Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Boffo97]

I am interested in getting an International Credit Card that I can use for purchases back in the states. I have been in Korea for 16 months and renewed with the same school once my first year was up.

Some old threads I found in search said that Samsung issues cards, but a call to them said that they changed their policies last year and no longer issue to anyone in the education field. KEB has you deposit a huge amount of money with them.

Will anyone just issue a card without hundreds of dollars on deposit?

[sugarloaf82]

If you have been at the same public school for over a year and have been getting paid by your school into your KEB account for over a year they will give you an unsecured credit card with the limit being your monthly salary. If you don't meet those two requirements you will have to put down a deposit for however much you want your limit to be.

That is how I got my unsecured KEB credit card last year. I have been at my school over two years now and have always had KEB as my bank, so it was easy and I got the card in less than a week (I signed up at the Itaewon branch). I've been able to use it overseas and on international websites without a problem. It also works with the subway and buses which is convenient.

Additionally, my KEB check card/debit card has always worked at ATMs overseas and I've never had a problem with it. So if you have both you're set.

[minos]

Unless things changed, you don't need to work for a year at a PS to get a KEB credit card unsecured.


Just having a Korean company(non-esl), University, PS, or maybe a few "legit" hagwon chains as your employer was enough when I made it years ago.

If you want to carry a balance, you need to pick revolving credit when doing online banking. Otherwise, it works like a debit card and removes the entire balance from your bank account every month.

Once you have it, it's good forever even if you do change to a hagwon later. If you want to rasie the limit, you need to show your contract with a higher payment listed(I suppose you could edit it yourself to something very high, they don't scrutinize)

[Boffo97]

My school is a private school, although our older campus is accredited with the Korean government. Maybe that will help.