10 things u should know before going to korea

1️⃣ i think this is one of the most important things that many don’t know but will be an absolute lifesaver — in korea, taxis with the red light on are available, while taxis with the green light on are not available (opposite from singapore) so next time u are standing on the roadside trying to hail a cab please keep in mind!

2️⃣ use ride hailing apps like kakaoT instead of waving down a taxi on the roadside — ive seen many cases where the taxi driver knows that u are a tourist, so they purposely take a detour to ur destination so that the ride cost is higher! u are better off using a ride hailing app, this also minimises the need to converse with the taxi driver which can be stressful

3️⃣ don’t press the button when u are standing at the traffic light! in korea, this button is actually for senior citizens and the handicapped, so if u press the button a neighbourhood police officer will come to assist u to cross the road

4️⃣ u cannot order something for takeaway and then decide to sit in the restaurant/cafe last min to consume the food! in korea, it is actually illegal for eateries to serve dine-in customers with disposable cutlery and dishes so the staff will probably ask u to leave.. save the embarrassment!

5️⃣ unlike sg, koreans stand on the right side of the escalator!

6️⃣ it is impolite to not greet the staff when u enter a shop/ restaurant! whenever u enter an establishment, remember to say a simple annyeonghaseyo or at least smile and nod at the staff~ simply walking in without greeting is considered rude in korea

7️⃣ most places in korea accept cashless payments! u dont have to change too much money when u visit korea as u can pay with ur card, so save that cash for the traditional markets and street food stalls

8️⃣ there is wifi almost everywhere u go! dont bother with the wifi egg, instead get a korean sim card — having a korean number will come in handy for many occasions like ordering food delivery or making reservations at famous eateries

9️⃣ if u are looking for a toilet, go into any subway station! the toilets in subway stations are well maintained and generally quite clean

🔟 public transport is much better than taking a cab! the traffic in seoul is insane, and most of the time taking public transport like the subway will get u places much faster than a cab (especially during peak hours 5-7pm)

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