SIM Card, Wi-Fi & More (2024)

Planning your South Korea tour and wondering how to keep in touch with your family and friends during an international vacation? There are many ways to solve this problem and make you easily get internet in South Korea. We choose 6 best ways to get the internet in South Korea and make your travel experience smoother and more convenient. Let's check it out!

1. Get a Prepaid South Korea SIM Card

Though the only inconvenience is informing your contacts of your new number, this remains a very economical way to use your own phone to surf the Internet or make calls in South Korea for a temporary stay. To make a Korea SIM card work, your device must satisfy these requirements:

Requirements for Devices

Be Unlocked/SIM-Free Before Coming

Many GSM phones have SIM lock or network lock built into by manufacturers to restrict their use of them to specific network providers. If you can't make sure that your phone is unlocked, call your home service provider and let them know you need it to be SIM-free because you are traveling to South Korea.

SIM Card Slot Available

Very much like the reason for locking a phone, certain phones of unique versions using CDMA networks in the US and Canada don't have SIM card slots.

Support Windows, Android and iOS

There are numerous types of SIM card providers in the Korean market. You can easily find a SIM card provider at any international airport in South Korea. The staff will be happy to help you to activate your SIM card and ensure it is working well.

Benefits of A Prepaid South Korea SIM Card

You can use your own phone and stay connected all the time. Moreover, it is convenient to share your internet connection with the hotspot of your phone to use a Wifi-support tablet or other mobile devices.

How to Get a Prepaid SIM Card in South Korea

To save the efforts of going through the registration process, it's advised to purchase a prepaid SIM card online, then pick it up at the collection places in Incheon International Airport and Seoul City with your passport as well as a printed copy of your order confirmation email in case of wrong passport number.

We recommend you to activate your SIM card in any international airport of South Korea because the staff there are more familiar to help foreign tourists to activate the SIM card. You may less likely meet language barriers and feel smoother to get your internet connected.

SIM Card or eSIM

You can choose to buy eSIM for your data connection in South Korea. It is recommended for those who only need to use internet but not call. If you are traveling with someone who has already got a prepaid SIM card, you can just buy an eSIM to keep your internet connected in South Korea. Because eSIM might be cheaper than a prepaid SIM card.

Price of SIM Card in South Korea

A prepaid SIM card for 3 to 15 days in South Korea may cost 13 to 37 USD. If you need a SIM card available for more than 20 days, you need to visit the office of SIM card provider to consult with this problem. Using an eSIM card will be cheaper but depending on your need for data traffic. 1GB traffic data may cost you about 5 USD, while the price of average might be lower when you cost more data traffic. For your information, 2GB costs 8USD, 3GB costs 10USD, and 20GB is 27USD.

Note:

• SIM card is not transferable to others, according to the Telecommunication Business Act. Service will stop working when the user and device information is changed.

• Voice credit and data credit must have a certain amount of balance to use data.

• Balance is non-refundable nor will be carried forward to next month.

• Users can top up the SIM card online, through apps, or at local convenience stores. For longer use, you have to exchange for a long-term SIM card at the office of SIM card provider in Seoul city.

2. Rent Portable Wi-Fi

It is true that South Korea is blanketed with free Wi-Fi, you can stay connected without a SIM card or other portable Wi-Fi in most central city and transport stations. But if you want to have a guaranteed connection or get somewhere not in the city, then a portal device would be the way to go.

Any kind of pocket Wi-Fi router or pocket modem is called a "Wi-Fi egg", which is pretty small in size and convenient to carry in your pocket. The cost of a Wi-Fi egg remains inexpensive - some Wi-Fi renters claim that the price is cheaper than a cup of coffee.

Depending on the specific version of eggs, battery hours vary from 5 to 9 hours on a single full charge, and normally 3 to 5 people can use a Wi-Fi egg simultaneously, except that it will drain battery life quicker, thus a power bank would come in handy.

Wi-Fi Korea, Pocket Wi-Fi Korea, KT Wi-Fi router, and LTE router are some of the most popular Wi-Fi eggs amongst travelers.

Benefits of Renting Portable Wi-Fi

You can use a lot of daily data to ensure your daily use of the internet. And it is convenient to share with your travel partners during your South Korea tour. And you can share the cost of pocket Wi-Fi with them, which means the cost will be lower than buying mobile data traffic by using a single prepaid card. If you are planning a South Korea trip over 20 days, then renting a Wi-Fi egg might be necessary for you to better stay connected in South Korea.

How to Rent Portable Wi-Fi

Rent on the spot or make pre-booking online then collect/return the Wi-Fi egg at a specific service counter located in major international airports, including those in Incheon and Busan, or demand a free delivery at the hotel when you process the booking.

Pricing

From 2 to 4 USD/day with or without some refundable deposit. In most cases, the longer you rent, the cheaper the cost is.

Note: • Not every Wi-Fi provider accepts the return of the Wi-Fi egg at hotels. Read through the conditions on how to drop off the device very carefully before confirming a booking.

• Wi-Fi eggs at a lower rate may have a very poor connection outside the city center. Invest a bit more in Wi-Fi eggs that have nationwide coverage.

• Connection issues may occur in a metro, an underground, and a bullet train.

3. Buy a Prepaid Wi-Fi ID

The alternative to a Wi-Fi egg is to buy a prepaid Wi-Fi ID: it's cheaper and more flexible. Buy the account whenever you feel like using it at convenience stores and ditch the receipt after your trip is finished. Some Wi-Fi hotspots can be found at shopping centers, attractions, universities and many other places across the country. You can check if the brand of Wi-Fi hotspots can be found or not in the area you will stay in before you buy the ID.

Benefits of Prepaid Wi-Fi Hotspots

It can be easily found in most main city places, and it is convenient for those who are looking for temporary Wi-Fi access.

How to Use a Prepaid Wi-Fi ID

Buy at convenience stores such as 7-11, GS25, Buy the Way and CU, then connect your phone to the Wi-Fi provider and register through a web browser with the password on the card/receipt.

Pricing

Approx. 2.5 USD/day (including VAT).

4. Rent a Local Phone

If you want to skip all the trouble and don't mind using a second-hand phone, rent a smartphone from SK Telecom or KT Global Roaming. Itself a highly tech-savvy country, South Korea produces some of world's best mobile phones, widely famous for their excellent call quality and convenient service. The two companies offer both feature phones and smartphones to meet different demands. For smartphones, daily rates offered by the two companies include free domestic incoming calls, call charges, SMS, and at least 1 GB of 3G data.

Benefits of Renting a Local Phone

You can have high call usage at a lower cost.

How to Rent a Local Phone

Rent instantly by visiting the service center located at the main airports or book online 3 days ahead. A passport is mandatory for collecting the phone.

Pricing

Renting a feature phone is about 2.4USD per day (VAT included), a smart phone is about 6.4USD per day (VAT included). Long-term use enjoys the benefit of discounted rental fees. Payment can be settled with cash or a major credit card when you return the phone.

5. Leech off of Ubiquitous Free Wi-Fi

Just as praised all the time, South Korea is not called the super-wired nation on earth for nothing. The moment when you land at Incheon Airport, you are well connected. In public areas, many telecom giants offer free Wi-Fi hotspots: SK, myLGnet, and Olleh, to name a few.

Cafes, malls, accommodations, and buses are equipped with Wi-Fi, and everywhere you go, you are able to get online easily.

Technically there would be no problem updating your travel path or chatting on instant message apps, but you will have very poor or zero connection in the countryside as it is out of coverage of free Wi-Fi.

That said, I'd suggest picking up a SIM card beforehand if your itinerary includes a rural visit. Fancy hotels, however, are another story. Wired Internet access is available in the rooms, but there may be situations in which you have to pay for wireless access. It's not just happening in South Korea.

Benefits of Using Free Wi-Fi

If you are traveling on a shoestring and just need internet access occasionally, this is a good choice for you to control your travel budget and quit cyber addiction.

How to Get Free Wi-Fi

Literally every public area in the city.

Pricing:

FREE. Except for a small amount of money spent on some coffee, maybe.

6. Activate International Roaming Plan

Your phone or mobile devices must use 4G technology to roam in South Korea. This method tops the most expensive in terms of charge, according to many service providers in the US and Europe. There might be exceptions though.

Benefits of International Roaming Plan

It is convenient for those who need to handle business on the go and are frequent international travelers with high budget.

How to Activate International Roaming Plan

Ask your service provider for relevant plan and the best solution.

Pricing

Most major mobile service providers offer different call and data packages, or you can choose day pass plan. Price of 512MB and unlimited calls may cost about USD per day, and an international pass plan cost 12USD per day.

Contact Odynovo to Plan Your South Korea Tour

Share and spread the ways to let people know how they can enjoy guaranteed connection in South Korea! You're welcome to contact us at trip@odynovotours.com . Should you have any questions regarding South Korea travel or want to tailor-make an itinerary.