Autumn lasts from September to November, and produces mild weather. The deep blue sky and fiery red leaves prove time and again that fall is the best time to visit Korea. Visitors in this season can share the best of autumn's delights and fully experience the beauty of the grounds. Various spots in Seoul are easily accessible by subway, and are known as the best places in the city to see the changing foliage. Not only do they offer a great walk under the leaves, but also offer the advantage of being located near popular tourist sites such as Deoksugung Palace Stone Wall Road, Samcheong-dong Walkway and Mt. Namsan..

The average temperature is 14 Centigrade, 57.92 Fahrenheit in October in Seoul, Korea.

Foreigners wishing to enter the Republic of Korea to attend ISTA2008 should possess valid passports and entry visas, if required. Visitors for sightseeing or transit with confirmed outbound tickets may stay in Korea up to 30 days without visas, except those from certain countries. Any visitor from a country that has no diplomatic relations or no special visa exemption with Korea should obtain an entry visa before coming to Korea. If you are uncertain as to the requirements for entry visas to the Republic of Korea, please contact a Korean Embassy or the consulate nearest to you as soon as possible. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade at
http://www.mofat.go.kr/index.jsp or http://www.g4f.go.kr/

Korean time is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+9), and No daylight savings time.

Government Offices and Organizations are opening from 9 am to 6 pm, but Banks open from 9 am to 5 pm. They are closed on weekends.

The Organizing Committee will not be responsible for medical expenses, accidents, or losses or unexpected damage to property belonging to congress participants., either during or as a result of the meeting or during all tours and events. Participants are strongly advised to arrange their own insurance for health and accidents, lost luggage, and trip cancellations.

Emergency call numbers are 112 for police and 119 for fire/rescue and hospital services (though spoken in Korean). A hotel front desk or hotel manager can arrange for a doctor or an ambulance. If you need a doctor on the street, ask a policeman or passerby for assistance. Police boxes can be found on every major street. In addition, International SOS Korea (02-31401700) provides 24-hour emergency service for foreigners, acting as a link between patients and Korean hospitals for a charge. BBB offers translation service by volunteers using cellular phones, to reduce language difficulties that foreign tourists might experience during their visits to Korea. For more information about BBB, please visit http://www.bbbkorea.org/

In Korea, 220 volt outlets are most common.

Tipping is not customary in Korea. Sometimes, expensive restaurants and luxury hotels may add a service charge of 10%. Thus, you do not necessarily have to prepare for extra charges since it will be included in the bill.