Special Event: Korea Grand Sale 2013 ( Jan 11 - Feb 28 2013)

South Korea's government will held a big event in Seoul, which will be the Korea Grand Sale 2013. This event will be held from 11th January until 28th February 2013. This event will allows foreigner tourists to receive special discounts and promotions for shopping, accommodation, dining, entertainment, beauty-health, and many more.

Korea Grand Sale 2013

Discounts and Promotions:

• Shopping: Up to 30% discount and special additional gift for shopping in some Duty Free shops and department stores (Galleria Luxury Hall, Hyundai Department Store, Lotte Department Store,  Shinsegae Department Store, Dongwha Duty Free, Duty Free Korea, Lotte Duty Free, The Shilla Duty Free, Wallkerhill Duty Free, etc.)
• Accomodation: Some promotions in some large hotels (Renaissance Seoul Hotel, Grand Ambassador Seoul, Ritz Carlton Seoul, Imperial Palace Hotel, Hotel Seokyo, Courtyard by Marriott Seoul Times Square, The-K Seoul Hotel, etc.)
• Dining: Up to 50% discount and special additional gift in some restaurants, coffee shops and others (TGIF, Todai, Gogung, Black'smith, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Red Mango, Loterria, Caffebene, etc.)
• Entertainment: Up to 40% discount and Buy-1-get-1-free promo at some performance shows, cinema,  and theme parks (Nanta Show, JUMP show, Fanta-Stick Show, Drum Cat show, Lotte Cinema, Everland Theme Park, Lotte World Theme Park, Namsan Seoul Tower, Korean Folk Village, etc.)
• Beauty and Health: Up to 30% discount and special additional gift for shopping in some well-known Korean Branded Cosmetics shops, hospital, and spa (Etude House, NATURE REPUBLIC, Its Skin, Aritaum, Innisfree, the saem, Jasaeng Hospital of Korean Eastern Medicine, Dragon Hill Spa and Resort, etc.) 
• Others: Up to 60% discount and buy 1-get-1-free promo at some convenience store and exchanging rates in banks (Seven Eleven C. Store, Lotte Super, GS 25 C. Store, Buy the Way C. Store, Hana Bank, Korea Exchange Bank, Woori Bank, etc.)

In order to receive those discounts and special promotions up there, you must present your KOREA GRAND SALE COUPONS upon payment on those places. You can present it using PRINTED COUPON or COUPON ON YOUR MOBILE SCREEN.

Website to Obtain the Coupon: 

http://www.koreagrandsale.co.kr/global/cts/view.do?pcode=GTS003&uId=7&menuNo=110452&lang=en

Discount Card: Korea Pass Card

Korea Pass Card is a useful card that could be use for tourist to receive special discounts. This card is similar with T-Money, but this card could be use for shopping uses. Korea pass card could be use in places that allows you to pay with credit cards. Below here are some details and advantages of this card.

Korea Pass Card (only can be use in Seoul)

Advantages Korea Pass Card:

1. Allows you to receive 20% discount in 63 City
2. Allows you to receive 20% discount in Lotte World Theme Park
3. Allows you to receive 10% discount for entering Namsan Seoul Tower
4. Allows you to receive 10% until 30% at Lotte Hotel
5. Allows you to receive favourable exchange rates in Hana Bank (30-50% rate)
6. Allows you to receive 5-30% discount entering National Museum of Korea 
7. Allows you to receive 5-10% discount in Lotte Duty Free shops
8. Allows you to receive 10-30% discount in some restaurants (TGIF, Lotteria, Korea House)
9. Allows you to receive 10% discount in some beauty & health services (Zen Hair Salon, Bella Skin Care, etc.)

and many more...

Place to Purchase this Card:

You can purchase this card in airport, 7-Eleven Mini-market, and Lotte Mart in Seoul area. If you wish to recharge the amount of the card, you can go to 7-Eleven Mini-markets, subways, and also street kiosk that displays "CASH BEE" logo.

Cash Bee Logo

If you're interested and want to find more information about this card, you can proceed to the website, which is http://english.visitkorea.or.kr/enu/SH/SH_EN_7_5_1.jsp

Discount Card: Hostelling International Card

Hostelling International Card is a valuable member card that allows you to receive SPECIAL DISCOUNT in some accomodation, recreation sites, etc.

You can apply the membership from the Korea Youth Hostels Association Office for 20,000 KRW (160 000 IDR). If you're under 25 years old, you will receive special fare for applying the membership, which only cost about 15,000 KRW (120 000 IDR).

Advantages of HOSTELLING INTERNATIONAL CARD:

1. Allows you to receive special discount (around 20-30%) for Youth Hostels in Korea
2. Allows you to receive favorable exchange rates in Chohung Bank 
3. Allows you to receive 10-20% discount of Everland Theme Park entrance fee
4. Allows you to receive 10-20% discount of Lotte World Theme Park entrance fee
5. Allows you to receive 10-20% discount of Seoul Land Amusement Park entrance fee
6. Allows you to receive 10-20% discount for Mt. Chiaksan Dreamland
7. Allows you to receive 10-20% discount for Kumho Car Rental
8. Allows you to receive 10-20% discount for Han River Cruises
9. Allows you to receive 10-20% discount for entering Namsan Seoul Tower
10. Allows you to receive 10-20% discount for entering Movie Theaters.

and many more...

Based on my research and comparison, this card is really helpful for minimizing the budget and save some money. If you're interested in applying membership for this card, you can visit www.kyha.or.kr/english/ for more information.

Types of Accommodation

There are some types of accommodation in Korea, which are Hotels, Hostel and Guesthouse. Here are some details about each accomodation:

1. Hotels

Hotels are quite more expensive than Hostels and Guesthouses. Most hotels' fare cost more than 50,000 KRW (400 000 IDR). There are 5 types of hotels, the first one is 5-star hotels, 4-star hotels, 3-star hotels, 2-star hotels, and 1-star hotels. If you want to stay in hotel with high quality of services, you could refer to 5-star hotels, which are more expensive than the other types of hotel. There are some areas in Seoul that have 5-star Hotels, one of them is Gangnam. Hotels rate in Gangnam are quite high because of the high price of the land

2. Hostels & Guesthouse

Hostels and Guesthouse is the best choices for your accomodation in Korea (Seoul Area). Hostels and Guesthouse cost way more cheaper than Hotels, usually cost around 12,000 KRW (96 000 IDR) until 45,000 KRW (360 000 IDR). There are two forms of hostels and guesthouse, which are dormitory form and private room form. Dormitory form is much cheaper than private room form, but you must share room with another tourists. If you're not too comfortable with sharing room with another people, you can choose private room hostels that cost higher than dormitory hostels.

3. Youth Hostels

Youth hostels are hostels that are more cheaper than ordinary hostels & guesthouse. There are about 52 hostels around Korea. Teenager tourists' fare for youth hostels cost about 8,000 KRW (64 000 IDR). Don't worry if you're an adult, adult (more than 25 years old) just cost a little bit higher than teenagers.

YOUTH HOSTEL IS THE MOST RECOMMENDED ACCOMMODATION ACCORDING TO MY COMPARISON AND RESEARCH.