Busan, a bustling city of approximately 3.4 million residents, is located on the southeastern tip of the Korean peninsula. The size of Busan is 770.07km² which is only 0.8% of the whole landmass of the Korean Peninsula. The natural environment of Busan is a harmonious relationship of mountains, rivers and sea. Its geography includes a coastline featuring superb beaches and scenic cliffs, mountains which provide excellent hiking and extraordinary views with hot springs scattered throughout the city. Busan enjoys four distinct seasons and a temperate climate that never gets too hot or too cold. Busan is the second largest city in Korea. Its deep harbor and gentle tides have allowed it to grow into the largest container handling port in the country and the fifth largest in the world. The city's natural endowments and rich history have resulted in Busan's increasing reputation as a world class city for tourism and culture, and it is also becoming renowned as a hot spot destination for international conventions.

Geographically, Busan has the Straits of Korea to its south; Ulsan to the north; and Gimhae to the West. Cities that share almost the same latitude with Busan include Jinhae and Gwangju in Korea, as well as Tokyo, Algiers and Oklahoma City internationally. Busan is eight hours ahead of GMT. As for its geopolitical location, the city is located at the Southern tip of a strip that connects Asia, Siberia and Europe. It also serves as a main gateway to the Pacific Ocean. This strategic location places the city at the center of international sea transportation.

Busan has a maritime climate characterized by being cool in the summer and warm in the winter since it is a city bordering the ocean. From March to May, it is spring time in Busan. It is relatively warm although you may find it chilly when the wind blows.From June until August, it is summer season where the weather will be humid and hot. During this season, it also a raining season so it rains a lot. From September to November, Busan is often blessed with a clear sky. There is a large difference in temperature between day and night. Typhoons might occur during this period. From December to February during winter, it is windy, cold, and dry. The average temperature ranges from 0°C to 29°C. It can drop to below -5°C or hit above 32°C in rare cases.

The Republic of Korea, hereinafter referred to as Korea, is a country visited by approximately 10 million international travelers every year. With its long history and unique culture and traditions, the country has a lot to offer to its visitors. Continue reading to learn some more general information about Korea before visiting.

The Korean peninsula, roughly 1,030 km long and 175 km at its narrowest point, has a total land area of 100,033 km2 and is located in Northeast Asia. With Seoul as its capital city, Korea is neighbored by Japan to the east, China to the west and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) across the northern border.

THangeul (한글), Korea’s official alphabet, was first invented by King Sejong during the Joseon Dynasty. Originally called Hunminjeongeum (훈민정음), the language was conceived in 1443, and further promulgated by the King in 1446. At the time of its inception, the language consisted of 17 consonants and 11 vowels however, since then, 3 of the originally established consonants and 1 vowel have fallen into disuse bringing the total number of characters to 24. Syllables are formed by the selective combination of vowels and consonants to create words.

Government office hours are usually from 9:00 to 18:00 on weekdays. Banks are open from 9:00 to 16:00 on weekdays. Most stores are open every day from 10:30 to 20:00, including Sundays.

The currency of Korea is the South Korean won, or won for short. The currency sign for the won is ₩. There are currency exchanges at the airports and select locations around Seoul and elsewhere, but the best way to get money all over Korea would be through ATMs. You can find ATMs at airports, subway stations and most convenient stores. You would use them the same way you would at home and there will likely be a transaction fee of about $3-$5. It is generally a good idea for all travelers to bring at least $100 USD on them that they can exchange when they arrive in Korea in case they have issues with their card

Service charges are included in your bill for rooms, meals, and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants. Koreans occasionally do tip when they are especially pleased with the service they receive. Foreign tourists can receive nearly 10 % VAT refunds for purchases at Duty Free shops. Goods must be taken out of Korea within three months of purchase to be eligible for a tax refund. Visitors can receive a refund on a receipt for a minimum purchase of KRW 50,000 (around USD 43). To receive this refund, present receipts with the purchased goods at the customs clearance desk at Incheon International Airport when departing.

The standard electricity supply is 220 volts AC/60 cycles. Most hotels may provide outlet converters for 110 and 220 volts. Participants are recommended to check with the hotel beforehand.

- 1339: Medical Emergency
- 119: Emergencies for Fire, Rescue & Hospital Services, First Aid Services
- 112: Police