Korean Job Discussion Forums

Hova · Joined: 19 Oct 2009

Just a heads up for everyone. I went to the A# store whatever its called in COEX and asked if F4 visa holders can get an iphone. Initially the guy said no but I politely asked if he could double check cause I told him I saw online that F4 visa holders could. He comes back apologizing to me and says "yes you are right, F4 visa holders can get iphones." I didn't ask about F2 visa holders so I don't what to tell you guys. Either way, I'm going back Thursday to sign up for an iphone with the same guy. I believe he said something about the iphone won't be in stock until Friday or Saturday.

Here is a run down on the plan I am getting... Not sure if any of you really care but I thought this info MIGHT be useful to future iphone users.

Medium Plan
65,000won a month
400 minutes (Talk)
1GB data (Internet)
300 send/receive txt

With the medium plan, you can get the 3g 8GB iphone for free but what's the point? The 3gs 16B is 132,000won with the medium plan and it will be spaced out in a 2 year contract. So I will pay an extra 5,500 won a month to pay off the phone.

So my total is 70,500 won a month for 2 years with the medium plan. I didn't ask if I could pay the phone in full at the beginning but having it spaced out in 2 years is pretty nice in my opinion. Keep in mind this isn't a special F4 visa plan or anything. This is the same plan that everyone else can get. I hope this info was useful. Also, the 3gs 32gb phone under the medium plan is 264,000 won or 11,000 won per month for 2 years.

I'm still considering getting a Blackberry Bold but I have yet to make it over to SK and ask what their plans are. For those who refuse to get an iphone because they do not want to sign under your friends name, why not check out the Blackberry Bold? That phone is awesome... Or you can wait for the DROID phones to come out but it is rumored it won't be coming out until the second quarter of 2010 Sad

Anyways, good luck everyone.

chiefadams · Joined: 07 Dec 2009

I've had a hell of a time trying to get my iPhone, and it just so turned out that the KT shop right in my backyard in HBC was the easiest, most pain-free place for this half-Korean who can't speak much Korean to get one. Now why didn't I try them first??? Other places told me I still needed a Korean credit card, but that's bullshit. So if you've got an F-4, just head to any shop and get dat shit! E-2, boo hoo, I feel for you man.

On a side note, I tried to reserve my phone ahead of time in November, the Show website took my 30,000 won deposit, and they have still not returned the money. Anyone else have this problem? I went to a KT plaza with the receipt, but after an hour of him on the phone, he just pointed at my receipt and made an X gesture. I thought it meant all's good, but still no money.

smiles4ever · Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

smiles4ever · Joined: 29 May 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

Does anybody know how much they would charge you if you end up cancelling the 2-year contract?

georgiadawg · Joined: 04 Dec 2004

You can log a formal complaint with Apple (in regards to KT's policies) at this number:

1.408.996.1010

Please pass this information along...

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

steveohan · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

steveohan · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

oskinny1 · Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!

jonpurdy · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Location: Ulsan

Korean emoticon post:

I've been able to receive a couple of Korean emoticons. Specifically, the heart and the smiley face. These seem to be unicode characters, or at least the iPhone knows what they are. If you copy and paste them into an SMS they show up as the proper symbol on Korean phones.

I haven't been able to find a Korean-specific keyboard layout that has only Korean emoticons but I did enable the Japanese emoji keyboard layout. I'm going to experiment to see what symbols map to Korean symbols, if they map at all. To enable this, follow these instructions: http://justanotheriphoneblog.com/wordpress/iphone-tips/how-to-enable-emoji-for-free-without-jailbreaking.

There are a couple of unicode apps available as well. One, called SuperKeyboard: Emoji+Unicode, seems promising. It has the ability to add an emoji and unicode keyboard layout. It also has a direct number pad keyboard layout, for those of you who don't like the qwerty keyboard layout. I'm not sure if it supports a Korean number pad layout, though.

Update:
Did some testing and it appears that SHOW strips all the incompatible characters. I sent myself a text message with various characters and the ones SHOW supports appear; the ones that it doesn't support show up as question marks.

http://twitpic.com/sqedw
http://twitpic.com/sqeaw

EDIT: Added photos and update.
EDIT 2: Oh, it appears I can't directly post images. Just click the links.

John Smith · Joined: 06 Dec 2009

I want the iphone just as bad as those who want it but cant get it.

I came back to Korea in 2007 right after the release of the iphone in the states. When i got to Korea all i could do is wait.

Anyhow...

I was talking with some friends of mine who work high up in Olleh(KT). They know what many foreigners are going through but they said not to worry.

The reason for SHOW releasing the iphone with a 2 year contract is simple; SHOW wants to lure koreans who are signed with their rivals SK /LG and keep them for alteast 2 years. Thats alot of money for KT to make. There is no reason for KT to consider foreigners (in korea) since they make up very little of the economy.

This is only the initial release. After Christmas, starting next year i am 99% positive that Olleh(KT) will be offering the iphone with a 1 year plan at a much lower price.

I have waited 2 years, i can wait 1 more month.
For those who have an iphone, I just want to say congrats and enjoy.
For those who dont, just hold on a bit more.
(I am here on a E-2 and i dont have an Iphone)

bangbayed · Joined: 01 Dec 2005 Location: Seoul