Korean Job Discussion Forums

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

I have to make a VISA run soon.

I have time and am pretty patient. I can deal with long trips etc...

What is the cheapest VISA run from Seoul and how much is it gonna cost me TOTAL - door to door?

I read the stickied threads and none of them seem to bottom line the total cost much.

Any idea howmuch an OSaka run costs, all told, or a ferry run?

I was hoping 550k WOn max, total.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

The cheapest possible? You can do much better than 550k, but you'll have to go to Fukuoka, not Osaka.

If you're going for rock-bottom travel costs from Seoul, take the Mugunghwa (slowest, oldest train there is) to Busan for about 50k roundtrip (6 hours), and from there take the hydrofoil to Fukuoka for 170k roundtrip (3 hours). Hydrofoil timetables are here: http://www.bbtour.com/intercourse/cruse.htm

If you're willing to pay a little more to save you some train time you can take the KTX for 90k round trip, about 3 hours each way.

If you're really looking for rock-bottom value, you should be able to shave about 10-15k off your train ticket by getting standing room seats on the Mugunghwa. Having ridden five and a half hours to Mokpo this way during Chuseok, however, I recommend shelling out the extra cash for a seat. To book your train ticket, sign up for a card at www.barota.com.

I've found a way to get this man to a consulate for just over 200k, can anyone do better than that? Maybe there's a slower boat than the hydofoil to Fukuoka? Seems a bit pricey.

BTW, welcome to Korea, Voyeur. I hope things are going well for you.

tommynomad · Joined: 24 Jul 2004 Location: on the move

Seems a little labour-intensive, too. I'm going the cheapest easy way: bought a 250,000 RT flight to Fukuoka from Nextour.co.kr. Have a Korean friend help you if you need it (though if you call the phone # at the bottom of the page they'll have someone who can help you in E).

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

Thanks for the help, keep the tips coming.

What kind of expenses am I looking at in Fukuoka? VISA costs, train to consulate, etc... Why is flying there cheaper than Osaka? Why doesn't everyone FLY there then instead of Osaka? I thought Osaka was where you flew and that was where you went by ship?

And things are going well, I just have some extra time before my next contract and want to keep expneses down.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Taipei is W220,000 plus tax return. Probably cheaper to stay there, too. Not sure where the Korean embassy is there, though.

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

ratslash · Joined: 08 May 2003

i'd say train to busan, ferry to fukuoka.

but, a plane ticket to tokyo only cost me about 300,000 won when i was there. top travel, look for stairs next to a twosome place on sinchon rotary. up those stairs, blue and yellow shop. united airlines. cheap cheap. they go seoul to tokyo on to usa.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Voyeur · Joined: 19 Jun 2003

What kind of expenses am I looking at in Fukuoka like train to consulate etc... and VISA charge? Where do I get bus, how much is it to get from say Sinchon to the bus? If I fly how much will it cost to get to airport, luxury taxes etc... It is often the little things that make the differnce when you fly. Flying canseem cheap but when you ad up transpo to airport, airport fees, etc... busing often looks better.