Korean Job Discussion Forums

[matesol]

I hope I have the right forum here. Just wondering about our Alien Registration Card Number and Korean websites. Is it possible for foreigners to order things off Korean websites? All the websites I have seen ask for The Reigstration Number (주민 등록 번호). However when I try to register, I ALWAYS get an error message, something to the effect that I have entered an invalid registration number.

Do Koreans have a registration number that is somewhat different than that of foreigners?

If we can't order off Korean websites, because of this ... I have to say, it REALLY sucks that we have to pay 20+ import tax everytime we order something from abraod (got to beef somewhere ...)

[Juregen]

The ARC number is not equivalent to the Korean registration number

[Qinella]

[goatboy]

Most places will give you a hard time, but there are some (like gmarket) that will allow a waygook reg number.

[krats1976]

[Real Reality]

Foreigners Excluded From Korean Sites
First of all, the vast majority of Korean Web sites have little or no English-language content, which restricts participation to those who can read Korean. More problematic is that non-Korean residents are not allowed to subscribe to most Web sites, including the country�s biggest portals. None of Korea�s top five most popular portals -- Naver, Daum, Nate, Yahoo Korea and Paran -- provides an English-language introduction to people who want to be members. In order to subscribe to the sites, foreigners must learn Korean or enlist the help of Korean friends to fill out tons of personal information required by the portals. Foreigners who are ready to go through the lengthy registration process, however, will be frustrated again to find that the Web portals cannot identify foreign residency numbers.
By Kim Tae-gyu, Korea Times (June 20, 2005)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/tech/200506/kt2005062017334312350.htm


image url:
http://photo.hankooki.com/gisaphoto/20050620/vnok200506201904541Froeigners2%20copy.jpg

[mikekim]

I can't register with g-market? Am I a bad foreigner.

[Kimchieluver]

yes

[Col.Brandon]

Put it down to unimaginative website programming more than racism.

Issues like this highlight the glaring lack of critical thinking that abounds around here.

[Jack_Sarang]

There was an article in the Korean-Herald a couple of weeks ago about them changing the system. Or rather, websites adding an alternative to the national ID number.

One of the reasons cited was easier access for foreigners as well as privacy concerns due to a large number of identity theft problems with koreans having to register on every website with what amounts to their social security number.

They called it the "I-Pinn" or something like that and said foreigners would be able to obtain an "I-Pinn" number with either a passport or an ARC card. They listed a bunch of 3rd party companies that would issue these new pin numbers if you registered with them.

[krats1976]

That sounds really interesting. I tried to find the article on their website, but it's limited to subscribers. If anyone has their "Premium service" & could copy & paste the article here, I'd be grateful.

[Yesterday]

[krats1976]

[Smee]

Big Bump.

I'm thinking of registering with gmarket, but before I do, can I pay online with a credit card or do a bank transfer? I registered with interpark.co.kr ane was really thrilled that my foreign ID worked, but I later learned that there's no option for paying online. Sucks.

[CentralCali]