Korean Job Discussion Forums

[justin moffatt]

1. Went on overseas holiday over New Years. Domestic Korean travel insurance companies at Icheon Airport (i.e. LIG, Samsung, etc.) indicated that they will not provide travel insurance to foreigners (including F2, F5, and foreigners with Korean citizenship). Is this true? (BTW AIG will)

2. Received e-mail from KEB bank stating that domestic banks will no longer allow Korean credit cards to be utilized overseas. HOWEVER, only KEB will allow usage of their credit cards overseas. Once again, is this true? Or desperate ploy for foreigners to just only use their credit cards.

3. KT and Apple stores informed my Korean wife and I that only Korean citizens, and foreigners with F5 Visas/Korean citizenship can get new I-Phone. Reason being, must have visa over 2 years (since contract is 2 years under subsidy rule). Is this true? Has anyone managed to get the I-Phone by placing a deposit (colleague informed me if you pay deposit totalling the value of the phone and full contract might be possible).

What more hoops do we have to jump through?

[nosmallplans]

Deposit? Lol, no. You have to buy the phone up front. You can't even get a contract and are forced to purchase some kind of phone card system thing for minutes and data.

[lost at sea]

Wouldn't it be better to go for the T*Omnia I or II rather than the iphone then?

[big_fella1]

1. Foreigners with Korean Citizenship are Korean so it seems to me like some desk staff didn't want to lose face by checking so gave a no answer. At least I hope that's the case.

2. Wouldn't trust KEB as far as I could kick them. They invented the nonsense that you can only do foreign exchange with one bank which isn't true. Samsung Card hasn't informed me that I can't use my card abroad.

3. KT's original policy was completely racist. Now by requiring 2 years on your ARC it's not racist, just unfortunate for those of us who can't get a 2 year visa yet (which is most foreigners). I figure this policy will quietly be dropped when they start struggling to reach their iPhone sales quotas.

We have 2 problems here some Korean companies do have racist policies (hey I'm not complaining Korean racism earnt me tens of millions of won last year.)

The 2nd problem is Korean staff will not check when they don't know, as they'll lose face. They give the easiest answer which is No you can't your foreign.

The racism policy is being quietly dealt with, however the 2nd problem could take a generation to fix. Either that or Korean policies could start educating their staff how to deal with foreigners.

[Kaypea]

[bassexpander]

They won't sell travel insurance to foreigners because the foreigners are not covered in their home countries by the insurance they sell.

That's true for Americans, anyway.

Most insurance companies can't help you if you want travel insurance to be used in your home country.

[daemyann]

[daemyann]

[daemyann]

[justin moffatt]

1. I didn't travel to my home country. I went on vacation to Thailand with my wife. Never had problems before getting travel insurance from LIG or Samsung.

2. My Korean credit cards (Samsung, Hana Bank, etc.) never work in Thailand (surprisingly my wife's cards always do), so I didn't try them. Very curious if people have used their Korean credit cards overseas recently. BTW Samsung may not notify you if they cancel a service (KB Bank never did with my International ATM card).

E-mail quote from KEB credit card rep:

Since June 2008, the Korean government established a new regulation stating that only a credit card, issued by a foreign exchange bank through registration for foreign exchange, can be used in overseas, and it includes money transfer to overseas which is possible only from the registered bank. That is all the bank transactions from and to overseas is possible only at a registered bank.

For your conveniency I did make you register Foreign Exchange Transaction when you opened your KEB saving account, this means you can send your money to your country only through KEB and its available for overseas both KEB credit card and ATM card. In other way, If you had a bank for those of purposes, they wont be able to provide international services anymore to you.

3. Thanks for the I-phone link. (20 pgs of scrolling, still no verification of successful F2 Visa holders receiving it). The sales rep at Frisbee and LG SHOW in Hongdae informed my wife and I that only F2 visa holders with more than 2 year visas can receive the I-phone. Of course, no F-2 Visa holders has more than 2 years . . . . (I think )

[nosmallplans]

[Chaucer]

Used Samsung Card to the tune of 5 million won in the US two weeks ago--plane tickets, hotels, everything.

[justin moffatt]

Nosmallplans:

Aren't you are a foreigner as well? No wait, you are Korean, no I mean foreigner, no Korean! Sorry, couldn't resist with all the wonderful statistics in the media on foreigners which MAY or MAY NOT include those foreigners of Korean heritage, depending on the media'a agenda.

Chaucer:

Good to hear about the Samsung card. Looks like KEB rep was lying through her teeth to ensure usage of the KEB credit card. Surprise surprise!

I, for one, am growing extremely weary of the constant deception and abuse here. I am counting the days, that my wife and I can leave . . .

[Kaypea]

[kimchi girl]

Speaking of the Iphone vs T*Omnia I or II, are the same requirements in place there? Is it possible to unlock the Omnia?