Korean Job Discussion Forums

R. S. Refugee · Joined: 29 Sep 2004 Location: Shangra La, ROK

I need to leave for a few minutes because of my visa expiry date. Does anyone know the quickest, cheapest way to fly to a foreign airport, go through customs, just stay in the airport until the next flight back to Incheon, and then fly back?

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

Every recruiter has always told me Fukuoka is the closest place to Korea and you can do some shopping, too.

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

Technically the DMZ tour that allows you to set foot in N.Korea for a few minutes is probably the cheapest, fastest way to exit and re-enter the country, but I don't think they'll let you renew your visa that way.

I second Fukuoka. Check out the waterfront market and ride the biggest ferris wheel in Asia. There are some really nice biking/walking paths that run the length of the city too. The ferry from Pusan is probably the cheapest way to get there.

If you're feeling a little more adventurous, have a little more time and don't mind a little visa hassle, there's always a slow boat to China too.

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

Yeah, go to Fukuoka, and make a day of it. My advice? Hakata Station has it all. Bring back some souvenirs.

Vox_Populi · Joined: 04 May 2009 Location: Seoul, South Korea

Fukuoka is definitely the closest, but flights to Taipei or Osaka are SOMETIMES slightly cheaper because they're major airline hubs (whereas Fukuoka is NOT a hub).

PS Flights to Yantai or Qindao in China are sometimes cheaper still, but you have to factor in the cost of obtaining a Chinese visa which, for a US citizen, is running close to $200 (USD).

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Binch Lover · Joined: 25 Jul 2005

There are a couple of low cost airlines that fly to Japan.

You can fly to Osaka for about 220,000 won with Jeju Air. They also fly to Fukuoka. http://www.jejuair.net/

big_fella1 · Joined: 08 Dec 2005

todes_8ngel · Joined: 06 Jun 2010

I can't remember which airline, one of the two, china eastern or china souther, but i flew once to Shanghai for $125 taxes included last october. And, if you're American and fly to Shanghai, you can leave the airport up to 48 hours without a visa.

chungbukdo · Joined: 22 Aug 2010

Wildbore · Joined: 17 Jun 2009

How do you get the ferry ticket?

Just show up and buy it at the port?

West Coast Tatterdemalion · Joined: 31 Aug 2010

Jump into the Yellow Sea for a few minutes then swim back to shore.

Gimbap Lover · Joined: 06 Mar 2011

Fukuoka is the best place IMO. Beforewarned though, if you get there early in the morning, you more than likely won't be able to check into your hotel until 3 or 4 pm. I made the mistake of arriving at 11:00 am only to find out that I couldn't check in until 3 pm. Also, you might want to do some research about happening areas, because when I stayed at a place by the port, that area was dead. NOTHING happening.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Fukuoka is NOT the closest Japanese destination to Korea.

If you just need to leave Korea, turn around, and come back to get a new landing visa Tsushima (the Korean rendering of the Chinese characters is 대마도) is the closest point in Japan to Korea. It's a small island with about 5000 people living on it. A ferry from Busan takes about 2-3 hours and costs about W150,000 round trip.

Here are links to ferry companies that service Tsushima, in Korean only:

http://www.daea.com/

http://www.tsushima-busan.or.kr/info/traffic.asp#per1

Hope this helps.

MacLean · Joined: 14 Feb 2011

Why can't we just walk into our embassy, have a coffee, and walk out again? Aren't embassies, at least technically, the sovereign territory of the country in question? Aren't we 'leaving' Korea when we step into the Canadian embassy.

Why do we have to leave the country at all? I never really got that.