Daily Life & Finance

A bank account, phone, and transit card are central to daily life — receiving pay, visiting hospitals, and identity verification. Checking the required documents in advance makes everything much smoother.

Type
Audience

Results: 10 Financial Supervisory Service help 1332 · Telecom customer center 114

BankingCommon

Opening a Bank Account

You need a Korean bank account to receive pay, pay utilities, shop online, and send money abroad.

  • Documents — passport, alien registration card (or domestic residence report), phone, and proof of employment or enrollment
  • New accounts may have transfer limits for a period of time
  • If the purpose isn’t verified, it may be opened as a limited-transaction account
  • Register your English name exactly as on your passport and card, including order and spacing
TelecomCommon

Getting a Phone

In Korea, most public and financial services use phone-based identity verification.

  • Prepaid SIM — good for short stays or before your alien registration card is issued
  • Postpaid plan — suits long stays; may require a bank account
  • Available at SKT, KT, and LG U+ official stores and via budget carriers (MVNOs)
  • Check the contract term, early-termination fees, and any add-on services
TransportCommon

Public Transit & Transit Cards

In Pohang you mostly use city buses and taxis, and a transit card gives you transfer discounts.

  • T-money and Cashbee (EZL) work on most buses and subways nationwide
  • Buy and recharge at convenience stores (CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, emart24) and bus terminals
  • Tag your card both when boarding and getting off to get the transfer discount
  • Use KakaoMap or Naver Map for routes and real-time arrivals
TransportCommon

Driver’s License

You can get a new Korean license or exchange one from a country with a mutual-recognition agreement.

  • Documents — passport, alien registration card, foreign license, ID photo, and country-specific extras
  • Exchange eligibility varies by country; check with the Road Traffic Authority (1577-1120)
  • For a new license — safety education, physical exam, and written, skills, and road tests
  • Pohang Driver’s License Test Center — 656 Naengcheon-ro, 1577-1120
Daily convenienceCommon

Everyday Amenities

Around universities and residential areas, Pohang has convenience stores, marts, traditional markets, pharmacies, and laundromats.

  • Jukdo Market — seafood, produce, side dishes, and local specialties
  • Prescription medicine requires a prescription at a pharmacy
  • Convenience stores sell only basic safe medicines such as pain/fever relievers and antacids
  • Laundromats differ by store in payment and detergent methods
Campus lifeInt’l Students

Handong Global University

Use HISNet for course registration, grades, and records; the Office of International Affairs (OIA) supports international students.

  • Certificates — issue online or at the self-service kiosk on the 1st floor of Hyeondong Hall
  • Scholarships — Handong Cornerstone, admission-merit scholarships, and more
  • Programs — HanST/i-HanST orientation, Saeseom culture, and RC communities
  • Before a leave of absence or withdrawal, check your visa/status with OIA first
  • Office of International Affairs 054-260-1768 / oia@handong.edu
Campus lifeInt’l Students

Sunlin College

Handle academic tasks on the portal and STIS; the International Exchange & Education Center supports international students.

  • Scholarships — merit, work, welfare, special, and external scholarships
  • Support — teaching-and-learning, student counseling, and career/startup centers
  • Programs — orientation, Korean/TOPIK, and peer mentoring
  • International Exchange & Education Center 054-260-5083 / 054-260-5084, sap.sunlin.ac.kr
Campus lifeInt’l Students

Pohang University

Use the Smart Integrated Information System and E-CLASS; the Institute of International Education handles international-student affairs.

  • Scholarships — tuition reduction for international students and on/off-campus scholarships
  • Support — teaching-and-learning, career/psychological counseling, and University Job+ centers
  • Programs — Korean-culture experiences, safety education, and Korean/TOPIK classes
  • International inquiries 054-245-1209 / main 054-251-8000
Campus lifeInt’l Students

POSTECH

Use POVIS, HEMOS, and PODIUM; ISSS handles international-student life and visa counseling.

  • Scholarships — undergraduate/graduate scholarships, RA/TA positions, and international-student financial aid
  • Support — counseling center (English available), health office, human-rights center, and student medical mutual-aid
  • Programs — PBUD buddy program, Orientation Week, and International Day
  • ISSS — 2nd floor, Park Tae-joon Library, 054-279-3684~5, postech-isss@postech.ac.kr
Campus lifeInt’l Students

Getting to Each University

How to reach each university from Pohang Station (KTX) and Pohang-Gyeongju Airport.

  • Handong — bus 302 from Pohang Station, taxi about 20–25 min / from the airport, take 900 then transfer to 302
  • POSTECH — bus 5000 from Pohang Station, then transfer to 207 at the intercity bus terminal (about 1 hour)
  • Sunlin — buses 120/121/308/5000 from Pohang Station, taxi about 5 min
  • Pohang University — buses 206/207 from Pohang Station or the intercity terminal
  • There is no direct route from the airport to the campuses; transfer via bus 900 or take a taxi
See more transport info

Be careful in these cases

  • Lending your bankbook or debit card to someone else
  • Sharing your password, security-card numbers, or verification codes
  • Opening an account or sending money on someone else’s behalf
  • Activating a phone in your name at someone else’s request
  • Sending photos of your passport or alien registration card to unofficial sellers

Useful contacts

  • Banks — KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, NH Nonghyup, iM Bank (formerly Daegu Bank)
  • Telecom — SKT, KT, LG U+, budget carriers (MVNO) / customer center 114
  • Financial Supervisory Service help 1332
  • Road Traffic Authority 1577-1120
  • Your university’s international office or the international-student department