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How to budget for 7 days in Korea?

I would say you could make do with RM1,200 (~400,000 won) for ground arrangement - lodging, food, transportation in Seoul and admission tickets.

Warning: 
  1. This budget is without flight ticket and shopping budget. 
  2. Flight fare will depend on which airline and the date you choose to fly ; season or off season.
  3. This itinerary does not cover for places out of Seoul except for Nami Island. 
  4. For Busan, Gyeongju, Jeju Island and ski or snowboarding trip, you may need more expenses. 
  5. Price may change. 
7 days budget (for one person)

Day 1 -  Subway from Incheon Airport to Seoul = 4,800 won 
             (Optional: Limousine bus 14,000 won )
             Guest house stay 6 nights, dormitory style - 20,000 x 6 = 120,000
             T-Money for 7 days - 20,000 won + 3,000 won (deposit) = 23,000
             Jjimjilbang - 12,000 won
             Breakfast/lunch/dinner - 15,000 won
             Tips: You can get a fulfilling decent meal for 5,000 won and rest your 
             bones at jjimjilbang for a change. ^^

Day 2 -  Gyeongbok palace / Chandeok palace - 3,000 won
             Insadong
             Jongno
             Cheongye Stream
             Gwanghamun
             Breakfast/lunch/dinner - 15,000 won
             Tips: If you visit Chandeok palace, you can just walk to Insadong, 
             Jongno, Cheongye Stream and Gwanghamun

Day 3 -  Namdaemun
             Myeongdong
             Namsan Tower and Cable car - 15,000 won
             Breakfast/lunch/dinner - 15,000 won
             Tips: Visit Namdaemun first early morning and try to go in weekday, 
             then go to Myeongdong and after that walk up the hill to Namsan Cable 
             Car Station

Day 4 -  Everland / Lotte World - 35,000 won
             Breakfast/lunch/dinner - 15,000 won
             Tips: Lotte World is in Seoul while Everland is in Yongin. So, you have 
             to take a shuttle bus to Everland and prepare to go out early from 
             your guesthouse.

Day 5 -  Nami Island - 15,000 won
             Itaewon
             Dongdaemun
             Breakfast/lunch/dinner - 15,000 won
             Tips: Go early in the morning to Nami Island because you need to take 
             an hour and a half train to Gapyeong Station. You could visit Seoul 
             Mosque in Itaewon and after that go to Dongdaemun in late evening 
             because shopping in Dongdaemun preferably be done at night.

Day 6 -  DMZ - 50,000 - 70,000 won (depends on package)
             Yeoido park
             Hangang Cruise - 9,000 won / 63 Building (Sky Art, Sea World, IMAX 
             theater, Wax Museum)
             KBS/MBC tour (walking distance from Yeoido Park)
             Breakfast/lunch/dinner - 15,000 won
             Tips: DMZ is the border between South Korea and North Korea. 

Day 7 -  Final shopping day
             Breakfast/lunch/dinner - 15,000 won
             Subway from Seoul to Incheon Airport  = 4,800 won 
             (Optional: Limousine bus 14,000 won )

Estimated total: RM1,200 ~ 400,000 won
 (You can even lower your budget to less than RM1,000 if you exclude DMZ / 63 building)

Check out walking tour budget by KNTO here

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Korea Online Contest

Click here for the contest

How To:
  1. Sign up for membership
  2. Login to VisitKorea website
  3. Answer the online quiz and play the online flash game (Jachigi) as much as you can; the more you play the higher the chances to win.
Prizes
1st - 10 winner -  round trip ticket to Korea
2nd - 5 winner - magnet
         5 winner - chest inlaid with pearl 
         5 winner - lucky pouch
         5 winner - Korean doll

Jachigi is a game where a long stick and two short sticks is hit and caught. First, a circular hole is dug on the ground, and a circle is drawn on the outside. After placing a short stick around the outside of the hole, it is hit with the long stick, and the rebounding stick (the short one that was just hit), is hit again with the long stick in mid-air, sending it flying far away. Source: Wikipedia


Hmm..somewhat similar to Malaysian children's game too eh?  Konda kondi


From Lat's cartoon: Malaysian tradtional game. 




Click here for the article in Korean. Anyone care to translate? 

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My Girlfriend is a Gumiho


I just finished watching Korean drama 'My Girlfriend is a Gumiho' and my verdict: Two thumbs up!



What I like about 'My Girlfriend is a Gumiho' / 내 여친은 구미호?

  • The drama was superb at least for the first 10 episodes. Not many Korean dramas could sustain my interest till the end.
  • The hero is not that handsome (to my standard) as like other typical heroes in Korean drama. Hence, I think that it is almost similar to real life standard..Heheheh..no offence to Lee Seung Gi's fans.
  • The drama was written by the Hong sisters( Hong Jung Eun and  Hong Mi Ran ) who have written - You're beautiful, My Girl and Delightful Girl Chun Hyang. All these Korean dramas are my favourite!
  • Because it reminded me of Naruto - my cat or even the anime character Naruto who has a nine-tailed fox embedded into him. 
  • The chemistry between Lee Seung Gi and Shin Min Ah
  • Shin Min Ah was so gorgeous and cute!! (I rarely compliment other women's beauty and etc but she gets you deeper and deeper into the drama)
  • The villain...arghhhh..is he even human? He should remain as a goblin..^_^ How can a man be that pretty?!!
  • Even the side story; an ahjumma and ahjussi's love story was hilarious! *Check out the farting-in-the-elevator scene*

What's so interesting about Nine Tail fox? 
As per WikipediaThe kumiho (literally "nine tailed fox") is a creature that appears in the oral tales and legends of Korea,[1], and are akin to European faeries. According to those tales, a fox that lives a thousand years turns into a kumiho, like its Japanese and Chinese counterparts (the kitsune and the huli jing).[2] It can freely transform, among other things, into a beautiful girl often set out to seduce men, and eat their liver. There are numerous tales in which the kumiho appears. Several of those can be found in the encyclopedic Compendium of Korean Oral Literature (한국 구비문학 대계).

The drama is also known as My Girlfriend is a Nine-Tailed Fox.


Source: 
Download at Medium Quality
Subtitle at WithS2
Soompi forum


Spoiler: 
There's a part in the drama where Lee Seung Gi and Shin Min Ah took a ferry cruise. It was shot near Hangang (Han River). Those who wants to take a cruise (night is recommended), check the details here

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Benikea Hotels Contest in Korea

Benikea hotels (Korea Tourism) is currently running a contest. This is a great chance for you to get an opportunity to visit Korea for FREE!!

Win 1,200,000 Won!!

Contest Date: 15th October - 7th November 2010
Result Date: 8th November 2010

Contest Rules:
  1. Winner is determined by drawing lots
  2. Prize will be given in Won when winner enters Korea
  3. There will be a 22% tax deduction on the prize
  4. Cash is given after deduction of Benikea Hotels and airfare cost
Benikea Hotels listed in South Korea are:
  • Hotel Acacia - Seoul (near to Myeongdong, Namdaemun, Dongdaemun and Gwanghamun)
  • Permier Songdo Bridge Hotel - Incheon
  • Premier Incheon Royal Hotel - Incheon
  • Hotel Press - Busan
  • Gyungpo Beach Hotel - Gangwon-do
  • Hotel Savoy - Gyeongsangnam-do
  • Hotel Jeju Crystal - Jeju-do
Check the official website for the contest and accommodation booking: Benikea Hotel

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