Getting a Korean Phone
Written by Shin Hye-rin
It may sound straightforward but getting a cell phone is even difficult for Koreans too. It is hard to imagine living without a cell phone these days since staying connected in an unfamiliar environment makes living easier for everybody. Whether you are visiting or temporarily staying in Korea, having a cell phone is the best way to keep in touch with your friends and family. There are two main ways of staying connected for international visitors – bringing your own phone from your home country or buying a new one in Korea.
There are three major service providers in Korea – LG Uplus, SK Telecom and Korea Telecom (KT). You can see branches of these service providers every few steps you walk on the streets. It makes using a cell phone much simpler if you choose to bring your own to Korea. All you need to do upon arriving in Korea is to buy a USIM card and subscribe to a mobile network service for your phone. Subscription fees vary by providers from 24,000 won (KT) to 39,600 won (SKT).
Then making your choice among the plans provided is the next most important step. The heavier the plan is, the more allowance (data, SMS, national calls and more features) you will receive, which is quite straightforward. The plans tend to vary depending on the service providers. However, they all offer the minimum usage so you can avoid being extravagant. Pre-paid phones are very unusual in Korea and they cost much more than monthly plans.
The other option is buying a new phone. Phones in Korea are typically more expensive than in your home country unless it is an iPhone. Therefore, they are often purchased in instalments, either with two or three-year contracts. However, as an international resident, since the providers do not accept foreign credit ratings, some companies ask for a 200,000-250,000 won deposit or to pay monthly bills up front upon subscription. In this case, you can bring along a Korean friend as a translator and a facilitator to make the process smoother.
All you need is to bring your Alien Registration Card (ARC) and passport to get a Korean phone. If you are not eligible for an ARC yet, you can use your passport. But, you are only allowed to have the service for 90 days due to your Visa condition. It is ideal to have your ARC when you register to have a new cell phone.
For more information, visit: http://asiaenglish.visitkorea.or.kr/ena/RE/RE_EN_1_2_4_1.jsp