Korean Job Discussion Forums

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

I don't know what exactly is going on. I'm not doing anything illegal in Korea (privates, et cetera).

What happened was I sent around W1,500,000 back to Canada two months ago. It never arrived. I went to my Korean bank (Shinhan) and they said that it went through on their end and it was a problem with the RBC in Canada. I called the RBC and they said it was Shinhan's fault.

I went in and spoke to a clerk who didn't speak much English. She basically said, "we're sorry, your money is lost. Bye-bye! Next customer!" I was understandably pissed.

I went in again today. An English speaking clerk fixed my situation right up and gave me a free apology calendar. However, when looking over my bank deposit list he saw some deposits that didn't make sense to him. Basically, I sold some stuff to a Korean friend (furniture, computer junk) and he paid me through my bank account.

The clerk saw the deposit and must've assumed I was teaching privates or something. He wants a full written statement from my boss concerning all the places I work come Monday. I've never done any privates, or worked anywhere else, but I'm still a little bit worried.

This happen to anyone else? Should I be worried (will they just deport me without letting me speak for myself and explain)?

Atavistic · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:07 am Post subject:

WTF? Are banks suddenly the right hand of immigration or something?

happeningthang · Joined: 26 Apr 2003

Surely they'd be better of asking the owner of the account who deposited money what it was for, although if I was the Korean guy, I'd be outraged if my bank was asking/ accusing me about things like that.

I'm shocked that a bank is taking the time to be rifling through customer's accounts to determine their legality. That's straight up outrageous. What did they guy say when you gave your explanation?

Personally, I'd have clarified it's none of his f**king business.

jacob7207 · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: Seoul

My bank insists on stamping my passport every time I send money back to the States. There have been a few times were the money was delayed in going through. You should go back to the bank with the written statement from your boss, or better yet, ask your boss if he/she would be so kind as to go there with you and have them speak for you.

Your boss will not be friendly to them at all and after he/she has dealt with it, they will never give you any shit like that again.

Trust me.

Whenever someone in the past 13 months has tried pulling a "you're a foreigner so now I'm going to mess with you" song and dance, my boss had no problem stepping in and setting them straight. You're boss or someone else at your work would be willing to do that for you.

articulate_ink · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:04 am Post subject: Re: Bank drama

Roch · Joined: 24 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

Suwoner10 · Joined: 10 Dec 2007

I took out 3 million won for vacation, in cash, as I heard the ATMs here aren't International. I then later hear that Korean currency isn't even good for wiping your b*tt with in Japan, so I re-deposited the money a day later, then asked for US traveler's checks. They refused, and accused me of somehow trying to launder money. Shocked

That was KB. I withdrew my cash on the spot and went to Standard Charter.

WoBW · Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: HBC

OP: That is f@cked up!!

Why should you explain to them where a presumably small amount of cash came from?

I could understand if it was a substantial amount but from what you said about selling stuff to your Korean friend, I'm guessing it shouldn't be enough to raise any eyebrows.

I agree with whoever it was that said to withdraw your cash and tell them to kiss your foreign a$$.

I've never had experiences like this with Korean banks so far, but I'm planning to pay a visit to Standard Chartered pretty soon.

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

My suggestion to all and sundry is that the next time a bank flunky...er, clerk asks any of these stupid questions, respond with: "Oh, never mind about the money transfer. I'm closing my account right now and withdrawing all my money. Bring the manager around so I can explain to that moron also."

Supposedly there are one million foreigners legally resident in this country. One or two of us doing this won't make a dent but 2% of the population?

Trevor · Joined: 16 Nov 2005

I am told that what foreigners in Korea from less-developed countries often do is purchase travellers checks and mail them back to someone in their home country. Perhaps this is a better method than putting up with mistreatment from the bank for depositing money.

ceesgetdegrees · Joined: 12 Jul 2007

Stand up for yourself! Tell the bank that it's none of their goddamn business and that if they persist with this line of questioning you will close the account immediately. Don't take any guff!

stillnotking · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Location: Oregon, USA

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

A BANK CLERK HAS NO AUTHORITY TO ASK FROM YOU WHAT THEY ASKED.

nomad-ish · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

i suggest closing your account too. the very fact that one clerk said we lost your money, that's that, is outrageous. they would NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS have said that to a korean customer. withdraw your money, close your account, and then have a word with the manager about the dumba$$ who wouldn't help and the other acting like immi.

in recent months, many people have been reporting issues with their banks. i believe the policy about stamping your passport when you transfer a certain amount of money has been around for awhile, but the clerks didn't seem to enforce it that much before. it probably has to do with all the bad press about FTs and illegal work/workers lately