Footprints Recruiting

Sadly, many foreign teachers are shelling out extravagant amounts of money on a prepaid phone that they have to return upon leaving Korea. We don’t have to consign ourselves to that fate.

Avoid places that give you 'free phones'. While the most readily available, you ought to steer clear of them—unless you like paying micromanaged metered rates, exorbitant tag prices- and, on top of it all- give the phone right back to the retailer.

Here's why you should avoid them:

1. You'll have to sign a one-year contract,
2. As a foreigner, the companies will bill you on a per minute talking time basis. This is easily the most expensive option. Not only is it so, but it can make you 'meter-maid' and 'meter-mad' from the ticky-tackiness of the ordeal. Unless you can find a place closer to home that offers a great deal on new phones, save your breath; go directly to Yongsan, and buy a ‘Korean phone’.

Buying a coveted ‘month-to-month’ phone can feel a lot like embarking on a scavenger hunt: you search all around for that treasure, but, before you can get your hands on the booty, you must first understand the clues leading to it. One of those clues is this- to get the phone that Koreans get, you need present a copy of your 12 month contract. However, that isn’t all you’ll need. Before you drop your jaw, know this- efforts that seem like a Herculean labor are, in reality, quite simple- you just have to do the footwork to get it.

In order to buy a phone on your own you need to present:

1. a Foreign I.D ('Alien') card (minimum 1 year, i.e.  a 12 month, contract)
2. a Korean Bank Account (KB, Shinhan, KEB, IBK, etc) in your name. This means you'll need to bring your bank book in. They will set up a plan where the phone company (e.g. SK, LGT, etc, and especially KTF) will deduct the fee from your account on the same day each month. The company will draw it from your account successfully if there is enough money present; if there isn't enough money in your account,  there is NO overdraft fee, nor do they withdraw any money. You'll just have to walk into your bank with your bill, the money, and anything else they may need (this depends on your bank).
3. your Passport
4. the money to buy the phone upfront. Mr. Go owns a store in Yongsan (West central Seoul). He sold me a phone last September for 180,000W + 30,000W entrance fee. I still have it, and it works well.
5. pay a 30,000W entrance fee (nonrefundable). This registers the phone in your name as well as other tangibles* that will save you money in the future.

A word:
You can buy a phone with the items you need- without the costly metered prepaid rates- at a reputable shop with a variety of phones- and seemingly countless options to choose from. Where might one go, you ask?  Go to Go's—Mr. Go’s, that is. His Phone shop JuriTel (JOO-REE-tehl). (Mr. Go speaks and understands English well), located just a 20 second walk left of the Yongsan Computer market, boasts hundreds of used and new phones alike.

Mr. Go's phones sell for as low as 200,000W (starting with the ‘Anycall' standard,+ 2.0 Megapixel camera)
At the time, the most expensive was the Anycall OZ 'Heptagon touch phone'. More like an I-phone than a cell phone, the LED display features buttons instead of the usual format. The cost is or was 840,000W.

Most phone outlets I’ve visited require a sponsor as a type of credit reference to vouch for you- but you don't need one here. With Mr. Go, however, I did not need a voucher, employer's assistance, or even documentation. I simply showed or gave him items 1-5 above.

Phone Notes:

1. A phone charger and a spare battery came with my phone. You should get one with yours, too. If not, just ask him for a battery. They will usually give you one free if they have an extra.
2. Buy a cover for your phone (4,000W). It saves your phone wear and tear (especially when dropped on accident).

Doesn’t it sound plausible, possible, and even worth pause? Of course- you need your very own phone! So, go get it!

Directions To the Phone Shop in Yongsan:

Yongsan is an area of central western Seoul.  It is accessible by many means, most common is probably the subway.  To reference the location in Seoul it is best to look at the Seoul Subway map. 

When you get there, ask a Korean (Shile-jimon. Juri-tel hand phone Sheejang oon aw-dee-e-sum-ni-kka? Which means ‘Excuse me. Where is the Juritel phone store?’ ) and they will show you where to go. They may even walk you there. People here are friendly in that way.

What to Do When You Are Leaving Korea

Go to the agency that services your phone (e.g. Ever, Show, SK, and LG), present your phone and Alien Registration Card to agent who speaks English, ask to pay your final bill, to close your account- and a receipt of your transaction. If the phone is yours, make sure you state that you own the phone- or else they’ll confiscate it!

< Prev		Next >