Korean Job Discussion Forums

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

Ok so I'm playing today and all of a sudden the game "freezes" like I hear a sound and the picture goes all pixels and freezes. I had to turn off the machine, reboot and after a couple minutes of playing the same thing happens again. I finally get the red ring of death now so I'm screwed I know. I went to Microsoft support, registered my device and I'm within the warranty period but after I put in the repair request it says "there was a problem" and to call support. I tried calling the U.S. support line direct but not open yet.
Does anyone know what to do in my case since I have a U.S. console? I want to obviously get it repaired or ideally replaced but I don't want a NTSC-J console back for obvious reasons. Anyone had any problems getting the U.S. console repaired or replaced here? I got it off Yongsan army base but a friend of a friend got it for me so I don't know him very well to ask him to go back to base to ask what to do. If anyone can help that would be great.

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

Boy I've been on the phone with customer service for almost an hour so far and they're telling me since it's a U.S. console that it should be shipped back to the U.S., what a freakin pain! The ONLY service center for Korea says it has to be shipped to Japan! WTF is with that? Is there actually NO Xbox service center in Korea?
Oh and also I haven't got the RROD problem I guess, but it's still a hardware problem as it keeps freezing after a few minutes. Really sucks...

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

If anyone with a U.S. console has had experience with having their xbox360 repaired here in Korea, please let me know. Also did you opt for the "exchange" option or actually wait while your console was repaired?

Poemer · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Location: Mullae

I posted about this very problem a few weeks ago. I have found no relief. I gave up. I am living without until I will back in the states in a few months and can swap machines. I am sorry I do not have any help to offer. I am very, very sorry. Crying or Very sad

The only thing I can say is, keep trying. If you find a solution, let me know.

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

Thanks for writing. I too just don't know what to do in this case. I might try to get the guy who got it for me on base to go back, but the problem is that he was a friend of a friend so it's a pain in the ass as he probably figures why should he help me out. Ideally I could get him to at least take me on base, go to Yongsan main store (where he bought it) and pester them for an exchange. Otherwise it means either:
a) asking him to use his APO#mailing address and have it shipped back to the U.S. and then have it mailed back to him, then contacting me. All in all a big pain in the ass for him which I'm sure he'd rather not do.
b) Mailing it back to Canada to my parents, then having THEM mail out the console to Microsoft, which would probably take when all is said and done close to 2 months my luck.

I cannot tell you how pissed off I am right now. I tried calling the Korean xbox number which someone posted on here but no luck. It is:
00368-440-0090
I tried even just 440-0090 but no luck. Really S.O.L. here....

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

Thanks I might still try that but I doubt that the store on base would exchange an 11 month old machine (it was bought on Oct. 5, 2007). Still I'll give him a call and see if we can try.
On a slightly better note I finally got the service number to work (only worked with my cell phone for some reason) and the woman's English was fine. She said it was no problem to have it sent to Japan where they will repair it and should take about a month. I asked about exchanging for a refurbished unit but she said that wasn't an option in my case since the only refurbs they would have would be an Asian console. Anyway I have to call her back to verify the power light etc. so I'll do that this afternoon. Thanks for the advice though...............

IncognitoHFX · Joined: 06 May 2007 Location: Yeongtong, Suwon

sojukettle · Joined: 23 Aug 2005 Location: Not there, HERE!

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

Ok so just an update for people who might have this happen to them and their U.S. xbox 360. The Korean tech service all spoke fine English and sent me the instructions to mail it to Japan. Yeah that's right, Japan. If it was a Korean xbox then it would go to the service center here. Anyway I went to the post office, got them to pack it (cost 9000 won, could've done it myself for much cheaper but oh well) and then used the EMS mailing service at a cost of 23 300 won. I got the message today that it left Incheon airport, so I'm pretty satisfied. Now it's just a waiting game. The tech service said it will be a month, so we shall see as yesterday was Sept. 12th. They will mail it back at their expense so all in all not the end of the world.

Poemer · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Location: Mullae

The fact that I was going to have to pay to pack it and ship it to Japan is what had me cheesed. They should send a coffin with a prepaid shipping slip. The thing that really had me worried was that they told me that I will be responsible for any possible customs duty when the unit comes back from Japan. Now, that is probably just bureaucratic ass-covering, but I would be mad as hell if there was some hang-up with customs and I had to pay even more for service that MS has promised for free.

DrOctagon · Joined: 11 Jun 2008 Location: Chicago

Just thought I'd let you guys know that I'm playing some GTAIV right now on my US Xbox and I'm loving it. I just recently downloaded Castle Crashers. Pretty good game. Where can I buy Rock Band II in Korea?

I hope I never get the red ring of death!

bourquetheman · Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Suwon

Poemer · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Location: Mullae

Well, assuming there is no problem with customs, at least it didn't cost you all that much to get it taken care of. Still, it should have been FREE! Evil or Very Mad

I hope you don't have anymore problems.

timmeh · Joined: 01 Oct 2007

Ahh the red ring of death...

I bought my xbox a little more than year ago and it wasn't even 3 months before I got one. I took it back to Futureshop and they gave me a brand new unit. Shortly after the same this happend again and I had to return to the store.

They sent mine out to be fixed and was returned to me in about 5 weeks. One month later it happend again. So again it was send out to be fixed.

This went on two more times for a total of 4 breakdowns.

Long story short? I sold my xbox and all my games before I came to Korea. This system was poorly designed and rushed to the market before it was ready.

My 2 cents? Sell now while you can still get some money for it and buy a ps3 or wait for something new...