Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jmbran11]

I wire money home each month, but I can't get to the bank during hours this time. I'm hoping my husband could do it for me. He doesn't have a bank account in Korea (though it's his beneficiary account in the U.S.), but he does have his passport and ARC. Can he go into any bank with cash and wire a couple thousand home, or will they insist he open an account?

In the alternative, do any of the money changers in Itaewon (presumably open on Saturdays) have the option to wire money home?

I would also be happy to do the money order thing, if there is somewhere I can get those on Saturday.

[spliff]

All you need is your PP and ARC....

[kat2]

You can do it with just a passport and ARC. No problem.

You could think about opening an account in his name and always keeping some money there. What if something happened to you and he needed money? It takes about 5 seconds to transfer money between accounts in Korea. Then he could go into a bank and wire it easily without carrying around a load of cash.

[elinori]

I am finishing a winter camp on Saturday. I have come here only for the month and am then going to Thailand for a couple weeks and then back to the states.
I am being paid 2,800,000 won and don't know what to do about the money. Because I have no Korean bank account, the recruiter plans to pay me in cash on the last day of camp. I have absolutely no need for a Korean bank account, so I never opened one.
Great! Then I have almost $3000 in Won to carry around with me as I travel. Needless to say, I don't really want to carry that money around, it's just dumb.
My question is if I can wire the money without a Korean bank account, how do I do it and what do I need? (What's an ARC?)
I am leaving Korea Monday afternoon, so I am concerned about not being around to check the wire to make sure it goes through. I really don't know what I need or how to do this. I wish my employer could just wire the money to my Bank of the West account, but can I trust them? It's been a great camp with terrific co-workers and accommodations, I want it to end just as well.
I just don't want to carry that cash around, deal with customs, and I would prefer it in USD ASAP. How much should I expect it to cost. Which bank should I go to exactly? I am at Inha University in Incheon.
I hope someone gets back to me soon.
Thank You,
Seriously money wire stressed

[JamesFord]

I don't even see why you need an ARC. You are allowed to bring $10,000 dollars in with you, so what's wrong with sending it out with only a passport?

In the end, just get a Korean to do it for you. Go with them to the bank, and have them send the money to your account. Then there will be no problems.


And to the last poster, customs is not interested in $3000. Change it to traveller checks if you're that worried about carrying it around.

[gosia]

You can also use Western Union at KB* bank. You just need your passport for that, and the receivers name and adress...

[phatrick]

elinori - you can always just take the money with you and open a thai bank account your first day there. i had no problems and was given a atm card with a visa logo with just my passport!

[davai!]

Buy Amex travellers checks and airmail them to your account in the states. One week in transit. Cheapest option there is.