Korean Job Discussion Forums

[PEIGUY]

Hi,
I will be hopefully coming to Korea in Sept. to teach. I have read many things about cell phones (about kids having them etc) and i'm wondering if its a good investment? Is it cheaper to get that and recieve international calls than the phone that will be provided in the appt? Are they as cheap as they are back home here in Canada? I pay about 37 bucks a month rougly for 80 daytime minutes with unlimited evenings adn weekends.. I forget how much it cost me to buy the phone as it was 2 years ago. Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

[PusanGrl]

I picked up a cell phone here from an expat that got a new one. I paid 45,000won and it has english. I got the pay as you go plan, all you need is a passport. I paid 30,000 and that lasted me a month. But I used the phone quite a bit. Then I pick up a long distance card in Itaewon so I can call Canada for 1 hr 40 minutes (a lot less time with the hand phone) for 13,000 won. If you live in the vancouver area, I could sell you my phone, I'm only here until June. Let me know.

[PEIGUY]

Thanks for the Info, but i'm way out on the East Coast (PEI). I will certainly take a look around for 2nd hand cell phones and see about the long distance cards. thanks for the offer on teh phone though! appreciate it!

[Mr. Pink]

I paid about 500k for my phone. (Yeah it is a super nice one). I pay about 40k a month. I get discounted or free calls to people with the same service as I use...I can't remember what it is.

To phone is cheaper than those people using prepaid phones. Prepaid phones are like 500won a minute. I think I am like 10 won a minute or something really low like that.

The guy who talked about long distance is right. Get a house phone and a phone card. You get about 60 more minutes when you use a house phone. Also when people call YOU it is cheaper.

I'd suggest figure out how much you will use your phone and go from there. If you want to buy your own phone, you will need a Korean to help you.

If you have questions about services, just ask. I'd suggest SK telecom myself. They have the best lines.

[jurassic5]

rather than having to go buy phone cards (and since i have no landline phone), I just use the prefixes to call the US.

Withany cell phone (SK, KTF, LGT) if you use 00388 before the number...it cost 150/minute to call the USA.

*For Canada it's a little more expensive at 282 won a minute.

[kangnamdragon]

Korea has become a cell phone culture. Young Koreans are rarely home, hense, most have cell phones. Actually, I don't know any Korean who does not have a cell phone, including my friend's 87 year old grandmother.