Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Oliver]

Hi All,

I was thinking about taking about 600 UK pounds to korea to see my though the first month. What's the best way to take it across. Should I exhange it for won before I go and just take it as cash? Or should I take traveller's cheques and cash them at the airport in korea?

Cheers,

Ollie

[drunkenfud]

You'll lose some money if you take the hit to buy travel cheques, then change them when you get here. Lose on the cheques, then lose some more as you change the cheques to won. Off the top of my head, maybe slightly less than 100k won would be lost through the two transactions. 100k won is about 50 quid.

On the other hand, if you change 600 pounds to won you'll get about 1.2 million. This might burst the stitches in your wallet. 120 10k won notes (currently the largest you can get) is bulky.

It's up to you.

Personally I'd just get the won. There are very few thieves here. Your new school will sort you out with a bank account once you have your ARC - maybe 1-2 weeks - then you can deposit the rest. Buy a money belt for under your clothes for a bit of security on the journey.

[ttompatz]

[drunkenfud]

The guru (ttompatz) has spoken. Disregard his advice at your peril. It hadn't occurred to me to carry sterling over and change it here - it's a lot less bulky, and the idea makes more sense.

And he's right about not taking Scottish notes - you might as well take monopoly money.

I stand by the money belt thing though - only because it might make you feel confident enough to sleep on the flight, not because you're likely to be overwhelmed by thieves on arrival (well... unless you've signed with a hakwon, but in that case they're only going to steal your future wages and deposits).

Anyway, bottom line, forget the travellers cheques.

[drunkenfud]

...and when you change your sterling to won in Korea, you can get some 100k cheques. The stitching on your wallet will thank you.

[Oliver]

[drunkenfud]

Depends where you go - if you go to a rural area, will you easily be able to change those cheques? If not, then you change them at the airport and face the problem of carrying a lot of cash through anyway.

Korea is pretty safe. You're unlikely to be robbed.

On the other hand, if you're sure there's a bank in your town to change the cheques (a big city or town? no problem!) then that's fine. You will lose (some) money on the transaction though.

It's up to you.

[ttompatz]

[Oliver]

sounds like a plan ttompatz, sounds like a plan.

To be fair I did go to america with like 400 dollars so its nae much different.

Oh yeah, the scottish pound is trecherous, even some places in England give you blank stares when recieving scottish money.

London's the worst.

Ollie

P.S Will banks and airports in korea be cool about changing 50 pound notes into korean won?

[ttompatz]

[Oliver]

cheers!

Ollie