General Information
We are looking forward to seeing you in Seoul for the Biometal 2024 Workshop on Computational and experimental modeling to accelerate development and testing of biodegradable metals for biomedical applications.
We invite you to visit this website regularly, as more information becomes available. In the meantime, here are some tips & tools to better prepare your stay:
Language
The official language of the workshop is English. All abstract submissions and presentations must be in English. Simultaneous translation will not be available.
Visa & Letter of Invitation
Participants may require a visa or an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to enter South Korea. Learn more by following the links below:
Korean electronic Travel Authorization
Letter for Visa Application
They can only be sent by email (free of charge) or Priority Mail at the cost of 100€ each in priority-mailed envelope. Fees for a group of letters can be paid only once if all letters are to be sent at the same address, at the same time. This is not refundable.
Insurance
The Conference Secretariat and organizers cannot be held liable for personal accidents, loss of or damage to private property of the conference participants and accompanying persons, either during, or directly arising from the Biometal 2024 Workshop. Participants should make their own arrangements for health and travel insurance.
Clothing & Weather
The dress code for the conference is informal for all occasions. The average temperatures in Seoul during the month of May are generally 23°C (day) and 12°C (night).
Travel Information
Getting Here
Travel to the Incheon International Airport (ICN) is convenient with direct flights from all major cities around the world. There are many flights coming from Asian cities, as well as numerous departures every week from many countries with only one connection. We suggest to land in Incheon Airport (IATA: ICN), on Wednesday May 22, 2024.
Hotel
Special rates for participants have been negotiated with the Novotel Ambassador Seoul. The booking at this hotel is included in the registration fees. You can find the full street address below:
Novotel Ambassador Seoul Dongdaemun Hotels & Residences
238 Eulji-ro
Jung-gu, Seoul
South Korea
Airport Transfers
The Incheon International Airport is located in South Korea, 63 kilometers east of Seoul. From there, the hotel will be easily reachable by bus (Airport Limousine Bus Number 6001) or by subway (3 minutes walk from exit 12 of Dongdaemun History & Culture Park Station, subway lines 2, 4 and 5).
Please remember that a group bus, included in the registration fees, is planned for Sunday May 26 to bring all Biometal 2024 Workshop attendees, to attend the opening ceremony of WBC 2024 planned on Sunday 26 afternoon.
You can also get around by taxi. You can easily find stops at various places in the city, including the bus station, airport and anywhere in Seoul. You can also use kakao taxi app to call taxis or reserve in advance.
Currency, Banking, ATM & Credit Cards
The currency is the Won (₩). Since South Koreans are avid credit card users, it's become easier for visitors to use credit cards in most stores and restaurants. Visa and MasterCard are the most widely accepted types, with some high-end hotels and restaurants accepting American Express. For smaller restaurants, outdoor markets, and bus fare, cash is necessary.
In South Korea, there are regular ATMs and cash dispenser machines (CDs), which give out cash but don't accept deposits. ATMs generally accept foreign cards. The CDs in train stations, bus terminals, and department stores are the most foreigner-friendly. Some ATMs and CDs are available 24/7, but many operate from 8am to midnight on weekdays and non-holidays. CDs generally offer directions in English and are more convenient for travellers since most ATMs in South Korea require that customers have an account with a Korean bank.
Citibank (tel. 02/2004-1004, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm)
Hana Bank (tel. +82 42-520-2500 ext. 8 for foreign languages, Mon-Fri 9am-4pm)
Shinhan Bank (tel. +82 2-3449-8380, Mon-Fri 9am-6pm)
The Cirrus (tel. 0079-811-887-0823 or 800/424-7787, 636/722-7111 outside the U.S.; www.mastercard.com) and PLUS (tel. 00818-00-908-8212 or 800/843-7587, 410/581-9994 from outside the U.S.; www.visa.com) networks are the most widely accepted in South Korea.
Korean ATMs have their own daily limit, some as low as W300,000 per day, but many go up to W700,000. If you have a five- or six-digit PIN, make sure to change it to a four-digit number since most Korean ATMs accept only four-digit PINs (although Citibank and a few other international ATMs allow longer PINs). If you have any trouble using an ATM or a CD, call the Korea Travel Phone at tel. 1330 for assistance in English.
Electricity
The voltage and frequency in Korea is 220 V, 60 Hz. It is the same electrical current as in Europe. Participants may require adapters for their electrical devices.
Time Zone
Seoul is in the KST time zone, UTC +09:00, which is 13 to 14 hours ahead of US Eastern Standard Time (EST - New York Time).