Venue & Travel

Workshop Venues

The meeting will take place on the main campus (Gwanak campus) of Seoul National University (SNU, Google map, English campus map, 3D campus map, local weather). The first part of the meeting on May 7-8 will be held in the Sangsan Mathematical Science Building (Bldg 129, 1st floor Lecture Hall), and the second part of the meeting on May 9-10 will be held in the Hoam Faculty House (Bldg 125, Suryeon Hall (Water Lily) in the Convention Center). Detailed directions to the venues can be found in this page below.



Accommodation Options

  • The primary accommodation option for the workshop participants is the Hoam Faculty House at SNU (address: Bldg 125, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826) [website (Korean), Google map, Tripadvisor, Do-It-Yourself booking guideline], which conveniently offers a direct limousine bus service to and from the Incheon International Airport (ICN). Please contact us with any question if you experience any problem booking a room. Click on the image to the right to view a campus map with key buildings and locations highlighted.
  • We also recommend several other lodging options based on their access to Seoul's Subway Line No. 2 (the "Green Line"), the quality of their rooms, and reasonable pricing. Please note that SNU is located near the "Seoul National Univ. (Gwanak-gu Office) Station" and the "Nakseongdae Station" on Subway Line No. 2.
     - (1) ibis Styles Ambassador Seoul Gangnam (Agoda)
     - (2) Shilla Stay Yeoksam (Agoda)
     - (3) SR Hotel Sadang (Agoda)
     - (4) ZIP Hotel (Agoda)
  • International Participants Only: If you need help finding a hotel or a place to stay, please indicate this in the registration form, along with your itinerary (arrival and departure dates, etc.). We will be in touch with you after the registration closes.

Plan Your Trip: K-ETA / Visa / Q-code

  • K-ETA: Nationals of countries/regions eligible for visa-free entry are required to get a K-ETA approval to board the flight bound for the Republic of Korea. K-ETA is an electronic travel authorization that visa-free foreign visitors (from ~100 countries) must apply online at least 72 hours before boarding the flight, and get approved ahead of their travel. In most cases, applicants can find out the results within 48 hours after completing the K-ETA application; however, in some case the process may take 72 hours or more. So, please apply for K-ETA with sufficient time left. The applicaiton fee is 10,000 won (KRW; 1 USD ~ 1,350 KRW). NOTE: K-ETA has been temporarily exempted for nationals of 22 countries/regions until Dec. 31, 2024.
  • Visa: Nationals of other countries must apply for a visa. To search for the right visa for you, click here. Please direct any questions regarding the entry to Korea to your nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate, as the terms and conditions may vary by country. In case a participant needs an official invitation letter for a visa, the LOC will try to work with the University to provide one, after an internal review; please contact us with a subject line "Invitation Letter Request", completed with information of the applicant (due date for letter request: Mar. 31, 2024)
  • Q-code: Travelers need to fill out a Covid-19 quanrantine information (Q-code) to enter Korea. It may take some time to fill out the questionnaire, so we recommend you to fill out the Q-code in advance (up to 3 days prior to your arrival in Korea).

From Airport to Hoam Faculty House At SNU

  • Once you arrive at the Incheon International Airport (ICN), the limousine bus is probably the most convenient and inexpensive way to get to the SNU Gwanak campus. An Airport Limousine Bus (number 6017) travels from ICN to the Hoam Faculty House in about 80 minutes in normal traffic (if boarding at Terminal 1, Boarding Stop 6), or 100 minutes (if boarding at Terminal 2, Boarding Stop 27). Note that the Hoam Faculty House is the last stop of this bus, whose fare is 17,000 won (KRW, as of Jan. 2024; 1 USD ~ 1,350 KRW). Another bus (number 6003) also goes to the SNU main gate, but not only is this gate quite far from the Hoam Faculty House, but the trip also takes longer, so, we do not recommend it. Limousine bus service runs every day, with no extra charge for baggages (ICN bus routes & where to board). More information can be found in the website (Korean) of the Hoam Faculty House.
  • The taxi fare from ICN to the Hoam Faculty House is around 70,000 won (KRW) depending on traffic conditions. For a deluxe taxi (Mobeom Taxi), the approximate fare will be around 90,000 won (KRW). If you get on a taxi, show the first sentence in the image on the right to the driver. All taxis in Korea -- and nearly all stores/restaurants/hotels -- accept credit cards, but prepare some cash in KRW in case your credit card doesn't work. Tips are not necessary as there is no tipping culture in Korea.
  • If you arrive at the Gimpo International Airport (GMP), an Airport Limousine Bus (number 6003) is the only limousine option (boarding at Gate 12), and it will take you to the SNU main gate. You will likely have to take a taxi or a campus shuttle there to the Hoam Faculty House.

How To Get To The Workshop Venues

From Hoam Faculty House to Sangsan Math Science Building (Bldg 129; Google map direction)
Directions to Sangsan Math Science Bldg + roadview; click to enlarge
Shuttle_bus
  1. Take the No. 02 bus at the Hoam Faculty House stop. Be cautious that the bus stop is across the road from the Hoam Faculty House since the other bus would go to the opposite direction.
  2. Get off the bus at the Outdoor Auditorium stop.
  3. Walk to the Sangsan Math Science Building following the direction illustrated in the image on the right.
  4. NOTE I: You may walk from the Hoam Faculty House to the Outdoor Auditorium following the bus route, although it involves a gentle incline. In this case, the entire trip will take about 30-35 minutes.
  5. NOTE II: You may take a free shuttle bus running around the campus. To get on this bus (counterclockwise), you will first need to walk to the Gwanaksa Samgeori stop. The bus will take you to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences stop which is right across the Sangsan Math Science Building. Alternatively, another shuttle bus (역순환셔틀; clockwise) departing in front of the Hoam Faculty House will take you to the Gwanak Samgeori and then eventually to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences stop. But this bus does not run as often as the other bus, and it does not have any announcement nor a buzzer to signal the driver. You may show the image on the right to the driver before the bus departs.
From SNU subway station to Sangsan Math Science Building (Bldg 129; Google map direction)
  1. Take the No. 5513 bus at the exit 3 of Seoul National Univ. station.
  2. Get off the bus at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences stop.
  3. You can find the Sangsan Math Science Building right across the street.
From Nakseongdae subway station to Hoam Faculty House (Bldg 125; Google map direction)
  1. Take the No. 02 bus at the exit 4 of the Nakseongdae station. If you have trouble finding the bus stop at the Nakseongdae station, zoom in to the Google map direction above. The bus stop is next to a bakery called Jean Boulangerie.
  2. Get off the bus at the Hoam Faculty House stop.
  3. You can find the Hoam Faculty House right across the street.

Public Transportation In and Around SNU

  • The two nearest subway stations around the SNU Gwanak campus are the Seoul National Univ. (Gwanak-gu Office) station and the Nakseongdae station, both on Subway Line No. 2 (the "Green Line"). The former is located 30-40 minutes walk from the SNU main gate, and the latter is 20 minutes walk from the SNU rear gate that is close to the Hoam Faculty House. You may instead take a bus or a campus shuttle to and from these two subway stations to explore Seoul.
  • For comprehensive information on the public transportation system in Seoul, especially the buses and the campus shuttles between the two subway stations and the Gwanak campus, please visit this page and this page.

Recommended Restaurants Near Hoam Faculty House

  • There are several good restaurants around the SNU campus, but, here we list restaurants specifically for foreign visitors who are looking for familiar foods, and the ones where you can use English to order dishes. Before you visit them, please make sure that they are open by checking Google Maps information.
  • First of all, The Melting Pot is known as one of the best burger restaurants in Korea, and well-known to SNU students. It will be fun to compare this store to the best burger restaurant you know. In a popular Moroccan restaurant nearby, Nangman Morocco, we recommend the combination of Tajine and khobz. Also, the brisket spinach oil linguine is very popular.
  • If you are a big fan of Mexican food, you may want to visit Publico taco. They serve various tacos and Quesadillas. But beware that you may need to ask them to remove the coriander topping if you do not prefer it! El Tapeo is a Spanish restaurant with good reputation. The foods are well paired with wine or beer. Lastly, if you want to have a simple and convenient meal, there is a sandwich shop Quiznos on campus, close to the Hoam Faculty House.

Local Attractions in Seoul

  • Gyeongbokgung was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty (Wikipedia). First built in 1395, it is the largest of the five Grand Palaces established by the dynasty. You can also visit Changdeokgung, another royal palace nearby (Wikipedia). If you want more experience with traditional Korean culture, we recommend Insa-dong as well. Here, you can enjoy traditional Korean crafts, food, tea, and more. You can also see many Korean architecture and cultural properties. Especially, this is a really good place to travel on foot. If you are interested in a crowded traditional market visit Gwangjang Market close to Insa-dong.
  • Han River is a prominent waterway flowing through the middle of Seoul. This river holds cultural, historical, and economic significance for Korea. It is especially popular for biking or walking trails that run alongside the extensive river. We recommend Sevit Island and Ttukseom Park as the first place to visit.
  • Those interested in public exhibitions may want to visit National Museum of Korea beside the Han River (map). If you are interested in the art, consider visiting National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Korea (one of them is next to Gyeongbokgung; map). Please check their closing times before your visit, as they may close early on weekdays.
  • Bukhansan is a national park which is popular for both locals and tourists seeking outdoor activities such as hiking and rock climbing. Hikers are rewarded with panoramic views of Seoul and the surrounding areas from the mountain top. The scenery is especially breathtaking during sunrise and sunset.
  • Lotte World Tower is a skyscraper in Seoul. This is ranked as the tallest building in Korea and the fifth tallest in the world. There is an observation deck called the Seoul Sky Observatory where you can experience a wonderful city view. Also, this building is part of the larger Lotte World Complex including Lotte World Theme Park and the Lotte World Mall. Seokchon Lake Park, which surrounds the theme park, is also a popular destination for visitors.
  • If you are interested in a commercial district in Seoul, we recommend you to visit COEX, located in Gangnam-gu (sounds familiar?). It is one of the largest exhibition and convention centers in Korea, with many restaurants, shopping malls, and attractions.
  • Last but not least, SNU's own Kyujanggak has a long history dating back to 1776 in Joseon dynasty (map). Its archive holds 8 "national treasures" and 27 "treasures", five of which are inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World List. A special exhibition featuring all of these five is currently running, from Jan. 29 to Aug. 16, 2024.
  • For more travel information in and around Seoul, you can visit the tour information page provided by SNU, or visitseoul.net.