No BofA here so your going to get charged fees. You do not need to use a VPN to play PS here in korea. Actually if you already have FTP downloaded on your computer you can play that too. You only need vpn to check ironman and promotion status etc. anything that requires hitting up the website. Any tourist can come for 90 days. Any longer and you will need a proper visa either a work visa, alien residency card, student visa etc... Deposits are expensive be looking to drop a couple of grand even for a 1 room. Ranges on average like 3-7k USD. I have seen a couple places 10k+. Rent depends on the area 700USD+/Month. That is also for a year contract. I dont know anything about short term contracts. GO to the electronics district to by pretty much anything, its by the Emart. I forget the train stop though

You could stay at a nicer goshiwon for $400-500/month with no deposit. On the higher end you could probably stay in a serviced apartment/hotel type of thing where you would pay by the month. I would think those are $1500+/month though. Something like this for example http://www.agoda.com/asia/south_kore...ex_center.html

Awesome info thanks dude

Hope ur still around when we get there, I'll buy u a drank and we can hit up the casino

Ooh sounds interesting, but what exactly is a goshiwon? Do they have them everywhere?

I didn't understand exactly what that link was lol.. Seemed like a hotels.com or something, but I couldn't find anything for 1500 a month. I actually wouldn't mind paying high amount for a nicer place, but I wouldn't mind paying a cheap amt for a cheap place either :P

i will be. pm me and we can arrange something.

Moving to Korea soon Studying in exchange Feb-July in Seoul National University (business).

I hope i'll manage, those freaking hanguls (no offence) are already confusing the hell out of me as I've been doing some stuff for the enrollment, hope I manage to atleast understand some basics of the language during my stay and in general manage with it all! And I hope I have some chance with the ladies there too..

Anyway, when I've settled down alright, which should be sometime around March, would be nice to meet up some 2p2ers also

also if someone has been to SNU, would be nice to hear about it - I understand a lot of the US/Canada people go to Yonsei (I'm from Finland, I chose SNU 'cos a friend recommended it)

Hey guys great stuff.

How I'm interest in going to Seoul for a few years.

Do all rentals have crazy expensive down payments? I hear a lot of companies pay for housing.

I wish I was a better poker player so I could live of that.

My irl friend is looking for a housemate in a baller 3BR condo near Seoul National Univ of Education. Fully furnished room for $760/month plus utilities. Key money is $31k but if that's a problem, it can be worked out.





Building has gym, pool, tennis court, golf, sauna, all free to use. I stayed at the place for around 3 days when I last visited Seoul and I can confirm that it's completely baller.

Housemates are a 31 year old Korean female professional and my friend who is a 26 year old male Korean who teaches English.

If anyone is interested, just shoot me a PM.

The deposit is 31,000 usd?

Yes. Pretty standard in Seoul.

DAMN, that's pretty crazy.

Can you find anything decent without paying key money?

If I do go I DON'T plan on teaching. I work in the entertainment field.

How's the Korean music industry? I know Kpop is popular everywhere and I know they have a pretty dope film industry as well.

No, Key money is how it works here. You are going to pay a minimum of several grand USD for any apartment even a 1 room. As well as probably over 700USD in rent every month. Usually the higher the key money the lower the rent but the ratio sucks. On average i would say for every 5000 USD you put you may get 50-100USD off your rent. Kpop is everywhere they like hip hop and other stuff. I dont know anything about the entertainment industry but if your going to stay here for an extended period your going to need a work visa and be invited or working for a korean company. Otherwise you will just have a tourist visa. Since you will not get a visa through teaching

Ok, I think I have my trip planned out and am ready to start booking! But I do have an important question..

Since I will be staying longer than the 90 day grace period, what are my options? I read somewhere that they usually don't let you stay longer than 90 days without a good reason (Work, etc)

How reliable is the option to go to Japan for a weekend, and come back? Do I really get a new 90 days? I don't want to get stuck lol

Does your wife/girlfriend have her visa yet?
If not you could look at getting a visa as a dependent.
I'm not sure how it works exactly, but i know some people who come to Korea can get visas for their non working partner.

how does the key money work? is it like a deposit? Can I get something okay for 3 months for 1k$ in seoul?

Key money is a deposit, but it's way more expensive then anything you would expect in the west. Cheapest I have seen was 4k and that was for an oficetel.

thx, how safe I get it back? And does anyone have a link to some short term rental company in Seoul? Or advice on how to get a good deal for 3 month around march-june?

I've never heard of anybody that I know of not getting their key money back. I'm sure it happens though.

pretty sure they dont care unless u stay over 180 days in a year...

edit: i mean you can do two 90 day visas

I don't know where you are from, but if you are Canadian you can stay up to 6 months in South Korea.

Looking for someone living in Seoul to call a few places i've found in town to ask if theres a room available for me. Must speak Korean obv. Will donate 10 bones for your help on stars? Thanks Pm me!

I'm thinking about an extended visit to Korea, and I was just wondering about the poker scene there? how are the live games (legal ones)?

I'm not out there yet but I will be soon and I've researched a bit. Apparently the main (only?) game is at the Walker Hill Casino. Supposed to have some regs that like to gamble but a very high rake (something like 10% up to 15$). I'm not 100% on that rake but I think I remember reading that (probably in this thread somewhere but I don't feel like looking for it).

someone help me? ;(

20 dolla make you holla?

Shame I won't be coming back after all

Y'all enjoy Korea. Stick to Seoul and Busan and you'll have a blast. Just visit the other places.