Informational handbook

Arrival Information

Once past customs you will go through the exit door out of the controlled arrival area into the public arrival area, where anyone meeting you should be waiting. There are four exits from the customs area into the public area, A, B, E, and F (there is no C or D). However, the flight arrival information on the display boards will indicate which of the four areas you should be exiting from, so there should be no difficulty in being met. If you are to be met and the person to meet you is not there right outside the doors where the exiting passengers meet the public, stay there until someone finds you – it’s much easier than your wandering around a four-acre airport terminal mumbling “Fulbright? Fulbright?” The only thing you might do is to check the display above the door you came out of to make sure you really are at the door where people on your flight are supposed to exit, because that’s the door where anyone will be waiting.

If you arrive between Monday and Thursday, you may request arrival services from KAEC (well in advance) and if you do you will be met at the airport by the KAEC driver. Once in the public arrival area, look for someone holding an 8x11 sign saying "FULBRIGHT." Occasionally the KAEC driver may be late in arriving at the airport due to traffic conditions or the earlier-than-anticipated arrival of your flight. If you have requested arrival services, be sure to wait a reasonable length of time for the driver to show up.
If you have friends or relatives who are planning to meet you, of course, it is preferable that you not request arrival services from KAEC as well. Those of you who are somewhat at home in Korea may prefer to manage your arrival on your own. Particularly if you are traveling light and have your own arrangements for the first night's lodging, there is no need for you to request arrival services. Arrival services are not available on weekends.
If your assignment is in the Seoul vicinity, you should have received confirmation that you will go directly to your permanent lodging. For those outside of Seoul, KAEC will make hotel or university guest house reservations and onward travel arrangements for you and let you know.
Even if you are not met at the airport by KAEC or anyone else, you should have no problem managing on your own. If you are not being met, you should exchange at least $100 into Korean won. As the rate of exchange at the airport banks is the same as at the banks in Seoul, you need not be reluctant to exchange more if you wish. (If you are being met by Fulbright, you will be given your settling-in allowance in cash as you arrive, so you will not need to change money.)
If you are on your own, go to the information desk for any help you may need. Communication in English is normally not a problem at those desks. Follow the signs to the limousine bus service desks outside the arrival area. Economical limousine bus service is available to many points in the city – indeed, many points in the country. The hotel nearest the Fulbright building (5 minutes walk) is the Holiday Inn. Buses board right outside the terminal. Make sure the bus you board is going near your destination, and ask the driver to inform you where to get off. There are both “City Busses” and “Hotel Limousine Busses.” To the Holiday Inn, for instance, the City Bus (#605) is W7000, while the Hotel Limousine Bus (un-numbered, but say “Holiday Inn) is W11,000. We do not recommend taking a taxi into the city, as it will cost W50,000 or more.
No matter where you spend the night on your arrival in Korea, don't forget to inform KAEC of your arrival and whereabouts on the first working day after your arrival – call 3275-4018.

Early Arrival

Early arrival normally requires KAEC support of some kind, including visa sponsorship. For that reason, you must request prior approval by email from KAEC well in advance of the requested arrival date. In making the request you must indicate the reasons for an early arrival. Unless there are serious complications, such as the unavailability of housing, we normally approve requests for early arrival, especially if it would facilitate your Fulbright project.

Some grantees choose to come quite early, up to two months early, in order to undertake Korean language study during the summer prior to the formal beginning date of the award. In that case the KAEC will fund your travel to Korea as promised in the award document, but will not be responsible for housing or a stipend or other allowances until the award beginning date. Such summer language study can be reimbursed on a receipt basis after the beginning of the award period.
Otherwise, if early arrival is approved, normally your award period will begin on the date of arrival and stipend payments and other benefits will be initiated (except for language study as indicated above). Even if the award period is advanced in this way, however, the number of months of the award period remains the same as stated in the award document. Though the period of Fulbright visa support may be extended later, additional funding is seldom available. In this respect, an early arrival implies either an early departure or an extension of the visa period without additional funding. In short, permission for an early arrival does not entail any commitment on KAEC's part to extend the funded period of the award. In addition, if lecturing, you are committed through the end of the semesters involved, no matter how early you may choose to come.
If you arrive very early you probably will not receive the same amount of attention and service from KAEC as those who arrive at the "normal" time (late August, for most grantees). This is true especially for those who arrive early in the summer when summer training activities, staff vacation schedules and other factors put a strain on the KAEC staff. Therefore, anyone who arrives early must be prepared to be more self-reliant during the first few weeks until the regular program year cycle gets underway at the beginning of the next semester.