Korean Job Discussion Forums

Positive Realist · Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Location: Somewhere Damn Azz Cold

Has anyone received their pension without actually leaving the country, that is, buying a refundable ticket, going to immi. with all the documents and getting their contribution back?

If so, how did you get around the fact that you either have a new E-2 VISA in your passport or your ARC has an extension / different employer on it?

garykasparov · Joined: 27 May 2007

OP, you are not being smart about this subject. Be honest and you will get your money. Why try to be slick Willy about this?

georgewallas · Joined: 26 Nov 2007

This is what you do:

Take your plane ticket to the PENSION OFFICE and fill out the forms.
Fly to Thailand for at least a week,
Drink cheap imported alcohol,
Get a tan from actual sunlight,
Get a massage for 4000 KRW, from a young, athletic woman.

When you come back and wonder why you are working in the LOF [land of frowns] and not the LOS [land of smiles], look at your bank account.

And for god's sake - when you're there - use baby powder to soak up the BO, falangs sweat like pigs, and expats and Thai's alike dislike stench.

Tokki1 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 1:09 pm Post subject:

I've mentioned this in past threads, but you can actually have the money wired INTO A KOREAN BANK ACCOUNT. Done it several times.

That should answer your question.

Positive Realist · Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Location: Somewhere Damn Azz Cold

Tokki1 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:30 pm Post subject:

aphong420 · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Location: KOREAAAAAAH

I'm fibbing to get my airfare ... which I shouldn't have to do anyways, but have to because GEPIK is stupid.

If you figure out a way to fib to recieve pension without actually leaving the country - let me know.

Positive Realist · Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Location: Somewhere Damn Azz Cold

So you don't have to provide your ARC or your contract or anything else? No worries of them 'finding out' you're not really leaving? I'd hate for my univeristy to get a call like 'um, ms. so and so is collecting her pension, i.e. pulling a runner' and than having to explain to my school that I'm just being greedy.

Tokki1 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

I've done it 3 times personally, and have also withdrawn money from my friends' KOREAN BANK ACCOUNTS (pension money) a month after they left and wired it to the States and Canada.

Just be kind and explain the situation. They'll do it. Trust me.

Positive Realist · Joined: 11 Jan 2007 Location: Somewhere Damn Azz Cold

K, don't mean to sound dense, but, did you or did you not have to show your contract and ARC card? Did you tell them you were leaving the country?

Tokki1 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:39 pm Post subject:

Hmm...if you're coming back to a job...u might not want to do the pension thing because how the hell are you gonna explain to your employer that you need to be reregistered with them?

Why the hell would you need to show them a contract? Just a passport and air ticket out. You're leaving and you want your pension money. That's it. That simple.

expat2001 · Joined: 28 Jan 2006

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

My wife and I just went through this with a friend who is leaving in a couple of weeks. The new policy thanks to the "slick willies" out there is that you cannot receive your pension money until the day you leave the country with a plane ticket showing your home destination. They will not release it to your bank account in Korea or otherwise until that day. You can expedite it which will cost you about 60,000 KRW extra but it is doubtful you are going to be able to wiggle your way around the new rules. They are in place for the very reasons that you are asking the question about doing this. Not a slam against the OP, but it really makes it hard on the honest people who are trying to just get their pension and go home. Also, they will wire the money to any Korean bank, but not until the day you are scheduled to leave the country, and only the portion you received up to the last two months of payments. The remainder will be wired to your bank account anywhere up to 2 months after you have left the country. I agree with the others who said it, be honest and go travel, then come back and it should be no problem.

One more thing, they need to see your ARC with the visa expiration date on it as well. Along with your Passport and a copy of your work contract would be advisable. We have had to do this for the last three people we helped with pension refunds. Hope this helps.

Tokki1 · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:12 pm Post subject: Re: Just went through this

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

We just went one week ago to the pension office in Chuncheon, and the new rule as of a week ago was that they will not deposit any money in any bank account unless it is the day you are scheduled to leave the country, no questions asked or begging allowed. My friend spent the better part of an hour trying to convince the people at the pension office that he was actually leaving the country, showed them his plane ticket, gave them all the required documents and was told "your money will be deposited into your account the day you leave Korea." Now if you have worked with another pension office within the last week that has more up to date information then what you are saying is true Tokki1 that's okay, but unless that is the case I believe I have the most current information available. The pension office is not concerned with how many times someone has done it in the past. They are not going to allow it now or in the foreseeable future.

Yeah, they will deposit you money into a Korean account, but not until the day you are scheduled to leave the country.