Korean Job Discussion Forums

bencrow · Joined: 10 Jan 2011 Location: Oregon

Hi everyone,

EPIK recommends on their application to bring 1000 USD for the first month. The temporary contract I received last week says I will get paid on the 25th of each month, so I can't expect a pay check until March 25th. I grabbed an arrival/orientation packet off of the EPIK website, it says to have 1 mil KRW for the first month.

Any veterans of EPIK and PS have recommendations on how much I might actually need for the first month? Looks like 1 mil KRW is almost 900 USD... So, can I chance it and go with less?

This blog: http://www.thewaygookeffect.com/2010/09/ask-waygook-what-to-pack-for-year-in.html recommends only bringing 500 USD.

I would consider bringing less, but I heard one BBC news story mention that the cost of food is rising in Korea, is there any truth to this?

Thanks for any suggestions.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

ThingsComeAround · Joined: 07 Nov 2008

When I came, I took with me 250 USD.

Since you will have a place to stay, and you are with EPIK, chances are your foodstuffs will cost less than stuff in Seoul.

1K USD is more than enough for the first month. You also get 300 bucks for unforeseen costs (like buying a toaster/rice cooker)

jonpurdy · Joined: 08 Jan 2009 Location: Ulsan

I got my 300,000 allowance the first night I arrived. That, plus the $200CDN that I changed was enough cash. Though I used my credit card for everything that I could (about 500,000 additional). So $1000 should cover you. Just make sure to bring a credit card.

jrwhite82 · Joined: 22 May 2010

Most schools give you your 300,000 resettlement allowance within the first week. Although, contractually, they are allowed to take up to 30 days.

I think $1000USD is a safe number to bring with you. You don't want to be a burden on your new friends and coworkers before you even get a chance to really know them. Also, you don't want to hamstring yourself on the opportunity to MAKE new friends by being excluded because you are waiting for pay day.

During my first month here a couple of years ago my coworkers invited me on a trip down to Busan with them. If I only brought $500 or less I wouldn't have been able to go which would have stunk. Or I would have had to borrow from them which would not be a positive way to represent myself to new friends.

SCAshley · Joined: 15 Nov 2010

I'm not sure how different EPIK is from GEPIK, but my pay day is on the 17th of each month and I got here January 4th, and was paid January 17th for the entire month of January. So, each month on the 17th I am paid for that entire month. Is EPIK different? Also, you should get your 300,000 settlement allowance (I got mine in the first few days I was here). I brought $500 and was more than fine. If you have a credit card you can bring that would be a good back up. Depending on where you live, credit cards are widely accepted. Good luck!

carleverson · Joined: 04 Dec 2009

I only bought $100 with me for my first month.

I was fine.

thegadfly · Joined: 01 Feb 2003

If you can afford to bring $1k, bring it -- if you can afford to bring $2k, bring it -- with $2,000, you should be able to also buy a last-minute plane ticket out of dodge, if things are horrible. I am very much against pulling a midnight run -- I think honesty and personal integrity are NOT situational traits, and so I would be direct and honest with my employer if I were to quit...BUT I am also one that would err on the side of safety, and an extra thousand is enough of a safety net to get you out if need be....

If you can't afford it, I wouldn't worry too much. I made do with $90 in my pocket and the $300 settlement allowance...but it was a tight, dirty month (cleaning supplies/brooms/mops/etc eat into your food money, and though they last a while, they are a noticeable initial investment...as are spices, if you cook at home).

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

Bring as much as you can. One thousand US would be plenty.

Things sometimes don't work out like they should. For example
- at one school I cashed up at Incheon Airport (thought I had plenty of cash to last 6 weeks)

- then my school bought all my chattels and (mostly) useless food with my 300,000 won settlement allowance (they didn't ask me)

- then the bank refused to cash my travellers' cheques

- then immigration kept my passport for 10 days (so I couldn't cash anymore trav chqs

- then I ony had 10,000 won left till my first payday (so I had to swap my last USA notes for won with a kind co-teacher).

No problems, I hear you say. Payday is here (after 4 weeks working and 10 days unpaid orientation).

Not bloody likely. My PS refused to pay me on my payday, and I had to refuse to teach before I was actually paid.

Oh, Korea!

Bring plenty.

Good luck.

jrwhite82 · Joined: 22 May 2010

OFF - I'm not trying to poke fun at your situation, but you must have had the WORST work experience in Korea out of anyone I have ever heard of over a few years. You either have the worst luck in finding work or you bring it on yourself some how. I am impressed with how resilient you are though. If I was treated as poorly as you have I would have left and never came back.

bencrow · Joined: 10 Jan 2011 Location: Oregon

Thanks for the advice everyone. So it seems the consensus is bring more (~1000 USD) if you can, but some can make it with 500 or even less depending on vices and ones spending habits.

I don't smoke, and I don't drink very often, and when I do it isn't much (that may change aye?) I will likely end up bringing as much $ as I can. I will be placed in Gangwon, somewhere... So, I imagine some things may be more expensive, and I will likely have to travel by bus more for certain things.

SCAshley: According to my contract, my first "month" starts Feb. 26th. So I will get the settlement allowance on the 26th (hypothetically, unless it gets spent by my school on some food or other junk for my apartment like oldfatfarang's example... Or if the school decides to wait 30 days.)

"Term of Employment: A one year period: Feb 26 2011 to Feb 25 2012"

"Article 13: The Employee shall be entitled to a one time Settlement Allowance of 300,000 KRW, when he/she beings the contract..."

I plan on bringing a couple credit cards, so I always have those for backup as others have suggested here.

Cheers.

sojusucks · Joined: 31 May 2008

Bring some extra money, if you can. Why not? You never know what will happen. In fact, if you are arriving in February for classes that don't start until March you may have some time to go out see some sites. Bringing extra money isn't a bad idea.

pinishee · Joined: 02 Feb 2011

I made it just fine with 400k won. I don't know even know how some of you guys manage to spend $1K USD in a month.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

JBomb · Joined: 16 Oct 2008

I brought 2 grand. 1 K is more than enough. You are going to want a bit to get things like cell phone and whatnot. Some schools can be cheap in terms of accommodation stuff too so you might have to resort to buying a few things. The other factor is having enough to go out and explore with your new friends.