Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Triban]

Today I had to forcibly pull two children off of each other, stop a girl from crying, and to top it off I saved a woman's dog from getting run over; Nong Hyup Bank STILL won't give me a credit card because I am not Korean enough, now I cannot buy my TEFL course. FML.

My question is, where can I get a credit card so I can buy this [mod edit] course?

[CentralCali]

Go to your closest E-Mart or Costco. The last few times I was in the Busan Sasang E-Mart, the Shinhan credit card folks practically tackled me. The same thing happened the last time I was at Costco. I haven't applied for one yet because I'm content with my US card.

[Nemo]

Samsung.

[Triban]

Samsung? Okay e-mart or costco, what about Lottemart? Furthermore, can I apply online or do I have to physically go to one of the stores?

Thanks for the help thus far.

[CentralCali]

Why would you want a Korean credit card? I can't imagine it'd be of much use to you outside of Korea, what with all the other restrictions on a foreigner taking money out of Korea. Deal with your bank back home and you'll have no problem with that card's use here.

[Xuanzang]

[Enigma]

I'm also at Nonghyup, and they gave me a credit card. And I work at a hagwon. I didn't try my local branch, though. When I was in Seoul one time I saw a Nonghyup right near City Hall (the same building that the Seoul Global Center is in, 2nd Floor). Try them, if you're anywhere near there.

[b0101]

You can get a KEB credit card (that works internationally) if you work at a university. I'm not sure about hagwons or public schools...

[Triban]

[mmstyle]

Triban,

Last week a woman was cold calling at schools JUST to talk to the foreigners about getting a Samsung credit card. I'm not interested, so I threw the card away and can't give you the number. After leaving my school, she went straight to my husband's. Clearly, Samsung wants our business. Do you have anyone who can help you look up their number?

[Triban]

Yeah, thanks for the info. I'll talk to my co-teacher.

[Snowflake]

[Trinidad]

IBK(Industrial Bank of Korea) gives credit cards to foreigners. I had
to put a 2,000,000KRW deposit in a locked-in, interest earning account
as security.

It is a BCCard VISA. Works like any other VISA. Works here, works there
works everywhere.

There are a few extra security precautions that the Korean company
makes you go through. They send you a PDF file to negotiate the
Korean website. Then you download some BCCard software on your
computer that prompts you to enter a password when making int'l
purchases.

I have an E7 visa and not an E2. I don't know if that had anything to
do with it.

[Gnod]

제일은행, their English name is Standard Chartered, has a new account called the "do dream" account. You can use is like any other account in Korea for paying bills, etc., but it has the added benefit of gaining interest on any money that remains in it for more than 31 days.

When you open the account you have the options of getting internet banking, telephone banking, and/or a check card.

The check cards are Maestro (Master Card) or VISA. They can be used internationally, and you don't pay fees when you use ATMs owned by other Korean banks. In addition, they are BC cards so you get discounts at certain restaurants, theme parks, etc.

The best part is you don't need to put up a deposit or anything to open the account. I just took in a statement of my salary from my hakwon, my ID's, filed out the application, and the rest was simple.

A word of caution, my wife and I tried to open my account at a regular branch, and the lady kept talking about how difficult it is for foreigners to open an account, especially United Staters. I went to the COEX branch, and found that they have a bilingual lady there whose sole purpose in life is to help foreigners. She apologized when I told her what the other teller had said and vigorously denied that the bank had such double standards.