Korean Job Discussion Forums

[matthews_world]

I have Hana Bank yet along with many other random patrons, we couldn't use ATM services today.

Am I losing it or did this happen to anyone else?

Feel sorry for those who were stranded without credit/debit cards to use - foreigners, students, old folks etc.

[sojourner1]

Often, ATM's run out of cash on the weekends so get your money before the weekend. This happened to me last year a couple times so I just had to cancel my plans and then just got into the habit of keeping at least 300,000 won on me at all times and withdrew when it was convenient to do so such as on a long 3 hour lunch break I had on Wednesdays.

I find that my American debit cards won't work anywhere this time when they worked last year at many Korean ATM machines as I'm needing access to some of my savings until I get some won coming into my Korean account. The ATM's only have an onscreen button for domestic card selection after inserting my card. Service is ridiculously limited for having the high level of technology Korea has.

[matthews_world]

This happened to several persons in my small neighborhood. Each different bank I tried wouldn't dispense cash.

Wierd.

Just wonder if anyone else had this happen today.

[pootle]

I had the same problem at a Shinan Bank ATM on Friday evening. May well be that they run out of cash and don't get filled up again until after the weekend?

[icicle]

A good thing to note with using overseas cards at ATMs here is that only the ATM's of some banks will support using them ... and it is not necessarily every ATM at that bank. I know that one of the first things I did when I came back this time was to work out which ATM's close to where I was living would allow me to use the Overseas card I had and after I got my Korean card which machines would give me the English option to use it ... Or in the case of the one closest to me had Korean options I could work out how to use ... (easy trial and error / it was raining too heavily to walk the three blocks to the closest other ATM and the ATM in my 711 only had Korean menu ... ) (I would suggest learning the necessary korean words to use the machines that only have Korean options).

I had no trouble getting money today ... I think that as other posters have said that the most likely cause is the machines simply running out of money because they are not usually filled up over the weekend ... or major holidays ... which is a lesson to remember when Chuseok comes later in the year ..

[regicide]

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

Yeah, I've noticed a lot of atms run out of money particularly in the middle of long weekends and/or Seollal, Chuseok; and occasionally during regular weekends.

I've noticed that even if you find an atm which allows foreign cards, it won't always accept your card and will almost never your card during weekends and/or holidays, and often during regular days.

I've had enough hassles when coming back after a break home and needing cash before my pay check. If it's hard for someone like me who's been here almost 5 years, I shudder to think how inconvenient and stressful it is for a tourist who's just arrived and can't get money out.

That said, I've found Japan just as bad, if not worse in that regard. NE Asia fightin~!

[regicide]

[matthews_world]

[Kimchi Cha Cha]

[CousinNZ]

Yea I had a shocker today. I went to the supermarket and did a stack of shopping and then went to pay and my card wouldnt work. Pissed me right off.
Ran to the bank and still no love.
Anyway my GF called the bank and there was a message saying that the bank was backing its system up or something and would be back running again at 2pm. After 2 went back and was all good.

[tanklor1]

Being a really cheap bastard I always take out the maxium amount of 700. It may only cost 500 to 1000 won per transaction but that's MY 500 to 1000 won and I'll be damned if the bank is going to get more than it needs.

[matthews_world]