With the Winter Olympics officially opening on February 9th, it’s an important time to get up to speed with everything you’re going to need for your trip. If this is your first trip to South Korea, it’s important that you prepare for a few situations that will be completely different to what you expect at home.
Newcomers to South Korea don’t anticipate the degree to which the country experiences winter. To give you an idea, this season has seen wind chills of approximately -29°C. The unpredictability of the temperature makes it is essential for you to pack more than you think you’ll need in terms of warmth while also ensuring you pack in removable layers should the weather warm up.
If you don’t own a high-quality winter jacket suitable enough for you to stay outside for extended periods in below freezing conditions, then you’re going to have to buy one. If you’re into fashionable threads, there are plenty of stores all over Seoul that currently have end-of-seasons discounts on winter gear, especially this year’s trendy padded “idol jacket” that you will be sure to see on the streets of Pyeongchang.
Got all the gear and still feeling cold? Simply pop into a Korean pharmacy and ask for a hot pack (핫 팩 ), which is luckily pronounced the same in Korean. They can be found at most convenience stores, often by the cash register.
While Seoul and Korea in general are almost a cashless society (accepting credit cards or mobile payments for even miniscule amounts) many ATMS in South Korea do not allow cash withdraws with an international card. Each bank has a series of ATMs that work for domestic cards and one or two with international functions (which is signposted above the machine), but some ATM service areas have no International ATMS at all.
I spoke with the Winter Olympics Hotline (1330 option 2) who couldn’t give me a specific number, but they confirmed that International ATMS will be hard to find in Pyeongchang. They recommend you withdraw the cash you need either at Incheon International Airport or nearby the accommodations you choose to stay at in Seoul (if you choose to stay there before the games). Simply ask the front desk to direct you to the nearest International ATM.
Pyeongchang only accepts VISA (in the stadium) or cash. If you don’t have VISA, then you must use cash. Also, if you find yourself in a situation outside stadium-based facilities where credit cards are not accepted, then again, you’re going to have to use cash, making an international ATM essential.
South Korea is known for its modern technology, which extends to Wi-Fi being accessible in subways and occasionally for free in built up areas. KT has come to the party for Pyeongchang and is providing 5G Wi-Fi which will be accessible for the duration of the Winter Games. I asked the Winter Olympics Hotline about their Wi-Fi, which they confirmed as being free-of-charge, even to users without Korean mobile numbers.
However, they did express concerns about the functionality of the service, as they anticipate a large demand. If connectivity is essential for you (especially if you anticipate using Meridian’s Remote Interpreting service through your phone), then it is possible for you to buy a temporary SIM card with a limited amount of data before you leave Incheon International Airport. Simply ask one of the many service desks, who will be sure to direct you to the nearest SIM card kiosk.
If you’re heading to Pyeongchang, you’re most likely going to take the KTX either from Incheon or Seoul. The KTX is quite different to other South Korean trains. Slower-paced trains have fully-functioning restaurants, meaning you can dine at leisure. The KTX, due to its fast-pace, only has vending machine capabilities. Most people who take the KTX stock up on food from nearby stores before boarding the train, so if you’re taking the trip, ensure you follow the crowd and prepare something to eat on your journey.
If you need to hail a cab, which might prove difficult during the peak Winter Olympics season, all you have to do is stand on the side of the street and raise your hand or you can find a taxi stop, which looks similar to a bus stop. In Seoul finding a cab is rarely a problem (except for late at night or when it is raining) but in Pyeongchang be aware that demand may overwhelm the small town’s taxi service).
Alternatively, you can hail a taxi from your smartphone. Kakao Taxi is an innovative way to call taxis using your phone’s GPS (as Uber is not currently operating in the country). Unfortunately, Kakao Taxi only allows credit cards to be registered if those cards originated from South Korean banks. There is the option to use cash, the app, if you untick the credit card option. With your location turned on, it will input your pickup location automatically. To input your destination, simply search in English and if it doesn’t appear, ask someone to input it in Korean for you.
To register for Kakao Taxi, first download the Kakao Talk app, then download the Kakao T app (English version), accept the conditions, and start your booking. It sounds like a long process, but if many people are waiting for a taxi, it will provide you with priority service. When you book, you will receive confirmation of your taxi’s license plate, enabling you to spot them as soon as they arrive.
If you get stuck, simply dial the Tourism Helpline on 1330 from any mobile. An automated service will answer in Korean, so ensure you press number 2 for English, then option number 1 for the Winter Olympics Hotline.
Meridian Linguistics is also offering on-call remote interpreting services for Korean to English, from 8am to 10pm Korea time, and can offer interpreting by appointment for dozens of other languages. You can also snap pictures or send in text to our service, and get accurate human translation within minutes. To get access, sign up here.
Whatever you do, don’t be afraid to ask for help. South Korea has been planning for your arrival and will do the absolute best they can to help you make the most of your time at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Enjoy!
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Sarah Caroline Bell is a writer based in Seoul.
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