Samcheok

Motels near Samcheok Express Bus Terminal

Rooms ₩50,000–150,000; walk 10 min to bus terminal

Palace Hotel

105 rooms, phone +82 33‑575‑7000

Etiquette

• Greeting: A slight bow with a 'annyeonghaseyo'; handshake with the right hand, left hand touching the right forearm; avoid: Hugs and cheek kisses with people you have just met
• Age and rank: Expect to be asked your age; it sets how people speak to you. Let the eldest sit and start first; avoid: Calling older people by their given name
• Handing things: Two hands for money, cards, gifts and drinks; avoid: Passing things with one hand to older people
• Subway: Quiet voices, bags off seats, queue at the marked lines; avoid: Priority and pink pregnancy seats, even when empty
• Home visit: Shoes off; bring fruit or a boxed gift; refuse once before accepting; avoid: Writing names in red ink — it is used for the dead
• Temples: Covered shoulders and knees; bow at the main hall; avoid: Stepping on thresholds; loud talk; pointing at Buddha statues
• Numbers: Know that 4 is unlucky; buildings may show F instead of a fourth floor; avoid: Giving gifts in sets of four
• Sensitive topics: Listen; follow your host's lead; avoid: Comparing Korea with Japan or China casually; jokes about the North, the Japanese colonial era, or plastic surgery

Scams and watch-outs

• First bus from Seoul departs 06:30, last 23:30; verify seat‑type (3‑seat vs 4‑seat) at ticket office.
• Cave opening hours change seasonally – Hwanseon 08:00‑19:00 (summer) / 08:30‑17:00 (winter); Daegeum 09:00‑17:00 (summer) / 09:30‑16:00 (winter).
• Some beaches (Gungchon) are open only July 10‑Aug 20; check local signs.