If you’re planning a trip to South Korea and want to ensure you have 24/7 internet access, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll explain how to get a SIM card for South Korea and stay always connected.
In South Korea, you’ll find Wi-Fi almost everywhere, but with the affordability of data plans, you might prefer to get either a local SIM card or the new Holafly South Korea eSIM with unlimited data.
After testing it during our trip, we highly recommend it. Here’s everything you need to know. Let’s dive in!
Until recently, we always advocated for using a local SIM card in your destination country, as it was more economical than physical SIM cards available online. However, the Holafly eSIM has become a very appealing option.
The key reason for this shift is that eSIMs now offer unlimited data (though not yet available in all destinations), making this option much more attractive and a more justified price.
With the South Korea eSIM, you don’t need a physical SIM card for internet access. Instead, you install a virtual SIM on your phone for unlimited internet. You make the purchase, configure your phone automatically, and as soon as you arrive, your smartphone will connect to the internet.
You can now get a Holafly discount code for your South Korea eSIM with unlimited data. The link above provides all the general information about Holafly, but the button here will take you directly to the discount for your eSIM purchase.
NOTE: If, for any reason, the discount doesn’t apply automatically (which is very rare), you can use this discount code: CONMOCHILA.
The three major telecommunications companies in South Korea offering local SIM cards for tourists are:
Among these, SK Telecom and KT Corporation provide the best coverage and data speeds across the country. KT Olleh is particularly popular among travelers for offering unlimited data plans without including local calls and texts, which is more practical for tourists.
These companies have stores located in major commercial areas, city centers, and near tourist attractions, making it easy for visitors to purchase SIM cards. You can also buy them at Incheon Airport upon arrival.
SK Telecom offers SIM cards with data plans that include unlimited voice and data usage. These plans allow unlimited data and use of applications like Voice Talk and FaceTime. Reference prices for SK Telecom SIM cards vary by plan duration, for example:
KT Corporation offers “Blue” SIM cards that include unlimited data and call minutes. These SIM cards come with different durations and price options, featuring a 10GB data allowance at 4G LTE speeds of 150 Mbps (unlimited at a lower speed), 100 minutes of calls, and 100 SMS. Here are the data plans for KT Corporation SIM cards:
There are several options for purchasing SIM cards in South Korea:
After testing both options extensively in South Korea and other countries, we recommend eSIMs because they are fast, reliable, eliminate the hassle of searching for local SIM cards, and allow you to keep your original SIM card active for receiving SMS, calls, or any other necessary use.
