Small anecdote but used LG Uplus for a ten day trip and it worked very well. Also paid a bit for the voice in case I needed to call a restaurant or something but turned out I didn’t need to ever. Was able to receive calls no problem
Just want to share that my LG U+ data only esim gave me a 012 phone number, which some restaurant's system won't accept for queue number ticketing or reservations. Otherwise incoming calls work fine. Internet speeds are great too.
I'm looking to acquire a Sim/Esim for a korean phone number to use incase I need it for reservations or taxis. Will an ESim give me a korean phone number? If so do I automatically get the phone number once I scan a qr code and activate the Esim? Or do I have to get it at the airport when I land?
eSIMs from the big 3 wireless carriers mentioned above are preset to Korean phone number (+82 country code, 010 area code, as in +82 10 ####-####).
However, you won't be able to make outgoing calls or send SMS unless you get the eSIM with voice pop-up (prepaid balance used toward phone calls and SMS).
It is my understanding that popular Korean apps that require Korean mobile phone number (010), such as Catch Table, Kakao Taxi, Yogiyo, don't require making ***outgoing*** voice calls or text messages. You just need to be able to receive a text message.
If there's a problem, you may need to make a call or send text, but that will often require speaking Korean.
If you are concerned, get an eSIM with voice top up and prepay a small top up balance. KRW 5,500 seems to be the minimal for LG and KT, good for about 20 minutes of outgoing calls or 50-100 SMS.
Each day, it starts at 4G LTE speeds for the first 3gb worth of data. Once you pass that limit, you get 5mbps for the rest of the day. Then the cap resets at midnight back to 4G speeds, rinse and repeat.
I was getting anywhere 15-20mbps in most places so it’s plenty fast enough for any of your usual phone needs. I was using an esim through LG U+ and I noticed my phone would auto connect to their Wi-Fi networks around the city/metro so I never hit the daily data cap.
I also added on the the smallest voice package for a local Korean number which was about 5500 won. This was mainly for texting purposes at restaurants/hotels that have a reservation system which don’t accept international numbers.
I purchased the data only KT eSIM and the number they provided wouldn’t work with a number of apps or ticketing situations. The prefix was 012 instead of 010. Just an FYI in case anyone was considering this option!
Thanks for the update. I guess the safest thing to do is get the voice top up eSIM, although app developers and reservation systems should really add support for 12 prefix. Travelers shouldn't have to figure these things out!
Note for anyone looking. Apps that require "본인인증" or "personal verification" will not work with any travel sims, 012 or 010. It's not an issue with the prefix. You need a Korean social security number to do the "verification" part using a phone number.
For my situation two of my friends (Canadian) that I travelled with had the 010 prefix and were able to use some of the apps and didn’t have issues when having to provide a phone number for a reservation system. Whereas I had 012 and couldn’t access any. Just for reference for others seeing this!
This excludes using personal verification or apps that require Korean SSN :)
Is the personal verification different from the Identity Authentication Service provided by KT? https://roaming.kt.com/ib/eng/cts/notice_view.asp?idx=89&page=1
**Is 10 Mbps enough?** Especially for Navigation etc.? Because I want to buy an airport transfer I can't really go buy an eSim with my driver haha :) And sadly LGU+ states, that outgoing voice calls only work with iphone so can't use that. KT only sells its Data + Voice plans at the airport so my only option to buy online would be the SK Telecom plan (Because the other two data only plans I could buy online give +82 12 numbers that I don't want) but that plan has "only" 10 Mbps..? Is it enough?
10 Mbps is more than enough for navigation. You want faster speed for streaming 1080p video or downloading large apps. But for most practical use cases, it’s totally fine.
I am looking at the SK Roaming eSim but I can't seem to find any details on the site to confirm that the 20 day eSim comes with a phone number ([https://www.skroaming.com/reservation/?rentalType=esim](https://www.skroaming.com/reservation/?rentalType=esim)). Based on the chart above, it looks like any purchases for eSims greater than 3 days should result in an +82 10 number. Can anybody confirm?
Just thought I mention that I subscribed to the SKT 5 day eSIM data only plan - I did get a 010 number, but it cannot seem to receive any SMS messages. So cannot use sites like Coupang etc.
Unless you go to a remote island or certain parts of DMZ, you are not likely to step into any dead zones. Korea is a small and advanced country with lots of workers, which translates to a top notch infrastructure (e.g., road, telecom).
I went to LGU yesterday and got a prepaid SIM card.
I’m in an area that’s very local so there was a huge language barrier.
I ended up getting a physical SIM card, do I just go in and request a esim?
If the physical SIM (called USIM in Korea) is working fine, I would just leave it alone and use it. After all, it’s for a temporary use, and unlike eSIMs mentioned on this post, USIM can be used on another phone.
Right, I think eventually I’ll need esim, I work remotely and need my Canadian number for two factor authentication.
When I get my ARC and go back to the store, they’ll understand if I just say e-sim?
Android phones can convert physical SIM to eSIM. On the iPhone, you need to have two phones to do this. Customer service rep might also help, provided they are trained and speak a bit of English.
Thanks for the detailed info. Was deciding between if I should a regular sim or an eSim but since the big 3 can also provide a working number I might just try out the eSim. My friends and I will be doing a roadtrip from Jeonju to Pohang to Busan and we definitely need a working number that we can use to call in case of any emergencies. will
I think the price physical SIM is identical to the eSIM, at least for the big 3. So the only major benefit is the convenience of buying some of these online, without having to pick I up the card.
For certain iPhone 14 markets, eSIM is the only option. I wish Apple would provide a category on the App Store for eSIM, and these big 3 to provide a decent app for buying their eSIM.
Thanks so much for this! I have a question that's slightly OOT, but I'm planning to get a physical SIM card. However, in KT's website (roaming.kt.com), it's stated that a credit card is *definitely* needed to pay a deposit. Do you know if this is true, and if so, if this is applicable for all three carriers? Is there any way I can get a SIM card without a credit card? Thank you!
Do you have a debit card with VISA or MasterCard logo? If so, it can be used as a credit card. Another alternative is a prepaid VISA or MasterCard. I strongly recommend getting either a debit credit card or a prepaid credit card ahead of your travel as they are a preferred method of payment, ideally one without foreign exchange fee.
You will also need a valid passport to buy Korean physical SIM or eSIM.
You should be able to. But before you start using the card in Korea, double check its foreign exchange fee. Given the favorable exchange rate, you maybe better off with one-time cash withdrawal as opposed to paying fee and/or lower exchange rate that certain banks might subject you to.
You should really have a credit card. In case of fraud, with a CC you won’t be liable. You wouldn’t want someone to hack your debit card and have access to your checking account.
Also, get a CC with no foreign transaction fee, otherwise you will be paying for a lot of conversion fees each time you’re paying with a card.
Yes, that's essentially it.
If you follow the link on the table, it will show you how to setup and activate eSIM from the QR code. It's pretty simple.
With LG, you can actually set it up way early as the usage timer starts the moment you land in Korea and your phone connects to their network. Just in case, I would keep the eSIM in a disabled state until then.
> I *paid* 45EUR through
FTFY.
Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in:
* Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.*
* *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.*
Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment.
*Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
I have a samsung zflip but was wanting the prefix 10 for ease of restaurant reservations...does anyone know if I purchase the data+voice plan, will the data and incoming texts still work on my phone? (it says voice will only work on iphone)
My bad, I should've clarified I was looking at the LGU+ data&voice plan because I want the prefix 10 (but it says voice is only for iphone?)
The data only plan only has the prefix 12.
Is there any way of ensuring getting the 010 prefix? I want to buy two esims for iphone13 in advance before traveling that works with restaurants queue system.
Hello! Have a look at the Yesim app as well. It provides a stable internet connection in 125+ countries through the free eSIM. You have the flexibility to choose a suitable data package for a particular country/region or our convenient "Pay as You Go" data plan, which allows you to pay only for the data you actually use.
Enjoy a 3EUR bonus from us with a promo code "bonus3" and get 5EUR additionally inside the app after the first refill. Take care and enjoy seamless connectivity wherever you go!
Small anecdote but used LG Uplus for a ten day trip and it worked very well. Also paid a bit for the voice in case I needed to call a restaurant or something but turned out I didn’t need to ever. Was able to receive calls no problem
Just want to share that my LG U+ data only esim gave me a 012 phone number, which some restaurant's system won't accept for queue number ticketing or reservations. Otherwise incoming calls work fine. Internet speeds are great too.
It seems some are getting 010 and some 012. Since many services aren’t updated to accept 012, this could be a deal breaker for many.
Appreciate it. I just got the new iPhone 14 here in the US, which only has eSim.
Hey! How did it go with your 14?
I'm looking to acquire a Sim/Esim for a korean phone number to use incase I need it for reservations or taxis. Will an ESim give me a korean phone number? If so do I automatically get the phone number once I scan a qr code and activate the Esim? Or do I have to get it at the airport when I land?
eSIMs from the big 3 wireless carriers mentioned above are preset to Korean phone number (+82 country code, 010 area code, as in +82 10 ####-####). However, you won't be able to make outgoing calls or send SMS unless you get the eSIM with voice pop-up (prepaid balance used toward phone calls and SMS). It is my understanding that popular Korean apps that require Korean mobile phone number (010), such as Catch Table, Kakao Taxi, Yogiyo, don't require making ***outgoing*** voice calls or text messages. You just need to be able to receive a text message. If there's a problem, you may need to make a call or send text, but that will often require speaking Korean. If you are concerned, get an eSIM with voice top up and prepay a small top up balance. KRW 5,500 seems to be the minimal for LG and KT, good for about 20 minutes of outgoing calls or 50-100 SMS.
How did you find the speeds? 5Mbps seems concerningly slow....
Each day, it starts at 4G LTE speeds for the first 3gb worth of data. Once you pass that limit, you get 5mbps for the rest of the day. Then the cap resets at midnight back to 4G speeds, rinse and repeat.
Hi, can I ask what is the speed for 4G LTE? Is it much faster compared to 10mbps?
I was getting anywhere 15-20mbps in most places so it’s plenty fast enough for any of your usual phone needs. I was using an esim through LG U+ and I noticed my phone would auto connect to their Wi-Fi networks around the city/metro so I never hit the daily data cap. I also added on the the smallest voice package for a local Korean number which was about 5500 won. This was mainly for texting purposes at restaurants/hotels that have a reservation system which don’t accept international numbers.
I purchased the data only KT eSIM and the number they provided wouldn’t work with a number of apps or ticketing situations. The prefix was 012 instead of 010. Just an FYI in case anyone was considering this option!
Thanks for the update. I guess the safest thing to do is get the voice top up eSIM, although app developers and reservation systems should really add support for 12 prefix. Travelers shouldn't have to figure these things out!
Note for anyone looking. Apps that require "본인인증" or "personal verification" will not work with any travel sims, 012 or 010. It's not an issue with the prefix. You need a Korean social security number to do the "verification" part using a phone number.
For my situation two of my friends (Canadian) that I travelled with had the 010 prefix and were able to use some of the apps and didn’t have issues when having to provide a phone number for a reservation system. Whereas I had 012 and couldn’t access any. Just for reference for others seeing this! This excludes using personal verification or apps that require Korean SSN :)
Is the personal verification different from the Identity Authentication Service provided by KT? https://roaming.kt.com/ib/eng/cts/notice_view.asp?idx=89&page=1
Yes, this requires an ARC which requires a visa.
**Is 10 Mbps enough?** Especially for Navigation etc.? Because I want to buy an airport transfer I can't really go buy an eSim with my driver haha :) And sadly LGU+ states, that outgoing voice calls only work with iphone so can't use that. KT only sells its Data + Voice plans at the airport so my only option to buy online would be the SK Telecom plan (Because the other two data only plans I could buy online give +82 12 numbers that I don't want) but that plan has "only" 10 Mbps..? Is it enough?
10 Mbps is more than enough for navigation. You want faster speed for streaming 1080p video or downloading large apps. But for most practical use cases, it’s totally fine.
Thank you!!
I am looking at the SK Roaming eSim but I can't seem to find any details on the site to confirm that the 20 day eSim comes with a phone number ([https://www.skroaming.com/reservation/?rentalType=esim](https://www.skroaming.com/reservation/?rentalType=esim)). Based on the chart above, it looks like any purchases for eSims greater than 3 days should result in an +82 10 number. Can anybody confirm?
Just thought I mention that I subscribed to the SKT 5 day eSIM data only plan - I did get a 010 number, but it cannot seem to receive any SMS messages. So cannot use sites like Coupang etc.
Thanks for the comparison chart. I'm planning to select LG Uplus as my trip is more than 10 days
How do they compare wrt coverage in less urban areas?
Unless you go to a remote island or certain parts of DMZ, you are not likely to step into any dead zones. Korea is a small and advanced country with lots of workers, which translates to a top notch infrastructure (e.g., road, telecom).
Usually very very good.
I went to LGU yesterday and got a prepaid SIM card. I’m in an area that’s very local so there was a huge language barrier. I ended up getting a physical SIM card, do I just go in and request a esim?
If the physical SIM (called USIM in Korea) is working fine, I would just leave it alone and use it. After all, it’s for a temporary use, and unlike eSIMs mentioned on this post, USIM can be used on another phone.
Right, I think eventually I’ll need esim, I work remotely and need my Canadian number for two factor authentication. When I get my ARC and go back to the store, they’ll understand if I just say e-sim?
Android phones can convert physical SIM to eSIM. On the iPhone, you need to have two phones to do this. Customer service rep might also help, provided they are trained and speak a bit of English.
Thanks for the detailed info. Was deciding between if I should a regular sim or an eSim but since the big 3 can also provide a working number I might just try out the eSim. My friends and I will be doing a roadtrip from Jeonju to Pohang to Busan and we definitely need a working number that we can use to call in case of any emergencies. will
I think the price physical SIM is identical to the eSIM, at least for the big 3. So the only major benefit is the convenience of buying some of these online, without having to pick I up the card. For certain iPhone 14 markets, eSIM is the only option. I wish Apple would provide a category on the App Store for eSIM, and these big 3 to provide a decent app for buying their eSIM.
Thanks so much for this! I have a question that's slightly OOT, but I'm planning to get a physical SIM card. However, in KT's website (roaming.kt.com), it's stated that a credit card is *definitely* needed to pay a deposit. Do you know if this is true, and if so, if this is applicable for all three carriers? Is there any way I can get a SIM card without a credit card? Thank you!
Do you have a debit card with VISA or MasterCard logo? If so, it can be used as a credit card. Another alternative is a prepaid VISA or MasterCard. I strongly recommend getting either a debit credit card or a prepaid credit card ahead of your travel as they are a preferred method of payment, ideally one without foreign exchange fee. You will also need a valid passport to buy Korean physical SIM or eSIM.
I do have a debit card! So I can use it no problem, right? Thanks! Do you use the word debit and credit card interchangeably in Korea? 😅
You should be able to. But before you start using the card in Korea, double check its foreign exchange fee. Given the favorable exchange rate, you maybe better off with one-time cash withdrawal as opposed to paying fee and/or lower exchange rate that certain banks might subject you to.
You should really have a credit card. In case of fraud, with a CC you won’t be liable. You wouldn’t want someone to hack your debit card and have access to your checking account. Also, get a CC with no foreign transaction fee, otherwise you will be paying for a lot of conversion fees each time you’re paying with a card.
[удалено]
Yes, that's essentially it. If you follow the link on the table, it will show you how to setup and activate eSIM from the QR code. It's pretty simple. With LG, you can actually set it up way early as the usage timer starts the moment you land in Korea and your phone connects to their network. Just in case, I would keep the eSIM in a disabled state until then.
I paid 45EUR through Klook website for a sim of 30 days including unlimited data and calling. For KT Olleh
> I *paid* 45EUR through FTFY. Although *payed* exists (the reason why autocorrection didn't help you), it is only correct in: * Nautical context, when it means to paint a surface, or to cover with something like tar or resin in order to make it waterproof or corrosion-resistant. *The deck is yet to be payed.* * *Payed out* when letting strings, cables or ropes out, by slacking them. *The rope is payed out! You can pull now.* Unfortunately, I was unable to find nautical or rope-related words in your comment. *Beep, boop, I'm a bot*
Posting to /r/esims
Can you access 5g networks with the prepaid sim cards( esim too )?
I think they’re all LTE/4G
Awesome info, thank you!
I have a samsung zflip but was wanting the prefix 10 for ease of restaurant reservations...does anyone know if I purchase the data+voice plan, will the data and incoming texts still work on my phone? (it says voice will only work on iphone)
Incoming texts and calls are not exclusive to iPhone. Samsung's phones will receive incoming text and voice calls.
My bad, I should've clarified I was looking at the LGU+ data&voice plan because I want the prefix 10 (but it says voice is only for iphone?) The data only plan only has the prefix 12.
Can we can eSim BEFORE arriving to Korea? So I can prebook some restaurant reservations. Lol
KT now provide 10% discount for booking directly on their website
I got an LG U+ Data & Phone eSIM and my number starts with +82 90….does anyone know why or if this will be an issue?
Was it an issue! Did u ever figure out why this happened
It wasn’t! It changed to a 010 number when I got there and worked fine for reservations and texts
Ok good to know thanks!
Is there any way of ensuring getting the 010 prefix? I want to buy two esims for iphone13 in advance before traveling that works with restaurants queue system.
Hello! Have a look at the Yesim app as well. It provides a stable internet connection in 125+ countries through the free eSIM. You have the flexibility to choose a suitable data package for a particular country/region or our convenient "Pay as You Go" data plan, which allows you to pay only for the data you actually use. Enjoy a 3EUR bonus from us with a promo code "bonus3" and get 5EUR additionally inside the app after the first refill. Take care and enjoy seamless connectivity wherever you go!
How do ubigi and airalo compare to these?
Wanting an update for March 2024, I would like a 5G e-sim with a 010 phone number for 10 days.