Korean Job Discussion Forums

azzwell · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 5:58 am Post subject: Hub of Asia my A**

So, in yet another example of how the hub of Asia is working.
Foriengers are not allowed to book advance registration nights at a mountain shelter in Sorak-san National Park, the PREMIER National Park in Korea that has thousands of foreign visitors every year.
Is it because no one at the K.N.P.S. can understand english? No, of course not, it is just because they dont take reservations from way-gooks. I was told, in perfect English I might add, that I could get a Korean friend to make the reservation for me, but I, as a forigner, was not allowed to make reserations.
Again, hub of Asia my A**

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

Hehehe, what was that thing about wanting to become one of the top ten tourist destinations by 2010? You should write a complaint to KTO.

azzwell · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:39 am Post subject: Hub of Asia my A**

Tell you what, I have been here for two+ years, not a grizzled vet, but still not a rookie and I am starting to get pissed off about this crap!
If someone gives me the link to the KTO I WILL write them a letter and post both the letter and response for all to see

Satori · Joined: 09 Dec 2005 Location: Above it all

Wow, there is not much that surprises me anymore about Korean xenophobia and commercial incompetance, but that really takes the cake. It's so totally blatant you've almost got to admire it.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

That's because they're afraid the foreigner may try to use a Visa or Mastercard or something crazy like that, rather than hard Korean currency, to pay for the room. Sorry, we don't take foreign cards!

Nah, I don't know if they do. I just went to 15 machines tonight trying to get money off my US debit card and had no luck, so I'm a bit peeved.

charlieDD · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea

Another example: Last week, Woori Bank, I'm transferring money overseas (that great sin of all sins). The bank has a history of my previous remittances and nothing changes, same amount, same account, same everything. Usually I need only enter my name, my Woori account number and how much I want to remit - and sign - on the form for overseas remittance because all the other data is already in the computer.

This time I get an aujulshi, new to that branch, but experienced and capable in English. He tells me I need to fill out all the info in the form. I tell him it's all in the computer. He tells me he still needs me to fill it out. I tell him that they usually just use the info on the computer. He tells me "Yes, I can do that, but you are a foreigner and we want to be sure about everything when we do this for a foreigner."

I switched to Korean language and asked him how it made any difference if I were a foreigner or a Korean when it came to just using the info that is already in the computer? Shocked, he replied in Korean, "I'm just doing my job and the bank requires foreigners to fill out the form completely. This was in my training."

I objected once more and told him I would just come back later when the more logical female worker was at the desk. He relented and let me do it the logical way.

It just goes to show the mindset: Somehow the foreigner is an unknown that has to be dealt with very cautiously.

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

azzwell · Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 3:53 am Post subject: to further add

So I had my co-worker call today to Sorak-san to book the shelter and this was their response.......

You must bring the national I.D. card of the person making the reservation.

Now be aware that my co-worker has no desire to go on a two day scamper up the third highest mountian in South Korea so he would have to give me his idea for the weekend.

Then, a minute later, keep in mind this is the same person I tried to make a reservation through yesterday, they informed him that there was no room available for the night in question. Why couldnt they have just told me this shyte when I called the first time?
Stupid, illogical, Korea at its finest.

travelx · Joined: 30 Apr 2006

I would have been pissed off big time! I would have gone off at them, and then given up - good on you for sticking with it.

Sorry it didn't work out!

hubba bubba · Joined: 24 Oct 2006

flotsam · Joined: 28 Mar 2006

Why did this annoying thread get transferred to Off-Topic? What did we do?

charlieDD · Joined: 16 Jun 2006 Location: Seoul, Korea

Yeah, this certainly seems related to Life in Korea.

JeJuJitsu · Joined: 11 Sep 2005 Location: McDonald's

fruitcake · Joined: 18 Apr 2004 Location: shinchon

Privateer · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Easy Street.

Everybody seems to get this with banks (and other large institutions): the rules change depending on what day you go, which branch you go to, and who you speak to. I think its due to a number of reasons, not all of which are bad: it might be because the person you spoke to was junior and not used to non-routine transactions; it might be you just want something routine but they're too nervous about making a mistake to risk serving a foreigner when different rules might apply; it might be that the bureaucracy in its infinite wisdom has decided that rules should actually be different for foreigners; it might be that the explanation comes out differently each time depending on who's English translation skills are being called upon; it might be sloppiness and inefficiency; it might be a combination of any of these things.

Finally, it could be the reason you never had trouble in the past is they always bent over backwards to accommodate you and you've only now met someone who actually sticks to the rules as written.