Korean Job Discussion Forums

[timetotravel]

Okay so we need to get our cat from Busan to Seoul and we know taking him on the train or bus is going to be an issue.....

Does anyone know about renting a car here? Can you do it with your license from home and if not, how difficult is it to get a license to drive here?

Or does anyone know if you can hire a car service to drive you from one place to the next (not a taxi rate)?

We have to send him on a flight to the UK and the most direct flight will be better for him.....so somehow someway we must get him to Seoul.

HELP!!

[Milwaukiedave]

I have taken a cat on KTX before in a carrier. Granted it is very difficult for the cat, but it can be done.

You should have a Korean license or an international driver's license. Getting a Korean license isn't very hard if you have a license from back home. The only problem is you have to swap them, which if your leaving doesn't make sense.

As for renting a car, I've never done that here in Korea.

[mlh]

I took my 50lb dog on KTX from Seoul to Gwangju so a cat should be fine.

People had warned me that I might be given a hard time about my dog but the people on the train were really great about it (and he barked about half the time). Someone even brought us some water and my cell phone had died so they allowed me to use theirs to call my friend to come get us.

As long as your cat is in a kennel there shouldn't be a problem. Your kennel is probably small enough to sit with you.

My dog was kept in the I guess what you'd call hallway or entry way part of the train (where everyone gets on and then moves into the cars for their seats). I do know they didn't like that I would get up and sit with him but he just kept barking and barking so eventually they let me stay with him and it was fine.

[madoka]

[Arthur Dent]

I have rented a car here a few times. Driving is always a challenge until you learn the best and worst habits of drivers here. Even then it is still a challenge.

Others may have more to add about this but the problems are:

1) Speeding - A problem in many countries but certain elements exist here which exacerbate this.
2) Obsessive lane changing with no signaling, and without any real gain, i.e. in a traffic jam. This is probably the major cause of most accidents here.
3) Traffic jams
4) Poor signage at times, causing sudden exits across multiple lanes.
5) Poor design for traffic flow as these exits are often jammed with traffic - some of it from previous 'on' lanes where cars are trying to merge on to the highway.
6) General impatience
7) Drinking - again not unique here but combined with poor driving skills in terms of practicing safe driving habits, a recipe for disaster.
(<Why is this not an eight?) Insurance system - refer to the blog by that lawyer - someone help me here with his name and website address - concerning the shared blame in case of accident.


I am sure a few more elements could be added.

I was in a car accident here (I wasn't driving) where we were traveling on a small highway south of Seoul and were hit from behind by a sports car - just clipped fortunately - and the offending driver kept right on going, passed us in fact. We were doing the speed limit, 100kmh. but this fellow was doing at least 140 or more. An SUV behind us fishtailed and nearly rolled. There were trucks and buses on the road and we just happened to be in a clear spot when he hit us. If this had not been the case, the cost of this reckless driving would have been much greater than a bent rear fender and a few moments of terror.

Our driver - very experienced, and always watches his rear view mirror - managed to maintain control of his car, which was quite a small one, brand-new to boot, and pulled over without any further incident. There were four of us, and I was in the rear and it felt like I had been rammed by a tank.

It didn't take long for three tow trucks to show up. The police arrived promptly after they were called.

Once clear of the major traffic and driving along smaller roads, driving is much more pleasant and less stressful. They do tend to ignore the signs more in these places though, so don't drop your guard.

You may decide that train or bus or even a flight to Seoul is cheaper and less stressful than renting a car. If you are returning to Busan, it isn't a problem, but if you are taking the same flight as the cat, they may not offer the service we are used in that you will have to return the car to its point of rental.

When I rented two weeks ago, I happened to call at 12:00 Noon. The fellow spoke briefly with me before saying, "We are having lunch now. Please give me your number and I will call you back in 30 minutes."
Now that's service.

After a long and painful conversation when he called me back, I was able to get the compact I wanted from another branch, though it involved more travel. You must book far ahead and be sure it is confirmed. Screw-ups are commonplace. They called me back later that day and said they had to replace the car I had chosen with a larger sedan, as the one I had wanted had been in an accident. To their credit, they offered me the same rate I would have paid for the compact.

I saw two accidents during that two day trip. One involving a small truck and two cars on a downhill stretch of highway with no exits or on ramps, or indeed any other traffic.

If you have an Intl. Drivers license, you only need present that and your countries license, as well as your passport. They accept Visa and possibly Mastercard. If you are residing in Korea on a work visa, you may require a license from Korea. Not sure about this.

Not all countries may be included in the "exchange licenses" option. I believe New Zealand does not qualify in this case. Better check on this at your local drivers license office.

AS one other poster said, you can hire a car and driver. Make sure you negotiate for the proper rate. They try to overcharge if you are a foreigner. If you do this, perhaps a group of friends who wish to travel to Seoul could join you. Might make it cheaper.

Personally I would choose the flight option.
Below is the rental agency website address. They are the Korean Avis.
There is also another big name agency.

http://www.kumhorent.com/En/price/price_m07.aspx

[Milwaukiedave]

[Boodleheimer]

is your cat a screamer?

we've moved our cat cross-country several times. (each time was 4 1/2 hours or more)

once was on a train. when he got loud or annoying, one of us went into the area between trains with him (so nobody would get annoyed).

once was on a bus. this was really difficult... the driver first wanted us to put him in the luggage bit, but i said no and he said okay. anyhow, since he's a screamer, we were very, very lucky that he was tired.

two times were in a rental car. these were miserable. he screamed the whole way and i still had to deal with the stress of driving (that is, the cat and the driver [me] couldn't be isolated from each other).

[tzechuk]

Just thought I'd add my 2 won here - Cathay Pacific flies to London FROM BUSAN directly with a brief stopover in Hong Kong to pick up passengers only - no need to get off the plane or change plane.