Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sweetrevenge]

Hello, I just arrived in Korea on Friday and am wondering what is the easiest way to order online goods. I found a great site htps://www.gmarket.co.kr and it even had an english section when it came to signing up. However, when I'm checking out my items, I only see wire transfer or credit card payment. I was hoping there would be a money order system kinda like in the United States where I could go down to the post office and then mail in the check. Thanks for the help.

[ttompatz]

Hard to pay by check in a country that has no personal checking accounts.

Bank transfer is the most common method for those without a C/C.
You can do it on line (if you are set up) or at the ATM.

.

[Rockhard]

Get used to using bank transfers. That's just the way it is done here. Every bank account in this country is linked to a person's real name, citizen number, and by extension legal address. If they try to pull anything you go the bank and get their info and then bring it to the police. They have the power to freeze accounts and withdraw cash from it or any other account that person may have. It's secure. 7 years here and never got screwed. (by bank transfers, schools, yes)

[Underwaterbob]

Yeah, "wire transfer" is the easiest. You can do it from any Korean ATM, as long as you have a Korean account. It's even possible to say, transfer money from your Kookmin account to a Shinhyeop account from a Nonghyeop ATM.

It's even easier to waste your money if you have a smart phone and enable Internet banking on it. Take your phone with you to your bank, and they'll set up everything for you. All the banks have Android apps, though some have discontinued their iOS apps (Nonghyeop that I know of for sure.)

[sweetrevenge]

Ok, so that means I have to open up a bank account as soon as i can. I actually found the Agricultural bank near where I live. Should I go there or should I stick with a foreign/national bank?

[sweetrevenge]

when you opened an account at the Korean Exchange bank, did you need an alien registration card? I'm looking online and reading that you do need it and that you don't need it so I don't know who to believe. Also, are banks in Korea open during the weekends? I work Monday - Friday so if they were open on Saturday that would be a huge deal for me.

[yfb]

1. You need an ARC or a passport to set up a bank account.
2. Banks aren't open during the weekends. There isn't much reason to go to one for errands anyways. Set up online banking to pay your bills. Yes it's a giant PITA to do initially but it's a godsend.
3. KEB is the best bank for foreigners. They're one of the few that will allow you to get a CC some months down the line (6 months I believe). Nonghyup has a poor track record of getting hacked and/or screwing over foreign customers with piss-poor service.

[alongway]

you can pay online using your Korean debit card. You don't need to do a bank transfer. When you go to pay you'll get a pop-up to input your number, use your security certificate, and pay instantly.

[sigmundsmith]

Shinhan Bank has really upped their game for services to foreigners. I have been using them for 5 years now with no complaints. They also have a dedicated department for foreigners that you can call (don't have the number on me). They do offer credit cards to foreigners but you must be making a certain amount of money a year.

Like everyone has said. Open a bank account. Get an ATM card and it's easy to go to an ATM and transfer money to the sellers account. You just need the name of their bank and their bank account number to do the transfer. Virtually all ATM's in Korea (except at most convenience stores) have a foreign language (English) button that you can press so the process is in English for you. Dead easy to get used to payments of all fashion this way.

BTW. I don't think Koreans know what cheques are

[alongway]

[sweetrevenge]

I actually went to the Korean Exchange Bank and they told me flat out I need a Korean number. Which really sucks because it turns out that I can't get a phone until I get me alien registration card and I can't even use the Arrivalstore.com because my phone (Iphone 3gs) only takes normal sim cards and they only sell micro and nano sim cards. So I'm going to try another bank and hope that they don't ask for a cellphone number. Does anyone have any reccommendations? I'm thinking of trying Shinhan bank.

[Okie from Muskogee]