Korean Job Discussion Forums

[taobenli]

I'm leaving for Korea tomorrow (yikes!) and am trying to work out money stuff. I will only be in Korea for 3.5 months so I figure that getting a Korean bank account wouldn't be worth the hassle. I haven't gotten any traveler's checks (it's already too late for that, I guess) so I'm trying to figure out how much money to take out of an ATM and bring to Korea to exchange. I don't want to carry too much but want to make sure I have enough for start-up costs.

What do people reckon I should do? I have a U.S. atm card with a VISA logo (check card, linked to checking account). Will it be easy to withdraw money as I need it in Seoul? I will probably need to pay the hasuk jip ajumoni about 400,000 won within the first week. I also have a citicard credit card, but would rather not use it unless I have to...

Thanks for the advice!

[sheba]

Where are you staying for the 3.5 months? (apt, homestay, hotal, hostel)

I brought enough cash to last until my first pay cheque (4 weeks).
I brought 200,000 won cash per week incase of unforseen costs - medical, sightseeing (teachers have taken me out every weekend), apt maintenance was due 2 weeks after I arrived... etc

Why not put all the rest of your cash on your credit card so it is in credit? Although im not sure what the international fees are.

[taobenli]

I'll be staying in a boarding house (hasuk jip) that will cost 400,000-500,000 per month.

What do you mean put all my cash in credit...I don't really understand...

taobenli

[sheba]

Well, you know how you use your credit card and then pay off what youve spent...? Well if you put more money onto your credit card than what youve spent, then youll be in credit, not debit... make sense?

You can still use your credit card without interest fees because you wont be going into debt. But like I said, im not sure about transaction costs...