This document provides an overview of key information for Filipino workers going to South Korea, including details about the country's location, government, culture, laws, and living conditions. It covers South Korea's major cities, population, currency, public holidays, climate, languages spoken, religions practiced, foods commonly eaten, and tips for appropriate etiquette. Information is also given about transportation options, driving rules, business hours, hospitals, and natural hazards. The document lists statistics on Filipino migrant populations in South Korea and contact information for the Philippine Embassy and Filipino communities. References for additional online resources are included at the end.

1. Pre-Departure Orientation
Seminar for OFWs Bound for
South Korea

2. PDOS SOUTH KOREA
Official Name: Republic of Korea

3. FLAG

4. LOCATION
Travel Time from Manila
to SoKor : approx. 3
hours, 30 minutes
Land Area:
96,920 sq. km.

5. TERRAIN
mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

6. CAPITAL: Seoul

7. MAJOR CITIES
Busan Daegu Daejeon
Gwangju Incheon Ulsan

8. POPULATION: 49.11 million (July 2015 est.)
Source : www.cia.gov

9. GOVERNMENT
Presidential Republic
The South Korean government's
structure is determined by the
Constitution of the Republic of
Korea.

10. CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE RATE
South Korean Won (KRW)
Exchange Rate :
KRW per US Dollar :
1,053 (2014 est.)

11. COMMUNICATION
When Calling from South
Korea to Philippines:
Dial 001 + 63 + area
code+ tel. no.
When Calling from the
Philippines to Korea:
Dial 00 + 82 + area code +
tel. no.
Internet Country Code: .kr
Time Difference: 1 hour

12. TRANSPORTATION
Taxis
Bus
Subway Train Airplane E-Train

13. DRIVING TIPS
Road Signs are often written in both
English and Korean nationwide,
especially in the center of the major
cities, with the English print being a
little smaller.
Traffic Lights, especially red (stop)
lights are often treated more as
suggestions than as rules in Korea.
The amber light is usually a mere flash
between the red and green lights.

14. DRIVING TIPS
• Parking is a serious problem in
Korea. In Seoul, there are simply
too many automobiles. The streets
are too narrow and parking spaces
are very scarce.
• Speed limits are generally
around 60 miles per hour on
expressways; 50 miles per hour
on highways; 40 miles per hour
on rural roads; and 30 miles per
hour in urban areas.

15. BUSINESS HOURS
Banks
Weekdays: 09:00 am– 4:00 pm
Weekends and National Holidays: Closed
Government Offices and Organizations
Weekdays: 09:00 am– 6:00 pm
Weekends and National Holidays: Closed
Post Offices
Weekdays: 09:00 am – 6:00 pm
Public Holidays: Closed
Department Stores
10:30 am – 8:00 pm
* Typically, department stores are closed to the public once a month usually on a
Monday. However, closings will vary according to each store.

16. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
New Year's Day
Lunar New Year's Day (Seollal)
Independence Movement Day
Children's Day
Buddha's Birthday
Memorial Day
Liberation Day
Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving Day)
National Foundation Day
Hangeul Day
Although Labor Day
Constitution Day
Christmas Day

17. CLIMATE
WINTER December to February
SPRING March to May
SUMMER June to August
AUTUMN September to November

18. HEALTH AND SAFETY
Leading Hospitals
Seoul National
University Hospital
Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital Samsung Medical Center
Asan Medical Center

19. Occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level
seismic/volcanic activity is common in southwest.
NATURAL HAZARDS

20. LANGUAGES
Korean ( official )
English (widely taught in junior high and high school)

21. RELIGIONS
•No Affiliation-46%
•Christian-26%
•Buddhist-26
•Confucianist-1%
•Other-1%

22. FOOD
Bulgogi
Dukbokki
Kimchi
BibimbapKimbap

23. DOs & DON’Ts IN SOUTH KOREA
• DO point with your whole hand instead
of one finger.
• Koreans bow to one another when
greeting and departing. Handshakes
are only common in business settings.

24. • DO offer to pour others’ drink.
• DO come to work and leave on
time. Koreans give much
importance to time.
• DO remove your shoes when
entering a Korean house.
DOs & DON’Ts IN SOUTH KOREA

25. • DON’T put your feet on the furniture.
• DON’T eat while walking in public
places.
• DON’T put your thumb in
between your middle and index
finger. This is seen as an
obscene gestures.
DOs & DON’Ts IN SOUTH KOREA

26. STATISTICAL INFORMATION ON OVERSEAS FILIPINOS
Estimated number of overseas Filipinos Total
a. Permanent residents ----
b. Temporary residents
52,379
c. Irregular/Undocumented Migrants
12,846
TOTAL 65,225

27. PREVAILING LAWS AND POLICIES AFFECTING OFWs
The current minimum wage is KRW 6,030 an hour.
The minimum wage applies to all business and workplaces effective 01
January 2016 to 31 December 2016. It translates into a daily minimum wage
rate of KRW 48,240 for eight (8) hour work and a monthly rate of KRW
1,260,270 under a 40 hour work week.
However, the rate will not apply to those working in their family business,
housework employees, seamen and ship owners.

28. FILIPINO COMMUNITIES

29. 1. Agape Church
2. Baran Emmaus
3. Blooming Hill Int'l Church
4. Brides Of Jesus Christ
5. Catholic Migrant Center, Exodus Guri
6. Cheonan Moyse Catholic Fil Community
7. Chonmasan Migrants Catholic Center
8. Daelim Industries
9. Daewoo E&C
10. Door Of Faith Church
11. El Shaddai / Ppfi
12. Fair Havens International Christian
Assembly (FHICA)
13. Filipino International 7th Day Adventist
In Korea (FILSDAK)
14. Galilea Migrant Workers Pastoral Center
15. Gyeongnam Migrants Center
16. Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC)
17. Incheon Catholic International
Community Association
18. International Christian Alliance Of
Fundamental Church
17. Jesus Christ To God Be The Glory Intl. Church
Inc.
18. Jesus Is Lord (JIL)
19. Kasan Migrants Filipino Community
20. Kumchon Foreign Workers Mission Church
21. Light Of Life Church
22. Living Stone Filipino Community Church-Korea
23. Mokpo Migrant Center
24. Osan Migrant Workers Center
25. Pentecostal Missionary Church Of Christ (4th
Watch) South Korea Chapter
26. Presbyterian Church, Rok
27. Suwon Emmaus Migrant Center (SEMC)
28. Theological Education By Extension
29. United Pentecostal Church International -
Filipino Community In South Korea
30. Woongjin Foundation Multicultural Broadcasting
31. Word For The World Christian Fellowship Korea
Religious Organizations
FILIPINO COMMUNITIES

30. B. Filipino Community Organizations
1. Akbayang Pinay
2. Alpha Phi Omega
3. Ansan Filipino Community
4. Ansan Filipino Taekwondo Assoc.
5. Assoc. Of Filipino Migrant Workers (Afilmwok),
Kwangju-Gyeonggido
6. Association For Migrant Wokers' Human Rights
7. Association Of Filipino Educators In Korea
8. Boholano Community In South Korea
9. Bonsai Brotherhood Organization
10.Bucheon Filipino Migrants Community
11.Confederation Of Ilocano Association-
Samahang Ilocano 61892 International, Inc
12.Cordillera Brotherhood Organization
13.Daegu Filipino Community Council
14.Damayan Club Sa Korea
15.Filipino Assoc. In Gimhae, Korea (Fasigko)
16.Filipino Community In Geoje Island
17.Filipino English-Speaking Teachers Association
(Festa)
18.Filipino Eps Workers Association (Fewa)
19.Filipino Korean Spouses Association
20.Filipino Migrant Workers Association In Kumi
21.Filipino Migrant Workers Association Of Pusan (Fimiwap)
22.Filipino Photographers In South Korea (Filipos)
23.Gunsan Filipino Community
24.Guri Filipino Community
25.Gwangju Filipino Community
26.Gyeongju Filipino Community
27.Hyehwadong Filipino Community Council
28.Ibakako
29.Ilonggo Group In South Korea Assoc., Inc.
30.International Migrants Community In Chungcheong
31.Jeju City Filipino Community
32.Jeonju Filipino Community
33.Kasan Migrants Filipino Community
34.Kassamako
* Please visit www.philembassy-seoul.com for the complete listing.
FILIPINO COMMUNITIES

31. #5-1 Itaewon 2-Dong, Youngsan-Gu, Seoul Republic of Korea 140-857
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY

32. (822) 3785-3634, 3785-3635
(8210) 4573 6290
(8210) 4573 6290
(8210) 9054 0694
labor@philembassy-seoul.com;
polokor@gmail.com
owwaseoul@gmail.com
PHILIPPINE EMBASSY

33. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/south-korea/work-study-volunteering/work
http://www.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student_details.php?Id=9&CID=110
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/ks-korea-south
http://www.southkoreagovernment.com/
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/ks.html
http://www.korea.net/
http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/
http://www.moel.go.kr/english/main.jsp
http://www.philembassy-seoul.com/
REFERENCES