living in seoul seminar (sgc)

8/14/2019 Living in Seoul Seminar (SGC)

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SEOUL GLOBAL CENTER

2009. 8. 24

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The Seoul Global Center

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1. Mission

2. Overview

3. Frequently Asked Questions


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Mission

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Enjoy Seoul to the fullest.


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Overview: Major Services

Daily Living Support English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Mongolian

Business Support Business Consulting, Start-up Business Classes

Cultural Exchange Korean Language Classes, Volunteering Program

Consultation Consumer, Legal, Labor, Tax, Real Estate

On-site Consulting(every Sunday)

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Overview: Administrative Services

Immigration-related services Drivers licenses

Tourism Information

Mobile phone services (LGT) Credit card-related services (KEB)

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Overview: Events

Seoul Town hall Meeting

Information Fair

Flea Market

Support of the foreign communitys

cultural events

Seoul International Student Forum

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Overview: Global Village Centers

ItaewonHannam

Yeoksam

Yeonnam(Chinese Residents)

Seoraemaeul(French Residents)

Ichon (Japanese Residents)

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FAQ -Visa

Foreigners intending to stay for more than 90 days in Korea,

must register with the local immigration office within 90days of

entry. Documents required are application,passport, a copy of

passport, a copy of schools registration certificate,

original copy of Health Examination for Employment

(include HIV test,TBPE test), 1 color photo, fee (10,000 KRW).

It takes 2-3 weeks to be issued.*Multiple Entry Visa (50,000KRW)


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FAQ - District Immigration Office

Check your address first. If your address is in one of

the following 9 districts, you can go to Sejongno(Downtown)

:Jongno, Jung, Eunpyeong, Dongdaemun, Gangbuk,

Nowon,Jungrang, Dobong, SungbukAll others must go to the Mok-dong immigration office.

Use the E-reservation service if youd like to schedule an

appointment. www.hikorea.go.kr
http://www.hikorea.go.kr/http://www.hikorea.go.kr/


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FAQ - Public Offices

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25 Gu areas further broken down into several Dong

At the Gu Office you can:

- register motor vehicles, family records, change your addresses,etc.

At the Dong Office you can:

- designate a parking space, notarize your housing deposit,

and dispose of bulky garbage

Police stations and police officer outposts:- report crimes and lost passports


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FAQ - Public Transportation (T-money)

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T-money cards can be used for the bus, subway and

even some taxies.

Cards can be purchased and recharged at vendor kiosks

near most bus stops, subway stations, and some conveniencestores.

The card gives fare discounts for using the card when trans-

ferring to other means of transportation (except taxis).

Subway and bus fares are based on the total distance traveled.


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FAQ- Public Transportation (Route Checking)

For bus information, please use http://bus.congnamul.com

For subway information, please use http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr

Both these maps can be accessed from the SGC website.

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http://bus.seoul.go.kr/http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/http://www.seoulmetro.co.kr/http://bus.seoul.go.kr/


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FAQ - Scooter

You should exchange your U.S license for a Korean one

before purchasing and driving a scooter. Below 125cc, only

a general drivers license is needed.

Above 125cc, a Motorcycle license is needed.


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FAQ- Driver License

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If you brought the international drivers license from home,

it will be valid only for a year.

If not, you brought the international drivers license from yourhome country (Canada, the UK, South Africa and Ireland), can

be exchanged to a Korean drivers license from any Drivers

License Agency office or at the SGC. The required documents

are a letter from your embassy to verify (Australia, New Zealand

, Ireland and South Africa) passport and your ARC.


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FAQ - Mobile Phone

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Three major service providers SK Telecom, KTF, andLG Telecom

Basic required documents:Alien registration card andpassport

Get discount benefits from affiliated companies : T.G.I.F,

Bennigans, Dominos, Starbucks etc in various service sectors.


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FAQ - Banking (Debit Card)

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As of July 20, 2008, foreigners can be issued a debit card which

can be used abroad. Not all banksprovide this service, howeverthe Korea Exchange Bank at the SGC can help you with this.

Required documents areyour passport andARC.


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FAQ - Banking (Transferring)

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According to the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act

and Regulations, if you have worked in Korea with a proper

working visa,you can transfer the entire income earned in

Korea to a foreign country by submitting to a bank an

income tax payment certificate ( or )issued by your employer.


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FAQ - Postal Service (International)

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Check the Korea Post website to make sure the items are

not prohibited http://www.koreapost.go.kr/eng Check the value of the goods to be shipped:

- under 150,000 won can clear customs without extra taxes

or duties

- over 150,000 won you may need to pay extra taxes or duties

When shipping overseas it is advised that you keep the box

open when you visit the post office so authorities can inspect

the items you wish to send.


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FAQ - Postal Service (Domestic)

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Most post offices are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

In addition, the biggest post office in each district (Gu) is

open on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Central Post Office in Myeong-dong is open Monday-

Friday until 8pm, Saturday 1pm, Sunday and Holidays until 1pm

Closed only on lunar new years day and Chuseok.


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FAQ - Medical (Hospital)

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The Seoul Global Center offers Medical Referral Service which

provides callers with a referral to an appropriate medical

facility where English is available. English-speaking volunteers

with medical training are on call 24 hours a day all year round.

010-4769-8212, 010-8750-8212.


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FAQCommunity Healthcare Center

Each Gu has a community healthcare center. Most of them

cover internal, dental, oriental, physical treatment, and medical

check-ups. They can also provide free HIV tests, but the results

from these offices are not valid for obtaining a visa.

Those results must be obtained from participating National or

University Hospitals.

Contact the MRS at 010-4769-8212, 010-8750-8212.


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FAQ - Medical (National Health Insurance)

The monthly premium rate is 5.08% ofyour total income

As of July 2008, long term care insurance has been added

to the contribution for the National Health Insurance. You have

to pay an extra 4.78% ofyour regular premium.An insurance card will be mailed to you.

You should always check with a clerk at a hospital before

receiving treatment to make sure your insurance covers

the treatment.For more info http://www.nhic.or.krTel: 02-3270-9836 ~ 9


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FAQ - Pension

9% of your monthly wage goes to pension (4.5 % from you

and 4.5 % from your employer)

Lump-sum refunds (9% of your income + interest) are

available for up to 5 years after completion of the contract

(available to teachers from the US, Canada and Australia).

To apply for a lump-sum refund, visit any regional pension

office along with your ID card, passport, air tickets andbank information within a week prior to your departure.

For more infowww.nps.or.krTel: 02-397-9626


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FAQ - Garbage Disposal

Disposal bags can be purchased at most supermarkets

and convenience stores. Unlawful disposal can result in

a fine of 100,000won. Failing to separate food waste from

general waste can result in increasing fines.


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FAQ - Garbage Disposal (Bulky Items)

To dispose bulky items, you have to buy a sticker from your

district dong-office. Put the sticker on the item and discharge

on designated day. Each district has second-hand shops, recycle

centers and flea markets.

Please refer to the information in the Garbage disposal leaflet.


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FAQ - Shopping

Depending on where you are living. Seoul has outlets of Costco

Emart and Lotte Mart throughout the city. All of these carry

numerous imported food items. There are also local foreign foodMarkets in the Itaewon area. There are also several websites

where you can have such products delivered to your apartment

for a fee.


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FAQ - Housing Info (Bills)

For an automatic payment, if available, you can set it up when the

amount owed will automatically be paid from your bank account or

credit card periodically. Visit any bankand ask to process that for

free for you. As for invoices, you visit any bank or local post and

pay that bill in person.


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FAQ - Lost & Found

Each bus company has a lost and found center. Contact theSeoul Global Center with the detailed bus information.

If you lost your belongings on the subway, each subway line has

designated lost and found centers. Contact us to help to find items

you may have lost.

If you left something in a taxi, and if your tax driver is honest, yourItem could be found at the local police station. Rare chance! Always

Check when leaving a taxi to make sure you didnt drop or leave.


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FAQ - Climate

The spring season brings the Yellow Sand from Central Asia.

Check the daily levels on the following website:

http://www.seoul.amedd.army.mil/sites/yellowsand/default.asp

In summer, humidity shoots up and you will possibly need

de-humidifiers (Buy handy de-humidifier:) .There is a lot of rain during the rainy season, mid-June to early

August

With under-floor heating and low humidity in winter, you willfind your skin dries quickly.

Korea meteorological Administration http://web.kma.go.kr/eng


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FAQ - Popular District

1. Seoul Forest (Ttekseom Stn. , exit 8, 15minutes walk)

- Similar concept of Central Park

2. Yoido Park(Yeoido Stn. Line#5, exit 3, 5minutes walk)

-near the National Congress3. Shinchon/Hongdae (Shinchon or Hongik Uni Stn. Line#2)

near 4 universities

popular with younger crowd

many clubs, bars, and coffee shops4. Daehakno (Haehwa Stn. Line#4)

many small theaters

good restaurants and small bars


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FAQ - Popular District

5. Itaewon (Itaewon Stn. Line#6)

great international restaurants

expat hangout

lively nightlife

6. Insadong/ Samcheongdong (Anguk Stn. Line#3, exit6)

lots of souvenir shops great Korean food and tea houses

great coffee shops

lots of galleries

7. Gangnam/Apgujeong/Cheongdam(Gangnam Stn. Line#2/Apgujeong Stn. Line#3 /Cheongdam Stn. Line#7)

upscale restaurants and shops

trendy clubs and wine bars


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FAQ - Books

The large Korean chain bookstores such as Kyobo (Gangnam &

in Gwanghwamun), Bandi & Lunis (in Jongno Tower & COEX)

andYoungpoong (Jongno & in Express Bus Terminal Station)maintain large foreign language sections in their stores.

Also, there are a couple of small foreign language bookstores in

Itaewon. These stores can also purchase your used books for

a small fee.


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FAQ - Library

1. The Korea Foundation Library

(City Hall Station, Line #1/ #2, exit 9, 5 minutes walk)

2. The Namsan Public Library(City Hall Station, Line #1/ #2, exit 4, transfer to bus #402)

3. The National library of Korea

(Seocho Station, Line#2, exit 6)

4. The National Assembly Library

(Yeouido Station, Line#5, exit 3)

5. The U.S Information Resource Center

(Namyoung Station, Line#1)


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FAQ -Travel (Re-entry Permit)

A registered foreigner, who would like to re-enter Korea within

the permitted period of stay, should obtain a re-entry permit

from the local immigration office. Single re-entry is valid for one year, allows only one re-entry.

Multiple re-entrypermit is valid for 1, or 2 years at the most,

and allows multiply re-entry.

Required Documents: Passport, ARC Only single re-entry permit is available at airport immigration

office on the departure date.


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FAQ - Private tutoring

Private tutoring is illegal for foreigner teachers (E-2).

Those on F-2-1 (Korean spouse), F-4 (Overseas ethnic Korean)and F-5 (permanent resident) holders not required to obtain

working permission to engage to work.


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Please contact the Seoul Global Center forany further assistance.

Call 1688-0120 or email [email protected]

And visit http://global.seoul.go.kr

Enjoy your staying in SEOUL.
mailto:[email protected]://global.seoul.go.kr/http://global.seoul.go.kr/mailto:[email protected]