Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sarbonn]

I know this is going to sound really noobish, but I've only been here about a week, and I'm not actually going to be getting paid for another 19 days, which means I have to rely on what I might actually already have until my first pay day.

I have money in my US checking account, but I don't know how to go about accessing it and then transferring that money into Korean won. I made it to Costco and tried to use an atm there, but honestly, I couldn't get through the screens to figure it out.

Before I left, I had informed my bank that I was going overseas, so they set it up to be able to access my money over here. And I did manage to make a purchase at Emart after about 5 swipes of my card (which I had to keep trying to convince them to keep trying because I knew it would work).

Any advice for someone who is just trying to figure it out so I can survive the next 19 days before I really become somewhat settled financially here? I am located in Gangnam_gu, se area of Seoul, I believe, if I'm reading this map correctly.

[chevro1et]

Some ATms will have an option on the screen for 'Foreign Card'. Try using that option to withdraw money from your American account in won. You may have to try several different ATMs with this option before you find one that will actually work, its a real PITA.

[sojourner1]

The only ATM's I found were KEB. Others like Nonghyup don't accept non-Korean cards. Other members on this board once said that some ATM's at 7-11 stores take foreign cards, but I never tried that.

[Dances With Wolves]

7-11 will work for you. Good luck.

[travelbender]

The 365 ATM machines in some of the subway stations worked for me. The funny thing was, I could try one 365 and it wouldn't work, then walk 10 feet to the next identical bank machine and it WOULD work. It's all luck of the draw.

Yeah, just hit foreign card and there will be options to withdraw won, your bank at home will just withdraw the money at that day's rate plus a service charge.

[Captain Marlow]

just like others have said, select the foreign card option... however, this is usually only available on global atms... a lot of times, these are only located within the bank itself, not in the atms that are available after hours... these atms are usually marked with the word "global" to let you know that they are... if your card has a credit card logo such as visa, then you can use it to get a cash advance from most banks... if you absolutely cannot get money, talk to your school... they'll most likely give you an advance and just take it outta your first paycheck... explain the situation, have them try to help you withdraw, and then ask for an advance... they're (for the most part) pretty understanding...

[diver]

I don't know your financial situation, but just bring enough over to get by until payday. Leave as much as possible in your home account if you plan to travel while based in Korea. The Koreans will make it very difficult to access the cash that you earn (and have deposited) here while in another country. If you have your home account available for that, it will be one less thing to worry about.

[sarbonn]

Thanks everyone. I was able to find a KEB in the Coex Mall. Once I realized there was a foreign option (thanks to the first person who responded in this thread), I was good to go. Of course, it wanted my pin # which I based on a number/letter system based on a US phone, so when it gave me an updown number pad, yeah, I was kind of screwed. Had to start over and use my cell phone to look at the appropriate numbers, but it worked out, I got some money, and I'm moving along fine now.

The funny thing is: I know enough Korean just to get myself in trouble. I hope to be a lot better off as I relearn this language again (I was last here 20 years ago).

[sojusucks]