Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Homer]

As I said...good luck hogwonguy1979.

The measures are aimed at curbing fraud but the net is far too large here....kind of like using a sledgehammer to kill a bug.

Lets see if this regulation is put in effect and if it is amended to ease access for people who can prove they are legit...ex Foreign teachers with valid work contracts, visas and so on.

[hogwonguy1979]

[OiGirl]

There are people who might be in Korea with a passport and no visa beyond a tourist visa and a legitimate need for a bank account.

Thank goodness I never closed mine.

[Homer]

[jaganath69]

Bigger question though, is this not indicative of the overall attitude of the present government to non-Koreans?

[Smee]

As has been said earlier, but should not be forgotten, this could turn out to be prohibitive for new teachers interested in coming here. It's not simply a matter of inconvenience, and it's not simply something that concerns a few illegal Chinese . . . not being able to access legally-earned money for three-plus months is a huge deal. Maybe even a deal-breaker.

This business about having to visit a teller to process the simplest transactions is language-based discrimination. Say what you want about expats here 5 years with no Korean-language skills, but what about the people here for 5 months? Obviously most banks aren't equipped to handle English-speakers, and even something as simple as a deposit or withdrawl can become extremely challenging. (To say nothing of foreign workers who don't speak English either). And, it bears repeating, many of us---teachers, diplomats, businessmen and -women, factory workers---are busy at work during business hours, and thus rely on ATMs not only for all-hours convenience, but for a regular cash-flow.

It goes without saying that to punish the entire foreign community for the activities of a handful is irrational. To suggest that this voice phishing is carried out by anyone other than overseas Koreans is ludicrous, and that demographic ought to be dealt with accordingly. Regardless of how other countries treat their migrant workers, and regardless of how many comparisons you want to draw between Korea and the US, or Canada, or Ecuador, or wherever, to enact legislation that further restricts how I use my legally-earned money is unacceptable.

Like many issues in Korea, though, this may just blow over. It may just be a planned piece of legislation. But I certainly want banks, newspapers, journalists, other foreigners, and perhaps even politicians to hear how I feel about it.

[Hater Depot]

Are we all sure this is being read correctly? (from RR's first link)

[Dukey77777]

Thank god for USAA banking. Just one less holier-than-thou Korean I have to deal with.

[just another day]

[The_Conservative]

Actually I was saying something much like the above in another thread, before it was yanked due to flaming and the groundswell of hysteria.

[just another day]

[Homer]

Well done Hater Depot.

Takes some of the hysteria out of this....it seems the restrictions, from a closer read of the article, are targetted at fraud from certain types of foreign residents. People with valid work visas would indeed have an exemption here.

[FistFace]

[hogwonguy1979]

[boyne11]