Korean Job Discussion Forums

[taobenli]

I'm a student here at Sogang for the summer term and am not working at all, just trying to improve my Korean rapidly and doing some research for my master's thesis. I paid 420,000 for my goshiwon this month, and will only pay that one more time, as my language program ends Aug. 25th, and there is no reason to pay for a third month if I'll only be there half the month (I would have to pay for a full third month on Aug. 9- maybe I'll stay with a friend for a few weeks instead). As soon as August 25th comes, I'm bumming off to the countryside.

So, I'm trying to find ways to save money while I'm here. I haven't really been hungry so food hasn't been much of a problem (lunch after class with classmates is my big meal of the day). I'm about to join a gym which is 40,000 a month. I also needed some kind of phone (don't have a landline in the goshiwon), so bought a used cell phone today that's prepaid along with 100 minutes for 80,000 total. I don't want to have to buy to many refill minutes, so can people who have used prepaid phones explain how it works? Are all incoming calls free? If I get a text message is that free too (outgoing text messages are 33 won each)? What if someone in the U.S. called my cell phone number- would that also be free for me? And when I leave Seoul in two months, can I sell the phone back to the store I bought it from (KTF)?

Any other money saving tips for Korea?

Also, does anyone know a good mokyoktang and/or jimjilbang in Shinchon (esp. near Sogang)?

Thanks!

[Whirlwind]

Yes, you should be able to receive incoming calls. When my phone runs out of money, I obviously can't make any outbound calls but I am able to get the incoming ones. I also cannot get text messages until I put more money on the phone. At least that is how my phone works. Incoming calls...yes. Text messages...no.

[rapier]

A good way to save cash is not to quit jobs a lot. quitting and finding a new job casts a lot of interim cash. Not many people realise that.

[fidel]

[Son Deureo!]

About prepaid cell phones... with mine incoming calls and text messages are free, but text messages cost a very small fee. I'm not sure exactly how small, but I've sent dozens with only a few hundred won left. Outgoing calls are paid by the minute.

[peppermint]

yes, instead of pc bangs, post offices, banks and some coffee shops and phone company show rooms will have free internet access.

[poddubny]

-wipe your @ss with your hand instead of toilet paper

-buy just one pair of undies & flip 'em inside-out when they get dirty; don't worry, eventually it'll just seem as though you bought them in yellow

-find those blind beggars on the street and, while pretending you're dropping change into their hat, pull out a lil something for yourself. KA-CHING!

-when eating out, don't buy any of those fountain drinks. just ask how much it'd cost to pour some in your hands

gotta go now. i'll give you some more hints later. mo money!!!

[Shutterfly]

For your phone get and M card, it lasts forever, and it doesnt use any of your minutes. just put it on speed dial, call the m card number first, then call the person you are trying to reach. they are 10,000 won.

[teachingld2004]

What is an "M" card? ANd what does "speed dial" mean?

thanks.

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Are all incoming calls free? Yes. In Korea.

If I get a text message is that free too (outgoing text messages are 33 won each)? Yes. In Korea.

What if someone in the U.S. called my cell phone number- would that also be free for me? Yes. In Korea.

And when I leave Seoul in two months, can I sell the phone back to the store I bought it from (KTF)? Yes. In Korea.