Korean Job Discussion Forums

mister_joseph · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Location: we lost the signal

all i got now is a checkcard from SHINHAN which i can't use outside of korea (which means, no internet purchases from outside korea as well).
i tried with my poor korean at the following banks today to get a real credit card:
shinhan
nonghyup
KB
yuri bank
d/adp (another strange bank there are many small banks downtown seoul around the stream)
korean foreign exchange bank

and the following foreign banks, as well:
CITI BANK -- by jongno 4 ka
bank of china -- in Jonggak
HSBC (china) -- by seoul station
chinese commercial bank -- by seoul station

from the ones i remember.
it's impossible as a foreigner to get a real credit card here?

buylow sellhigh · Joined: 18 Oct 2005

I've got 5 credit cards here, as long as you are not a teacher and meet the minimum income requirments, it shouldnt be a problem to get credit cards here. Also, the credit cards companies here make you pay your balance in full (like Amex) unless you select revolving credit at each individual point of purchase.

DCJames · Joined: 27 Jul 2006

Try to get a Samsung Card. I've had one for 3 or 4 years now. I worked at a university when I applied and they let me have one.

uberscheisse · Joined: 02 Dec 2003 Location: japan is better than korea.

i have one.

SarcasmKills · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Location: Seoul

i have one.

mister_joseph · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Location: we lost the signal

So I cannot be a teacher and get a credit card? Or, I have to teach university?

rednblack · Joined: 12 Jun 2006 Location: In a quiet place

I got my visa from Chohung Bank(now Shinhan) over 6 years ago and on only 1.8m, as a teacher. They have since automatically renewed it. This card is also international. I hear some grim stories about trying to get a visa, but I have honestly had no problems.

zappadelta · Joined: 31 Aug 2004

I got a VISA card from KEB, I teach in a public school. It seems to really depend on what branch of the back you visit as to whether they let you have one or not. They should have pretty standard rules, but they don't. For example, I went to the KEB in Sanbon, no luck. Went to the one in Bumgye, just 2 subway stops away, and no problem. Didn't even have to show them my contract. Just gave them the contact details of my school and they gave one to me.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

tomato · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 3:12 pm Post subject:

Mine is a VISA card from 기업은행, and I have never had any problem with it.
In fact, I'm years behind on reading all the books I've ordered from Amazon.

Did I say never?
Just once.
Be sure to change your address with the bank every time you get a new job.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

I got a visa card from KEB that works fine overseas whether it be internet shopping or withdrawing money from an ATM in Cambodia.

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

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

I've absolutely no need for one because (a) I have a VISA debit card from back home for international use and (b) I have enough disposable income and cannot justify paying interest on trivial purchases. One may as well add up all my purchases, add X%, and throw that sum down a grid.

djsmnc · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Dave's ESL Cafe

I had a couple of stolen ones before.

Went to the department store. The girl said: "Dangshin eerum eun Kim Yong Seop ee-yayo?"

"Neh, ban-gap-seum-ni da^^"

"O-mo Hanguk mal jal haseyo"

"Neh, Hanguk saram ee-yayo"

"Ah jinjja? Wa...Jinjja chal haseyo"

"Ah...choesong heyo, shigan opsoyo"

"Ah..yeh" (swiping the card)

"Kamsahamnida, annyongi keysayo!"

Well, it didn't really happen, but it seems like a foreigner could possibly get away with that...

ThePoet · Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 7:58 pm Post subject:

I think he meant you cannot be a Hakwan teacher.

Public school teachers, university instructors, and other types of positions that are done by western foreigners are fine. I have a visa card from Daegu bank because I teach at a university, and I qualified for the KEB bank Visa as well, but the small print said I had to pay 120,000 won a year for the "priviledge" of having their card so I sent it back without using it.

Daegu Bank will only give you a US500$ limit (I think the university secueres that much on our behalf), but for Amazon and other out of country expenses, that is fine. They will go higher, but then you need to secure it with a deposit.

But for those of you who think it is insane that you cannot get a credit card, even when you are making over 3 million won a month, put yourself in their shoes. Sure you make that good money, and sure you could easily pay each month off in full. But the problem is that many foreigners in the past ran up visa bills and then either pulled a midnight run, or finished their contract legitimately...but ran up their visa card and left without paying it. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

I still get a bill at my apartment that is supposed to be for a girl who used to live here who ran up her KTF cellphone to over 170,000 won before leaving.

Poet