Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daemyann]

Can anyone recommend a good Korean credit card?
I found an old thread here, but the most recent post was from 2006, and I'm looking for something a little more up to date.

*By good, I mean obtainable with as few headaches as possible.

Much obliged!

[seoulsucker]

If you work for a public school/uni/not a hagwon, go to the 11th floor of the Lotte Department store in Myeong Dong and apply for a Lotte Card. They'll probably only give you a limit of around 1,000,000 won but it's a solid Visa and works for online purchases, overseas, cash advances, the works.

[ttompatz]

[daemyann]

[winterfall]

For the same requirements instead of a Samsung card, you can get a KEB Card: Expat or Global. Look up the website to check out the differences. Expat card has a 120,000 Won yearly maintenance fee and a bunch of benefits. The Global card has a 20,000 Won maintenance fee and significantly fewer benefits. (Depends how you look at it and your lifestyle)

You need to have worked at your current school for more than a year. And you'll need

A. 3 months of your monthly pay stubs.
B. 1 Copy of your contract
C. ARC Card
D. Passport
E. Your Skypass card if you want miles.

Take it to your KEB branch and fill out the paperwork.

They're pretty generous with the credit limit. They're either match your salary and, or give you more.

Process time is about 2-3 days. And you can request the Traffic Card Feature. Lets you use your credit card on buses and subways (Only works in Major metropolitan areas: Seoul, Gyeonggi do, Incheon, Daejon, Daegu, etc. Doesn't work Jeju or rural areas)

You can choose either a Yes Points reward program or get Korean Air miles. It's 1.5 miles per 1500 won spent, a free domestic round trip ticket (For your friend / wife), and 1 day in a jeju hyatte (But need to spend at least 2 days there). And airport lounge access card. Cause of the lower fee, the Global Card doesn't have the same perks.

And they offer two rewards programs: Miles as mentioned above or Yes Points. The Yes point thing is a little bit complicated. You don't need a credit card to get them. You get a % of points for every transaction you do with KEB. 1 Yes point = 1 KRW. So the YES points card, will basically just double your acquirement rate. You can then use the Yes Points for gift certificates, online shopping through the bank's website, or cash back. Only catch is, the whole Yes Point Shopping mall is Korean

[daemyann]

[quote="ttompatz"]

[vegas85200]

I just got a new Epass card from KEB. It works everywhere and has t-money on it. The only requirements to get a card from KEB are to have worked for a public school for a year.

I applied at my local branch and had it delivered to my school. I didn't have to show my contract or pay slips because I use KEB as my salary account.

It has a nice credit limit, but it settles on the 25th of the month so I'll never carry a balance.

Give them a call if you have any questions 1588-6700

[daemyann]

Update:

The only available place now seems to be KEB.
Note: KEB ≠ KB

If you don't have an account there, you will need:

Passport
ARC
3 most recent months pay slips (ask your office)
Letter of proof of employment (ask your school's office)
copy of your current contract
School address/phone #
You own info (obv)
Your kitchen sink

They DID ask me how long I had worked there (1.5 years), but it wasn't clear whether or not that was a mandatory qualification.

It's processing now. If there's any trouble I'll post. If not, assume it went through with no trouble.

P.S. - Thanks for your help eveyone.

[Hyeon Een]

They won't cancel though of us who were grandfathered in though will they?

I work at a private uni and have a samsung card with a 6 or 7 million limit. Very useful.

[jameltoe]

Is this true that KEB is the only place offering credit cards for expats? I really would like to have one for making online purchases but I have only been here for 3.5 months

[jonpurdy]

So if you have a KEB chequing account already that your school deposits your salary into, what do you have to bring?

I presume passport, ARC, KEB card. That's it? Or do you need your contract as well?

[daemyann]

[wallythewhale]

Yesterday, I went in to apply for the Global Credit Card. It took awhile calling back and forth to the Help Center because the ladies at KEB couldn't speak English. I'm starting my second year at a public school and have been with KEB for almost a year. I brought with me: 1) Passport, 2) Contract (copied), 3) 1 monthly pay slip, and 4) Bankbook.

Filled out paper work that took about 2 mins and I was off.

They said that it would take 2-3 days before KEB calls me back to see if they would issue me a card. Today, I get a ring from them and they told me that my credit card was on its way (will be here in 7 days or less just in time for me to get my iphone )

All in all, it's pretty simple to get a credit card from KEB. If the workers there had spoken English, it would've been more simple but I'm not complaining since I speak little to no Korean.

[ReeNah]

Hi guys, just a quick question.

I'm not here on a E2 Visa but a F4 and I'm not technically working for a school or hagwon, so I was wondering what I have to do to get a credit card?

Or should I just call KEB?

[ahsieee]

Having a F4 doesn't help with getting a credit card.
When I applied for mine, I was working with a KOSPI listed hagwon, so I was able to get a cc.

If you're not working, the banks/companies are going to be more hesitant to give you a hard.

You can try giving them a call, but I don't think you'll be able to get a card in your name.