Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kwai_Chang_Kain]

I've never travelled outside my country (Canada) by myself before so I'm wondering how much money should I carry in my wallet when I arrive in Korea? I don't feel comfortable carrying around $500 cash or so with me. Is that too much or too little? Should I get traveller's cheques?

[eamo]

Traveller's cheques to the tune of around 500 USD should be fine.

[mindmetoo]

I probably spend about $800 a month on living/entertainment expenses. So yeah, $500 should get you by until pay day. My perennial suggestion is whatever cash you have left, don't convert it to won. Keep it in your wallet or hide it in your apartment. Sometimes having some back up cash in this form can come in handy. It's there but it's a pain in the ass to convert into won so you'll truly keep it for an emergency.

For example, last year Woori bank shut down their ATMs over the chusuk holiday. If you weren't Korean you had little warning. You were in trouble if you didn't take out enough cash before the holiday. I was comforted by knowing I had a couple hundred in Canadian I could have take to a major hotel and changed into won if I was desperate.

Another scenario is you lose your ATM card and can't get your school's whitey wrangler to help you get a new one for a couple days.

So. Yeah. Don't cash in your left over foreign currency.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I think you need about $1,000 in traveller's checks and more if you have it. That first month can be expensive if you have to make deposits for electricity, gas, telephone. There may be home furnishing you want/need that you don't want to wait till the first pay day to buy. Groceries are kind of expensive that first month because you have to buy all the basics like sugar, salt etc. that you don't normally buy every week/month.

You can 'get by' on a lot less, but if you don't have to, why do it?

[jajdude]

Twice I've arrived with under $100, once with an E2, once without. Don't feel bad.

[Qinella]

I agree with Ya-ta Boy. You will need money to buy apartment items. I brought about $600 with me and blew through it really quickly.

If you don't feel comfortable toting that much cash, just bring a debit card from your Canadian bank and make sure it has a Visa or some major credit card logo on it. Then you can find ATMs over here that say "foreign card" as an option and use it to withdraw cash as you need it.

But yeah, bring at least US $500 minimum.

[sheba]

I bought NZ$1000, which was more than enough, but I wanted to make sure I had enough in case of emergency. When I was travelling I split the money evenly and put one lot in each suitcase and also my wallet and carry bag - that way if any luggage is stolen of lost, you dont lose everything. Ive found a good little hiding place in my apartment until I open an account...

Upon reflection I sound quite paranoid.... better be safe than sorry!

[W.T.Carl]

One months salary AND ENOUGH TO GET YOU BACK HOME SHOULD THINGS GO "SOUTH" AS THEY ARE WONT TO DO IN KOREA!!!!!!!!!

[sheba]

Yes actually that sums it up nicely...

enough for one month and for a return ticket home if you need it. I had enough cash for a month, and my visa.

[Homer]

You need at least one million.

Won that is.