances in Seoul.

First rule: be prepared for pain. Second rule: the pain is worth it.

Those are the key principles behind the Korean look: put together, and shamelessly so. There are no trust fund babies with ironic statement rags here.

Settle down, Brit, we said "fake being a local," not "channel our great grandmothers."

Korean women wear stilettos like Australians wear flip-flops -- anywhere and everywhere, be it eight hours in a crowded club or a casual stroll along the beach/Han River.

Aching arches are nothing, not in a country where 60 percent of women are estimated to have gone under the knife by their 20s.

Another way to avoid looking like a gaping foreigner: don’t gawk at the grotesque before-and-after plastic surgery ads plastered all around the city. And for God's sake, don’t ask people if they’ve gotten a nose job -- just because everyone’s done it doesn’t mean they want to talk about it.

Snail cream (yes, that's right -- face cream made from snail guts) is the rage for skincare. Women and men also use BB Cream, lighter than foundation, but with better coverage than moisturizer, beloved for its ability to simulate the look of flawless skin.

After all, why shouldn't men be allowed to hide the occasional pimple?

Anak Malaysia Pertama Menjadi Pensyarah di Universiti Oxford (lep

He can speak 7 languages, BM, BI, Arabic, German, French, and old English languages (Latin & Yunani) ... fuiyooo... siapa nak belajar bahasa ancient? memang hebat... Kadang-kadang rasa nak berhenti kerja dan belajar, belajar, belajar lagi....huhu... May the nation will keep on producing quality citizens like him, dan semoga Allah panjangkan usia beliau dan terus berjuang menaikkan taraf anak bangsa dan negara...(^_^) —

Nama beliau Dr Muhammad Afifi al-Akiti
MA (Oxon), MSt (Oxon), DPhil (Oxon), MSIEPM
pensyarah Pengajian Islam di Pusat Pengajian Islam Oxford, dan Pensyarah Pusat Islam dalam bidang pengajian Islam di Fakulti Teologi, Universiti Oxford, United Kingdom, dan juga merupakan felo pensyarah di Worcester College, Oxford.

Pakej 5 Hari 4 Malam

Pakej yang dicadangkan bagi Seoul Tour & Travel 5 hari 4 malam ini adalah termasuk penginapan, private & public transportation, driver + tour guide, Halal lunch & dinner, entrance fees ke Nami Island, Everland Themepark dan Gyeongbok Palace.

Iteneri yg dicadangkan adalah:

Day 1:
Seoul Heritage Tour
- Arrival di Incheon Airport
- Gyeongbok Palace
- Cheonggye Stream
- Gwanghwamun Square
- King Sejong Statue
- Itaewon Street
- Seoul Central Mosque

Day 2:
Feeling Winter Sonata
- Day Trip to Nami Island
- Lunch at Nami
- Tour Seoul Tower

Day 3:
Seoul Shopping Tour:
- Namdaemun Market (Brooch, Souveniers, K-POP merchandises)
- Dongdaemun Market (silk & cotton fabrics)
- Kwangjang Market
- Myeongdong Fashion Street (cosmetics products)
- Hanok Traditional Village

Day 4:
Fun Day:
- Day trip to Everland Themepark Resort

Day 5:
- Check out hotel and depart to Incheon Airport

2-3 orang: RM2700 seorg
4-6 orang: RM2300 seorg
6-10 orang : RM negotiable

Pakej ini untuk ground arrangements sahaja, tidak termasuk tiket penerbangan KL-Seoul dan shopping..

Contact us via email jomkekorea@gmail.com or whatsapp at +821098209897 for more details and great deals!

Korea Winter Sonata Travel 6 Days 5 Nights

Proposed Itinerary:

Day 1: (7am-6pm)
- Meet us at the Incheon Airport
- depart Nami Island (2hours drive)
- lunch at famous 'Nasi Goncang' at Nami Island
- Depart to Seoul
- Tour at famous Gangnam Street
- Dinner special chicken briyani and depart to Hotel

Day 2: 9am-6pm
Seoul Culture & Heritage Tour:
- Gyeongbok Palace
- Gwanghwamun Square,
- Chyeonggye stream, City Hall,
- Lunch at Korean Traditional Muslim Food at Itaewon
- Visit Hanok Traditional Village (wearing Hanbok Traditional Costume)
- visit Seoul Tower by cable car
- packed dinner & depart to Hotel

Day 3: 9.30am-6.30pm
- Day Trip to Everland Resort & Themepark (Korean Disneyland)
- Lunch at Everland Resort
- enjoying ice sledding, animal safari and winter ice festival
- depart to hotel

Day 4: 9am-6pm
It's Skiing day!
- Day Trip to Vivaldi Ski World - 1.5hours driving from Seoul
(ski gears and equipments are not included)
- packed lunch
- take a gondola ride to the peak of Ski Mountain (breathtaking views)
- depart to Hotel in Seoul

Day 5: 9am-6pm
Seoul Shopping Tour @
- Namdaemun Market (souveniers, brooch etc),
- Strolling along Myeongdong Fashion & Cosmetics Street
- Lunch famous Korean grilled fish at Dongdaemun Market
- Kwangjang Market (Korean Silk & fabrics),
- Itaewon (expatriate town, Visit Seoul Central Masjid),
- Dinner and tour Itaewon Street
- back to Hotel

Day 6: Final Day!
- check out hotel at 6am, depart to Incheon Airport
- Goodbye!

Package Includes:

Fully private transport, Tour guide+ driver, Halal Lunch & dinner provided, bfast sendiri, termasuk semua tiket nami island, day pass ticket to everland dan entrance tickets to gyeongbok palace.

Package Excludes:
- hotel
- flight tickets
- breakfast
- cable car to Seoul Tower (8,000 won per person)
- gondola ride at Ski Mountain (8,000 won per person)

Contact us now via jomkekorea@gmail.com or whatsapp +821098209897 or Kakaotalk for more details and best deals!

3 Jenis Pakej utk 7 Hari 6 Malam

Kami ada 3 Jenis Pakej utk 7H6M bagi Korea Tour & Travel Seoul-Nami-Everland- Mt Seorak oleh Kimchi Muslim Tour

a) Pakej Odeng (Backpackers)
(Menginap di backpackers/guesthouse/ homestay & penggunaan public dan juga private transport, makan tidak disediakan, khidmat tour guide, airport pick up dan send off - TIDAK termasuk tiket feri ke Nami Island, tiket masuk ke Everland (Disneyland Korea), tiket masuk ke Gyeongbok Palace, tiket masuk dan cable car di Mt Seorak - RM1700 seorang minimum 4org

b) Pakej Kimchee (sederhana)
(Menginap di Guesthouse atau Homestay Concept, bilik yang lebih selesa dan di lokasi yang lebih menarik, penggunaan private transport sepenuhnya, lunch & dinner disediakan, tour guide, airport pick up dan send off) termasuk tiket feri ke Nami Island, tiket masuk ke Everland (Disneyland Korea), tiket masuk ke Gyeongbok Palace, tiket masuk dan cable car di Mt Seorak - RM2400 seorang - minimum 4 org

C) Pakej Bulgogi (Premium)

Complete Set: pelanggan hanya perlu bawak duit untuk shopping sahaja sebab selainnya akan diuruskan oleh pihak kami. Menginap di hotel 3-4stars atau Residence Apartment, twin sharing atau family room (bagi yang berkeluarga), bilik yang sangat selesa dan di lokasi yang menarik dan stategik, penggunaan private transport sepenuhnya, lunch & dinner disediakan, tour guide, airport pick up dan send off) - percuma set souveniers utk setiap seorang.. Pakej ini termasuk tiket feri ke Nami Island, tiket masuk ke Everland (Disneyland Korea), tiket masuk ke Gyeongbok Palace, tiket masuk dan cable car di Mt Seorak - RM2700 seorang (minimum 4org)

Cth Iteneri:

7H6N Muslim Tour & Travel Korea

Day 1 : Airport - Seoul City (75km)

Arrival 3.30pm:
Meet us at the Incheon airport and depart to Hotel

Day 2 : Seoul Culture Tour @ Gyeongbok Palace, Cyeonggye Stream, Gwanghwamun Square, Hanok Traditional Village, Seoul Central Mosque, Seoul Tower

Day 3 : Seoul Shopping Tour (souveniers, brooch, fabrics & clothing) @ Namdaemun Market, Myeongdong Fashion Street, Dongdaemun, Kwangjang Market, Itaewon Street, (lunch & dinner inclusive)

Day 4 : Day Trip to Everland (tickets inclusive)

Day 5 :Day trip to Nami Island and Gangnam (Ferry tickets inclusive)

Day 6 : Day trip to Mount Seorak (entrance fees and cable car to Mt Seorak Inclusive)

Day 7 : Check out and depart to Incheon Airport

HARD ROCK CAFE SEOUL RE-OPENING

Salam.. Good day everyone!

I'm pleased to inform that Hard Rock Cafe Seoul that used to be operated in Itaewon (closed in 2011) will be re-opening soon in May 2014.. And the new location will be at Lotte World Plaza, Jamsil, Seoul.

The best part is, this new HRC Seoul is owned by a Malaysian Company, Berjaya Group.

Kudos to Malaysia!

To all Hard Rock fans and memorabilia collectors, I'm sure this will be a good news for you.

So stay tuned..

Have a Rock & Roll Day!

Meanwhile.... Sakura in Japan....

These amazing Sakura photos were taken by a friend at Yasukuni Shrine, one of the famous place to see beautiful cherry blossom in Japan. 

Breathtaking and freaking beautiful... Super credit to Mat Dehe for these cool pictures...