FAQ

Health & Medical

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Pets

Hospitals

Dongsan Medical Complex – in English

Located just west of downtown – across from the main entrance to Seomun Market – Dongsan Medical Center has an international clinic that services foreigners in need of bilingual support while at the hospital. The international clinic operates from Monday-Friday, from 9-5pm, however, their English-speaking staff is available 24 hrs by phone.

Web: Dongsan Medical Complex website
Phone: 053-250-7993
Directions: The hospital is 5 minutes north of Seommun Market Subway Station. The International Clinic is located on the 2nd floor.

Kyungpook National University Hospital

Although KNUH does not have an International Health Center specifically dedicated to assist foreigners with translation and administrative help, most of the staff here do speak English.

Web: KNUH website

Map: KNUH map – in English

Directions: This hospital is about 5 minutes directly east of Samdeok Fire Station. It is located just north of Kyungpook University Hospital Subway Station. If you are coming by taxi, tell the driver to go to “Kyeongdae Byeongwon”

Yeongnam University Hospital

The hospital is located just west of Yeongnam University Hospital Subway Stop. The International Clinic is located just to the right, after entering the main entrance. The hospital has an International Health Service Center to assist foreigners. The clinic is open from Monday-Friday, from 8:30am-5:30pm, however English-speaking staff are available in the ER, at all times. Also, the English-speaking clinic staff are reachable by cellphone, during their non-business hours.

Web: Yeongnam Uni Hospital website – in English
Map: Yeongnam Uni Hospital map

Phone: 053-623-4114, 3972 (Daytime: Nurse or coordinator)

Phone: 010-4786-8001 (24 hrs: In case of emergency)

Dental

Mir Dental Clinic

This is the largest dental hospital in the city. You won’t have any problems finding English speaking staff here.

Directions: Samduk intersection and Kyungbook National University subway station. Exit the subway station heading west. Go one block to Samduk intersection and turn north. The hospital about 50 meters north on the right side, and is the tallest building on the block.

Website: MIR Dental
Phone: 053-212-1000

Ye Dental Clinic

Popular with foreigners, it is open 9:30-7 P.M., Mon-Fri, and 9:30-5:00 P.M. on Sat. If you call, make sure to ask for Betty. Covers everything from check ups and fillings to more complicated procedures and surgery.

Directions: From the subway, go to Banwoldang Station (red or green line) and take Exit 13 or 14. It is located in the building directly beside the Exits. Look up as the Clinic is on the 7th Floor.

Website: Ye Dental

Email: foreigner@daeguye.com

Ph: 053-257-8345

Transferring money within Korea

If you buy items from a Korean website, or book trips, you may have to transfer money to a Korean account. This is simple. Just go to an ATM, insert your card, and from the English menu, select transfer. You will be given a list of banks to choose from (if the bank you require is not on the list, ask an employee for assistance). Type in the account number which you are sending the money to, the amount of money you wish to transfer, and you are finished.

Transferring money overseas

Method 1:

Sometimes you need to send money to your account back home. One method of doing this is to go to a bank, and deal directly with the bank teller. Tell them you wish to transfer money to a foreign account, and bring all necessary information (Foreign Account Number, Name of Account Holder, Bank Code, Passport, and Alien Card). They will help you send the money home. The money usually requires 2-3 days to reach your home account.

Method 2:

A quicker and easier way to send money back home is to use a KEB account. KEB (Korea Exchange Bank) offers account that link to your home account. You will need the help of a reinforcement team member to set up this account, but then it is very easy to send money home.

After you have an account, go to your bank’s ATM, select the English Menu, and select Transfer. After selecting the KEB button, enter your KEB account information, choose the amount to send, and send your money home. The money usually requires less than 1 day to reach your home account.

ATM Hours of Operation

If you are used to 24 hour account access, then the rules in Korea may surprise you. Korean ATMs shut down for a portion of the night, from midnight to 3 am, but it may vary from place to place. If you’re going to be using a lot of cash at night, make sure you get to an ATM by 11, just to be safe.

Heating

FLOOR HEATING step-by-step

1.) Turn on the power on/power off button.
2.) Turn off the ‘only hot water’ button.
3.) Turn on the ‘floor heating’ temperature button.
4.) Adjust the ‘floor heating’ button to desired floor heat temperature.

Notes & Tips

1.) The shower / sink water will ALSO produce heat if you have ON the floor heating.

2.) All temperature read outs are in CELCIUS (32 farenheit = 0 celcius // 20 celcius = room temperature // 212 farenheit = 100 celcius).

3.) The main temperature read-out dial will show the ‘actual’ temperature in the house -and when you select and/or adjust each heating panel, you can see the ‘desired’ temperature momentarily read-out on this same digital temperature display.

4.) TURN OFF power button (red button) when you don’t need heat and/or water – because if you keep the power on, it will charge this to your meter!

5.) The “repeating timer” button is basically useless, adjust this dial to ’1′ and keep it that way.

BATHROOM & KITCHEN step-by-step

1.) Turn on the power on/power off button.
2.) Turn on the only ‘hot water’ button.
3.) Adjust the ‘hot water tank’ temperature to 60 celcius.

Laundry

Laundry machine

Check and ensure drainage route is clear before first usage, as some washing machines drain differently. Here is a guide to the buttons on your washing machine:

냉수 Cold
온수 Hot
급수 Water
고 High
중 Medium
저 In between middle and small
소 Small
물높이Water level
퍼지Fuzzy
불림Iron
울 Wool
절약 Economy mode
코스Cycle mode
세탁 Regular/Laundry
헹굼 Rinse
탈수 Dry
수동선택 Manual selection
예약 Reserve
동작/일시정지Start cycle/Pause

Cooking

Remember to TURN OFF THE GAS!!! afterward.

DISCLAIMER!!!

Please make sure to check if your apartment is allowed to have pets before you buy that fluffy or furry animal. Some landlords do not allow pets, and may make you remove the pet from the premises. Ask around, or call the reinforcement team for clarification on this before you buy.

Pet Stores

There are several pet stores located around town, so asking coworkers is a good way to find out if there is a pet shop near you. Also, at Banwoldang, Exit 1, there are many pet stores. Walking around the Banwoldang exits (for example, near “Cell Phone Alley”), you will find many stores.

Another option is to adopt a pet from a local orphanage. For more information on this, check out the Korean Animal Protection Society (KAPS) on Facebook. They are located in Daegu, and can help you with information on this matter.

There is one vet near Camp Walker (U.S. Military Base). Her name is Dr. Beck, and her English is not perfect but still decent. Her number is 053-474-9820. People also use her as their kennel because she is the cheapest around, and she also has a big yard so the dogs can run around in.

The best pet shop by far is a place called Poly Park downtown. They are around the corner from the Holy Grill, on the street leading away from the Sam-deok Police Station and toward the Burger King. They have the best selection of animal supplies. They usually stay open till about 1030pm and they also do grooming for dogs and cats.

Some people like to buy dog food in bulk, so they use Gmarket a lot. Its a little cheaper in some cases, and they deliver it to your doorstep.