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SIM Cards in South Korea: How & Where to Purchase Them — And Best Alternatives in 2024
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Byron Mühlberg
Guide
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Monito's Managing Editor, Byron has spent several years writing extensively about financial- and migration-related topics.
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Read moreRegardless of whether you're visiting South Korea to follow hiking trails through the surreal Bukhansan National Park or soak in the history at Gyeongbokgung Palace, you'll probably be wondering how to connect your smartphone to the internet as soon as possible after you arrive.
That's where getting a local SIM card comes into the picture. Fortunately for you, in most cases, finding and purchasing a South Korean SIM card should be a breeze, and in this short guide, we show you the two major ways in which you can get the job done affordably and effortlessly!
Facts About SIM Cards in South Korea
- Local SIM cards in South Korea are widely available, even for tourists. However, at tourist locations such as airports, you can expect to pay a surcharge.
- We recommend opting for an eSIM instead of a local SIM card. eSIMs can be purchased and installed at home before you leave for South Korea, giving you mobile data from the moment you arrive in the country.
- Airalo is a market-leading eSIM provider known for its attractive per-gigabyte rates. The cheapest eSIM bundle to South Korea costs just $32 and gives you a speedy and reliable connection via local networks like LG U+, SK Telecom, and KT.
How To Get a SIM Card in South Korea
If you're planning your trip to South Korea, it shouldn't be a surprise to learn that you won't be able to call, text, or access the web on the go with your smartphone as you usually would at home. And if you do manage to get connected via roaming, it can result in hefty additional charges. That's where SIM cards come into the picture. By getting yourself a local South Korean SIM card (or, as we'll see, a digital eSIM), you'll be able to connect to the internet via mobile data while on the move and, depending on the bundle you choose, even send SMSes or make local phone calls.
To get a SIM card in South Korea, you basically have two options:
Option 1: Local Physical SIM Cards
Buying a local SIM card in South Korea works in much the same way as buying a SIM card does in your home country: you purchase a small microchip with a fixed prepaid amount of data loaded onto it for a once-off fee. (Especially as a tourist visiting the country for a shorter period, you probably won't need a recurring monthly contract or a more advanced bundle with additional minutes or text, but the option is normally available too, if you like.) You then insert this chip into your smartphone — and away you go!
These physical SIM card microchips come in three main sizes:
- Standard SIM: 25x15mm (about the size of a standard postage stamp)
- Micro SIM: 15x12mm (a bit smaller than a dime)
- Nano SIM: 12.3x8.8mm (about the size of a peanut)
The image below illustrates the differences in size, with the three smaller SIM cards on the right side representing standard, micro, and nano SIMs respectively, and the larger SIM card on the left (known as 1FF) no longer being used these days:
Eu Sou Wikipedista (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Most SIM card retailers offer only nano SIMs these days, including in South Korea. But if the retailer you visit doesn't offer nano SIMs (or in case the SIM cards sold don't fit into your phone), you can ask for a SIM card adapter, which is normally very cheap and available in most cell phone shops or kiosks.
If you run out of data, you can normally recharge your SIM with ease, too. To do this, visit your network provider's website or go to the counter of pretty much any cell phone shop, convenience store, kiosk, or tourist information in South Korea and ask about data recharge. Many South Korean retailers countrywide offer data packages for major networks like LG U+, SK Telecom, and KT, making it a quick and accessible option.
If you don't plan on using your South Korean SIM for a future vacation after you arrive home, make sure you cut your SIM card chip in two with a sturdy pair of scissors to prevent fraudsters from pulling any personal data from your card, and, if possible, recycle it with other electronic waste.
Option 2: eSIM Cards
A digital alternative to physical SIM cards, eSIMs are regular SIM cards that don't require inserting an actual microchip into your device while providing the exact same benefits. Newer smartphones (but also smartwatches, tablets, and other devices) can be equipped with eSIMs, and since you don't need a physical microchip to install an eSIM, you can also get one before you even take off on your trip to South Korea. To do this, you just need to visit an online eSIM service, purchase the eSIM you want, and follow the instructions to download and install it onto your device.
Like regular SIM cards, prepaid eSIMs come bundled with a certain fixed amount of data (or, more rarely, SMSes or telephone minutes) which you can use at your leisure while traveling in South Korea. You get to choose the package you want, and you can generally also extend your eSIM's validity easily right from an app.
In general, eSIMs cost about the same as physical South Korean SIMs or are slightly more expensive per gigabyte, but in our opinion, their accessibility and eco-friendliness make them the better option for most travelers. We delve into why a bit later in this article.
Network Providers in South Korea
Whether you use a physical SIM or eSIM, it's good to keep in mind that South Korean telecommunications are dominated by a handful of network operators. These networks provide the infrastructure that allows you to use mobile data on the go. In South Korea, the biggest players are listed below, so be on the lookout for their names on storefronts (if you're looking for a physical SIM card) or on the top right-hand corner of your smartphone (which shows you which network you're currently connected to):
- SK Telecom
- LG U+
- KT
- and others...
In general, network connectivity for mobile data in South Korea is outstanding, meaning that you won't have any issues accessing the web from any of the local networks, even in more rural areas of the country.
Where to Buy a SIM Card in South Korean Cities
In general, it's very easy to buy a South Korean SIM card. Normally, you can buy a SIM once you arrive at the airport, but you can typically also do so at shops, convenience stores, and kiosks in city centres, malls, or business or market districts. (Don't forget that SIM cards aren't only sold in brick-and-mortar outlets and sometimes in pop-up booths or temporary stalls, depending on where you are.)
In South Korea, you'll easily find SIM card dealers in the following locations:
- Incheon International Airport,
- Jeju International Airport,
- Seoul–Gimpo International Airport,
- City centres (Seoul, Incheon, etc.).
Digital eSIMs: A Better Option in South Korea
As we saw earlier, eSIMs generally have numerous advantages and are often a better alternative to using a regular SIM card for most tourists. In our opinion, the most significant advantages include:
- internet immediately upon arrival in South Korea,
- no negotiating with SIM card sellers at the airport,
- transparent and fair pricing,
- online extension is often possible,
- credit card payment is possible,
- local telecom provider networks are used.
However, there is one potential issue around compatibility. Not all devices support eSIMs. If your device was released before late 2019, we recommend double-checking on the internet or contacting a representative from an eSIM service to confirm whether your device is compatible before you purchase an eSIM. In general, the following devices will support eSIMs though:
Airalo is an excellent eSIM provider for South Korea. Its online platform offers global access to eSIMs through collaboration with big local telecom providers. In South Korea, for example, Airalo works directly with LG U+, SK Telecom, and KT to provide you with high-speed coverage directly from their networks, wherever you are in the country.
Once-off prices for eSIMs for South Korea range from $32 to $62 and include between 1GB and 20GB of data. Most travellers should be able to get by with these amounts without any problems.
We recommend Airalo in general, and especially if you travel often, the service provides an excellent connectivity companion while you're abroad.
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