Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nuthatch]

I have searched this topic, but some threads are old and outdated or the information is not quite clear.

I have just arrived in Korea and I am in a rural area. The bank in town's ATM machine will not issue me any money. Can anyone tell me the scoop about trying to use an ATM debit card (with mastercard logo also) issued in the U.S., here? Is it the rural bank or is it everywhere in the country here?

Thanks.

[oskinny1]

Is there a convenience store in town? If they have one it should work. If money is really tight ask your school for an advance.

[Captain Marlow]

if the banks in your area don't have a "global" atm, then you're prob not gonna be able to use them... i had this same problem... but, you should be able to get a cash advance on your card from one of the tellers... one of the banks near me did this same thing with my debit card with a visa logo... good luck...

[nuthatch]

Thank you both for your information!

[articulate_ink]

Yikes, I'd forgotten about this problem now that my US account is dead and gone. (Identity theft, fun fun.) What banks are nearest you? Look for Korea Exchange Bank, Standard Chartered, and KB, in that order. If you're in a small town there's probably not a Citibank nearby. These seem to be the ones most likely to have ATMs that will access foreign accounts. Despite the plethora of bank network stickers plastered all over the machines, they usually don't work as promised. Look for the ones with the Global ATM label, as the previous poster suggested. The ones in convenience stores often work but they're also often only in Korean. Good luck!

[nuthatch]

Thanks.

Those banks are not even in this town.