Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Marcilla]

hey, I heard there was a ferry from somewhere in korea to somewhere in Japan

I don't really have an intuitive feel for any distances in this hemisphere though.. so I'll ask you guys

Is it feasible to visit Japan on just a weekend and see/do a little bit of stuff, then get back to Korea in time for work? And how much would it cost?

I get a couple weeks' vacation in the summer, and want to visit Japan, but I heard the whole country is like Texas during the summer

ah, my friend just found this:
http://www.pusanweb.com/guides/transportation/ferryguide.htm

so it's about a 3 hour trip for $85.. maybe I'll go May 5th, since that's supposed to be a day off or something

[ajgeddes]

Where do you live in Korea? If you live in Seoul, it probably isn't a very good idea. If you live in Busan, well that's a different story.

[Marcilla]

I live in Suwon, by ���� station

I think on May 5th I might have a three day weekend, so maybe I'll do it then

[BigBlackEquus]

You can set up a ferry trip with Kansantravel. Take the KTX to Busan, and have this booked in advance. The hotel in Fukoka is very clean and good enough. The lady at Kangsan can tell you how to get from the KTX station to the ferry.

http://kangsantravel.com/package_Fukuoka.php

[cwemory]

The last ferry departs fairly early, three or four o'clock. Unless you finish work early on Friday, you might want to wait for the next three day weekend.
You could travel to Busan on Friday, stay the night, then take the earliest ferry Saturday morning. That would leave you with very, very little time for Japan though.
It is a great, convenient trip. Just give yourself enough time.

[ajgeddes]

To go from Suwon on a 3 day weekend isn't the greatest idea. The money and time you will be spending for travelling isn't worth it. You are also going to Japan. This all equals a lot of money for 1 full day in Japan.

[Marcilla]

First off, thanks for all the advice you guys

So you think that this isn't worth the trouble for going on a three day weekend? How much would this trip probably cost anyway? like 30����? 50?

Maybe I could leave kinda late on Sunday or maybe even Monday morning, I could probably arrange it so I don't have any classes until like 3-4 PM Monday

I've always wanted to visit Japan at some point, but if what you guys say is true then maybe I should wait until I get a couple weeks off in the summer and go then

I'm not big on sweltering heat/humidity, but I could probably just wear a big baggy t-shirt and shorts and walk around drinking a ton of water like I do when it's super hot in the US..

There's still plenty of tourism I've yet to do in Korea since I've only been here about a month anyway..

[kangnam mafioso]

see if u can get a cheap flight leaving friday and coming back late on sunday. take a sick day and have a long weekend.

[Tiger Beer]

if u live in Seoul, its super easy.

Kimpo Airport goes directly to Tokyo.. because its Kimpo.. you can get through immigration in like 5 minutes. The subway to Kimpo is easy as well.. it was 15 subway stops from my house.. or about 35 minutes from my house to the airport.

This thread is really good timing.. because I'm actually in Tokyo right now just for the weekend.

Rapongi baby! thats where its at!

[jajdude]

From Kimpo? Surp[rising.

I heard there's a new ferry from Ulsan as well that stops in a city near Fukuoka....can anyone confirm?

[Tiger Beer]

[J.B. Clamence]

Fukuoka would make a wothwhile 3-day weekend trip, but from Suwon you really should fly. Trust me, the KTX + Ferry is not that cheap, and will not be much cheaper than flying. What you will do, however, is spend most of the weekend travelling (especially since the ferries only leave at certain times and not all day and night) and have little or no time to see and do things in Fukuoka.

If you only have 3 days, time is too limited to be stuck on trains and ferries. Tickets to Fukuoka are not expensive at all (I did it for 260,000 last year -- the KTX to Busan and back will cost you almost 100,000 right there, and you haven't even gotten on the boat yet. Also, the KTX doesn't even stop in Suwon -- you'll have to get to Cheonan or Daejeon and then transfer to it). If you're not going to fly, why bother? That's my opinion, anyway.

[dogbert]

Certain travel agencies offer weekend Seoul-Tokyo trips. They are called "owl trips". I've done five.

[igotthisguitar]

WHY?!?

Japanese House of Representatives clears bill
to fingerprint, photograph arrivals

Bill to fingerprint, photograph arrivals clears Lower House

The House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday to require fingerprinting and photographing of foreigners entering Japan as a measure to prevent terrorism.

Despite strong criticism from opposition parties, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and human rights groups, including Amnesty International Japan, the majority of Lower House members voted for the bill.

The bill will be further debated in the Upper House and is expected to be approved by the chamber in the current Diet session due to end June 19.

With the revision of the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law, the estimated 6 million to 7 million foreigners entering Japan annually will be obliged to provide personal identification information in electromagnetic format, including fingerprints and photographs.

The collected personal information will be electronically registered and collated with a blacklist of data of past deportees and internationally wanted criminals.

Those who refuse to provide the data or people who are recognized as terrorists by the Justice Ministry can be deported.

The measure, however, exempts foreigners under age 16, ethnic Koreans and other special permanent residents, those invited by the government and people entering Japan for diplomatic or official purposes.

Lawyer Mitsuru Namba expressed concern over the bill, stressing it could lead to discrimination against foreigners.

"This is a measure to strengthen control and surveillance over foreigners," Namba said. "By targeting only foreigners, (this bill) could encourage prejudice and discrimination against foreigners, and I believe it could disturb the society in which we coexist with foreigners."

After Thursday's vote in a plenary session of the House of Representatives, members of the opposition parties told reporters they plan to continue arguing against the bill in the Upper House because there are too many vague points, including how the information will be preserved

"The problem (regarding this revision) is that it involves biometric information like fingerprints and facial photographs," said Democratic Party of Japan lawmaker Satoshi Takayama.

"People cannot change (this information) even if they wanted to. This is completely different from other personal information, like where you live or your bank savings. We believe that biometric information must be handled with extreme caution."

By MASAMI ITO
Staff writer
The Japan Times

http://www.findbiometrics.com/viewarticle.php?id=199

[igotthisguitar]

Smile for the camera. VISA RUN / relaxing holiday? Fingerprints please.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/17052006/6/n-odds-japan-passes-bill-fingerprint-foreigners.html

Japan passes bill to fingerprint foreigners
Wed May 17, 09:15 AM EST

TOKYO (Reuters) - Foreigners arriving in Japan will be photographed and fingerprinted on arrival as part of measures to prevent terrorism, under a measure approved by Japan's parliament Wednesday.

Civic groups and lawyers have said the legislation, approved by parliament's upper house, risks breaching human rights and invading individuals' privacy.

The new legislation, which had previously passed the lower house and now becomes law, exempts children under 16, diplomats and "special permanent residents" including ethnic Koreans.