Last updated: 17 Mar 2012
Travel
Airports
Incheon International Airport, 52km from the centre of Seoul, is the main international airport. Airport (departure) tax and passenger service charge is W27,000 and is included in the purchased airline ticket.
Some regional flights also operate from Gimpo Airport (Seoul) and Busan (Korea’s largest trading port). Destinations include Tokyo’s Haneda airport and Shanghai’s Hongqiao airport.
Most domestic flights leave Seoul from Gimpo Airport. Airport buses link the Incheon and Gimpo Airports (approximately 30 minutes travelling time). Many airport limousine buses and the subway service Gimpo Airport from Seoul.
Ground transport
Car - Travel time by car to and from the airport via the new Incheon expressway takes 60-75 minutes depending on the traffic. The toll for vehicles using the expressway is W7100 one way.
Limousine bus - If you are staying in one of the major four or five-star hotels, the most convenient way to get there from Incheon Airport is the limousine bus. The cost is approximately W11,000 one way.
Taxi - for a one-way journey, normal taxis will cost approximately W44,000 plus W7,100 expressway toll and the black deluxe taxi service will cost approximately W80,000.
Hotels
Average rates for a standard room range from A$250-A$320 per night. A 10 per cent service charge is payable at all hotels but no value added tax (VAT) is imposed on foreign visitors. The Korea National Tourism Organisation provides extensive and valuable information in English on accommodation. Austrade Seoul is able to obtain competitive diplomatic rates at many hotels for its clients.
Tourist attractions
Korea's National Tourism Organisation also provides extensive information in English on transport, events, places to eat, accommodation, airline contact details and Korea-wide travel maps.
Top Business Risks
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.
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.
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.
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.