The 8th IFToMM International Conference on Rotor Dynamics ::IFToMM-Rotordynamics 2010::

Spring

In late March or early April, the trees burst into leafy splendor to mark the beginning of spring. Mostly sunny days can be expected from March to May.

Summer

During the relatively hot and rainy summer season, the vegetation is lush. By June the average temperature is over 20°C(68°F) Monsoon rains usually begin around the end of June and last until mid-to-late July. August is hot and humid.

Autumn

The coming of autumn in late September brings continental winds and clear, dry weather, making these months perhaps the most pleasant time of year. October's vivid gold and vibrant reds create a colorful panorama.

Winter

December to February is cold and dry with occasional snow. During the winter months, three or four days of cold weather are often followed by a few warmer days

Climate

Seoul belongs to the Temperate Zone featuring four distinctive seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. The yearly average temperature of Seoul is 12.2 degrees Celsius. Temperatures in Seoul show large seasonal variation, reaching as high as 38.4 degrees Celsius in the summer and dropping as low as minus 19.2 degrees Celsius in the winter. Influenced by the North Pacific high-pressure system, Seoul has hot and humid summers with average temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius from June through September. In the middle of summer, the city often records daily highs of over 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, Seoul is geographically influenced by the expansion of the Siberian high pressure and prevailing west wind with temperatures dropping lower than other regions on the same latitude. The rise and fall of the high-pressure system causes a typical cycle of three successive cold days followed by four warmer days, relieving people from freezing temperatures. The average temperature is 14 Centigrade, 57.92 Fahrenheit in October will be held the Conference.

Korea is 9 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +9) and does not have daylight savings time.

The unit of Korean currency is the Won (￦). Coin denominations are ￦10, ￦50, ￦100 and ￦500. Banknotes are ￦1,000, ￦5,000 and ￦10,000. As of November 13, 2008, the exchange rate is approximately US$1 to KR￦1,392.08. Foreign banknotes and traveler's check can be exchanged at foreign exchange banks and other authorized moneychangers.

Diners Club, Visa, American Express, and MasterCard are widely accepted at major hotels, shops, and restaurants in most cities. Check with your credit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Banks, post offices, and public offices are generally open from 09:30 to 17:00 on weekdays but are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Most of the shops are open from 10:00 to 22:00 throughout the entire week.

The standard electrical supply is 220 volts AC/60 cycles. Most hotels may provide outlet converters for 110 and 220 volts. Always check the power supply before using your equipment.

To make international calls, please dial the international dialing code (001, 002, 00700) + country code + area code + phone number. Most convenient stores, hotels, and airports sell domestic and international phone cards. Mobile phones can be rented at the airport or at major hotels. You need your identification card (passport) and credit card to access mobile phone rental services.

Tipping is not a regular practice in Korea. Service charges are often included in the bill for rooms, meals, and other services at hotels and upscale restaurants. Koreans occasionally do tip when they are especially pleased with the services provided.

Upon request, visitors can receive nearly 10 percent VAT refunds for purchases at the "Duty Free Shopping" outlets. Goods must be taken out of Korea within three months of purchase to be eligible for a tax refund. Only foreigners in Korea can apply for this tax refund. Participants can receive a refund on a receipt for a minimum purchase of KRW 50,000 (around US$ 54). To receive this refund, present refund receipts with the purchased goods at the customs desk at the Incheon International Airport on departure. These receipts can be cashed in at the Cash Refund Office in front of the Airport Duty Free Shop.

Participants are advised to get adequate travel and health insurance before leaving their respective countries.