SEOUL GLOBAL CENTER

2009. 8. 24

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The Seoul Global Center

1. Mission

2. Overview

3. Frequently Asked Questions

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Mission

 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
 Driver’s 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 community’s
cultural events
 Seoul International Student Forum

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Overview: Global Village Centers

 Itaewon∙Hannam
 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 school’s 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, Sungbuk
All others must go to the Mok-dong immigration office.
• Use the E-reservation service if you’d like to schedule an
appointment. www.hikorea.go.kr

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 FAQ - Public Offices

• 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)

• 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 convenience
stores.
• 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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FAQ - Scooter

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

before purchasing and driving a scooter. Below 125cc, only
a general driver’s license is needed.
• Above 125cc, a Motorcycle license is needed.

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 FAQ- Driver License

• If you brought the international driver’s license from home,

it will be valid only for a year.
If not, you brought the international driver’s license from your
home country (Canada, the UK, South Africa and Ireland), can
be exchanged to a Korean driver’s license from any Driver’s
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

• Three major service providers SK Telecom, KTF, and

LG Telecom
• Basic required documents: Alien registration card and passport
• Get discount benefits from affiliated companies : T.G.I.F,
Bennigan’s, Domino’s, Starbucks etc in various service sectors.

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 FAQ - Banking (Debit Card)

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

can be used abroad. Not all banks provide this service, however
the Korea Exchange Bank at the SGC can help you with this.
Required documents are your passport and ARC.

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 FAQ - Banking (Transferring)

• 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 (서 여
명
세
급or 증 )수
천
영
징
원
issued by your employer.

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 FAQ - Postal Service (International)

• 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)

• 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 year’s day and Chuseok.

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 FAQ - Medical (Hospital)

• 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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 FAQ – Community 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% of your 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% of your 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.kr Tel: 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 and
bank information within a week prior to your departure.
• For more info www.nps.or.kr Tel: 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 food
Markets 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 bank and 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 the
Seoul 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, your
Item could be found at the local police station. Rare chance! Always
Check when leaving a taxi to make sure you didn’t 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: 물먹는하마) .
• 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 will
find 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 Congress
3. Shinchon/Hongdae (Shinchon or Hongik Uni Stn. Line#2)
• near 4 universities
• popular with younger crowd
• many clubs, bars, and coffee shops
4. 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 & Luni’s (in Jongno Tower & COEX)
and Youngpoong (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-entry permit 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 for
any further assistance.

Call 1688-0120 or email hotline@seoul.go.kr

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

Enjoy your staying in SEOUL.

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