Korean Job Discussion Forums

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

My CHB bank has told me that they won't give them to foreigners. Has anyone gotten one recently from a bank in Seoul? I know that policy changed sometime recently, and supposedly they won't offer them to foreigners anymore.

At the moment - if I don't want to ask my friends to do it - this is the only option that I can find to let me access my money from outside of Korea....no internet banking....no automatic transfers.....I can't even add people to my account and have them send the money to me...

It's so much easier in the movies to move money around internationally.

gypsyfish · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

I had an international ATM card from CHB. My wallet was stolen in July and when I tried to get it replaced, I was told that the Korean 'government' passed a law in July that forbade foreigners from having international ATM cards. I didn't believe my bank and checked at the one on Itaewon, where they, at least, speak and understand English, and they confirmed it. I was given a card that works in Korea.

I also have a Visa card from CHB and have been assured that I can get cash advances with it (when it's Korean banking hours only - hicks), so I don't need the ATM card. When I tried the Visa in Viet Nam, it didn't work. What a pain in the ass.

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

Yeah...I'm starting to think it might be a lost cause...

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

I have two: Shinhan and Woori. Both worked fine in UK in September.

gypsyfish · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Seoul

Wanja, did you get them before July?

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Well, fark! That was one thing I was thinking of doing. Oh well. Where there's a will, there's a way. I won't be going back home permanently for a while so no big deal.

I think traveller's checks is probably the way to go for excess money that you can't carry or wire.

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

I don't mind carrying it or wiring it, but supposedly you get your pension a lot quicker if you have it sent to a Korean account, and I'm trying to figure out how to get to that money from outside of Korea.

I have a couple of friends who got their money after 18 days in their Korean accounts, as opposed to others who have had to wait 2-3 months to get it overseas.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Have the pension office wire it to you, I guess.

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

there should be a huge thread on this somewhere on this board
there use to be a section Q and A but for some reason they decided to take it down. god knows why.. that was a good section,,
anyone about the ATMS only a couple banks do them for foreigners now
and I think the head branches...

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

... probably. At least, I would think so. If not, no biggie. Like I said, "Where there's a will there's a way."

Keepongoing · Joined: 13 Feb 2003 Location: Korea

Korean Exchange Bank's card works overseas, I used it in Thailand. Apparently KEB is foreign owned and does not fall under the same jurisdiction. I have also heard and will confirm today that Kookmin will now issue an International card. I will go to Thailand and Sunday and will try my old Kookmin card and see if it works. Anyway, I wll take these cards and after Sunday I will let you know the result. Rumor has it that the old cards are better and fall under some kind of grandfather act. The newer cards wont work. Anyway I will let you all know.

I do take Traveler Cheques but they do not work everywhere. I hear it is a major hassle to cash them in the Philippines. Not sure about spots like Cambodia etc. No problem with them in Thailand.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

freesolo · Joined: 26 Feb 2004

tried to get a debit/atm card at shinhan this week and was told it wont work out of korea.

another example of korea refusing to participate in international business practices.

do you think the chairman of samsung, currently hiding in New York to avoid prosecution and driving his daughter to suicide, has any problem accessing his money from outside Korea??

Hightop · Joined: 11 Jun 2003

Fine Bank was issuing its Super Debit Card. which is for international use. as of yesterday. Not the head office, just a regular branch and no fee to get the card. It has the Maestro and Cirrus logo on the back. Actually Fine Bank is a really good bank, never had a problem and it is easy to do stuff there.

robb9 · Joined: 13 Jul 2004

I just got my Shinhan international card replaced about a month ago and it worked in Hong Kong.