Essentials

Everything you need to have set up before you board LX122 on Apr 14, and every step between landing and dropping your bag at Hithere City Myeongdong.

At a glance

• Before ZRH boarding: verify K-ETA, install apps, buy eSIM, order T-money cards on Klook (optional)
• At ICN arrival (Wed Apr 15 07:30): activate eSIM, clear immigration, grab T-money at a convenience store, get to Myeongdong
• In Korea: tap T-money everywhere, Kakao T for taxis, Naver Map for directions — not Google Maps (it doesn't route properly in Korea)

Apps

Install before you fly. Airport wifi is fine but a lot of these need first-run setup that's easier at home.

Essential — install tonight

App	What for	Why over alternatives
Naver Map	Walking, driving, public transit	Google Maps can't route walking in Korea (gov't restriction on map data export). Naver is the default.
Kakao Map	Same as Naver Map, second opinion	Sometimes has better English business names. Also handles subway exits better.
Kakao T	Taxis (like Uber)	Korea's only real taxi app. Accepts foreign cards. Uber operates here as a Kakao T partner.
Papago	Translation, camera OCR	Naver's translator — significantly better than Google Translate for Korean menus and signs.
Subway Korea (or KakaoMetro)	Subway routing	Offline subway maps with transfer times.
KakaoTalk	Messaging — Korea's WhatsApp	Some tour guides, Airbnb hosts, and businesses only reply on KakaoTalk.

Booking & tickets

App	What for
Klook	Tours (DMZ, ARTE Museum), KTX tickets, baseball tickets, jjimjilbang passes. English-friendly, accepts any card.
Trazy	Alternative to Klook, sometimes cheaper for DMZ tours.
Interpark Global	Concert and KBO tickets when Klook doesn't have them.
Trip.com	Hotels, flights, KTX, easier checkout than Korean sites for foreign cards.
Agoda	Hotels — generally strongest for Korean inventory.

Nice to have

• Visit Korea (official KTO app) — has offline guides and translated restaurant menus
• Naver Weather — more accurate for Seoul than most Western apps
• Coupang Eats / Shuttle / Baro — food delivery. Most require a Korean phone number; Shuttle is the one that works with foreign numbers for English-speaking customers.
• WiseConverter or your bank app — watch KRW/CHF mid-market rate
• Revolut / Wise — multi-currency cards (see "Money" below for caveats)

Skip these

• Google Translate — install only as backup, Papago is significantly better
• Uber — works, but it's just a Kakao T reskin, so go to the source

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Airport → your hotel (ICN T1 → Hithere City Myeongdong)

You land at ICN Terminal 1 on Wed Apr 15 at 07:30 on SWISS LX122. Your hostel is at 31 Myeongdong 4-gil, Jung-gu — 2 min walk from Myeongdong Station (Line 4) Exit 6.

Realistic clearance timing: out of the arrivals hall by ~08:30 (including bags and immigration on a weekday morning; longer if big flights land with you).

Ranked options for 3 people with luggage

My recommendation

KAL Limousine Bus #6015 door-to-door from ICN to Myeongdong for your arrival day. Simplest with 3 people and luggage after a 13-hour flight.

1. KAL Limousine Bus #6015 — best for arrival day

• Route: ICN T1 Bus Stop 3B or 10A → Myeongdong Lotte Hotel (your hostel is a 3-min walk from that stop)
• Duration: 70–80 min
• Cost: ₩18,000 per person (~$13). Total for 3: ~₩54,000 (~$40).
• Frequency: every 15–25 min, 05:20 first bus → 22:50 last
• How: Buy tickets at the counter in the arrivals hall OR tap T-money / credit card on board. Luggage goes in the side compartments, driver handles it.
• Why it wins for arrival: no subway transfer with jet-lagged bodies and bags. Drops at a hotel on the same street as Hithere City.

2. AREX Express + 1 subway stop — fastest

• Route: ICN T1 B1 floor → AREX Express → Seoul Station (43 min) → transfer to Line 4 (1 stop north) → Myeongdong Station Exit 6 → 3 min walk
• Duration: ~60 min total
• Cost: ₩11,000 pp AREX + ₩1,400 pp subway = ~₩12,400 pp (~$9). Total for 3: ~₩37,200.
• Frequency: every 25 min. Nonstop, reserved seats.
• How: Buy at the AREX ticket counter or machine (cards OK); keep the paper ticket for the gate.
• Catch: At Seoul Station, the AREX-to-Line-4 transfer is a 5-min walk with signage but has stairs in places.

3. AREX All-Stop (Regular) — cheapest

• Route: ICN T1 → Seoul Station via 10 intermediate stops (58 min) → Line 4 → Myeongdong (1 stop)
• Duration: ~75 min
• Cost: ₩4,750 pp (+ ₩1,400 subway). Total for 3: ~₩18,500 (~$14)
• How: Tap T-money at the gate. No reserved seating.
• Catch: Commuter-train-style, busier, harder with big bags.

4. Taxi (Kakao T or airport queue) — most expensive but door-to-door

• Route: ICN T1 ground floor taxi rank → Myeongdong (direct)
• Duration: 55–75 min depending on traffic
• Cost: ₩60,000–90,000 + ₩8,000 expressway toll (~$50–70 total for the whole group)
• How: Queue at the official taxi stand at exits 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, or open Kakao T.
• When worth it: Late-night arrival (not your case) or raining hard.

5. Private transfer (pre-booked via Klook / Trazy)

• Cost: ₩100,000–130,000 flat for sedan up to 3 pax
• Why it's overkill for your 07:30 weekday arrival. Save this for the return leg if you want to guarantee timing.

Departure-day (Wed Apr 29, LH713 at 12:20)

Reverse it. See travel.md §7 — Airport transfers for working-backward timing. Short version: leave Myeongdong by 08:15, catch AREX Express 08:50 from Seoul Station, be at ICN T1 by 09:55 — 2h25 before the 12:20 wheels-up.

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Money & payments

Korea went nearly cashless in the last 5 years. Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere, contactless is universal.

Cards

• Visa / Mastercard credit and debit both work 95%+ of places. Bring two issuers in case one flags a transaction.
• Amex — accepted at hotels and big department stores, not reliable at small restaurants or taxis.
• Revolut caveat: Revolut cards have historically had issues at Korean ATMs and some merchants (the Mastercard debit product isn't always accepted; a handful of small merchants reject it). Also, Revolut currency conversion on weekends adds a ~1% markup. Bring a non-Revolut backup.
• Wise — works reliably for both ATM withdrawals and contactless.

Cash

• Keep ₩100,000 (~$75) on you. Needed for:
  • Traditional markets (Gwangjang, Noryangjin upstairs, Dongmyo flea market)
  • Pojangmacha (street tent bars at night)
  • Some jjimjilbang outer snack counters
  • A handful of old-school taxi drivers
• ATMs: use Citibank Korea, Shinhan Bank, KB Kookmin — look for the "Global ATM" label in subway stations.

T-money transit card

• Buy: at any CU, 7-Eleven, GS25, Emart24 convenience store in the airport arrivals hall (~₩3,000 empty card + ₩30,000 initial load)
• Works for: every subway, bus, AREX All-Stop, T-money taxis, convenience store purchases, some vending machines
• Does not work for: AREX Express (separate ticket), KTX, long-distance buses
• Top up: machine at any subway station. Cash and card both accepted.
• Leftover balance: you get 97% back at the airport refund counter; the fee under ₩20,000 makes it not worth refunding for most travelers.

Climate Card (optional)

• ₩65,000 for 30 days of unlimited Seoul metro + bus (also covers Han River bike share)
• Shorter passes: ₩55,000/30d without bike, other tiers for 3/5/7 days
• Worth it if you're riding the subway 4+ times every day for at least 7 days
• Does not cover trips to/from ICN Airport, GTX, or outside Seoul

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SIM / data

You want internet the moment you land, not after a tour of airport desks.

Airalo Korea — what the reviews actually say

Airalo is the default recommendation and mostly earns it, with a few caveats worth knowing before you buy:

The good

• Install in minutes — QR scan at home, activate when you land. Works first try for most travelers.
• Coverage is strong everywhere on your itinerary: central Seoul, Busan, and on the KTX in between.
• Responsive support — live chat replies fast, email within hours.
• Competitive pricing — Korea 10GB/30d hovers around $18–20.

The caveats

• Data-only. No traditional voice calls or SMS — use WhatsApp / iMessage / Telegram over data for calls. Most travelers don't notice; flag it if you expect to receive SMS 2FA codes.
• "Unlimited" plans throttle after 3GB/day to ~1 Mbps. Fine for maps and messaging, not for streaming or tethering heavy loads. If you hotspot the group off one phone, avoid the "Unlimited" tier and buy more GBs instead — fixed-GB plans don't throttle.
• Network attaches to KT (LTE-only) by default. If you want 5G, check the specific package's network list and pick one that routes through SK Telecom — some Airalo Korea packages do, most don't. Realistically, LTE in Seoul is already fast enough; 5G is a nice-to-have.
• A few edge-case complaints on Trustpilot about FaceTime failing to connect on LTE, and one-off activation hiccups resolved through support.

Verdict for your group: Airalo is fine for solo phones. If you're tethering all three people off one phone for 14 days, go up to 20GB/30d or stack two 10GB plans, and avoid the Unlimited tier because of the 3GB/day ceiling.

Alternatives worth comparing

Provider	Pros	Cons	Best for
Airalo	Cheapest, easy, reliable coverage	LTE by default, 3GB/day cap on Unlimited	Solo / light tethering
Holafly	Genuine unlimited (some reports of throttling over 10GB/day but looser than Airalo), simpler flat fee	~$5/day, no hotspot on some plans	Heavy streaming
Ubigi	5G via SK Telecom on most plans	Slightly higher price than Airalo	Want 5G
Jetpac / Nomad	Competitive pricing, 5G access	Smaller user base = fewer real-world reviews	Price shopping
KT Olleh / SKT counter at ICN	Physical SIM, unlimited, truly unlimited with no daily cap	Have to queue on arrival, passport required	Old-school / someone wants a local number
Pocket wifi (Egg)	One device shares among 3, no eSIM-compatible phone needed	Must stay together, rental return hassle	If anyone's phone is locked or old

How to install Airalo at home:

1. App Store / Play Store → "Airalo" → create account
2. Search "Korea" → pick plan (recommend Korea 10GB/30d × 2 or 20GB/30d for a group)
3. Install the eSIM profile but do NOT activate yet — activation starts the 30-day clock
4. On landing: Settings → Cellular → pick Korea eSIM → toggle ON; toggle your Swiss line to data-OFF (keep SMS for 2FA)

Option B — physical SIM / pocket wifi

• KT Olleh / SK Telecom counters in ICN arrivals — ~₩30,000 for 10 days unlimited. Requires passport. Fine if you land and decide against the eSIM.
• Pocket wifi (Egg) — ~₩5,000/day rented from Trazy / Klook, pickup at the airport. One device shares among 3. Good if anyone's phone isn't eSIM-compatible.

Skip

• Swisscom / Sunrise / Salt Korea roaming — pricey and usually throttled.

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K-ETA & arrival

K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization)

• Swiss passports have been K-ETA exempt through at least end of 2025. Verify at k-eta.go.kr tonight — policy renews year-to-year.
• If exempt: just show up. Use the Q-Code for health declaration (below).
• If required: ~₩10,000 fee, 72h processing, valid 3 years. Apply online at k-eta.go.kr with passport photo + trip details. Do it before boarding LX122.

Q-Code (Korean digital arrival card)

• Short online health declaration at cov19ent.kdca.go.kr — takes 2 minutes, saves queuing for the paper form on arrival. Do it on the plane during descent with airline wifi if you skip it at home.

At ICN on landing

1. Immigration — passport + face scan. E-gate open if you've been to Korea before. Otherwise the manual counters.
2. Baggage claim — your 2 checked bags per person (LX122 gave you 2 × 23kg each).
3. Customs — green lane unless you're declaring something. Keep your eSIM active and the customs app (if you used one) handy.
4. Exit to Arrivals Hall (1F) — convenience store for T-money + water; exchange desk if you want cash now; KAL Limousine ticket counter is at Gate 4.

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Gyms near the hostel

Hithere City Myeongdong is at 31 Myeongdong 4-gil. Toegye-ro (the east-west spine of Myeongdong) is 1 block south — that's where most of the gym options live, all within a 5–8 min walk.

Drop-in passes

Korean gyms run on memberships by default, but Myeongdong-area gyms routinely sell single-session day passes to tourists. Expect ₩10,000–25,000 per session. Bring your own sneakers — some gyms require clean indoor-only shoes.

Closest options

• Body Flex Gym — 97 Toegye-ro, Myeongdong. ~5 min walk from the hostel. Open 06:00–23:00 daily. Day pass ₩20,000 (~$15). Well-maintained equipment; lends t-shirts and shower necessities if you forgot yours. Tourist-friendly, English signage. The most recommended spot for your location.
• 101 Fitness Myeongdong (Fitness 101) — spacious gym in the Myeongdong blocks. Has a weight area, CrossFit zone, Pilates studio, golf simulator, and relaxation area. Offers short-term plans; message them on Instagram (@fitness101_myeongdong) or Naver to confirm drop-in pricing before you go — they're more geared toward weekly/monthly but flexible for tourists.
• Anytime Fitness Myeongdong — global 24/7 chain. If you already have an Anytime Fitness membership anywhere in the world, it works here for free. Otherwise drop-in rates aren't advertised — some branches sell, others don't. 3 branches in Seoul total; the Myeongdong one is closest to your hostel.

Budget / chains further out

• SpoAny — 82 locations across Seoul/Incheon, mostly 24-hour (reduced hours on holidays and weekends). Day passes ~₩10,000. A branch is within 15 min on the subway.
• Able Gym — local budget chain with 24/7 access; good equipment. Multiple central locations.

What to bring

• Indoor-only sneakers (most Korean gyms ban outdoor shoes on the floor)
• Your own padlock for the locker — many gyms provide free lockers but bring-your-own lock is standard
• Towel — some gyms lend them, some don't. Body Flex lends.
• Passport once on first visit — they often ask for foreign ID for drop-ins

If you want a pool or a sauna workout mix

• Dragon Hill Spa (your arrival-day jjimjilbang in Yongsan) has a swimming pool and gym included with the jjimjilbang ticket (~₩15,000). 1 subway stop from Myeongdong on Line 4.
• Sejong Hotel Fitness Club (inside the Sejong Hotel, 5 min walk) has a pool and gym with pay-per-use day passes for non-guests — pricier (~₩30–50k) but posh.

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Etiquette

For Korean phrases, numbers, menu words, and basic Hangul → see 🗣️ Language.

Etiquette quick hits

• Shoes off in guesthouses, traditional restaurants, and temples
• Both hands when giving/receiving something from an elder, especially pouring drinks
• Don't stick chopsticks upright in rice — looks like funeral offering
• No tipping — not expected, occasionally offensive
• Quiet on the subway — don't speak loudly on the phone
• Pour for others first in a drinking group; let them pour yours
• Wait for the oldest person to pick up chopsticks before you start eating at a shared meal

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First-steps checklist (tick on the plane)

• [ ] K-ETA verified (exempt or approved)
• [ ] Q-Code submitted
• [ ] eSIM QR installed and ready to activate
• [ ] Naver Map, Kakao T, Papago installed and opened once
• [ ] Hostel address screenshot or saved offline: 31 Myeongdong 4-gil, Jung-gu
• [ ] KAL Limousine Bus stop: ICN T1 Gate 3B or 10A (outbound), Myeongdong Lotte Hotel (drop)
• [ ] Two payment cards in wallet (different issuers), ₩100k-equivalent in CHF cash or card-loaded
• [ ] Download offline Seoul map in Naver Map / Google Maps (for emergencies)
• [ ] Passports handy for K-ETA + customs, not buried in luggage