Korea - a bit of a travel dilemma

[whughes3]

Just booked In for dinner at jungsik. We are staying in myeongdong at hotel28.
We arrive at 2230 on plane and was just thinking of booking a transfer , not sure I can be bothered trying to figure out how to get to the hotel that late at night

Hotel28 is a good choice: I am there right now, checking out this afternoon to fly out. It is a breeze to get to/from during the day, but as you have found it is a bit of a problem out of hours, a transfer may be your best bet.

 

[serfty]

Notionally the right side of the table is in NK:





South Korea is to the left.

 

[serfty]

Here's the building:



North Korea / South Korea runs "through" the building - a concrete strip marks the border.

 

[tm.smile]

Just got back from Seoul last Friday, everything was very normal in South Korea (eerily so). Went on a DMZ tour on the 18th and agree with what others have said.

 

[henleybeach]

Hotel28 is a good choice: I am there right now, checking out this afternoon to fly out. It is a breeze to get to/from during the day, but as you have found it is a bit of a problem out of hours, a transfer may be your best bet.

Ah cool sounds good , plenty to do around the area? There was so many hotel choices I had no idea what area would be good!

 

[Dust For Eyes]

So is the election campaigning still as annoying as it used to be? It was getting bad.

https://youtu.be/8-mbV6tiqIg

The presidential election is May 9.

As anyone who has done a risk management course would know, risk has two dimensions: likelihood and consequence.

As others have mentioned, the likelihood of something happening is very low. In (almost) all likelihood you'll be fine.

The consequences if something did happen though are rather high. So what to do about that?

Just, 'being worried,' does no good. It will just ruin your holiday, so don't do that. Instead enjoy your trip and have some concrete plans in place so you know what to do in case of something happens. So what kind of plans?

Firstly, every Seoul (if that's where you are) subway station is a bomb shelter. Follow the crowd to there.

Secondly, get out of the country. Be prepared to leave the country at a moment's notice.

So at all times, have your passport with you and some very basic essentials like medication, money/credit card, layers of clothing, maybe a change of undies if you're feeling luxurious.

But how to get out? The airport will be everyone's first idea, but the state of airports could be anything ranging from normal service to not being there anymore. So know your secondary airports and at least know how to quickly buy a ticket for those flights. If ticket buying means using the internet, prepare for that to be slow if working at all. Oh have a spare battery pack for your phone that has its own internet connectivity.

Being in an aircraft while in the range of a ballistic missile will certainly be a test of nerves.

So alternatively consider a ferry. There are ferry services to Japan, Russia and China. China would be my choice. Shanghai is close and will have good transport options for your ongoing journey. Visas might be fiddly, but you can deal with that. So at least know how to get a ferry including secondary ports. If you're feeling paranoid or have a family to care for, you could buy some fully refundable tickets.

Thirdly, know what your travel insurance will cover and how to invoke it.

Fourthly, register with Smart Traveller so the government will know to go looking for you.

But really, nothing is likely to happen. Enjoy your trip and be wary of those sweetened pizzas they have in Seoul.

 

[dk4]

There are ferry services to Japan, Russia and China. China would be my choice.

It may seem a little bit counter intuitive, but I think the most likely response by China (in the event of any US physical attack on North Korea or surgical strike on its dictator) would be to immediately invade North Korea, terminating the power structure and seizing control (in the last few weeks they seem to have have amassed significant troop numbers on the border). I would imagine that China wants the USA directly on its border, as much as JFK wanted Soviet missiles in Cuba in the 60s.

I think the only immediate player in the region to stay relatively "un-impacted", in most scenarios, would be Russia, which has eyes firmly facing west at the moment.

 

[whughes3]

Ah cool sounds good , plenty to do around the area? There was so many hotel choices I had no idea what area would be good!

The location is excellent: shops/eateries/street markets in every direction, walking distance to lots of major sights and the subway.

 

[LA10]

I returned last night from an amazing and indulgent trip to South Korea - Seoul and Jeju Island. Highly recommend Jungsik. I never felt uneasy/unsafe.

 

[henleybeach]

Just arrived back today from Korea. Loved it . Safe , friendly people . Hotel28 was a great hotel and jungsik was amazing . Thanks for the tips , we had a good little week away