[UPDATED] Korea Discount Coupons by VKC (Visit Korea Committee) 2015-2016

About VKC

The Visit Korea Committee (VKC) has been exerting efforts to make Korea a more attractive tourism destination through the nationwide tourism campaign “Visit Korea Year” held from 2010 through to the end of 2012. Our committee has successfully concluded the “Visit Korea Year” campaign, with the number of foreign tourists visiting Korea in 2012 alone reaching 10 million. The committee has now established a longer-term vision: the qualitative growth of Korean tourism.

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DISCOUNT COUPONS

The official website of the Visit Korea Committee provides various shopping discount coupons you can use any time of the year. Enjoy a more economical shopping tour through discount coupons available for more than 100 stores.

There are bunch of coupons from various stores, services and recreation parks! such as...

and many more!

More coupons are available at 

http://vkc.or.kr/en/benefit/coupon.asp

Theme Park: Lotte World + Comparison with Everland

About Lotte World:

Lotte World is the 1st Biggest and the most popular theme park in Seoul. Lotte World is also become the 1st biggest and largest indoor theme park in the world (Guinness World Record). Lotte World itself is an indoor theme park with a lot of rides and parts. Lotte World have several districts that represents countries from the world. In every districts, there are souvenirs shops and also several facilities. There are 15 attractions in 'Magic Island' section and a lot of other attractions and games outside that section. Inside Lotte World, there are some artificial islands that are connected with monorails, shopping mall, a luxury hotel, Ice Skate Rink, Korean folk museum, sport facilities and movie theaters.

Lotte World (Seoul)

COMPARISON with EVERLAND:

Everland (Gyeonggi-do)

Everland is also another theme park that located outside Seoul city, which is in Gyeonggi-do. In order to reach to Everland, you need to take a scheduled-shuttle bus to go to Gyeonggi-do after riding subway inside Seoul. This shuttle bus cost a little bit high, which is 15,000 KRW (90 000 IDR). Other than shuttle bus fee problem, we also need to consider the time taken from Seoul to Gyeonggi-do. After I compared Lotte World and Everland, Lotte World will cost more cheaper than Everland.

Recommended Time to Visit Lotte World (Different Time, Different Price) :

Lotte World have 2 different entrance fee price for 2 different period of time. If you wish to play all day long in this area, you can choose the PASSPORT ticket, which can be use from 9:00 until 22:00/23:00. If you want to save some money and prefer to pay less but got the same fascilites as the PASSPORT ticket, you can choose the AFTER4 PASSPORT. AFTER4 PASSPORT ticket can be use from 16:00 until 22:00/23:00. If you wanted to visit Lotte World just for looking around and shops (no rides), just visit at 19:00 and you will get the lowest entrance fee price. So, I recommend you to visit Lotte World after or 16:00 Sharp!

Ticketing Info, Address and Direction:

• Address: 240, Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul
• Direction from Subway: Jamsil Station, Line 2 or 8, Exit 4
• Hours of Operation: 
• Monday ~ Thursday - 9:00 ~ 22:00
• Friday ~ Sunday - 9:00 ~ 23:00
• Ticket Prices:
• All-day Passport (Valid from 9:00 until 22:00 or 23:00)
• Adults: 40,000 KRW (320 000 IDR)
• Youths [13 ~ 18 years]: 35,000 KRW (280 000 IDR)
• Children [4 ~ 12 years]: 19,000 KRW (152 000 IDR)
• After4 Passport (Valid from 16:00 until 22:00 or 23:00)
• Adults: 31,000 KRW (248 000 IDR)
• Youths [13 ~ 18 years]: 27,000 KRW (216 000 IDR)
• Children [4 ~ 12 years]: 23,000 KRW (184 000 IDR)
• Admission Fee after 19:00
• Adults: 14,500 KRW (116 000 IDR)
• Youths [13 ~ 18 years]: 12,500 KRW (100 000 IDR)
• Children [4 ~ 12 years]: 10,500 KRW (84 000 IDR)
• SPECIAL DISCOUNT: 
• Korea Grand Sale 2013 Coupon
• Korea Pass Card (20% off)
• Hostelling International Card (10-20% off)
• Website: http://www.lotteworld.com/

Special Event: What's on your Korean Shopping Wish List? (Korea Grand Sale 2013)

For more information about the event, here's the website: 

http://english.visitkoreayear.com/english/community/community_12_01_01_view.asp?bidx=355&st=&sech=&page=1

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.