Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IncognitoHFX]

So I bought a card phone. 80,000 for the phone and 80,000 for the 205 minutes that came on it (I was told that 205 minutes came to about 80,000WON).

I bought it about two weeks ago at Suwon station, in the underground shopping complex, and used exactly 88 minutes according to my phone's log. A few days ago, I ran out of minutes and was unable to dial out, so today I went in to the SK Telecom store and asked why.

I never go into a situation like this without rehearsing first. For the last hour of my day at work, I memorized several Korean phrases pertinent to being in a cell phone shop.

I walked in, and in Korean said: "I purchased 200 minutes with 80,000 WON, but I'm all out after only using 88 minutes." However, before I could even finish the sentence, the clerks burst out laughing and insisted I do this in English, a language they knew nothing of.

So I tried to explain, it took a better part of twenty minutes, with them cracking up every time I said a Korean word (my pronunciation is fine--or so I thought).

They basically told me that 88,000 WON only equaled 80 minutes, so when I asked how much a 10,000 bill would get me, they said "60 minutes". Which was very perplexing. After about thirty minutes of arguing and asking for a plan phone ("외국인 안대요!") I gave up and stuck a 10,000 on it.

I think the guys at the Suwon store are either incompetent or they forgot to deposit my money so I'll go deal with them shortly (I have the receipt which I showed it to the SK Telecom store and they laughed at it and said they didn't know what it was).

Does anyone else have this kind of difficulty dealing with card phones? My phone too has a piece of junk battery that only holds a charge for eight or nine hours when I'm not using it. Anyone else have a similar problem?

What should I be paying for a card phone? ...and why can't foreigners get their own plan phones anymore?

Seems like the phone companies in Korea have a lot of issues dealing with foreigners, and the staff in these places are hardly ever friendly (less so than any other business I've dealt with).

[Otherside]

A friend of mine has been having the same problem...there appear to be different card phone plans, with SK being the worst.
He and his gf both bought card phones...his being SK and his GF being LG (she wanted a different model which was only LG), they make about the same number of calls and he runs out credit about twice as fast (for equal money).

PS. You can get a contract phone, just go to LG... there's 1 just outside the exit of that underground phone Market by Suwon Station - with a sign that proudly proclaims that foriegners are welcome (in Korean of course...)

[sojourner1]

I've been looking to get a cell phone, but stalling since I don't understand much and know I'll just get myself into a dumb situation like you did. Sorry, no offense, it's just that way in today's world.

My co-teacher told me that plan phones are new cell phones with a 2 year contract and then you can get used phones with month to month service for 10,000 won a month plus the cost how many minutes you use each month. I couldn't get a number on the cost per minute. She said the used phone would cost 80,000 won at SK and KT stores in small towns and 40 to 50 in a city.

OP, was your phone used refurbished?

Anyone who knows anything about cell phone plans, please enlighten us all.

[pkang0202]

Are you calling international with your phone? Are you text messaging? All of those things will make your minutes rundown faster.

It IS possible for you to get a plan phone, but you gotta sign a contract, and pay a bigass deposit.

[teachingld2004]

Last year I had a cell phone with SK. I had to pay a 200,000 deposit, but that was no big deal because when I stopped service I got that money back.

Now I have a pre pay phone with LG. The time really sucks, because it cost 10,000 won for 28 minutes. This for me is fine because I rarely use the phone. I make my phone calls with yahoo. I call the USA for a penny a minute if I have to call some ones home or cell phone. Phone calls to another computer cost nothing.

[Anon]

LG Telecom has initiated the move to make life a little easier by placing an English-speaking employee at the Global Center for starters. Applying for and opening a mobile phone account just got that much easier. LG also promises to continue providing friendly services in the future. The newly dubbed Korean "Dream Phone" deals include the latest high-tech and fashionable phones at an affordable rate. Are long-distance calls placing a dent in your monthly billing? Half-priced long-distance or overseas calling plans are in full effect. If you make regular money transfers overseas, the transfer fee alone can add up to a sizable amount at the end of calendar year. LG is now offering convenient and half-priced money transfers through mobile phones.

Heard about this; you should pay a visit to the Seoul Global Center and try the LG Telecom offer.