South Korea Trip - Tips on Transportation

Getting from airport to your hotel is easier now!
There's subway that will take you from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station, from there you can transfer to your hotel. 

Subway map and transportation information
http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/TR/TR_EN_5_1_4.jsp

Korea Subway

They used a card called T-money, which is the card below
you put the card into a machine, then put 5000-10000 won into the card
every time you go somewhere it just deducts fare
when you enter the gate, they deduct 1000 won, if extra fare is needed, they will deduct more when you leave the station
T-money costs ~3000 won each and comes in Korean, Chinese, Japanese, English

Each stop has a google satellite map and free phone

M-pass

This is a 1 day, 2 day, 3 day, 5 day, and 7 day pass, you can take up to 20 rides per day...  it expires at midnight on the last day of validity. It can be used on buses, taxis, selected 

convenience stores.

There's a refundable deposit of 4500 won and a non-refundable service fee of 500 won. The M pass comes with a discount booklet of coupons for popular tourist attraction admissions.

1 day pass - 10000 won

2 day pass - 18000 won

3 day pass - 25500 won

5 day pass - 42500 won

7 day pass - 59500 won

The 1 day M-pass might be good if you are taking the subway to leave, which costs ~3500 won, then take another 6-7 single trips. 

something I hate about Korea subway.....

we know the station closes at 12am... 

one day we were able to catch the train before 12am

then it stopped right at 12pm and everyone is ask to leave the train and the station...

we are at the middle of nowhere... wow!!!

shouldn't there at least be a last train?? 

there's none.... all the trains just stop right at 12am and passengers were ask to leave.... what the....??

besides .... there's something really bad about the gates... 

let's say you entered the wrong gate, there's no way for you to go back to the other side

you will have to exit, pay fare again to enter the right gate... 

unless you stay in the wrong side and take the subway to a station where you can cross back to the other side for free... 

Our motel is on Jong no 5 ga (a street)
We took Subway from Incheon Airport to Seoul Station, then change to Line 1 and off at Jong-no 5 ga station.
Airport Express #6002 can go there
it stops at section 4 and section 6 of the street, we just walk to section 5
10000 won per ticket, 1000 won discount after coupon
go to the counter in the picture below
earliest bus starts at 5:00am




an example of how an airport express looks like

South Korea Tax Refund (airport)

Updated Dec 13, 2013

Korea now has 3 tax refund companies...

1) Global Tax Refund  www.globalblue.com

2) Global Tax Free  www.global-taxfree.com

3) Cube Refund  http://www.cuberefund.co.kr/eng/intro/greeting.asp

This is by far the most stupid way to do tax refund.....

- you need to line up 3 times...
- #1 Global Tax Refund and #2 Global Tax Free counters INSIDE the gate, beside each other at Gate 28  
- #3 Cube Refund -- you need to scan your receipts into the Cube Refund that is OUTSIDE the gate (where you get the custom stamp), then you head into Gate 27 to get cash from the Cube Refund machine

Takes about 30 mins to get your tax refund....





Follow the procedure below:

 1. If you see the above signs in front of the store, then the goods you buy from Korea are tax free. But just in case, go ask the salespeople. They might not understand English, just ask "Tax Free"? Sometimes if it's on sale, they don't give you tax refund, but some stores offer tax refund even if there's a sale.

This is for Global Blue + Global Tax Free... 
** same store same receipt, spend 30000-49999 won --> REFUND 1500 won
** same store spend 50000+ won --> REFUND 3500 won
** same store, spend 30000 won x 2, they will refund you 1500 won x 2 = 3000 won
** but if you spend 60000 won altogether in 1 bill, they can refund 3500 won

Tax Refund Chart﹕

30,000 - 49,999 won --> REFUND 1500 won
50,000 - 74,999 won  --> REFUND  3500 won
75,000 - 99999 won  --> REFUND 5000 won
100,000 - 124,999 won  --> REFUND 6000 won
125,000 - 149,999 won  --> REFUND 7500 won
150,000 - 174,999 won  --> REFUND 9000 won
175,000 - 199,999 won  --> REFUND 10000 won
200,000 - 224,999 won  --> REFUND 12000 won

** if you did spend a big sum of money in 2 separate transactions, try talking to the salesperson to see if they can combine the receipts for a bigger refund. I've done that and have no problems **

2. When you arrive to the airport, go check in first. Tell the check in representative your luggage contains tax refundable goods. He will weigh it, DON'T PUT THIS LUGGAGE ON THE BELT YET, go to Counter D or J (Oversize Baggage Input area), show your receipts and goods to the customs clerk (if you are lucky enough to meet a lazy dude, he will just take a glance at your items and stamp your receipts). Check to make sure you get all receipts back then put your luggage on the belt.

** Remember all cosmetics over 100mL are NOT allowed in hand-carry luggages **

** If your tax free goods are in your hand-carry luggages, go through immigration and you'll see Customs Counter at Counter C, E, H, and K. Follow Step 2 above. 

3. Go through immigration, then to Gate 27 & 28 to get your tax refund (USD or won)
** Gate 27 - Cube Refund
** Gate 28 - Global Blue Tax Refund, Global Tax Free

4. Enjoy the rest of your shopping trip in duty free stores. 

For more information: http://www.seoulcitytour.net/English/eng_menu_05_04_4.html
Tax Return: http://www.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_1_4.jsp

Korea Purchase Special Spree

I am going to Seoul, South Korea from Nov 29 - Dec 2. I can help purchase any brand of cosmetic/ skincare (including Sulwhasoo samples). 

Deadline to order: Nov 22, 2013

Deadline to pay: Nov 23, 2013

1) Purchasing cost: 10-15% (light weighted products 10%, heavy products 15%)

2) Please read purchasing details 

http://koyukipalaceeng.blogspot.ca/p/korea-purchase.html

3) Purchasing category:

    a) Korea cosmetic/ skincare brand (Please refer to the list below)

    b) Sulwhasoo samples

         http://koyukipalaceeng.blogspot.ca/p/buy-sulwhasoo-samples.html

4) If purchasing cosmetics/ skincare, please email the required info to koyuki.palace@gmail.com

 Name  Skinfood Watery Berry Emulsion  

 URL  http://www.theskinfood.com/shopping/product.asp?prdno=1553

 Price  15000 won

 Color  for cosmetics ie. eyeshadow, BB cream, lipstick, palettes 

 Quantity  2 

5) If purchasing Sulwhasoo samples, please refer to the list below. Send me the name, quantity, price and email to koyuki.palace@gmail.com

 http://koyukipalaceeng.blogspot.ca/p/buy-sulwhasoo-samples.html

6) Mailable areas: Hong Kong, Taiwan, Canada, USA, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia and etc...

7) Mailing methods﹕ registered mail, EMS, shipping extra

** Category #a products will be mailed directly from Korea **

** Category #b products will be mailed from Korea to Hong Kong then from Hong Kong to your address, shipping will be cheaper this way **

8) Payment: after confirmation, please pay in full, I will refund any out of stock items

I have Hong Kong bank accounts (HSBC), Canada bank account, (RBC, BNS, TD, HSBC, CIBC, ING, BMO, Coast Capital Savings). If you don't either of these accounts, you must pay by Paypal (USD). That means I can only accept HKD, CAD, USD~~

9) If the list below does not have the brands you want and you know where to buy them, feel free to email me, I'll see if I can help.

Brands: 

Banila Co.
Beauty Credit
Baviphat
Charmzone
Dr. Jart+
Enprani
Etude House
Elishacoy
Hanskin
Hera
Holika Holika
Innisfree
It's Skin
Imselene
Laneige
Mamonde
Missha
MJ Care
MIZON
Nature Republic
Skinfood
Skin79
Sulwhasoo
Secret Key
Skylake
The History of Whoo
The Face Shop
Tony Moly
The Saem
Tears

Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream

50mL, 25000 won

I bought this on gmarket with the help of my supplier.

Lioele has a few stores in Korea... but I haven't been able to have any luck locating the place

I used it a few times then put it away for a few months cause my Hanskin BB cream seems to work better...

I repeatedly use it once or twice then put it away until recently.. I start to use it everyday!!

What's so good about it??

- colour is perfect (has a yellow tone, suitable for yellowish skintone)

- medium to high coverage

- covers blemishes, dark spots, acne, dark eye circles very well

- no SPF, so it's not thick and greasy (remember to use an SPF product underneath)

- feels light

- silky texture, dewy finish

- easy to blend

- cute pink packaging

- oil control is quite good (still need oil blotting after 4 hours)

One pump is more than enough for the whole face, I also use it on my neck

Concealer is not needed, if you only have small pimples, light eye circles, it can cover well !

I set my face with loose powder afterwards, perfect finish!

I like the fact that it doesn't contain SPF !

I normally use sun protection before I apply my BB cream anyways, so I really don't need a BB cream with SPF to increase pressure on my skin!

It only comes in 1 shade, which has a yellowish tone, suitable for Asian ladies.

There's nothing I don't like about this BB cream, it's one of the best I've ever tried !

Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Peeling Gel

120 mL, 20000-25000 won

I got a sample to try and didn't get the full size.

Ingredients include extracts from blueberries, raspberries, wolfberries, cranberries and strawberry which deliver abundant nutrition and anti-oxidants to protect your face from harmful free radicals

This product replaced the Strawberry Yogurt Peeling.

The previous version contained bigger beads, whereas this one contains microbeads that you can hardly see... I was expecting the new version to be similar, such as having the same "eraser" peeling effect... however after scrubbing for awhile, I only see a little bit of eraser bits... 

some people say it exfoliates on a cellular level.. meaning that we aren't suppose to see it ??

The texture is like a yogurt. It's very gentle and you can rub it on your skin without irritating or drying your skin.

Another interesting thing... you are suppose to use this on wet skin and not dry! 

I do feel my skin being smoother after use... but certainly not a WOW and I wouldn't get it again...

THE FACE SHOP Hyaluronic Acid Mask Sheet

1000 won

I happen to pass by a subway station and THE FACE SHOP has buy 5 get 1 free + free samples.

I just randomly picked a few.

What is Hyaluronic Acid?

- an important substance in the human skin that maintains skintone, moisture and radiance

- without hyaluronic acid, your skin will face dryness, fine lines and wrinkles

- has a high ability to lock moisture, 16 times more powerful than that of collagen! 

- 1g of Hyaluronic Acid can absorb 500 cc of water

- has 500-1000 times moisture absorbing ability

- power hydrating and moisturizing ingredient

- stimulates cell renewal, smoothens and softens your skin, also good for scars and acne

- popular ingredient found in skincare

The mask sheet contains a lot of essence, is oil free and smells refreshing

There's enough essence to cover my neck.

But after 30 mins, my neck is really sticky... maybe I applied too much essence?

It does make my skin feel smooth, soft and moisturized! 

It's also good for sensitive skin or acne skin.

The packaging is quite nice, they avoided the glossy type of packaging... 

compared to the Etude House Hyaluronic Acid Mask Sheet, I think I like the Etude House better

However, the smell is very perfumey!!
I feel like I am applying perfume on my face?? 
Also, the cutting of the mask sheet is weird.. it seems to be too big for the average girls..

Etude House Vitamin C Sheet Mask

20g, 1000 won 

Ingredients include 20 mg Vitamin C & 200 mg lemon extract, which aids in whitening, hydration, provides anti-oxidant, brightens skin tone and brings radiance.

Using it before sleep helps get your skin ready for the repairing and renewal process.
Using it before make up helps your make up stay on your face better.

The mask contains lots of essence, quite watery, can't smell any vitamin C. 

Personally, I don't find Vitamin C quite helpful in terms of whitening...

Directions:

wash and dry your face --> toner --> Apply Vitamin C mask for 15-20 mins --> lotion/ cream
*** The mask contains essence and replaces the serum ***

Benefits for Vitamin C to your skin: 
- aids in collagen production 
- reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- protects your skin against UVA/ UVB so you don't get red spots 

Vitamin C is an unstable vitamin, once it gets in contact with light or high temperature, it gets damaged. 

It is a vitamin that the human body cannot product, so we must absorb from other sources such as food, supplements and skincare.  An average adult needs ~40g Vitamin C per day, which is equal to 1 orange, 1 peach or 1 kiwi. Those who smokes need 2x as much Vitamin C as someone who doesn't smoke.