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Living in Korea: The frustrations just keep mounting
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pkang0202



Joined: 09 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:30 pm    Post subject: Living in Korea: The frustrations just keep mounting Reply with quote

Sigh...I'm having one of those " I really hate this country" moments. I'm a gyopo so its gotta be REALLY bad.

So, I went to the post office today to mail a DVD player back to the US for my sister as a present. I get to the post office and they immediately tell me "No, we can't ship DVD players." I asked them why and they simple told me that it'll break during shipping. I told them that I packed it really well and I'll take my chances. They said no.

So then I asked them where I COULD take it to, and they said DHL. I asked where the nearest DHL was and they said "Call them." and motioned me to leave. Isn't the purpose of a post office to mail things out?
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spliff



Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I hope you didn't forget to flip the guy the bird as you were leaving.
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kermo



Joined: 01 Sep 2004
Location: Eating eggs, with a comb, out of a shoe.

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:33 pm    Post subject: Re: Living in Korea: The frustrations just keep mounting Reply with quote

pkang0202 wrote:
Sigh...I'm having one of those " I really hate this country" moments. I'm a gyopo so its gotta be REALLY bad.

So, I went to the post office today to mail a DVD player back to the US for my sister as a present. I get to the post office and they immediately tell me "No, we can't ship DVD players." I asked them why and they simple told me that it'll break during shipping. I told them that I packed it really well and I'll take my chances. They said no.

So then I asked them where I COULD take it to, and they said DHL. I asked where the nearest DHL was and they said "Call them." and motioned me to leave. Isn't the purpose of a post office to mail things out?


I'm sorry to hear that. It's a ridiculous rule, but the beauty of Korea is that the rules could be completely different when you come back tomorrow.
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pkang0202



Joined: 09 Mar 2007

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think the rules will be completely different when I go back there with a Korean.
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spliff



Joined: 19 Jan 2004
Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

pkang0202 wrote:
I think the rules will be completely different when I go back there with a Korean.


Shocked
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seoulman1



Joined: 02 Feb 2007
Location: Jamsil

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

why not buy one in the states and get it shipped remotely? Your shipping costs will be more than the difference.
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eamo



Joined: 08 Mar 2003
Location: Shepherd's Bush, 1964.

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 8:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Post offices are like banks. Every one you go to will tell you different rules.

just go to another post office.
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Dev



Joined: 18 Apr 2006

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:23 pm    Post subject: Re: Living in Korea: The frustrations just keep mounting Reply with quote

[quote="pkang0202"]." and motioned me to leave.quote]

That's so rude, but I guess that's post office workers and bank workers - they can be pricks sometimes.

I was once served by a sarcastic postal worker back home. I wanted to knock his head off (I really should have).
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shifdog



Joined: 20 Jul 2006

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You can try going to another post office, or you can tell them it's a broken DVD player.
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jdog2050



Joined: 17 Dec 2006

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:36 pm    Post subject: Re: Living in Korea: The frustrations just keep mounting Reply with quote

pkang0202 wrote:
Sigh...I'm having one of those " I really hate this country" moments. I'm a gyopo so its gotta be REALLY bad.

So, I went to the post office today to mail a DVD player back to the US for my sister as a present. I get to the post office and they immediately tell me "No, we can't ship DVD players." I asked them why and they simple told me that it'll break during shipping. I told them that I packed it really well and I'll take my chances. They said no.

So then I asked them where I COULD take it to, and they said DHL. I asked where the nearest DHL was and they said "Call them." and motioned me to leave. Isn't the purpose of a post office to mail things out?


Blech, I just went to shinhan to get a new bank statement book, and they told me I needed a passport. Me, who has his ARC, Shinhan Card, and 4 other cards with my name on them in my wallet, and yet I needed a damned passport to get a statement book (which you can't even DO ANYTHING WITH OTHER THAN READ YOUR STATEMENT). Hub of Asia folks.
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Passions



Joined: 31 May 2006

PostPosted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 9:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Differences between Japanese and Koreans regarding 2nd gen, 3rd gen, etc.

Japanese believe 2nd gen, 3rd gen, Japanese born in foreign countries are not "real" Japanese. In order to be a real Japanese, you need to be born and raised in Japan. They will display amazement and shock if a 2nd gen actually knows how to speak Japanese.

Koreans believe 2nd gen, 3rd gen, Koreans born in foreign countries are still Korean. There is a duty and obligation to have and uphold Korean culture. This is quite evident in Miss Seoul's post. When a 2nd gen cannot speak Korean, there is DISMAY and disappointment.

That being said, I think the Japanese are more realistic and fair regarding their foreign brethren.
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NAVFC



Joined: 10 May 2006

PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Passions wrote:
Differences between Japanese and Koreans regarding 2nd gen, 3rd gen, etc.

Japanese believe 2nd gen, 3rd gen, Japanese born in foreign countries are not "real" Japanese. In order to be a real Japanese, you need to be born and raised in Japan. They will display amazement and shock if a 2nd gen actually knows how to speak Japanese.

Koreans believe 2nd gen, 3rd gen, Koreans born in foreign countries are still Korean. There is a duty and obligation to have and uphold Korean culture. This is quite evident in Miss Seoul's post. When a 2nd gen cannot speak Korean, there is DISMAY and disappointment.

That being said, I think the Japanese are more realistic and fair regarding their foreign brethren.


Miss Seoul isnt even Korean, and prolly not a chick either.
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IlIlNine



Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:41 am    Post subject: Re: Living in Korea: The frustrations just keep mounting Reply with quote

jdog2050 wrote:
pkang0202 wrote:
Sigh...I'm having one of those " I really hate this country" moments. I'm a gyopo so its gotta be REALLY bad.

So, I went to the post office today to mail a DVD player back to the US for my sister as a present. I get to the post office and they immediately tell me "No, we can't ship DVD players." I asked them why and they simple told me that it'll break during shipping. I told them that I packed it really well and I'll take my chances. They said no.

So then I asked them where I COULD take it to, and they said DHL. I asked where the nearest DHL was and they said "Call them." and motioned me to leave. Isn't the purpose of a post office to mail things out?



I wonder if you read this...

Anyways, it depends on what your account was set-up with as a primary source of ID. If you created your bank account before you got your ARC (ie. with your passpord as primary ID) - then yes, you'll need it whenever you do anything to/with your account.

Otherwise, if your ARC is the primary source of ID, then you soundn't have to present your passport.

But - I'm betting on the former.
Blech, I just went to shinhan to get a new bank statement book, and they told me I needed a passport. Me, who has his ARC, Shinhan Card, and 4 other cards with my name on them in my wallet, and yet I needed a damned passport to get a statement book (which you can't even DO ANYTHING WITH OTHER THAN READ YOUR STATEMENT). Hub of Asia folks.
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Alyallen



Joined: 29 Mar 2004
Location: The 4th Greatest Place on Earth = Jeonju!!!

PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 4:45 am    Post subject: Re: Living in Korea: The frustrations just keep mounting Reply with quote

IlIlNine wrote:
jdog2050 wrote:
pkang0202 wrote:
Sigh...I'm having one of those " I really hate this country" moments. I'm a gyopo so its gotta be REALLY bad.

So, I went to the post office today to mail a DVD player back to the US for my sister as a present. I get to the post office and they immediately tell me "No, we can't ship DVD players." I asked them why and they simple told me that it'll break during shipping. I told them that I packed it really well and I'll take my chances. They said no.

So then I asked them where I COULD take it to, and they said DHL. I asked where the nearest DHL was and they said "Call them." and motioned me to leave. Isn't the purpose of a post office to mail things out?



I wonder if you read this...

Anyways, it depends on what your account was set-up with as a primary source of ID. If you created your bank account before you got your ARC (ie. with your passpord as primary ID) - then yes, you'll need it whenever you do anything to/with your account.

Otherwise, if your ARC is the primary source of ID, then you soundn't have to present your passport.

But - I'm betting on the former.
Blech, I just went to shinhan to get a new bank statement book, and they told me I needed a passport. Me, who has his ARC, Shinhan Card, and 4 other cards with my name on them in my wallet, and yet I needed a damned passport to get a statement book (which you can't even DO ANYTHING WITH OTHER THAN READ YOUR STATEMENT). Hub of Asia folks.


What are you talking about? I suppose this is another example of the consistency of the Korean Banking system. I opened my account 3 years ago with my passport and all I have to do is tell them that my statement book is missing or needs to be replaced and I get a new one on the spot. No passport. No hassle. No questions....

The inconsistency of this country truly pisses me off sometimes....But then I go read a book and forget about it...
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Nextyear



Joined: 30 Jun 2005

PostPosted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:01 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I agree. It is hard to make them break the "rules". Too often if I ask Koreans to do something that makes sense to me, I got an answer "It can't be done! Because it has never been done before".
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