Korean Job Discussion Forums

[GoldenDome]

I am a former teacher at HUFS who left Korea in 2010. At that time I left approximately 60 million Won in two saving accounts at Woori Bank due to the horrible exchange rate in existence at the time. At the time of departure I gave a friend a special power of attorney per Woori directions and executed at the American Embassy. That year I directed my friend to send approximately 35 million Won transferred to my bank in the US though they made it very difficult for my friend even after following their direction to the letter. Of course the power of attorney was limited to a year. After the withdrawals in 2010, I've found it next to impossible to access my accounts from outside of ROK. I have had no activity except having my friend in past years taking small amounts from the ATM to show some activity in the account. I spoke to a Woori representative a couple of years ago who assured that my accounts would not be closed for inactivity due to their size. I am having difficulty even contacting anyone at Woori who speaks English by phone. I several times have sent a two new notarized Powers of Attorney to my friend but the bank refused to accept them. I am now planning to return to ROK to obtain the money between August 19 and 31st. Before then I would like to speak with a Woori representative but I wish to know if I have some how missed a way to access my money without returning to ROK. I do not have internet banking and was told by Woori I would need to physically come to their bank to set up internet banking. Also what problems should I expect just taking my money out of the accounts. Taxes have been withdrawn on a regular basis. I AM TRYING TO SPEAK TO A PERSON IN ENGLISH AT THE BANK BUT ALL THE ENGLISH PHONE NUMBERS ONLY HAVE RECORDINGS. DOES ANYONE HAVE A NUMBER WITH AN ENGLISH SPEAKING PERSON OR THE NUMBER FOR THE WOORI BRANCH IN IMUNGDONG

[cdninkorea]

I don't know how to contact an English speaker at Woori, but there must be a cheaper/faster way for you to do this than by flying to Korea. Have you tried calling the Seoul Global Help Center? Perhaps they can work as an intermediary. Another idea: Is there an Woori Bank in the country you're currently living in? I know there's at least one in Toronto, so if I were anywhere in Canada, I'd call it.

[GoldenDome]

Thanks for the reply. I have not talked to them (the Global Help Center) but have been in email communication with them. They gave me one number for a Woori English help center but it has now been closed. I did not hear back when I ask for the number of the Imungdong bank. I have talked with the branches of Woori Bank that operate in the US but it is their position that they are a 'different" Woori Bank and can not really do anything in relation to my ROK accounts. I know through POA I could ultimately possibly access my accounts eating up hours and hours of a close friend's time at a Woori branch. But I am afraid the process of going to consulates to obtain their seal (which Woori originally asked for when I was in Korea in 2010) and expressing documents back and forth only to have Woori refuse them could take longer and possibly be more expensive in the end than coming back now to visit using bonus miles. AGAIN I CAN'T EVEN SPEAK TO A WOORI REPRESENTATIVE AT THIS POINT. This worries me and I want to close the accounts and bring the money home.

[hogwonguy1979]

My advice is to go to the Woori brach in Itaewon down near Hangangjin station, they have a couple of people who speak decent Englsih and are pretty good

Rest of the bank can take a flying leap for all the crap and misinformation they gave me after I lost my wallet in Cambodia last year, long story short, their English help line said I could get a new ATM card with proof I had applied for a new ARC, branch refused, then cust service said they were wrong, I went nuts, went to the Itaewon branch and had the ATM card in 10 minutes

[Who's Your Daddy?]

A Korean or foreign national with a visa can send 50 Mil won overseas without documentation per year. If you have someone you trust in Korea, you could send them your bank card, they transfer it to their own account, then they wire it to your account overseas. But you have to trust them!

Another way might be to apply for a Korean credit card. Not sure if you could do that from overseas. But you could use the card for everything you do, and the bill will be drawn from your Korean account.

There are some Woori bank branches overseas. Maybe one of them could help you.

[tob55]

Why not set up online banking for your account and transfer the money yourself. Even when living abroad you can set up an online account and conduct your banking business. If you need to have someone forward documents to you, then use one of your trusted friends to send over the key cards, etc. Just a suggestion, but it seems to be an easy fix by doing it this way IMO. Good luck!

[GoldenDome]

Thanks tob55 but I was told by the bank I would have to go into a branch of the bank IN KOREA to activate internet banking. I did think about going the ATM route using my bank book (am not sure where my atm card is) but they added an additional security code to use it and I don't have one. Again one of the major frustration is making actual contact with a person. I am thinking of going to the Korean Church in Ft Wayne for help. Serves me right for not working harder on learning Korean

[tob55]

[Steelrails]

Looks like Golden Dome is getting Iron Domed by the Woori paperwork defenses.

Sorry Golden. Best of luck.

[Jake_Kim]

[tob55]

Did some checking and it appears Wooribank still requires people to come in and sign on the spot for Internet banking. My Shinhan bank stopped requiring that for me last year as well as Nonghyup, but no such luck with Woori. Wish I had better news for the OP, but unfortunately not unless something has changed in the last 48 hours. Good luck with your money transactions though. Cheers.