Korean Job Discussion Forums

[makalu]

Is it possible to buy American express travellers cheques in South Korea. I've tried a couple of times but the guy at the bank doesn't speak any english and I haven't been able to use charades successfully with him.

[schwa]

Sure.

But not every bank. If signs indicate they do foreign exchange, go to those desks, not an ordinary teller.

[kimcheeking]

The american express office is in the building kitty corner to kyobo. Sorry I don't know what floor. I bought travellers checks there 3 years ago.

[Anda]

Any Korean Exchange Bank should do them. Failing everything jump on an airport bus and get them at the airport.

[makalu]

Thanks for the info guys!

[adventureman]

Anyone who has purchased traveler's cheques know if they require a international plane ticket in order to purchase the tickets?

[justagirl]

You just need your passport to purchase the traveller's cheques. I usually write down what I want:

T/C (this is traveller's cheques)

500 x 1

100 x 3

etc....

Never a problem.

[rudyflyer]

Get American Express T/C's, DO NOT get VISA T/C's issued by Korea Exchange Bank, this is what a bulk of the banks here will give you. In the past 2 years I have run into problems in Thailand and the US getting them to be honored. I either get a line that there have been problems with counterfeit VISA T/C's or that they won't accept T/C's issued by KEB for some reason.

[adventureman]

Thanks for the advice...just a couple of more quick questions...

Rudy Flyer: So does KEB (if that's the bank I decide to go with) still give you the option of purchasing American Express, even though they carry visa, or is it just better to use a different bank like Kookmin?

Justagirl: What bank do you use to purchase your checks, if I may ask? How frequently do you send them home? Do you send them home registered or ceritified mail? Does that get expensive?

I also read somewhere that alien residents can only send home a maximum of 66% of their salary every month and if the miss a month then they cannot carry that on into the next month. Have you ever found this to be the case? If so how do you work around this rule?

[justagirl]

There is no way for the bank to know what your salary is every month. You can send home whatever you want.

I have used both Cho-Hung bank and Han-Na and they have both Mastercard and American Express T/C. I've never had a problem at either of them, and I send home checks every month. I just send my folks a letter or a small package and stick them inside.

A letter home is 800 won. Not very expensive. Registered...I have not a clue, but I think I'd be safe saying it'd be less than 8,000. I wouldn't even spend that much.

Of course the safer way to do it would be to send it registered, but I never have. In over 2 years, my parents have recieved every single thing I've ever sent from Korea, whether it contained the T/C or not.

You can get the T/C at just about any major bank, just take in your passport to exchange your money from won to dollars. If you don't care for the service at one bank, just go to a different one next time!

Good luck

[chalkdust_torture]

I bought some American Express traveller's cheques today at Wooribank. I only had to show them my passport and a wad of cash. Easy as pie.


peace

[mishlert]

I have an account with Kookmin and when I've gone in to get traveller's cheques I was asked if I wanted them in US Dollars, Euros, or Yen.

[Blue Flower]

Can you buy the travellers cheques in New Zealand dollars?