Nonghup Internet Banking in English

If you are with the Public School program here in South Korea, you will have to set up a bank account with NH (Nonghyup). This is the standard bank the government/education department uses to pay your salary. You can open another account at a later stage (we use KEB to send money home easily to South Africa...post on that to come soon).

You can ONLY use Internet Explorer. NH Internet banking will not work with Chrome, FireFox or any other better options. Mac users beware.

To set up internet banking with NH you need to visit a branch. Do this straight away when you first go set up your account (hopefully you have a friendly co-teacher/friend to help you). We both have check cards that we can use for paying for goodies online. A check card is basically a debit card which acts as a credit card without any overdraft. You can use it to pay online but the money is automatically debited from your account. As far as I know, I can only use my check card here in Korea. I tried to use it to pay for flights like I used to be able to use my South African check card, but no luck so far.

Then you set up internet banking at the bank, you need to give them your passport (they will make a copy for you), you also need your ARC card (if you don't have this yet you need to show them your ARC certificate which you get from your nearest education office when you apply for your ARC card. It acts as a temporary ARC card until yours arrives). There is also a charge, it was a whopping W1000 when I opened mine a few weeks ago.

NB NH internet banking only works on INTERNET EXPLORER! I asked about using it on safari as I have a MAC, they told me it would work. It doesn't. Most of the facilities here in Korea only function correctly on Internet Explorer. A huge pain, but just use your school computer in emergencies.

We live in a very small town with very little English assistance and we were both able to go into our nearest NH branch and set up the above with no problems. Don't worry about having to go into a big branch in the big cities.

Bring:
-passport
-ARC card/temporary certificate
-cash (it was W1000 a few weeks ago)
-address (of your apartment or school)

They will give you:
-an Internet banking registration form
-a banking password card (this looks like a credit card with a load of different number combinations)
-a bank card
-an account book (which is actually pretty important in Korea, and you can use it to withrdraw money without your bank card, and to print out statements)

Once you are all set up you will have to create an internet banking pin (usually 10 - 15 numbers and letters) to make transactions. And you will need to create your card/ATM pin (4 letters) and another pin called a User ID to log onto internet banking. Keep those all somewhere safe.

You will then be given a OTP (one time pin) to use to set up internet banking for the first time. You usually one have 2 -3 days to use it before it expires.

To use internet banking you also need to have a certificate which gets loaded onto a USB. You use this every time you log onto internet banking so make sure you keep this on you all the time. If you lose it, its pretty easy to re-issue. You issue it for the first time through NH (click here) on the top menu bar = Certificate Centre.

Here are some wonderful step by step instructions from Asrune at TeachTravelLearn

On a computer with Internet Explorer:

1. Go to http://banking.nonghyup.com/nhbank.html

2. In the top right hand corner, select "Global Banking" and "English"

3. You will see this page. It is prompting you to download a keyboard protection program. Click the left hand option to download and continue:

4. Go to the "Certificate Center" and click "Issue a Certificate"



5. Enter your ID, which you created at the bank. It is listed on your registration form under "이용지명 ID:" on the second line of text.

6. Enter your foreign number (National Identifiaction Number), or passport number. Select the free certificate, and confirm




7. Accept the terms of Service

8. Register. Have your registration form and password card ready.


9. Create your banking password.

A pop up message will appear and ask you to create a Banking password. It must be 8 digits with both letters and numbers.

10. Save your Certificate to a USB device.

You can use a USB so that you can log on any computer, or save it directly to your computer. You have to have a certificate to access Internet banking in Korea. A USB is recommended. After you have Internet banking set up, you can also add it to your phone, but that's a whole other thing.

11. Log on! A pop up window like this will show up. Find where you saved your certificate, select your name, and enter your 8 digit banking password at the bottom.

If you have any other problems, call the NH English customer service at 1588-2100 *730 for English Help.

**GHD's** in Korea

So...we are both back safe and sound on South African soild, but I'm still feeling itchy to blog about stuff to help out those South Africans (and of course everyone else too!) living in Korea :)



Here is some info on GHD hair-straightners that I was researching just before we left..hope this helps any one trying to find info on it too!



In my opinion, GHD's are the bes thair- straighteners ever **although other people might disagree and say they just happen to have the best packaging and this ultimnately leads to everyone thinking they are the best** but enough with the digression! Click here for their official website and see for yourself *plus loads of free videos and tips for styling your hair!*

After some web surfing I came accorss some comments from other GHD fanatics. Apparantly the starightner goes by the name "B2Y" in South Korea. Umm, why? Who knows. But apparantly, the work as well if not better that the GHD, and at a price of +-W118 00 (R740) they are about half the price of GHD's in South Africa!

You can get your hands on one on gmarket *click here*. For more info on how to use Gmarket, *click here*.

 

Happy Shopping!

**Shipping stuff** Korea to South Africa

There are two ways that this can be done; by air or by surface mail.

Airmail takes between 1 and 2 weeks and costs about W244 000 to send a 30 kg box. *it is cheaper to send lighter things as the cost is measured by weight*

Surface mail, which is by ship, takes between 2& 3 months, and the biggest box you can send can hold a maximum of 20 kg's and costs about W50 000.

here is a picture of the biggest size box (max. weight allowance = 20kg's)

Farmboy and I have already shipped 2 boxes home, and will be sending another one soon. So we cannot say for sure that it is 100% reliable until the box arrives. But I have been assured by friends that it *will* get home!

Other than that, I have also sent 2 small packages home, each weighing about 1 kg.

I sent them airmail, which only cost W25 000 each. And they arrived safe and sound no problem in about 2 weeks.

Each time, I have been issued with a tracking number, and the people at the Post Office here in Korea have been super super helpful!

With sending bigger items, you have to buy the boxes from the Post Office (they are very cheap, the biggest costing W2 400, pictured above) and then once the have been filled, bring it back to the Post Office where they will tape it up for you : Cool hey.

Then there is a green form to fill in, which will be given to you by the Post Office... very easy and in English...fill in your address, the receivers address,  a box to check what kind of stuff is in the box (merchandise, gift etc) , a place to write what's in it and give the value of each item.

More **Cup Cakes** in Daejeon!

Got a bit of a sweet tooth? Craving something decadent? Head down to Ari's Cup Cakes, which is right at the Jugangno Subway Station Bus stop, and grap yourself a yummy treat.

And then after, why not head underground for some shopping or head to the delightful SumSimDang Bakery for dinner :)

[cincopa A4HAgfKSpSZy]

Directions:

By bus to Jungano Subway Station: # 1, 101, 103, 201, 201, 317, 511, 613, 615, 701

*Valentines Day~ Korean style*

Korea is very big on holidays that celebrate love, but most of all, the giving of snacks :) Remember this one:

Pepppero Day? Well Valentines day is no exception.

Valentines day here in Korea is celebrated a little differently to other, 'western' countires. Here, Valentine's day is when the girls are supposed to provide the guys with gifts, and spice and all things nice; and on White Day (14th March, one month after Valentines Day) the opposite happens. Guys who recieved prezzies/chocolates,   on Valentine's Day are expected to return the favor by giving gifts, usually more expensive. Traditionally, popular White Day gifts are cookies, jewelery, white chocolate, white lingerie?! and marshmallows.

And then, just to make sure no one is left out, there is also Black Day (April 14. Black Day is a South Korean informal tradition for single people to get together and eat jajangmyeon (noodles with black bean sauce), sometimes a white sauce is mixed for those who did not celebrate White Day. The idea is that those who did not give or receive gifts on Valentine's Day (February 14) or White Day (March 14) can get together and eat jajangmyeon (자장면), white Korean noodles with black bean sauce, to celebrate their singledom. So in Korea, theres something for everyone :)

Keeping with the tradition, Christina (you might remember from a post a awhile back about getting your nails done in Korea ) and I headed out to do some Valntines shopping the day before the the actual day ~! Big Mistake! Not only were the stores stuffed full of young Korean girls all scrambling for the cutest cards/boxes/wrapping but most of the stuff was sold out. Anyway, we did manage to find a few things to make our respective loved ones some yummmy home made chocolates...isn't Korea great!

Getting our ingredients ready...

The soon to be 'full' trays

And the finished product...

But, it wasn't just a Korean Valentines...I was surprised with my own little packages of specialness to open too...what a lucky lady :)

Getting **Glasses** in Korea

One of the first things we noticed after arriving in Korea was the number of people wearing glasses. Hmmm we though, ok, maybe Koreans have really bad eye sight. But, then I started noticing some rather odd things.

Most of the glasses people were wearing, had no lenses! They were purely for show. Loads of loads of cool frames, with no lenses. Ingenious! Who doesn't think they look smarter with glasses (and now you don't have to walk around squinting because the strength of the lenses is too much for your eyes and you just want to look cool.

Well, here in Korea, you can get your eyes tested for free (yup! Cool hey!) so just in case you actually do need them; and the get yourself kitted out with some awesome new specs (minus the lenses if you wanna be part of the lenslessspectaclerevolution...your choice :)

All for the neat price of somehwere between W30 000 and 70 000 *depending on the frames you choose*. Neat hey :)

I got mine at a store in Seoul called "Alo", but there are eye wear shops on every corner here in Korea.

Feeling uber Korean right now :) But like they always say, if you can't beat 'em...join 'em!

P.S. Don't forget about our latest (and last...well at least that is here in Korea) giveaway! Just click here to answer one easy question and stand a chance of winning a super awesome package of Korean goodies! *see below for an idea of what will be in there!*

 

Making Life **Simple** Again

After fiddling around (well, actually more like spending countless minutes) on Stumbleupon *check it out if you haven't already! This website is basically like channel surfing. 
It browses the entire web using search parameters you set up on your profile...cool huh!* 

Farmboy and I have come accross some awesome useless information and other such nonsensical things...

For example:

where to buy this!

and

30 Photos of Cute Baby Animals That Can Change Your Mood

and of course life just wouldn't be complete without some Skelewag Urban Art..

But we found a really great website listing ways to make life simple again, I wanted to share it with you :)

Life is not complex.  We are complex.  Life is simple,

and the simple thing is the right thing.

- Oscar Wilde

When we were young life was easier, right?  I know sometimes it seems that way.  But the truth is life still is easy.  It always will be.  The only difference is we’re older, and the older we get, the more we complicate things for ourselves.

You see, when we were young we saw the world through simple, hopeful eyes.  We knew what we wanted and we had no biases or concealed agendas.  We liked people who smiled.  We avoided people who frowned.  We ate when we were hungry, drank when we were thirsty, and slept when we were tired.

As we grew older our minds became gradually disillusioned by negative external influences.  At some point we began to hesitate and question our instincts.  When a new obstacle or growing pain arose, we stumbled and a fell down.  This happened several times.  Eventually we decided we didn’t want to fall again, but rather than solving the problem that caused us to fall, we avoided it all together.

As a result, we ate comfort food and drank alcohol to numb our wounds and fill our voids.  We worked late nights on purpose to avoid unresolved conflicts at home.  We started holding grudges, playing mind games, and subtly deceiving others and ourselves to get ahead.  And when it didn’t work out, we lived above our means, bought things we didn’t need, and ate and drank some more just to make ourselves feel better again.

Over the course of time, we made our lives more and more difficult, and we started losing touch with who we really are and what we really need.

So let’s get back to the basics, shall we?  Let’s make things simple again.  It’s easy.  Here are 60 ways to do just that *click here for the list*

enjoy :)

Seoul: *crackdown* on bad taxi drivers

Has a Seoul taxi ever refused to take you where you want to go? Especially on frigid or rainy nights?

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced a package of penalties and incentives yesterday to put finicky cabbies in their place, especially those who refuse fares or drop passengers off short of their destinations.

Seoul will designate one day a week as an “on-site crackdown day” and police will scour 20 locations for uncooperative cabbies, including Gangnam, Express Bus Terminal, Hongdae, Jongno, Yangjae, and Dongdaemun.

A driver who is caught refusing a fare will be fined up to 200,000 won ($181) for the first offense. For a second offense, the driver will have his license suspended for 10 days. A third offense will lead to a 20-day suspension, and the license will be revoked if a driver is caught a fourth time.

The government will also crack down on call-taxi drivers who turn off their radio receivers, through which they get passengers. Cabbies often turn off the receivers late at night to avoid fares to unfavored destinations.

At the same time, the government will reward call-taxi drivers who take passengers from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. with 2,000 won to 3,000 won per fare. Part of the reward will go to the driver and part to his company. But the incentive will not be offered to call-taxi companies that employ drivers who are caught turning off receivers. And the company’s license will be scrapped if caught a second time.

The 120 Dasan Call Center received 15,165 complaints from passengers who reported they were rejected by taxis in 2010, up 13 percent from 2009. Kim Mi-ju

As we don't live in Seoul, we haven't experienced and bad taxi drivers (although we have definitely been in some pretty nasty taxi's in Daejeon).

Good for you Seoul!

P.S The following is from a great online Korean newspaper called the Korean Joongang Daily (*in English*) that you should check out to stay up to date on current affairs :)

*Sung Sim Dang* Bakery ~ EunhangDong, Daejeon

The area of Daejeon called Old Downtown or Eunhangdong has loads of things to see and do, especially if you like to eat and shop! One of our earlier posts was about the awesome underground shopping there *click here* and of course the 5 story mega Stationery Store *S.dot* post still to come.

But if you enjoy stuffing your face with baked goods thats don't taste like they have just been covered with layer upon layer of Korean sugar, and if you have been craving some deliciousness that can only be quenched with chocolate covered pastries and 'just out of the oven' freshly baked bread, then look no further that **Sung Sim Dang** bakery in Old DownTown (EunhangDong), Daejeon.

Just a sneak peak...

Another glimpse of their selection of edibles :)

And the best thing, they have a yummy restaurant right above their bakery so you can sit down and relax while you eat your fill of delicious bread rolls filled with creamy carbanara...check it out for yourself:

The restaurant that serves both Korean and Western style food...

The Menu

Yummy yummy putting food in my tummy :)

P.S Cheap delicious food plus free refills...who could possibly say no to such treats!

Directions:

By subway~get off at Jungang-no  station (number 105 just before Daejeon Station), and then just follow the hoards of people! Take exit 4 *the sign will say Sung Sim Dang* and then just follow the pwople. Its a bit of a maze in there but just look for the big Holy's coffee, its opposite it

By bus to Jungano Subway Station: # 1, 101, 103, 201, 201, 317, 511, 613, 615, 701 (then just go underground via the big green stairs in front of you) and take exit 4 *the sign will say Sung Sim Dang* and then just follow the pwople. Its a bit of a maze in there but just look for the big Holy's coffee, its opposite it

Getting your **nails** done in Korea

Today marked a very special day for Citygirl here in Korea. It was "treat" day whereby Roxy and her awesome Texan buddy Christina,  headed off to get their nails done (something they swore to do every 2 weeks but have actually only done  so twice before).

Getting your nails done in Korea is really really cool, with loads of designs and colours to choose from and for only W15 000 a pop (about $15), it's not too bad :) Of course mine ended up being a little more,  owing to the fact that I just had to try the  "gradient" design  and I may have had a nail that needed fixing (they do this here too, super cool) ending up rounding off to W30 000. The cherry on the cake for me? Cashing in my "nail voucher" which Igot from Farmboy for my birthday...what an amazing boyfriend hey *:)*

We go to a great little nail bar at our local HomePlus supermarket, they seem to have them at every Lotte Mart & HomePlus...

Choosing the right colour can be a stressful process you see...

The "gradient" painting process :) *yes, it is a process involving layers and layers and sponges and sponges!*

But in the end...totally worth it!

So what are u waiting for! Go and treat yourself ~you deserve it!

"Hey Christina, how was my Texan rally girl impression??"

:)

More ideas for *learning Korean*

We've done a few posts on Learning to speak Korean, including info on some great free websites like TalkToMeInKorean.

Another really fun way to learn and practice your Korean is through a great TV show called "Let's Speak Korean":

Let's Speak Korean hosts Lisa Kelley and Young Kim guide learners through a fun and entertaining way to memorize and apply practical sayings in Korean. Lisa Kelley, the female host of Let's Speak Korean plays a role of a kind teacher or a "good cop" role, while the male host, Young Kim plays a rather strict teacher or "bad cop" role.

So, you can watch the series online through the site TVClip.biz, and of course through their youtube channel I love Korean .

Here is a short clip of one of their episodes...it's a really fun way to learn!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_59bwsrhXE

Getting your **nails** done in Korea

Today marked a very special day for Citygirl here in Korea. It was "treat" day whereby Roxy and her awesome Texan buddy Christina,  headed off to get their nails done (something they swore to do every 2 weeks but have actually only done  so twice before).

Getting your nails done in Korea is really really cool, with loads of designs and colours to choose from and for only W15 000 a pop (about $15), it's not too bad :) Of course mine ended up being a little more,  owing to the fact that I just had to try the  "gradient" design  and I may have had a nail that needed fixing (they do this here too, super cool) ending up rounding off to W30 000. The cherry on the cake for me? Cashing in my "nail voucher" which Igot from Farmboy for my birthday...what an amazing boyfriend hey *:)*

We go to a great little nail bar at our local HomePlus supermarket, they seem to have them at every Lotte Mart & HomePlus...

Choosing the right colour can be a stressful process you see...

The "gradient" painting process :) *yes, it is a process involving layers and layers and sponges and sponges!*

But in the end...totally worth it!

So what are u waiting for! Go and treat yourself ~you deserve it!

"Hey Christina, how was my Texan rally girl impression??"

:)