How to cancel a reserved immigration office visit in South Korea as a Hi Korea non-member

If you need to make a reservation to visit an immigration office in South Korea, I think it is still better to create an account in the Hi Korea website. Just make sure to remember, take note or not forget your account details as trying to find your password through the site is a bit of a complicated process.

However, in cases that you reserved a visit through the website as a non-member and need to cancel that reservation, here are the steps to do so:

Go to the Hi Korea website. Close any pop-ups that appear, and click reserve visit.

Click appointment reservation status (non-member) on the left-hand side options.

Enter the required information in the boxes on the page, and click confirm button.

A list of your reserved appointments will appear. Select the appointment you want to check details of.

Details of your visit reservation will appear. Enter the password you registered upon reservation of the visit, and click the cancel button. 

A pop-up will appear asking if you will cancel the online reservation, click ok (or the blue button). A pop-up will confirm that the reservation has been cancelled successfully. Click ok (or the blue button). 

You will also receive a text message on your phone that your reservation has been cancelled.

Our overnight stay in the log cabin at Biseulsan Natural Recreation Forest

This is such a late post since we stayed in the log cabin last September 2019. However, I hope that some of the information here would still be helpful to those who are planning to book and stay overnight at Biseulsan Natural Recreation Forest.

Only vehicles registered during the reservation process will be allowed to enter the Natural Recreation Forest area. When we arrived, a guy was waiting by the barrier to check the vehicles wanting to enter. After telling him my name and showing my alien registration card, he let us through.

We dropped by the management office first to get the keys to our accommodation. We were also given a trash bag. The guy in the office said to me (in Korean) that we can bring the car close to the location of our reserved log cabin to drop off our stuff and then we should park the car in the designated parking area after. We did as he suggested as that was easier compared to hauling our stuff up the hill (which I think was a bit steep) if we had parked the car first.

I decided not to take pictures of the log cabin as I found a Naver blog post that have pictures of the exact same place we stayed at (which is the Sonamu log cabin). I did take pictures (shown below) of the other amenities available in the cabin. Dishwashing liquid and a mesh were also provided. The cabin had free Wi-Fi as well.

However, there were also some things which I noticed were not available, such as toiletries (soap and shampoo), microwave, and mugs or cups. Make sure to bring these items if you are planning to stay overnight. We were lucky that the store close to where we were staying was open so I was able to get a mini soap to use in the kitchen and bathroom.

There is a rice cooker available but I decided to use microwavable rice instead to make it easier. I ended up putting it in boiling water to heat it up for dinner.

After check-out the next day, we decided to take the electric car at Biseulsan that takes people up to the top of the mountain where a temple is located. Even if private vehicles are allowed inside the Recreation Forest, they cannot go up to the top. Only the electric cars are permitted to do so.

We are planning to book a caravan the next time we visit.

Booking at Biseulsan Natural Recreation Forest Part 2: Reservation, payment and cancellation

Once you have successfully signed-up as a member (check previous post), you can now book accommodations at Biseulsan Natural Recreation Forest. In this post, I will show how to book a log cabin. The reservation process for a caravan is the same.

First, go to the site and log-in to your account. A pop-up will appear saying that you have logged-in to the site. Click ok (blue button). It will return you to the main page of the site.

Point to 관광지시설and click 비슬산자연휴양림. If any pop-ups appear, just close it.

The left-hand side of the next page will show the accommodation types offered in Biseulsan. There are log cabins, condo, caravans and camping decks. Each accommodation type comes with a specific number of allowed occupants. Choose the accommodation type that you prefer. In my case, I went for the 통나무집 4인용 (log cabin for 4 persons). 

Select date of stay by clicking it on the calendar.

Select length of stay (e.g. 1 night, 2 days; 2 nights, 3 days) and the specific name of the room you want to reserve. In the tab, 이용안내, there is a map at the bottom showing the location and names of the log cabins. Select residency type in Dalseong-gun. I just clicked 일반 or general resident.

The rate of the room will appear below. Click the blue button to reserve. A pop-up will appear saying that you have to input information and then your reservation will be complete. Click ok.

Make sure to tick the tiny box near the top of the page agreeing to the notices. You will need to provide additional information such as your address and vehicle plate number. Once that is done, click the blue button to reserve.

A pop-up will appear saying your registration is complete. The next page will show your complete reservation information.

To pay for the accommodation, deposit the amount to the account of the company managing the area (Dalseong County Facilities Management Corporation). Once that is done, give their office a call (053-6594400) to say that you have already deposited the money. You will receive a text message once they have verified the payment.

There were a lot of notices posted throughout the pages while booking. To make it easy for me, I used Naver Papago to translate them. I have posted them below. Please make sure to read and follow their regulations so you won’t have any issues during your stay. For example, pets are prohibited and the use of charcoal is not allowed.

How to check reservation: Go to the site. Log-in to your account. A pop-up will appear saying that you have logged-in. Click 예약정보. Choose비슬산자연휴양림. The next page will show the details of your reservation. 

How to cancel reservation: Follow the steps in checking your reservation. Click the cancellation button (located at the very end of your reservation information). Provide the account name, number and bank name. Click the refund button. I originally booked a caravan in June but had to cancel. It took around three days after cancellation for the money to be deposited back to my account.

Booking at Biseulsan Natural Recreation Forest Part 1: Signing-up to be a member

My husband has always wanted to go camping but I am not really into it. However, I told him that I would not mind “glamping” since it looks a lot more comfortable than actual camping.

 

When we visited Biseulsan Mountain last year, we noticed that there were caravans and what looked like cabins in the area. We wondered then if they can be rented and how it can be done. It was only recently that I remembered it again because my husband asked me to check O2 Glamping. As their peak season starts in May, O2 Glamping was a bit expensive for us so I searched for the one in Biseulsan Mountain. I found out that their rates are a bit more affordable and their peak season is July and August so we will be able to save a little for our stay in June.

In this post, I would like to share how I booked a caravan for us in Biseulsan Natural Recreation Forest. However, before proceeding, please be aware of the following:

NOTE: The whole website is in Korean and to be able to reserve, you need to be able to at least read and understand Korean. You do not have to be fluent (since I am not fluent at all) to do that. I just used Naver Papago a lot to help me understand the gazillion terms and conditions.

To be able to reserve, you need to sign-up and become a member first. This will be the focus of this post. The actual caravan reservation will follow in the next post.

First, go to this site. If there are any pop-ups, just close them. Go to 고객센터 and choose 회원가입.

Next, click 안심본인인증. This seems to be an identity verification process through the use of your registered mobile phone number. A pop-up will appear showing the different network providers in Korea. Choose your phone network provider.

The next page will provide two options for verification: one through an app called “PASS” (which means you have to install it in your phone) and another through text message. I chose the text message option. Provide all the needed information and make sure to check the tiny boxes for the terms and conditions. Click the big grey button (확인) after.

You will then be instructed to input the 6-digit code sent to your mobile phone via text message. After doing so, you will need to input the personal information required.

I was not able to take a screenshot of the buttons at the bottom of the page and I cannot remember exactly what I clicked to finish signing up, but there should be a button below that you will click once you are done.

A pop-up window might appear saying that your sign-up is successful. My memory of the event is not so clear now as I was really frustrated that time. I initially tried to sign-up twice using my husband’s information but he did not receive any text message (for the code) so I finally decided to use my information instead.

The next post will focus on how to book the caravan and pay for it.

How to get to Costco Innovation City branch from Ansim Station (Line 1)

The second Costco branch in Daegu is located at Innovation City. Since my husband was meeting someone at Ansim station, he decided that we might as well check out this Costco branch. The walk from Ansim station to Costco Innovation City took us around 16-18 minutes (times may change depending on where you cross and the wait at the crossings). 

To help others out, I am providing a visual guide below showing the way to Costco Innovation City from Ansim Station.

Get out of Ansim Station Exit 1 and go straight until you reach a corner. Turn right on this corner.

Keep walking straight and you will eventually see a bridge.

We decided to cross the street and walk on the left side before reaching the bridge.

Pass under this bridge and keep going straight until you reach a corner. 

Turn left on this corner.

Keep walking straight until you reach the pedestrian lane in front of the Costco building. 

Cross this lane to get to Costco.

You will need to go up two floors to get to the store. There is no need to get a cart at the ground floor since they are available on the third floor near the entrance.

In this branch of Costco, all of the products are in the same floor unlike the Costco branch near EXCO where the products are spread out into two floors. The food court is also located inside. I am not sure if there is a way to access it without needing to enter the store. In our case, we immediately went through the entrance to shop and only after paying at the cashier did we get to the food court area.

Just in case you need lockers, they are available on the ground floor.

 

My experience in applying for a UK Tourist Visa in South Korea

I should have posted about this topic immediately after I applied for my UK tourist visa. It has actually been a few years now since I have done so and my memory of it is not as clear anymore. Anyhow, I will still try to recall the process I went through to hopefully help others and to serve as reference the next time I apply for the same visa again.

The very first time I applied for a UK tourist visa was in November 2010 in the Philippines. I was denied a visa that time because the embassy said that I did not provide enough financial documents to prove that I will be able to support my visit to the UK. The purpose of my visit was to meet my then-fiancé’s family (he is now my husband).

Being married at this time for four years, I applied again in 2016. For this application, we made sure to supply all the financial documents needed, both from our side and his family’s side (since I mentioned that part of my travel expenses will be shouldered by his family). My mother-in-law also provided a handwritten letter stating that she was inviting us to stay with her. Since I was already living in Korea, I had to apply at the VFS Global in Seoul.

I first completed the application form online and then paid the visa fee which cost $111 (good for a 6 month stay) in October 2016. Afterwards, I scheduled a visit to VFS Global and went to Seoul on the appointed date. I brought my husband with me for this appointment. We decided to stay overnight since I think I scheduled the appointment time at 8:30 in the morning. I think applicants are only allowed in 15 minutes before the scheduled time. A guard posted near the door checked my belongings. Any electronic items (e.g. phone, tablets, MP3 players) were not allowed to be brought inside. I left those things with my husband and he waited outside while I finish the process. I think I was given a number to wait my turn.

When my number was called, I approached the desk and the lady went through my supporting documents and double-checked it against a checklist (which was provided with your application). I remember including a photocopy of each supporting document just in case. She returned some of them if she only needed the original or if the photocopy will suffice. I cannot recall now if she asked me or if I informed her about the additional services I wanted. I applied for SMS service (for 2,900 won so I can track the status of my application) and the option of having my passport delivered (for 18,400 won) since it was more expensive to go back to Seoul to personally receive it.

After the documents were checked, biometrics information (photograph and fingerprints) were taken. Overall, I think the whole process took around 30-40 minutes. I do not remember it being that long probably because it was early and there was not a lot of people there. I got my passport back through the mail three weeks later.

The second time I applied was in April 2018 with the visa fee costing $138. I think the process was more or less the same as the first time. One difference that I noticed this time around was that the guard was not as strict as before. I was able to bring my electronics in as long as it was turned-off or in silent mode. I was alone this time and so chose an appointment time in the afternoon. I remember arriving quite early for my 1 PM appointment but was allowed to come in at 12:35 or 12:40 PM. This time I received my passport with the visa attached only 10 days after my application.

My experience with the Korean National Health Service free health tests (Part 2)

This post now covers what happened during my general health examination and cervical cancer test. I had these two tests done at the same hospital (albeit in different buildings). I went to Mirae Women’s Hospital (near Jukjeon station – Line 2) because this is where I had my cervical cancer test done two years ago. I dropped by beforehand to arrange a schedule but was told that there was no need for it and that I can come at any time convenient for me (as long as it is within their opening times I think).

For the general health examination, I was advised not to eat or drink after 9 PM the night before the exam. Following the instructions, I abstained from everything after 9 PM (did not even take a sip of water). I arrived at the hospital before the 9 AM opening time the next day thinking that it would not be busy but I was surprised to see a lot of old ladies seated at the waiting area. I approached the information desk and was handed a form to fill out. I did not even try to hide my amazement at the length of it and how everything was in Korean. I can read and can fill it out myself but it would have probably taken me forever to do so. It was a good thing that a nurse came over to assist me with it. She asked me the questions and I provided her the answer. It was all related to my health history.

The building entrance of Mirae Women's Hospital for the general examination test.

After the form was completed, the nurse instructed me to have my blood pressure taken from the automatic blood pressure machine and to give her the ticket showing the results. I then had my height and weight measurements taken. Next, I was led into a room for the eye exam and hearing test. It was fortunate that I had the eye exam done as I found out that the vision in my right eye had deteriorated faster compared to my left eye. For the hearing test, they instructed me to press a button when I hear a sound from the headset. A chest x-ray followed and then a blood sample was taken.

The last part of the exam was to provide a urine sample. As I had no food or drink since the night before and did not feel like peeing, it took a while. I was told by the nurses to drink lots of water as I was already able to do so after my blood was taken. If I was able to provide the urine sample immediately, the whole process for the general examination would have only taken 30-35 minutes. Due to the wait, it took me around 1 hour and 10 minutes to finish. The nurses handed me my medical files and told me to go to the other building for the cervical cancer test.

The building entrance of Mirae Women's Hospital for the cervical cancer test. 

In the next building, I took the stairs to the second floor and handed my files to the nurse at the information desk. I was told to sit down and then my name was called after a few minutes. She led me to a cubicle to explain the process of the test. The only free test supported by the insurance is the pap smear. There are two other optional tests they can conduct with a fee. The first is taking pictures of the cervix for 30,000 won and the other one is examining the uterus (or something similar…I cannot remember the exact procedure) for 70,000 won. I only opted to do the pap smear thinking that if something came up in the results then that will be the time I would get the other tests done.

The second floor; the red arrow indicates the location of the information desk.

Similar to my cervical test two years ago, I was examined by a male doctor. The first time I went, I was asked if it would be okay to have a male doctor administer it. At that time, I was in a hurry so I just agreed to it. This time there was no information. I was just called to enter a room and saw a male doctor. If given a choice, I would prefer to have a female doctor but I still went ahead and had it done.

After the cervical cancer test was done, I was told that the results will be sent through the mail. I received mine two weeks later.

My experience with the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) free health tests (Part 1)

The NHIS free health tests are valid until December 31, 2019. However, they usually recommend that it be availed during the first nine months of the year as the last three months are quite a busy time. I decided to get it done this month just to make sure that I do not forget about it.

The usual process is to set a schedule with the hospital or clinic you are intending to have the test done. However, there are also cases wherein there is no need to set a schedule at all. I usually visit the hospital or clinic rather than giving them a call as my Korean speaking skill is not great. Go on the day scheduled for the test and approach the information desk. They will usually ask you to fill out a form first and then the nurses or assistants will assist you on the next steps.

Oral Examination

I had my oral examination done at Daegu S Dental Clinic near Seongseo Industrial Complex station (Line 2). I chose this clinic because it was close to where I live and their website looks professional. I went to the information desk and handed to the assistant my alien registration card and the test voucher (which comes with the letter form the NHIS). After filling out a form, I was asked to sit. An assistant called my name and led me into a dental chair. I sat down and my face was covered with a cloth that has a hole for the mouth area (similar to this). I found this to be a bit weird as I have never experienced this in my dental visits in the Philippines. The doctor performed the examination and then showed me the issues with my teeth on a screen. This was another part which was new to me. From my experience in the Philippines, they only tell you what dental work needs to be done. In Korea, they actually take pictures of it and show you.

To be honest, I only understood very little of what the doctor said because it was all in Korean. I did get that some work needs to be done to my teeth so I asked the assistant for the rates. I told them that I will come back next time to have it done. The examination itself was free so I left the clinic without paying anything.

The second part will focus on my experience with the general health check-up and cervical test.

Korea National Health Insurance Service Free Health Tests

If you are subscribed to the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), there are certain examinations that are offered for free or for a minimum cost (around 10%). I read in a forum online that it is recommended that you get them done because if you end up with a disease that could have been detected by these exams, the insurance will not pay for the medical expenses involved.

When I first received a letter from the National Health Insurance two years ago, it was only for a cervical cancer test. This time the tests I am eligible for are general health exam, oral exam and cervical cancer exam. The other exams are only applicable if you have reached a certain age (usually 40 to 50 years old). The letter they send also includes a list of hospitals and clinics in your area and shows the examinations they can conduct.

In my experience (when I went for my tests and when I accompanied my husband for his gastroscopy), everything was in Korean. The forms were all in Korean and the nurses and doctors spoke Korean but they sometimes used a few English words to explain things. If your Korean is not that good, it is advisable to have a Korean friend with you who can help with filling out the forms and explaining things to you.

I will detail my experience with the three examinations in the next post.

Beautiful Store (아름다운가게): A second-hand store in South Korea

I mentioned to my husband about wanting to check out second hand stores and he remembered reading about Beautiful Store in a book. Beautiful Store is a second-hand shop that sells clothes, books, toys, household items and more. The things they sell are donated by other people and the money raised from the sale are then used to help those who are in need.

Beautiful Store has four locations in Daegu. My husband and I have visited all four and noticed that each shop sells different items (depending maybe on what has been donated). I think the biggest shop they have is the one located at Wolseong. This is actually my favorite location not only because of the size but also because it happens to be the one closest to us.

What I also like about Beautiful Store is that they have a changing room. You can try on the clothes before buying them. There were times when I thought something would fit well only to put it on and find out that it is quite small in certain areas. I have not returned anything back to the store but a friend mentioned that it is possible as long as you have the receipt. I am not sure if it is possible only for certain items or if it applies to anything purchased from them.

The stores also accept donations so I give our clothes that do not fit anymore and the things we do not use or do not like. They check the items you are donating and only accept the ones that they think can still be sold. There were a couple of times that we had to bring back some of the things we were intending to give as they did not accept it.

I hope you give them a visit as they have stores all around South Korea.

Extending my F-3 visa

I recently went to the Daegu Immigration Office to extend my F-3 visa that is expiring on February 2019. Before doing so, I booked an appointment at www.hikorea.go.kr. Similar to the time I went last year to update my passport information, I did not print the appointment receipt and just saved a copy on my phone to show to the officer. I feel like it would be a waste of paper to print it and so far, I have had no issues. I am not really sure of the exact documents to bring but here are the documents I passed to the officer who processed my application:

• Filled-up application form (with the request for extension of sojourn checked)
• Passport
• Alien Registration Card
• Confirmation of residence
• Photocopy of my husband’s Alien Registration Card (front and back)
• Photocopy of our Marriage Certificate
• Fee of 60,000 won

I also offered the officer a copy of my husband’s work contract but she said it was not needed. I was probably there for around 8 to 10 minutes and I immediately got my ARC back with the new validity date printed in the back.

How to reserve a bus ticket from the Bustago website

Whenever I need to get intercity bus tickets (mostly going to Incheon Airport or Gimhae Airport), I personally visit the Dongdaegu Bus terminal a few days or weeks before my trip. I only use the Bustago website or the Kobus website to check the schedule so I can see beforehand the departure times of the buses. I was thinking of doing the same thing again for an upcoming trip but I decided that I want to try booking it online. However, when I searched for tickets in the English version of the website, there seemed to be no way to book them. I checked online and found out that bookings are only possible using the Korean version of the site or through the mobile app. 

I feel like you would not really need to be fluent in Korean to use the website but it would be a big help if you could read. I also use Naver Papago to translate some of the longer notices on the website if I am curious as to what it says. 

I am sharing below the steps on how I reserved our bus tickets from the Bustago website.

1. Go to the bustago website (https://www.bustago.or.kr/newweb/en/index.do). If the site is in English, click the drop down box and choose Korean.

2. Fill in the reservation information (instead of typing the place of arrival and departure, there is an option to choose it from a list by clicking the little magnifying glass on the side). Some pop-up windows will appear, just click ok or the blue button and then click the grey button.

3. Check the reservation details again and click the blue button. A pop-up window will appear (asking if you have read the cancellation and refund terms and if you agree to it), click ok.

4. The bus search results will appear.

5. Clicking the first button on the side (light blue) opens a window and shows information about the trip. Click the blue button to close it.

6. Check the results and choose a departure time. Click the darker blue button in line with your preferred time and select a seat location. Click the blue button to confirm.

7. A new window will appear asking to confirm the details of your booking. If everything is correct, click the blue button.

8. The next page will ask you either to sign-in to your bustago account (if you have one) or booking without being a member. If you do not have an account or do not want to make one, just click on the boxes to agree to the terms.

9. Next, input your birthdate (year, month and day) and your mobile phone number then click the blue button.

10. The top part of the next page will show the details of your booking (not pictured). To process payment, input the required information at the bottom part of the page and click the blue button.

11. Once payment has been processed, the booking is complete and the page can be printed (there is a print button below).

Please take note of the reminders in this page (translated from Naver Papago):

• Please make sure you get a ticket from the terminal window or the unmanned machine after the reservation is completed.
• Booking confirmation and payment details cannot be used as a ticket.

When I decided to book the tickets online, I thought that I would get an actual ticket. It turns out that the physical tickets are issued at the terminal so be sure to arrive a little early to get it.

I referred to this post a lot while writing this. Check that page for other information as well as for some Korean phrases that can be used at the bus terminal.

UPDATE (1/20/2019): My husband wanted to have the actual tickets before our trip so I went to the Dongdaegu Bus terminal, approached the ticket window and showed our reservation confirmation. I did not print it and just saved a copy on my phone. The lady looked at it, typed something on her computer and gave me the tickets without any questions.