Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TheTeacher..]

I need to get korean won from my debit card in England pretty urgently..
What is the best way? I thought i could withdraw money from the cash machine, but it's not working..

Should i just go to an exchange place and pay for won on my debit card?

Any other options?

Cheers

[chellovek]

Is your card Visa? I've successfully taken money out with my HSBC debit card, but not all cash machines allow you to do that. You might need to look around for one that does. Try cash machines at large bus stations.

[TheTeacher..]

yeh it is, but it's not working anywhere..

[chellovek]

Hmm...where do you live? An obvious point so apologies, you need to use a cash machine that has the "Foreign Card" option for you to withdraw cash. I used that type machine to get money. I was having the same problem you had, couldn't find a machine it would work on anywhere, then found one in a bus station in one of the larger cities.

[ippy]

often banks block cards if theyre used in places that the banks fraud department finds suspect. If you havent notified them you lan on using it in korea you might be getting blocked because of that. And once your card is flagged it isnt coming off until you phone up and tell them.

Debit cards are also pretty notorious for being very very particular about where they can be used. My credit card for example works fine in loads of places, but my debit card from the exact same bank gets spat back out at me almost everywhere (Ps. Both are Visa cards).

[chellovek]

Jeonju Siwei Bus Terminal is the cure for all your debit card woes. The one next to the arrivals platform works like a charm. It is indeed the Uncle Ben's of cash machines- perfect every time.

[Setaro]

The above poster is correct in saying that if you didn't inform your bank you were going abroad, they'll probably be blocking your debit card from being used by default. You'll have to ring them to get them to unblock it.

Regarding cash machines that work, I've found ones in subway stations in Busan all offer a foreign account withdrawal service, try looking in public transportation places like that and bus stations.

[Isehtis]

Using my Barclays debit visa card here, probably one in 4 machines it'll actually work in. Look out for the 'Global' Machines, and then its a matter of luck. Not a clue why some work and some don't.

[b-class rambler]

[ticktocktocktick]

If you're in Seoul/Gyeonggi then most subway stations have Citibank machines that will take a UK debit card. Also, branches of KEB (Korean Exchange Bank) also have at least 1 machine that works.

Here's the branch finder for KEB: http://www.keb.co.kr/IBS/multi_lang/ncompany/eng/KBI1701P.jsp