Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lou3511]

sorry, as i'm sure this has been asked before, but i did a search and didn't find anything helpful.

anyways, i am leaving to come over to korea (seoul) for the first time in about a week. i was wondering what the best way is to bring my money with me - i plan on eventually exchanging it all for korean won.

should i get it transferred into KW before coming over, or do i need to get some traveler's checks and wire the rest over, or . . . ??? and about traveler's checks - are there international types, or korean-specific types??

just wondering what the easiest and most convenient way of going about this is.

thanks to anyone who has answers.

[aussie col]

What ever you do, don��t convert to Korean Won before you get here. The exchange rate will stink.

The easiest way that I have found is to just get travellers cheques (checks) in your own currency. When you get to the airport in Korea just exchange some on your way through. There will always be a currency exchange open at any major airport. Couldn��t be easier.

Getting the travellers cheques in your own currency means that you don��t have to exchange your money more than once. For example: if you are Australian buy Australian dollar traveller cheques and you don��t have to lose money on the conversion. When you get to Korea you only have to do one conversion from Australian dollars to Korean Won.

Just hold onto the rest of the travellers cheques that you don��t need straight away. Most banks will exchange travellers cheques of any currency. If you have any trouble just look for a Korea Exchange Bank. They are everywhere and they will exchange anything (well about 23 currencies I think).

You can access your bank account from home using you bank card. The only problem is finding a machine that firstly accepts international cards and then secondly actually has instructions in English. They are around but you don��t want to run out of money on your second day and have to search around for a machine.

Travellers cheques are also better because the fees are lower. I just got some and the banks fee here in Australia worked out at about $10 per $1000 worth of travellers cheques. If I use my bank card at an overseas machine there is a $4 bank fee every time!!!

If you are worried about the type of travellers cheque just get American Express. Every one will take them.

[Lou3511]

aussie - thanks a lot for the good info. much appreciated.

[Toby]

If you are coming from the states I would almost bring it in in dollars and that way you can watch the exhange rae and change it when it suits you best. Befriend a GI and they can change it on base as they get a better exchange rate yet.

[funplanet]

Just wire it to my account...I'll take care of it for you

[VanIslander]

Travellers cheques? It's not like you'll be wandering around out-of-the-way places.

Just bring U.S. dollars and exchange at the airport when you arrive.