Korean Job Discussion Forums

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

How did you manage to get one of those??

Every KEB I've been to has tld me that the Expat card is not available to English Teachers. They said it didn't matter if you were public school or hagwon.

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

Maybe he got it secured, more info needed.

deluxe · Joined: 10 May 2005

In the March 2008 issue of Eloquence magazine there is an article about the Seoul Global Center and how the author got the Expat Card. Apparently all that was necessary was a non-tourist visa and an ARC card.

Go to Gwangghwamun Stn., exit #5, walk past the Seoul Finance Center ..."and onto the third floor of the Seoul Press Center to the Seoul Global Centre"... whatever the hell that means.

swoosh76 · Joined: 22 Jul 2007

Sorry to be unclear. I actually went down to the Seoul Global Center at City Hall and applied for one there. According to this article: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2885495

"Foreigners with a passport or other identification can get a cell phone without a deposit and be issued a credit card if they prove they have been employed at a company with capital of more than 50 million won ($52,477) for at least six months. A Korean driver�s license will be immediately issued to foreigners holding a valid driver�s license from 128 countries."

After reading the article, I decided to give it a try. I am actually not an English teacher. I work for a US based company, but was denied before due to my company not being listed on the KOSDAQ even though it is listed on the NASDAQ. I thought this was pretty strange. Anyways, after reading the article, I decided to try again and applied and was issued a card(not secured).

I also got the answer to my questions. I received a packet in the mail with all the coupons and Priority Pass Card. I would say that anyone that wants to try to get a card should apply. They showed me the requirements to apply when I went and they don't seem to be that stringent.

One funny thing is that I was denied a Samsung Credit Card even though from what I've heard, getting a KEB Expat Card is more difficult.

dutchschultz · Joined: 01 Feb 2004

I've had a KEB Expat card for almost two years now. For those who say you can't get a Korean credit card, check out the KEB website. It has information about what you need to get the card. IT IS NOT A SECURED CREDIT CARD. It was easy and the person I always talk to speaks English.

For the OP, the coupons will be mailed to you soon after you receive your card. This comes from KEB. I never had time to use them. The free companion airfare to Jeju coupon is one that you get every year. The other coupon you only get once.

The card for airport lounges will also come soon. You then go online to the site, it's not a KEB site, and you can register. I've never had a problem with entry and you can also take a guest in with you. The only problem is what lounges you can enter. This is not about the quality, but the location compared to what airline you are flying. For example, at Chicago's O'Hare there isn't a lounge in the terminal that I go through.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

Any idea if the Samsung card allows people into lounges?

dutchschultz · Joined: 01 Feb 2004

Usually the lounge card comes as a perk of platinum cards. So I imagine if the Samsung card is a regular card, then it doesn't come with the lounge pass.

swoosh76 · Joined: 22 Jul 2007

Thanks dutchschultz: I received the coupons and card in the mail!

kitekid · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 3:09 am Post subject:

swoosh76 · Joined: 22 Jul 2007

dutchschultz · Joined: 01 Feb 2004

The place I work doesn't meet any of the following criteria, but I didn't have any problems. Talk to someone at the call center.

1. Employers in Kospi or Kosdaq-listed companies in Korea.
2. Employers in foreign invested company in Korea.
3. Employers who works for subsidiary companies that listed:
The Fortune-Grobal World'slargest Corporations 500
Business Week Global World's largest Corporations1,000
The Fortune-USA latgest Corporation 500
Finacial Times -European largest Corporation 500

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

You know this is a site for teachers. And 99% of teachers don't work for any company that meets any of those criteria.

I think trying to post info on getting an Expat card on Dave's is akin to going to Men's Health asking about PMS.

Now, if you found a workaround that allowed PS and Hagwon teachers to get an unsecured Expat card, then that would be useful information.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

Uni teachers can get them.

crash · Joined: 22 May 2007 Location: Seoul

Had my card for about a year and a half now. I've never had the time to go to Jeju to use the hotel offer but they do send it out every year. They also recently sent me free ski rentals for HighOne resort which I did not use.

I do make use of the Priority Pass benefit but like one poster previously mentioned, it depends on the airport you are visiting. Just check the priority pass website for a list of lounges before you travel. Some are quite nice.

Another perk is the tax exemption you receive for using the card. Not quite sure of the particulars but KEB sends you a statement around December of what can be deducted when you do your taxes here in Korea. Depending on how much you use your card will determine the size of your deduction.