Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gregoryallen]

I've been here over a month teaching English. The friends I make ask for my cell number. I don't have a cellphone. They look at me like I'm a pathetic shlump. Seems to me one has to jump through some fantastic hoops to get phone service here which is appallingly ridiculous. People act like cellphone are the #1 greatest invention, dwarfing any and all medical breakthroughs since the dawn of man. WTF? I'd really dig having a cellphone but not if I have to go through some financial paperwork gauntlet. I had a phone plan back in the US, cheapest one available, 30 bucks a month, shazam. I probably talk on the phone about two hours a week. The pay phones here are quite good. I have only about five friends anyway.

[Qinella]

The pay phones here are good? Did you just say that? Man I tried to use a payphone last night only to find out it didn't accept cash or coin. You have to go to a store, buy a special calling card, then come back and go through the calling card fandango.

Just get a cell phone. It's not as difficult as you're making it out to be.

[shevek]

[cdninkorea]

I had a hard time getting a cell phone too:

I bought my phone within my first two weeks here, but since I didn't have my passport on me or my alien card yet, I couldn't activate it that day.
Later that week I went into an SK Telecom close to work. The conversation went like this:
"Hi, I'd like to activate this"
"(Korean)"
"Ummm.... ac-ti-vate? Phone?"
"You use?" (pointing at the phone)
"No, that's why I'm here. I want to activate it"
"Sorry, I no understand"
Every store I went into was like this (my favourite was the guy who, when I said "I'd like to activate this", simply replied with "no"). Finally, a few weeks and half a dozen stores later, I went into an SK Telecom where someone spoke English, who told me I had to go to the SK Telecom headquarters (I'm still not sure why). So I did and everything went fine. But yeah, it was a huge pain in the ass.

Why do you need a cell phone? I suppose you could get by without one, but if you're at all interested in dating the local ladies (I'm assuming by your handle that you're male), I think you will need one. I've heard a few stories from friends of mine (either their stories or friends of theirs) who go to meet women in a bar or whatever, and the concept of them not having a cell phone is apparently completely beyond their comprehension- they just don't understand the meaning of "I don't have a cell phone." One Korean girl I dated told me that she "can't meet someone if they don't have a cell phone." The reason was mostly in case someone was late or whatever and wanted to send the other person a text message.

[Qinella]

If you pay 100k for some used phone, you're getting ripped off. There are killer bargains for the new phones, but you just have to be on the lookout for them. I've seen brand new slide phones for 70k.

[Ya-ta Boy]

I survive just fine without one.

[shevek]

[jlb]

Of course you need a cell-phone if you want to have a social life of any sort. It's not like all the teachers don't make enough money here to afford it. 50 000 for a used one and 10 000 a month if you're thrifty and don't make horrendous amount of phone calls.

[billybrobby]

[Ginormousaurus]

My thoughts exactly.

[neandergirl]

[Novernae]

[aldershot]

if you're on the ball, you can use your cell phone for less than 5000won/ month. if you have 0.2 friends.

[Privateer]

[semphoon]

It's not that hard to get a cell phone. Just get a pre-paid one and if you dont use it, you wont need to pay any more money. Cell phones do make your social life much easier.