Korean Life Explained

You leave the arrivals hall at Incheon Airport and head toward the bus stops with your suitcase. You have already found the airport limousine bus number that goes to your destination in Seoul. Now it feels like all that's left is to get on the bus. But can you just tap your T-money card like you would on a Seoul city bus? Or do you need to buy a ticket first? At Incheon Airport, You Usually Buy a Ticket First For airport limousine buses from Incheon Airport to Seoul, you generally buy a ticket at the airport before boarding. Even if you already have a T-money card, don't head straight to the bus stop as you would for a Seoul city bus. First check whether your bus requires a ticket. There are exceptions, though. Some routes from Terminal 1 allow passengers to board with a transit card or cash. That is why you may see one traveler online say they used T-money, while another says they bought a ticket first. Have your bus number and terminal ready, then ask at a b...

You've checked out of your hotel, but you still have a few hours before your flight. You wheel your suitcase into a subway station and find the luggage lockers. Some compartments are empty. But when you step closer to use one, you notice a QR code and instructions for an app. T-Locker (또타라커). It looks similar to the lockers you've seen at other stations, but it doesn't work the same way. Seoul subway stations have newer T-Lockers that you use through an app, as well as other lockers that you use by following the instructions on the machine. So before you choose an empty compartment, check how the locker in front of you works. First, Check Whether It's a T-Locker or Another Type of Locker If you see a QR code and a T-Locker sign, start with your phone. With newer T-Lockers, you use the app to check which lockers are available, choose a compartment, pay, store your luggage, and retrieve it later. Official T-Locker app: Android / iPhone If there's a...

You found your bus number, waited at the stop, got on through the front door, and tapped your transit card. Then the bus pulls away, and a new question comes up. How do I know when I'm getting close to my stop? Should I wait for the announcement? Do I need to keep checking the map on my phone? And when my stop is coming up, do I need to press the stop button? Here, "Seoul bus" refers to a regular city bus in Seoul, not an airport or intercity bus. Keep Track of When Your Stop Is Coming Up Once the bus starts moving, you can use the onboard display or announcements to tell where you are along the route. If you're riding an unfamiliar route, you can also check the map on your phone. Look at your current location and the stops ahead, then check whether the next stop on the map matches the name you hear or see on the bus. As the bus passes each stop, your location on the map moves along the route, and the stop names shown or announced on the bus change too...

When you arrive at Jamsil Station looking for Lotte World, the names get confusing surprisingly fast. Just when you think you've found it, another similar name comes into view: Lotte World Mall, Lotte World Tower, Lotte World Aquarium, and Seoul Sky, all clustered around the same area. Then, when you look for the amusement park itself, you see another name: Lotte World Adventure. They are all close together on the map, but once you are actually trying to enter, the question changes. Which one is actually the amusement park, and what should you know once you get inside? If it's your first time at Lotte World, it's much easier to get your bearings before thinking about which rides to try. First, Make Sure You're Looking for Lotte World Adventure In Jamsil, Lotte World does not refer to just one place. Lotte World Mall is the shopping mall. Lotte World Aquarium is a separate aquarium, and Seoul Sky is the observatory at Lotte World Tower. If you're here for...

When you first enter Lotte World Aquarium, it may seem like there is not much to figure out. Follow the signs from the entrance, and you pass a series of smaller tanks filled with fish and other animals as you make your way farther inside. Finding the next exhibit is not particularly difficult. But after walking for a while, a different set of questions begins to come up. Should you simply keep moving from tank to tank until you reach the end? When do you get to the main tank? Is a program listed on the schedule worth waiting for? At crowded tanks, it can be difficult to see from the back, and people who were moving through the exhibits a moment ago may suddenly stop in one place and wait. At Lotte World Aquarium, the arrows tell you where to go. They do not tell you where to stop or how long to stay. At Jamsil Station, Find Lotte World Mall First When you arrive at Jamsil Station, Lotte World, Lotte World Mall, Lotte World Tower, and Seoul Sky are all clustered in the same are...

Once you arrive at Jamsil Station, Lotte World Tower is easy to spot. The tower rises above the surrounding buildings and is visible from a distance. But reaching the base of the tower and entering the Seoul Sky observatory are two different things. Lotte World amusement park, Lotte World Mall, and the aquarium are all located nearby, so you still need to find the separate entrance to Seoul Sky. Lotte World Aquarium is inside Lotte World Mall and has its own separate entrance. This guide follows the full route: finding the entrance from Jamsil Station, passing through the underground admission area, taking the Sky Shuttle to the observation floors, reaching the glass floor on the 118th floor, and returning toward Jamsil Station after your visit. Quick Check Observation area: 117th–123rd floors Glass floor: Sky Deck on the 118th floor Tickets: Check the official Seoul Sky ticket page . Hours: Check the official hours and schedule for your visit date. 1. From Jamsil ...