Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AsiaESLbound]

I thought I'd go out for a movie by storing my bags in a locker after shopping, but how wrong I was thinking it was going to be easy. In fact, it's an extremely complicated computerized system involving many steps if you are to get a locker. A woman helped me through it on the COEX entrance lockers, but it got so difficult, we both couldn't secure any lockers. I seen other Koreans giving up on it too. It involved using a bank card with radio frequency capability or charging it to your phone. After my card failed to do anything, I tried my phone, but it too failed to rent me the locker I selected on the screen. Then I remembered just how ridiculously complicated it was to use my bank card on Gmarket which a co-teacher helped me with who said it was the hardest computer thing she had done taking all of 1 hour just to make an online payment.

After giving up at the COEX boxes, I decided to go back into the subway station to see if I could use Seoul subway storage lockers instead. While it accepts cash, I failed 2 times at that where I put in 2,000 won and it returned only 1,000 back cheating me out of 1,000 won each time I tried. It too was too ridiculously difficult to use. Then I remembered how many countless times I seen people struggling at the boxes in Itaewon station next to the restrooms, but never gave it a thought until now. I thought surely it's nothing but a minor technical problem to solve if you can read the Hangul and good with working computers. How wrong I am in assuming I could pop open a locker after having bought cold food items before I was to see Tron.

Anyone using these lockers? If so, how did you pull it off?

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

They all have different systems, and can get confusing. Best of luck next time!

[Jake_Kim]

Banknote recognition with those public automated systems (incl. vending machines) could be a real pain in the butt, especially when your wallet is out of cleaner, stiffer replacements.

As for the lockers in subway stations, however, haven't you tried your T-money traffic card instead of credit card?

[cdninkorea]

Those things are a huge pain. I used to use them when all you had to do was insert coins, but I don't even bother now. They (whoever installed, monitors, and makes money from them) should realize that making it so complicated is an impediment to their profits.

[IlIlNine]

The newer ones are easy with a credit card. Hit the store button, tap your card against the reader, store your stuff, close the door.

To retrieve: hit open, tap your card against the reader - done!

The other methods (cash, etc) are really not that complicated if you can follow simple instructions in Korean.

[OiGirl]

They are all different, but I know how to use the ones I use regularly (like Itaewon subway station.) My biggest problem is finding the bank of lockers I used when it's time to retrieve my things (especially in Gwanghwamun Station.)

Find a savvy friend to show you how to use the ones you are likely to use most often.

[AsiaESLbound]

Site's not working 100% today.

[AsiaESLbound]

Malfunction. beep.

[AsiaESLbound]

[orosee]

I once helped someone out with the COEX lockers. They had put stuff inside but didn't know how to get them out again. We asked one of the staff (working for the subway I guess) but he had no idea. It turned out that they had used their T-Money card to activate their locker and got a paper receipt. So finally they got the right card out (a couple, they didn't remember whose card was used first) and zip, their door opened (things were complicated because they threw away the recipt and didn't remember the locker number).

Needless to say that the instructions we not of any help (I was with a Korean friend who managed that part).

I guess if you have figured it all out, then it might be very convenient, especially if you use your phone chip for T-money. Not for those who are easily panicked and in a rush to catch a plane though.