Shopping

In-store shopping

• Department Stores

  Department stores carry a large assortment of goods, ranging from clothes to grocery, electronics and house appliances, cosmetics, jewelry and everyday household items. These establishments providing better facilities and services tend to be also more expensive than other retailers. They are, meanwhile, good sources of imported products such as imported clothes and food. It might be a good idea to wait for sales periods, several times a year usually, to take advantage of discounts.
  
  EX) Lotte Department Store, Shinsegae Department Store, Hyundai Department Store, Galleria, etc.

• Superstores

  These large retail establishments carry an extensive range of goods just like department stores, from grocery to clothes and everyday items. These stores, often deployed over a huge area, are not the best choice when you just need to purchase a couple of items. Goods sold in superstores are generally fine quality merchandises, and both facilities and services are decent; hence, many family shoppers during weekends.
  
  EX) e-Mart, Lotte Mart, KimClub, Home Plus, Costco, etc.
  ※ Costco is a membership-based store and carries more imported products than other superstores, drawing many international shoppers.

• Traditional Markets

  Traditional markets, a convenient source of grocery, clothes and other miscellaneous items, usually open outdoors, although this varies somewhat according to region. One advantage is that shoppers can casually browse through these outdoor stalls and negotiate the price with the seller, if they find something that tickles their fancy. Toward the market closing time, vendors tend to slash their prices to nearly a half, so ita good idea to take advantage of the discount.

• Convenience Stores

  Convenience stores are open around-the-clock and carry simple grocery items and other basic items. Larger convenience stores may carry a bit more extensive assortment of products, but they are generally small enough for shoppers to easily find the items they need. But convenience stores, although great for quickly picking up a couple of items, are more expensive than supermarkets or traditional markets.
  
  EX) GS25, Seven Eleven, Buy The Way, CU, etc.

Online Shopping

• TV Home Shopping

  Shopping by making a simple phone call to place an order on items you just saw on TV is indeed extremely convenient. Plus, the palette of products sold is huge as well, ranging from clothes to grocery, beauty supplies, electronics and even insurances. But, be wary of impulsive purchases, an undesirable tradeoff in this mode of shopping.
  
  EX) Lotte Home Shopping, Hyundai Home Shopping, CJ O Shopping, NS Home Shopping, GS Shop, etc.

• Internet Shopping

  The internet certainly is unbeatable as a retail channel, both in terms of ease of shopping and the variety of goods that may be purchased. Online shopping malls are either specialized in certain categories of products, such as food, clothes or books, or general stores carrying all manners of products just like a department store. But, the catch is that actual products you get can be quite different from what you saw on your computer monitor. Also, shoppers may not always feel safe about entering their financial information at a vendor website.
  
  EX) Gmarket, 11 St., Interpark, Auction, Shinsegae Mall, Lotte Mall, etc.

Education

Education System in Korea

• Day Care Center or Nursery

  Nursery provides opportunities for pre-kindergarten kids of 0 to 6 years of age to develop their social skills by spending time with their peers. Day-care centers allow the children to spend time playing rather than studying. They also offer flexible hours, meaning parents may choose the time they leave or pick up their children. Generally, they are open from 07:30 am to 19:30 pm. Some are open 24 hours a day for working parents.

  • Eligibility: Preschool children between 0 to 6 years of age
  • Open hours: 07:30~19:30 hours (Mon.-Fri.) (8 hours on Saturdays: 7:30-3:30)

• Elementary schools

  n Korea, children go to an elementary school from the age of 7. Most children go to a public school near their home, as allotted by the education board. Private elementary schools select students through their own lottery system.
  
  The greatest feature of private elementary schools is that they offer specialized education courses. They teach English, IT, art and athletics courses in addition to the basic curriculum required by the public school system. For example, public elementary schools begin to teach English from the 3rd year, whereas private elementary schools begin to teach English from the 1st year. Many of them hire native speakers or dedicated English teachers. Many private elementary schools run mandatory courses on musical instruments, swimming, golf, or skiing. Some have a swimming pool and gymnasium. They provide a greater diversity of specialty aptitude courses and classes tailored to the different levels of their students. (Extracted from the ¡°White Paper on Private Elementary Schools in Korea¡±, published by Junior Kim Young)
  
  Some private elementary schools provide specialized English classes to meet the strong demand for early English education. Public elementary schools are free as elementary education is compulsory; whereas private elementary schools charge 3 to 5 million won tuition per year.

• Junior High Schools

  Students go to a junior high school after finishing six years of education at an elementary school. Junior high schools are also divided into public and private schools, but all students are allocated to a school near their home through lottery, except for international and arts junior high school students. There are four international junior high schools which are specifically designed to train students to keep abreast of the global labor market: they are Cheongshim International Academy, Busan International Middle School, Daewon Middle School, and Younghoon International Middle School.
  
  Arts junior high schools provide education in fine art, music, and dance. Candidates must pass an entrance examination.

  • Seoul: Yewon School, Sun Hwa Arts Middle School
  • Gyeonggi-do: Kaywon Arts Middle School
  • Jeonju: Jeonju Fine Arts Middle School
  • Busan: Busan Art Middle School, Peniel International Middle School of the Arts

• Senior High Schools

  Senior high schools are divided into general academic and vocational high schools. Some are comprehensives as they provide both general academic and vocational education. In addition, there are various special-purpose high schools that cater to students wishing to take specialized science, foreign language, arts, sports, trade and air, and correspondence courses. General academic senior high schools provide humanities, science and trade courses, whereas vocational senior high schools are categorized into providers of agriculture, technical, business, fisheries and marine courses. Others include senior high schools that specialize in household trade, science, sports, arts and foreign language courses.
  
  (Source: Doosan Encyclopedia)

Medical

Medical Service System in Korea

• Medical Service Providers

  Korean hospitals are equipped with advanced medical equipment and professional service personnel. Medical services for expatriates have increased in line with the number of foreigners residing in Korea. Many hospitals have endeavored to provide world-class medical services specialized in treating foreign patients at their medical

  Types of Medical Service Providers

  표

  1st instance medical service providers	Comprehensive diagnosis based on early symptoms Public health center, office or dispensary
  2st instance medical service providers	Hospitals that run four or more specialty departments Hospitals that treat both in- and out-patients, equipped with 30 to 500 beds
  3st instance medical service providers	Hospitals that have specialists for all departments General or university hospitals equipped with 500 or more beds

  ※ You need a 1st or 2nd instance medical service doctor's recommendation to receive medical treatment from 3rd instance medical service institutions. If you go to a 3rd medical service institution, skipping 1st and 2nd instance medical service providers, your bill for initial diagnosis will increase

• 119 Service

  The emergency call number is similar to 911 in North America. Once the caller's location has been traced, rescue crew takes immediate action to help the caller or victim(s), including the transportation of the patient(s) to a nearby hospital. Once the call has been connected, the counselor dispatches emergency medical personnel or a fire engine depending on the situation. The 119 service is available in English, Japanese or Chinese. When a foreigner calls 119 in a foreign language, the call is automatically forwarded to the Korea Tourism Organization for the interpreting service. The ambulance service is provided free of charge.

• Emergency medical information center

  Foreigners may call 1339 (Emergency medical information center) for emergency aid. The center is open 24 hours/day. Appropriate actions are taken in accordance to the caller's emergency situation. When you call 1339 from a wired phone, you don't need to dial the area code. When you dial 1339 with a mobile phone or from areas outside Seoul, you need to dial 02-1339. Medical doctors are standing by for any medical assistance.

• Pharmacy

  You need to go to a nearby pharmacy (or drug store) to buy headache or cold pills as they are not sold at convenience or grocery stores in Korea. You may buy digestives, cold medicine, or vitamins at a pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. However, you need a doctor's prescription to buy antibiotics, hormone-based drugs and other prescription medicines. When you hand over the doctor's prescription, the pharmacist will put one dose into a plastic bag. You should understand how to take the medicine as such plastic bags do not show instructions in most cases. If the pharmacist speaks English, it is advisable to have him/her jot down brief instructions. If you are allergic to any medicine or ingredient, you must tell the doctor in advance. New prescription is needed to purchase additional medicine.

National Health Insurances

• Criteria for Exemption of Foreign Workers from National Health Insurance

  Overseas Koreans or foreign employees of a local business who are already covered by a foreign statute or under private medical insurance
  
  Those whose medical care is covered under their employment contract. E-9 (non-professional employment), H-2 (visiting employment) visa [stay permit] holders are required to subscribe to National Health Insurance without exception

• Subscription for Medical Insurance (by foreigners or overseas Koreans who are not employed)

  Eligibility: Those who subscribe for health insurance among those who are registered as alien residents (falling under any of the following) or who have declared their local abode.

Criteria for Regional Subscribers Medical Insurance Premium applicable to Overseas Koreans and Foreign Residents: Ministry of Public Health and Family Affairs Notice No. 2009-645 (Dec. 1, 2009)

Questions on National Health Insurance: 1577-1000, 02-390-2000 (English) www.nhic.or.kr

Banks

• General Information
  • Opening Hours: 9:00AM - 4:00PM (closed on weekends and holidays)
    ※ ATM fees (KB Kookmin Bank, as of Nov. 11, 2011)

• Opening a Bank Account
  • How to setup an account : visit your nearest bank.
  • Documents required : passport, alien registration card, or travel document(s).
  • If you wish to present your passport or travel document as an ID you must present your full Korean address along with a copy of your ID from your home country, credit card in Korea, or tax receipt from Korea.
    ※ To be issued an ATM card, you must be employed in Korea or have a Korean guardian.

• Remittance to Overseas
  • Procedure or Limits: Up to US$1,000 may be freely remitted without any limitation
  • Remittance Methods: Telegraphic Transfer (TT) or Wire Transfer: Most popular method of remitting large amounts promptly. Demand Draft (DD): Used for remitting small amounts or when speedy remittance is not required.
    Eg.) Additional documents listed below are required for expatriates wishing to remit money overseas :
    • Employment contract or certificate
    • Documentary evidence of local source income
    • Passport or entry visa
    • Tax payment certificate witness-signed by employer (Not applicable to illegal aliens or industrial trainees)
    • Certificate of tax payment (in the case of self-employed expatriates)

• Information Required for Remittance: Name, address and phone number of remitting person / Name, address, phone number, bank name and address (city, Province/state and country), account number, swift code and bank code of the beneficiary (payee)

• Information Required for Remittance: Name, address and phone number of remitting person / Name, address, phone number, bank name and address (city, Province/state and country), account number, swift code and bank code of the beneficiary (payee)
• Notes: Remittance/payment request forms should be filled out in English. Ensure the beneficiary and account number is correct. The name of the account holder and beneficiary (payee) should match. The payee or beneficiary's bank name, branch and country should be included on the wire transfer or telegraphic transfer application form. No remittance is available to accounts in Myanmar, Libya, Iran, Sudan, etc.

• Receiving Wire Transfer from Overseas
  • Information required by the overseas remitting party for a wire transfer to Korea: Payee (beneficiary) name, bank name, address in English, account number, swift code
  • Documents required for receipt of a wire transfer from overseas: Documentary evidence of reason for wire transfer (export contract, service contract, etc.)
    ※ Check with the bank in advance as the documents required may vary depending on the amount.

• Currency Exchange
  • Funds type for currency exchange: Foreign currency notes, traveler¡?s check
  • Required documents: Passport
  • Amount limit for currency exchange: Currency exchange of amounts exceeding US$10,000 per case may be subject to tax.

• Internet Banking: Online banking service using Internet service
  • Application Procedure: Visit bank office -> Subscription -> Password Registration -> Security or OTP Card issued -> Access to Internet banking site -> Certificate issued
  • Documents required for subscription: ID card, bankbook
  • Major Internet banking sites

• Tele-banking service: Phone banking service
  • Application Procedure: Visit bank office -> Subscription -> Password Registration -> Security or OTP Card issued -> Access to Internet banking site -> Certificate issued
  • Subscription Procedure: Visit a bank office -> File Subscription Form
  • Service details: Account balance query, inter- and intra-bank wire transfer, time savings, loan interest payment, request for automatic charge of various bills to your account, and termination of such service
  • Documents required for subscription: ID card, bankbook
  • Information required for subscription to tele-banking: Account password, tele-banking password, resident registration number, account number

• Mobile banking: Banking service using smart mobiles
  • Service details: Query of transaction details, wire transfer, query of deposit accounts, currency exchange rate, bank check, transaction details, credit card payment, and cash service