Korean Job Discussion Forums

bizrandom · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

I need a new pair, I was thinking of waiting until I get to Busan next month. I have looked on the forums and not found much. Any ocular precident? All help appreciated.

MUOhio82 · Joined: 25 Apr 2008

Well at home in the states my lenses alone cost $400 and the frames were about $150.

I got the same lenses here and new frames for a grand total of about $75.

Def wait until you get here. I just got new glasses 3 days ago and that's what I paid. It's def worth the wait.

Kikomom · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 5:39 pm Post subject:

Are you due for an exam too? Can you read an eye chart in Korean? If not, I'd have one at home before you go.

If you're not due for an exam yet, just take a copy of your prescription and do like MUO, get it filled there.

Gaber · Joined: 23 Apr 2006

aka Dave · Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Down by the river

Last Saturday, 5pm, I walk into the optometrist/glasses shop. I point to my old glasses and say "an gyeong", which means glasses. He gives me an eye exam, it's very simple, lasts 5 minutes.

I go choose a frame. 5:15 I'm done. My glasses were ready at 6:00 pm. For the most expensive lenses, it was 135,000 won. Here's another thing. I told him I needed to tighten/fix my ray ban prescription sunglasses. He said fine. So I brought those in when I picked up my glasses.

When I came back to get my sunglasses the next day, they were well repaired, and he gave me some cases for both glasses, a hand fan, some suntan lotion, and a calendar. All for free, for no apparent reason.

Very quick and efficient all in all.

Son Deureo! · Joined: 30 Apr 2003

Get them in Korea. Korean glasses shops are quick and cheap and the quality is just fine.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

My only concern is that the glasses shop people are really not trained to assess and prescribe glasses. They may have you look through a little scope and you'll get the little cartoon house in focus, but they are much like Canada Post: untrained labor. Wink

Instead, go to Soegye Station. There is a good opthalmologist there (sorry, can't be more specific as it's been a while). Have a proper test and bring the accurate prescription to the glasses shop and have them fill it.

On a related note, if you go to only one shop, they should over time begin giving you deals and discounts.

Definitely wait until you get to Korea.

Captain Marlow · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Location: darkness

GET THEM IN KOREA! i had no prescription and just stopped in a eye shop to check out prices. eye test and glasses=30,000 won! done in an hour. and like a previous poster, i got a free tshirt, case for the specs, hat and fan. later on, i bought my sunglasses at the same shop and got similar service... this is one area where korea is sparkling!

warren pease · Joined: 12 May 2008

sojourner1 · Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2008 4:35 am Post subject:

Yea, it's easy to get glasses and contacts in Korea, but the damned frames were too small and too lightweight. I went to Thailand last January and did great. They had real gear designed with the intent of westerners wearing it. A high quality Columbia sportswear brand of frames with good lens and exam cost $180 in Chiang Mai. One nose rest came undone a couple weeks later, but I had them both easily replaced with better ones in Bangkok for $3 and I got great pair of glasses.

Thailand is great for shopping for glasses, clothing, art, music, dentistry, medical procedures, and pharmaceuticals.

Illysook · Joined: 30 Jun 2008

I just bought prescription sunglasses on e-bay and I spent about $60.00 U.S. I'm also hoping that there are good, cheap glasses in Korea because I'm good at breaking them.

HedFurst · Joined: 13 Jun 2008 Location: O.C.-->Seoul

At the underground "swap meet/subway stn detour" next to the Kim's Club near Apgujeong I picked a pair of black framed glasses (granted not a name brand), got my eyes tested, and the guy made the lense from scratch all for 30,000 won. Didn't even bother to haggle. Awesome.

IlIlNine · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo

While the 30,000 specials are okay, I would pay the 10,000 or 20,000 extra for the uprated lenses. They are much better, aspherical, and have coatings for UV and all that that the cheap lenses may not.

I usually just buy frames for 10,000 or 15,000 and then get Nikon lenses put into them for another 30,000.

bizrandom · Joined: 23 Oct 2007 Location: Busan

thanks to all, decision made. And some people think all daves people are mean ogres... I say not true!

Seongdong-guY · Joined: 12 Feb 2009 Location: Seongdong-gu

I guess this is a good place to ask the question - has anyone seen those fake glasses around? You know, the ones guys wear just to try to look smarter.