Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PeterDragon]

My local hospital has just told me it will cost 320,000 won for the medical exam. Is this right?!! Are other hospitals charging this much?!!! This time last year it ran me $70 in Gwangmyong city AND I was uninsured back then.

Advice please. Should I take this lying down? Should I go to a different hospital?

[Whistleblower]

Does this include a rectal examination? If so, I recommend you take it lying down.

[VanIslander]

I just showed my hagwon-provided health insurance booklet and that was that.

Sounds like you're getting jobbed.

[PeterDragon]

Well, I'm re-upping within the public school system, so I probably do need an actual exam. But 320,000 is a screwjob, I agree. Has anyone else done this recently, how much did you pay? I'm thinking of simply going to Pyeongtaek, or th hospital in Seoul where I last did it.

[Bibbitybop]

I had to go to a certain doctor for some different (non-national) insurance. I paid 120,000 for everything, including HIV and drug testing. That is more than regular hospitals and I was pissed.

320,000? You are getting raped.

[newteacher]

I paid 25,000

You're getting fleeced.

[PainterJane]

If you're at a public school you should check with your co-teacher... all the teachers, including the native teachers, in my area can get free health checks this year.

[poet13]

I paid about 29,000 my first year, and about 38,000 my second year. They don't understand what you want.

[KYC]

Maybe their English is off.

I called SNU and they wanted 90-110,000. I said no thanks & went to another hospital. They charged me 50,000...and I still think that's too much! What can I say? I'm cheap.

[Poemer]

I paid 74,000 for mine, and I thought that was a rip-off. 320? Surely you jest.

[brento1138]

Last time I went for a small check-up at the doctor, the nurse at the front said "Please give 2 million won"

After trying not to laugh to hard.. I asked "2 million won?" she then took out her calculator. She meant 2,000 won. Haha. They get their numbers mixed up all the time.

230,000 probably means 23,000.

[PeterDragon]

I would think they were saying the numbers wrong, but they used a translator (no one I spoke to knew English). And my translator said she is absolutely certain they meant 320,000. She even wrote the figure out for me when I told her I was incredulous. She also said they told her they are "familiar with the required teacher health check" and claim to have "Checked many teachers this year". So while there may be a misunderstanding, i get the sinking feeling there isn't.

That's it. I'm going to Pyeongtaek or Seoul. I think any hospital but mine would give me a better deal. I think this hospital has the sense they have the handful of local teachers in this isolated town over a barrel. I'm sure some local expat was unfortunate enough to fall for it. (Or maybe I'm the first guy they've tried to snow? In a town this size, it's possible....)

[crusher_of_heads]

Baloney. A friend of mine paid as little as 30 000.

I paid 45000.


I wonder what that chick who got kicked in the head is paying for her exam?

[thatwhitegirl]

Just got back from our medical exam. Cost 53,000 which is rather expensive! We're in a small town, maybe 40 min from Pyeongtaek. Took less than 20 min for the exam.
You should definately go to a different hospital.

[Lekker]

40,000 won at Bo Ram Mei park hospital. My employer paid for it. So should yours.