Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wanderingsalsero]

I've had it with trying to find a Korean, in a cell phone store, who understands that the phone card time on my cell phone has expired and I need to buy another card.

In Itaewon, they 'get it' and I used to always recharge my cell phone at that little shop right by the 'kebob' place next to the Coffee Bean. But go anyplace else and they have no idea what I'm talking about.

Apparently Koreans don't use phone cards that much.

Anyway, I just started a new contract and I think I'd like to buy some kind of monthly plan....e.g. similar to T-Mobil or Verizon back in the US. I understand that over here there's three companies I can choose from, right?

LG, KT or SK......right?

Can somebody tell me how that works? I live in Gumi now (actually Buksam). And I go into Daegu every weekend.

Thanks,
Art

[English Matt]

[climber159]

You DO NOT need your school to set up a phone for you. LG is your best option as a foreigner. They no longer are requiring a deposit to start a contract. I think SK is still requiring you to put down 200,000KRW as a security deposit (I got my deposit back when I terminated my SK contract).

When you go to set up a contract you'll do better if you bring a Korean friend along who can translate and also knows how to play the cell phone game here.

Good luck.

[morrisonhotel]

[rebmetpes]

[wanderingsalsero]

I really don't mind the deposit. I don't mind getting that little forced savings account anyway.

Does anybody have any opinions on the best 'plans' to get?

I remember that back in Houston there were a bunch of plans so one had to thinking somewhat carefully about exactly what type of service you wanted.

In my case, I'm strictly looking for 'local', in Korea, service. I use skype for all my USA calls.

Also, what about iPhone. I'm not totally familiar with everything that it does but I'm am pretty active on the internet....i.e. blogging and some small business activities. So it might be nice to be able to send and receive emails.

And I also don't have an MP3 player so.....if I can find a phone that'll get me store some songs, that might be nice too.

I'm assumign there's some latitude for what kind of phone I can pick with my plan?

Also......do the contracts have a minimum length here like they do in the US?

And what are the chances of me keeping the telephone number I've got now (on my existing LG/Cyon phone)?

Regards,
Art

[nosmallplans]

Unless you've got a long term visa you can't get an iPhone.

Well, you can, but the terms and conditions are ridiculous. You have to pay for the entire phone upfront to begin with which ought to be a deal breaker.

[wanderingsalsero]

Are they (i.e. iPhones) no less expensive here than anywhere else?

Because if they're about the same price and if I was gonna get one anyway and if I choose to bite the price bullet and get one.....I may as well just go ahead here, right?

That is, unless there's somethings else negative about the plans that come with the phone in this neck of the woods.

Would it be a reasonable alternative to have somebody buy one for me in the US and mail it over here?

Regards,
Art

[nosmallplans]