this is old.
2016.04
Address
Google maps, etc might not show our apartment if searching via our address.
Google, etc, old addres format for our “block” works, which is:
Daechi dong 633 ( 대치동 633 )
Korean:
서울특별시 강남구 삼성로 51길 37,
래미안대치팰리스, 111동 1403호
06280
English:
Raemian Daechi Palace, 111-dong 1403-ho
37, Samseong-ro 51-gil, Gangnam-gu
Seoul 06280
ie, we are in building 111, apt 1403
Subway stations. We are between Dogok (yellow/wangsimni line) exit 2 and Daechi (orange/line 3) exit 1.
Formal “korea new format” address, used by taxi drivers’ GPS systems and postal. Simply showing the address should work. BUT… some old GPS units do not have our address in the new korean format as our complex is only one year old. Adventure time, haha! Directions relative to subway station would be the alternative.
e.g. Daechi station.
대치역 일번출구
“Deachi station” “exit 1”
Here are some google map links (google can be terribly inaccurate with places in Seoul, fyi):
Seoul City Airport ( 한국도심공항 ): https://goo.gl/maps/6f3Tijn2qW
Our apartment complex ( 래미안대치팰리스 ): https://goo.gl/maps/oAEcoEt9p5
In Naver maps:
http://naver.me/FBR14MKR
Using Daum/Naver maps (app or map.naver.com/map.daum.net) is best for navigating/subway/bus, but requires Korean language guessing. Naver/Daum also have specific metro apps on the app stores.
Direct limo bus 6103 between ICN and Coex City Airport Terminal:
http://www.calt.co.kr/common/c
There are also other direct airport or KAL buses from ICN to other areas. e.g. 6009 to our place, including Hotel Peyto by Yangjae station.
Hotels
There’s aren’t any hotels within a block or two of us, as we are in a more residential area. But there are hotels short distances away, with a few right by the city airport (where you can check in directly when returning to ICN). There are also Airbnb options (including units in our complex!) close by.
a) By Seoul City Airport / COEX. Only 2.5 km away from us. Cab/bus/subway. Even walkable when not a hot day (same area as Annie’s office).
Choices are either simple or fancy :). Hotel Peyto Samseong, Intercontinental Grand Pranas or Park Hyatt. Park Hyatt rates are pricey, but if you have points, it appears to be just 10k points + $100usd per night.
b) In the vicinity. Gangnam and other areas surrounding COEX has options. Hotel Peyto also has another location by Yangjae station, which is on subway line 3 towards us, and only a stop from Gangnam.
c) Airbnb
Lots of options in Seoul on AirBnb. The closest is our apartment complex for full sized apartments. Other options are available in the immediate area. You can see a few searching “Daechi 1il-dong, Seoul, South Korea”. Make sure to check the unit has AC in summer; it is HOT in the summer. First time using airbnb? use our link http://www.airbnb.com/c/sl111 🙂
Contact
Best ways are :
a) via Messaging apps: Whatsapp (US numbers), Kakao (US numbers) or Hangouts (our gmail addresses).
b) calls via Whatsapp or Hangouts. Skype is iffy in Korea (google it to understand).
c) calls direct to our Korean numbers [a: +82 (0)10 nine-9-six-seven zeo-962. s: +82 (0)10 five-3-zero-five eight-977] +82 (0) means you skip the zero if dialing from non korean number, or 010…. if from local number
d) prefer messaging app over sms.
Data, Wifi, Phone SIM
If you want a phone sim for fast local data, pre-ordering online (egsim / olleh) or getting it at airport (you will see sk telecom or olleh counter) is best. In town, with a passport, has it’s hassles. Activations for foreigners generally will not work on weekends due to passport information not propagating in government systems then. ie, pre order if arriving on weekend.
Pre-order:
https://roaming.kt.com/rental/eng/reserve2/reserve.asp
http://www.egsimcard.co.kr/eng/buy-eg-sim-card/online/buy-egsimcard.asp
There are also other MVNOs when you do a google search.
At airport:
SK Usim or Olleh Sim. Olleh is priciest, but 4g data is completely unlimited so you can hotspot share it with your devices. Olleh also has portable wifi router (“egg”) for shorter stays.
Wifi in the city:
Lots of wifi in the city. Generally blanketed by OllehWifi. You can buy a code at a convenience store, or in advance while you are connected. https://first.wifi.olleh.com/m/index_en_new.html
Bus from airport
At Incheon, come out door 4. Bus ticket booth will be on the left. On right you will see a row of signs with different bus numbers. For COEX, there is a Korean Air Limo. For our place or Hotel Peyto Gangnam, Airport Limo 6009 Daechi Dong bus. Our stop is the “Daechi Dong” 대치동 stop. For Hotel Peyto Gangnam, get off at the “Bangbang Sageori” 뱅뱅사거리 stop.
Gifts/etc
We love you and you’re enough. If you’d really like to shower extra love on A, and really want to bring or send something though, some little things to avoid: Anything that might grow bacteria quickly (e.g. flowers), strange supplements, etc. Or trinkets that effectively become more “stuff” to deal with later.