Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ZUL]

Hey, I'm getting ready to move to Seoul. I will be there in a few weeks, I recently bought a sweet new 2004 VTX 1300 and I'm really quite upset about the idea of having to leave it behind for at least a year.

So I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with trying to bring a bike over from the states? Is it even worth it? Do I even want to drive it? Will it be stolen?

I would appreciate any input you might have about this. Also any advice you have for a Seoul Newb would be double sweet. Where to hang and meet teachers/twenty-somethings, good bars to party at, cool daytrips, etc.

[hellofaniceguy]

Brought my HD over on korean air in 2002. Drove it to the airport in the states, cargo area, filled out the customs paperwork, etc....went to the (korean air cargo office), they disconnected the battery, drained the tank and crated the bike. Shipped it on the same flight that I was on.
You need to have enough time to get all this done if you want it on the same flight. Or ship it ahead of time.
Arrived in korea, cleared immigration/customs and went to the cargo area to get the bike at Incheon airport.
Waited for about an hour and 20 minutes. Received the customs paperwork, went to bank at the airport and paid duty for importing the bike. Duty was a couple of grand. It's based on the price of the bike.
I learned the hard way and the second time was easier.
If you have a bill of sale from the dealership and it's cheaper than the price book that the korea customs uses...you're OK.
I traded in a HD on the 2002 model and the had the dealership show the actual price paid less the trade in. Another words...a seperate invoice showing that the bike was purchased for 12 grand instead of 20 grand. Got 8 grand for the trade in. Otherwise tax would have been based on 20 grand.
Now the fun part...korea/koreans are just half a$$ backwards most of the times it seems....
picked up the bike, got the air cargo to fill up the tank that they drained, connected the battery and I'm off. Get on the road from Incheon to seoul, get to the toll gate, pay the toll and I'm gone. About 20 minutes later...a cop comes up behind me and pulls me over. Starts yelling at me in korean and I yell back at him to don't yell at me you jerk!
Seems that motor cycles are not allowed on korean highways! I tell the cop...what the F&#$!
You pulled me over riding your HD!! On the highway! Go figure!
Anyway..I yell at him "why didn't the toll booth people" say something to me when I paid the toll!?!?!?
You need to have the bike shipped from Incheon to where your final stop is.
The cop allowed me to continue on the highway to the next exit. He wanted to call a tow truck to tow me off the road! No way I said! I can see the next exit down the road...it's what...one click or so. I'm driving.
You WILL...you WILL...you WILL..... have headaches at the customs office "negotiating" the duty tax! Even if you tell them the bike leaves korean when I leave!!! The idiots want money. That's all it is. Many countries allow you to bring in your bike duty free and when you leave the country...you have to PROVE that the bike is also leaving or pay tax. korea....just backwards on things that should be so simple.
Get a big A$$ lock! BIG! And strong. Like the Cobra Locks/chain. Lock your bike to a solid object in korea. If not IT WILL BE STOLEN. Guarantee.
If they want it...a lock won't help. But get the best chain lock on the market available and secure your bike to a solid object making it difficult for the thief to steal. Alarms WON'T help.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

For the couple grand (or more) that you spend on shipping your hog you can have a fantastic bike here (probably not a 1400 though) and then sell it when you leave and lose very little money. If your hog is that important to you and you have that much cash to blow why are you teaching English in Korea?

[uberscheisse]

a good website that covers these issues for southeast asia is

www.gt-rider.com -it's done by this german (i think) expat who lives in chiang mai.


it has updated info on all borders/customs in thailand, laos, malaysia, 'nam, and china.

not that those places are korea, but hey, you might want to travel someday. it's a good one to bookmark.