Korean Job Discussion Forums

[big_fella1]

Firstly I am not saying that Korea is a bad country. Korea is a great country which is why I choose to live here (okay, a beautiful Mrs helps too But the Korean phone companies do need to be taken to task over their treatment of foreign customers.

I can still walk into many local phone stores in my area and be told "We don't sell to foreigners", even though I am on an F visa, my credit is good and I have an apartment and a car. Some stores have suggested just put the phone in the name of my non-working wife or my 7 month old daughter. Sorry, but if you want my money, you make a contract with me.

The problem isn't that the big phone companies don't allow foreigners to buy phones (although KT tries), the problem is dealers who have decided they don't want to sell to foreigners. None of the companies have the backbone to say to these dealers "If you want our name on the door, follow Korean Law." KT has gone as far as to develop Foreigner [sic] stores in an attempt address the problem by forming a ghetto rather than by standing up to their dealers and SK's English support line will tell all foreigners they can't have a phone, although when pushed will admit you can have a phone, but that you may have to visit a number of dealers to get it.

If you experience any problems feel free to lodge a complaint at
http://www.humanrights.go.kr/00_main/main.jsp

Edit: LG Telecom does allow foreigners to sign up, but no installments and their associate company LG X-Speed says no to foreigners.

[Troglodyte]

Most LG (Qook Show) shops that I've been to won't let foreigners sign up for pre-paid on a 3G phone. Finding a 2G phone is hard enough but if you go in to a shop with a phone that's more than a few years old, they don't support it. It's a right pain in the back side.

Shop workers generally don't seem to know what they are talking about because I get various explanations about why I can't activate my phone. "LG doesn't allow foreigners to use 3G phones on a prepaid account." "Our store doesn't allow foreigners to use 3G phones on a prepaid account." "I don't know. It's just that way." "You need to go to to the head office in town." (Who give one of the previous reasons.) or "You need to find another shop. Other shops allow this. Just this one doesn't. We aren't authorized for it."

[furtakk]

I would be more upset if the wifi coverage in the country wasn't as good as it is, but yeah it is annoying (even more so in your case). Is there a reason why dealers would be hesitant though? Is it more work to sign up a foreigner or something?

[optik404]

Just go to a different store. I had KT when I first came, switched to SK last year. Never had a problem at either store.

[AsiaESLbound]

Yes, those shops are small businesses and it's at their discretion who they do business with. I visited 15 different shops until I found a young man working an SK shop who is open minded enough to put a 3G phone in my hands on 1 year contract.

[big_fella1]

[Steelrails]

Get a co-teacher/hagwon manager to vouch for you.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[silvertoes]

I had no problem getting a phone and account, but had to pay a 20,000 won 'deposit insurance', which will not be returned to me even if I go back to the store to ensure my account is clear when I leave.

I made my displeasure clear, telling the sales clerk that not all foreigners are thieves and I am not a thief; that if I clear my account before leaving and they don't give me that 'deposit' back then SK becomes the thief; that if a Korean came to my country they might have to prove they are credit-worthy and have a sound address, but they won't be charged extra simply because they're Korean. He understood and sympathized, but shrugged his shoulders. Take it or leave it.

As much as I resent it, I guess I can understand: after all, there are phone bills arriving for the teacher I replaced, of nearly 17,000. Thanks, mate.

[fugitive chicken]

When I first got here 2 years ago, I couldn't get a phone on my own. I walked into several stores and they took one look at my ARC and said that they won't serve foreigners who have been here less than 2 months....at least that is what I got out of their limited English and gestures....After 3 weeks of trying I just went to Yongsan and got a prepaid phone. No one else I talked to had that problem though....I definitely suggest going with a Korean!

[hondaicivic]

[TheUrbanMyth]

Phone.

No deposit.

No Korean.


Guess everyone's mileage varies.

[jvalmer]

[Steelrails]

[le-paul]

i have had problems gettings phones (being refused or told I have to pay a deposit etc) and descriminated against with other things too.

OP - you suggested if you feel discriminated against perhaps people could make a complaint.

I had no idea we could complain. My biggest gripe would be not the phone companies, taxis etc etc and all the other crap (that ifI did in my own country id probably be locked up for...) but the fact that I have to supply my blood from my body with a syrynge stuck into my arm to prove I dont have aids/hiv and am not some kind of drug addicted paedophile and that I have to provide a police clearance to prove Im not a criminal when korean teachers dont have to supply this information! (deep breath). The presumtion of all these things irritates me beyond belief. especially when I know other countries outlawed these kinds of practice long ago (eg Japan).
Im probably being paranoid but Im sure if you made a complaint the korean human rights commission, the government would probably deport me for being a facist trouble maker and /or cancel my visa and/or tar and feather me .
So, dont you think it could be a little counter productive making a complaint? (this is a question by the way).