Doing business
You’ll recognise Korean business etiquette if you’ve worked in China or Japan. Punctuality, conservative dress and respect for rank remain the golden rules. If an issue comes up a little way down the line expect it to be raised, and solved, informally. Drinking and dining with potential partners is normal.

Cool hotel
W Hotels are a byword for cool the world over, and the W Seoul Walkerhill (www.wseoul.com) keeps the standard high. It's located a little out of the central hubbub just north of the Han River. Packages are a good value way to crack the code of the at-first-glance budget-busting room rates.

Hip restaurant
Old-world architecture meets new-world cuisine at Min’s Club in the Indasong neighbourhood. The food veers well away from traditional Korean but it’s very popular for business meetings and evening entertainment. Ask your concierge to arrange reservations.

Happening bar
While possibly not quite as cool as bars in the pleasure quarter of Gangnam, south of the Han River Gecko’s Garden (www.geckosterrace.com) is a great place for a drink or a meal. It attracts a fashionable crowd without a grumbling expat teacher in sight. The shady garden is a pleasant place to linger over a coffee, good wine or cocktail, but get a taxi to escape the crowds elsewhere in the Itaewon district.

Getting there
Seoul is easy to reach by direct flight from the UK, taking around eleven hours with Korean Air and Asiana Airlines. Given the regularity and value of these flights there’s little need to go via a hub country, although Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai all offer convenient stopping-off points if you need to stick to preferred airlines.

Getting downtown
With a bus from Incheon International Airport taking up to 100 minutes it is not surprising that a rail link is under construction. Currently complete as far as the more centrally-located Gimpo Airport, the final link should be ready next year. A taxi is inevitably both faster and more expensive. Expect to pay around £30.

The details
Seoul is, like the rest of South Korea, nine hours ahead of GMT. It does not change time zones at equinox. The currency is the won, with a handy rough conversion being 2,000 won to the pound. Seoul has humid, sticky summers and bitingly cold winters with pleasant but occasionally damp spring and summer seasons.

Must-see sights
The lovely district of Indasong boasts a confusing set of alleys to get lost in and a feeling of old Korea. It makes for a fascinating contrast with the N’Seoul Tower, a 237m (777ft) high communications tower with the best views in town. Visit in the evening for the clearest views.

insider's tip
“Drinking can be an important part of doing business in Korea. The tradition is that you should never serve yourself, but someone else should fill your glass. If your fellow diner’s glass is empty, you should refill it, especially if you are drinking with someone older than you.” www.visitkorea.or.kr

THE CARBON COST
A return flight from London to Seoul will cover 19,316km and produce 2.1 tonnes of CO2. Offset this with The Carbon Neutral Company from £15.23.

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