Last updated: 17 Mar 2012
Visiting
Public holidays
January 1 – New Year’s Day
February (1st day, 1st month of Lunar calendar) – Korean New Year
March 1 – March 1st Movement
May 1 – Labour Day
May 5 – Children’s Day
May (8th day, 4th month of the Lunar calendar) – Buddha's Birthday
June 6 – Memorial Day
August 15 – Liberation Day
September (8th month, 15th day of the Lunar calendar) – Harvest Festival
October 3 – National Foundation Day
December 25 – Christmas Day
Climate
The climate of Korea is characterised by four distinct seasons. Winter is bitterly cold and is influenced primarily by the Siberian air mass. January is the coldest month with the mean temperature ranging from -5oC to 5oC.
Summer is hot and humid. August is the hottest month with the mean temperature ranging from 20oC to 26oC.
More than a half of the total rainfall amount is concentrated in summer. The transitional seasons, spring and autumn are sunny and generally dry. The rainy season, (‘Jangma’), continues from late June until late July. On average 28 typhoons occur in the western Pacific, but only two or three among them approach the Korean Peninsula from June through September.
For weather details in Korea, please visit the World Meteorological Organization.
Currency
Oanda currency converter
The official currency is the Korean Won.
Time zones and time differences
Korea is one hour behind Australian Eastern Standard Time.
To find out the current time in Seoul, view the World Clock.
Dialling codes
Korea's country code is 82.
For calls to Korea from Australia dial: 0011 + 82 + area code + telephone number.
For calls from Korea to Australia dial: 001 + 61 + area code + telephone number.
For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.
Electricity and water
Korea’s power supply is both 100 volts and 220 volts although many new buildings and electronic products are 220 volts (60 Hz). Most hotels in Seoul have 110 volts (two flat stick type) and 220 volts (two round pins) outlets.
Links and resources
Korea Tourism Organisation – http://kto.visitkorea.or.kr/kor.kto
Life In Korea – www.lifeinkorea.com
The Republic of Korea official website – www.korea.net
Please note: this list of websites and resources is not definitive. Inclusion in this list does not imply endorsement by Austrade. The information provided is a guide only.
Top Business Risks
Bilateral agreements
Australia has social security agreements with several countries that address the issue of 'double super coverage' for employees sent to work overseas. To take advantage of these agreements, Australian employers sending employees overseas to work must apply to the Tax Office for a Certificate of coverage.
For more details, please visit the Australian Taxation Office website.
APEC Business Travel Card Scheme
Managed by the Department of Immigration, the APEC Business Travel Card Scheme was developed to make travelling within the 21 APEC member countries much simpler and more efficient.
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
Multinational Enterprises should be aware of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises that provide voluntary principles and standards for responsible business behaviour in a variety of areas, consistent with applicable domestic laws. These Guidelines are endorsed and promoted by the Australian Government. For more information, go to the AusNCP website.
IP Passport fact sheets
These fact sheets outline foreign Intellectual Property (IP) regimes and some of the issues and challenges which may be faced by Australian exporters.
The current fact sheets are available on the IP Australia website.