Korean Job Discussion Forums

[joelseymour]

I figure I would post this four questions in one post instead of three....

Are there allot of Costcos in South Korea?


Since I am picking up my prescriptions at Costco I wonder if they could be transfered over to any in South Korea so I could pick them up?


Could I deposit my whole check into my checking account through direct deposit?


Can American Citizens go onto the American Military Base in South Korea to recieve medical treatment?



Thanks for your help people.....

[peppermint]

There are 3 costcos in Seoul and one in Daegu and another in Daejeon. As far as I know, none of them have a pharmacy.

Most hagwons will deposit your check into your Korean accout by direct deposit, yes. If you were asking about having it deposited into your account at home- no. ( overseas wire transfers cost money, and it's not always easy to find an ATM that will take an international card)

As for health care- unless you're either enlisted or working on the base, don't expect to see a doctor there. I do know that a lot of the time, military personel are sent to a hospital off base in Seoul anyway.

[paperbag princess]

"Are there allot of Costcos in South Korea?"

There are a lot of Costcos in the Seoul area.

[desultude]

It is my understanding that no one gets paid with a "pay check"- it seems to be either cash or direct deposit into an account. Seems like checks, as we know them in the States, aren't used here. You can get a bank draft, or a wire transfer, but not a paper check written out and signed by the account holder.

Anyway, that has been my experience.

As for Costcos and doctors- you can get decent medical care here- probably the best and easiest for non-Koreans being the international clinics at university hospitals.

Costcos are nice, but there are EMart, Homeplus and Carrefour "bigbox" stores in most cities that carry western food in addition to Korean. Every day more western goods are available. This is a mixed blessing and should be seen as not coincidental with the increase in obesity on the part of Koreans. In just the little over two years that I have been here, I have witnessed both- the weight gain and the increase in western food.

It is unfortunate that people coming here won't be in the position of trying to be creative with Korean ingredients. For many of us, it has changed our way of cooking and eating. You'll fine more than a few westerners who say that by eating Korean, they have lost weight easily.

You may be coming to Korea primarily to get a good job, but it can also be a great time to break out of old cultural patterns. My advise- don't come looking for western this and that to make you feel comfortable and at home. You aren't at home, and that can be the beauty of it.