Korean Job Discussion Forums

[shininxpinay]

hi i just got into korea last week and can't get my ARC nor move into my apartment until i finish my training next week. right now i am using the tourist rental phone, but it's 3000won/day plus about 660/won per outgoing minute. it's good for a brief vacation, but it does add up in costs eventually. i absolutely NEED a permanent cell #, but i don't know if i'll be able to get one given my circumstances right now.

does anyone have any advice on how to go about this? where can I get one of those pay as you go phones where you buy the minutes? and do i need a korean beneficiary for them? please let me know! thanks!

[Chambertin]

I'm also curious about this process. In Japan I had an old student turned freind co-sign for the phone.

Also curious, who is putting you up and where? Shouldnt the apartment be ready for you when you get there? I hope mine is...

[alphakennyone]

Is it really that urgent to get a cell phone NOW - can't wait until you get the ARC?

Sure, if you find a Korean willing to take on all the responsibilities of you not paying the bill, etc, you can get one right now.

Another option would be to take over someone's existing phone. They might be more lenient on that than opening up a new account before you've got your ARC sorted.

Lastly, Itaewon. I've heard just showing your passport can get you a pay as you go phone there.

Edit: Nix what I said about the contract phone. You'd need a bank account for that, which you also won't get until you get your ARC. A contract phone is more economical if you talk on the phone alot (which I'm guessing you do since this is so high priority for ya), so you might just want to wait. Otherwise, you can try your luck in Itaewon with the "card" phones.

[shininxpinay]

i came in a week early to relax a little and get used to korea. i have some friends here and wanted to see them, hence the need for the cellphone. my school won't let me move in until i finish training, so i'm temporarilly staying at a hotel.

where exactly in itaewon can i get the pay as you go phone?

[Chambertin]

If you came early to meet your friends, where are they?
Did you tell them you were going to show up? This shouldn�t even be an issue as if you have internet access you should be talking to them now.

Im suddenly confused. Very confused.

[shininxpinay]

yes, i do have internet access, but obviously if i'm on my way to meet someone and i get lost or vice versa, i'd need to call them. finding a public phone can be a hassle sometimes here. i have been on the go since i got in, not only bc i'm meeting w/ friends, but bc i'm out getting necessities for my move/apartment. so a cell phone is essential

i'm trying to avoid having to get a beneficiary to help get me a permanent phone. it seems that it is possible, but i just don't know where to go and what's my cheapest option. any thoughts?

[superacidjax]

[ahsieee]

i don't know if it has changed since i last went with a friend to get a phone set up for her, but all she needed was her passport.
itaewon is a sure place- just go into any phone store with cash handy and your passport. depending on the phone, it'll run you anywhere from 50,000+KRW
usually comes with activation, charger, and phone. you may have to pay more to put money on your phone.
we didn't go to itaewon, but a store near our hagwon.
if there are a lot of foreigners in your area, it means the phone places are usually more lax about setting you up.

[JJJ]

If you absolutely positively need to call your buddies right now, go to the nearest 7/11 or something similar and get a KT phone card. 5,000 won will last a number of calls from the payphone. I have one with me in my wallet for emergencies. Perfect.

[sendittheemail]

Option 1: Wait for your alien card. Even most places in Itaewon will not be able to sign up for service without one. You may however find that some industrious sellers inside the Yongsan electronics market will register it under their name, or under someone else's name, or better yet, they may have a stolen or abandoned phone which is still activated.

Option 2: Borrow someone else's alien card.

Option 3: Buy a phone from another foreigner who is about to leave, or do a runner. The coverage should work up until their ARC expires.

Option 4: Make friends, take them to the phone store, and have them get a prepaid phone under their name.

There isn't really any risk of financial loss, as prepaid phones don't have bills that come due, and are not associated with credit, or immigration. They mostly make you use your ARC because large groups of Chinese-Koreans have been running phone scams using prepaid phones. Prepaid phones are also favored by Koreans who run illegal casinos, pimps, and other criminals. If you REALLY want/need a phone, you can always find someone in Yongsan willing to bend the rules for you, provided you offer a little more money. Other wise, wait until your ARC comes.