Purchasing a SIM card in Korea is a great option. It will give you easy and convenient access to the internet without the hassle of trying to find free WiFi. Free WiFi can often have dubious security, plus finding and logging in to each WiFi hotspot can be painful.
Many accommodation options have guest WiFi, but when you walk out the door you will not have cost effective access to data – and you really need it for a whole range of reasons including: using public transport timetables, platforms and stations; as well as for using map apps like Naver Map and KakaoMap to get around. Google Maps has pretty limited usefulness in South Korea. Check out our article on the best apps to load onto your phone for your trip to South Korea.
I have done the research to help you find the best SIM card in Korea for your visit with options to pick up your SIM card from various locations throughout South Korea. This article will help you quickly decide which SIM card option will suit you best.
Before I get into the details, a key tip is to plan to pre-order your Korea SIM card with many providers allowing you to pre-order up to 1-3 days in advance. Also, if you are arriving or departing early or late, ensure you check the opening hours for your pick up and return options which are further down in the article, or on the supplier’s page after you click through below.
You may also want to consider checking the compatibility of your phone with the relevant Korean network through Will My Phone Work.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Contents
Best South Korea SIM Card Options, including Incheon Airport, Gimpo Airport, Seoul and Gimhae Airport
What is the best SIM card in Korea for your visit? This question has different answers for different people. This article details the features and costs of various SIM card options from several reputable providers – Klook, Trazy, and Get Your Guide.
Costs are accurate as at 30 March 2018, but are subject to fluctuation due to product pricing and exchange rate changes. This article will be periodically updated to reflect the latest prices.
Korea Prepaid SIM Card Data Plan Only
A data only SIM card is perfect if you don’t need a SIM card that includes voice calls and text messages while you are in South Korea. These plans offer unlimited data so it’s easy to use apps like Whatsapp to make phone calls and send messages.
Below is a comparison table of the data only SIM card options, click on the links to check out further information and to make your booking.
| SIM Card Type | Features | Provider and Cost |
| Data Only (Incheon, Gimpo or Busan airport pickup) Click here to pre-book through Klook | Click here to read our detailed review of the KT Olleh data only sim card Unlimited Data Throttled 5Mbps speed 5/10/30 day plans Not extendable Universal SIM card;1 card per person; unlock phone first  | Klook 5 days – $US 22.90 10 days – $US 31.90 30 days – $US 58.60 |
| Trazy 5 days – $US 23.50 10 days – $US 31.10 30 days – $US 58.40 | ||
| Get Your Guide 5 days – $US 25.40 10 days – $US 35.60 30 days – $US 66.20 | ||
| Data Only (Jeju Airport Pickup) | Unlimited Data Incoming voice calls and message Up to 1GB at 4G speed, after 1GB 3G speed (Throttled 400kBbps speed per day) 1/5/10 day plans Not extendable Universal SIM card;1 card per person; unlock phone first | 1 day – $US 6.00 5 days – $US 25.20 10 days – $US 35.30
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See further below in this article for SIM card pick-up locations.
Korea Prepaid Sim Card – Data + Voice + SMS
If you are planning to make local voice calls and send local messages while you are in South Korea, the SIM card available below through Trazy would be an excellent choice. For only a small extra cost compared to the data only cards it offers not only unlimited data, 100 domestic voice calls and 100 domestic SMS messages, but also has uncapped internet speed and greater day plan flexibility.
| SIM Card Type | Features | Provider & Cost |
| Unlimited Data + Limited Domestic Voice & SMS | Unlimited Data 100 Domestic Voice + 100 Domestic SMS Uncapped speed up to 150Mbps 5/7/10/15/30 day plans Rechargeable once for up to 30 days Universal SIM card; 2 SIM cards per passport; unlock phone first | Trazy 5 days – $US 25.00 7 days – $US 28.70 10 days – $US 33.80 15 days – $US 42.90 30 days – $US 60.80 |
See further below in this article for SIM card pick-up locations.
Pre-paid SIM Card in Korea – Long Term
If you are planning to stay in South Korea for more than 30 days, the two SIM card options below are the best options to consider. While the first option on the surface appears to be more than twice the price of the second option, carefully consider the fact that the first option is much better value if you plan to use a lot of data.
| SIM Card Type | Features | Provider & Cost |
| Limited Data + Unlimited Domestic Voice & SMS | 12GB Data Unlimited domestic text and voice 30 days Rechargeable once per month for up to 90 days Universal SIM card; unlock phone first | Trazy 30 days – $US 55.60 |
| Pre-paid 90 day plans | 40 000 Won (~ $US38) Stored Value. Card can be topped up. Data: 20.48 won per MB – if data only is used this would equate to approximately 2GB of data. Local Voice: 1.98 won/sec Local SMS: 22 won/message Universal SIM card; unlock phone first | Trazy 90 days – $US 22.60 |
See further below in this article for SIM card pick-up locations.
SIM Cards for Pick-up Outside Korea
If you want to pick-up a SIM card outside South Korea there are a couple of different options.
| SIM Card Type | Features | Provider & Cost |
| Hong Kong pick-up – Data only | 2.8GB of 4G data for 5 days OR 5GB of 3G data for 8 days Nano, micro or normal SIMs; unlock phone first | Klook 5 days – $US 16.30 8 days – $US 18.90 |
| Thailand pick-up – Data only | 8 and 15 days – Unlimited data (speed drops to 128Kbps after 4GB) Multi-country coverage Unlock phone first | Klook 8 days – $US 10.90 15 days – $US 27.20 |
See further below in this article for SIM card pick-up locations.
SIM Card Korea Pick-up Locations
To collect your SIM card you have a good range of choices in both Seoul and Busan. For specific details please check out the sections below.
Korea SIM Card – Data Only – Pick-Up Locations
For the data only SIM card options, the pick-up locations are the same for Klook, Trazy and Get Your Guide. Click here to read our detailed review of the KT Olleh Prepaid Sim Card.
The details are as follows:
- Seoul – Incheon International Airport
- Terminal 1 – On the 1st Floor (Arrivals Hall) – There are three KT Roaming Booth located between Gates 6 and 7 (open 24hrs daily), between Gates 4 and 5 (open 7:00am-10:00pm), and between Gates 10 and 11(open 6:00am-10:00pm).
- Terminal 2 – On the 1st Floor Arrival Floor between Gates 2 and 3 (open 24 hours daily)
- Seoul – Gimpo International Airport – 1st Floor Arrival Floor, Gate 1 (7:00am – 11:00pm)
- Busan – Gimhae International Airport – 1st Floor Arrival Floor, Gate 3 (6:00am – 10:00pm)
- Busan – Busan Harbor International Passenger Terminal- 2nd floor, Gate 4 (6:30am-7:30pm)
For pick up from Jeju International Airport the options through Trazy is below:
- Jeju Airport – Near Gate 5 in the Arrivals Floor (1st Floor) (open 9am – 7pm daily)
Korea Prepaid Sim Card – Data + Voice + SMS
- Seoul – Incheon International Airport
- Terminal 1 – On the 1st Floor near Exit 8 (24hrs/365 days)
- Terminal 2 – On the 1st Floor near Exit 6 (24hrs/365 days)
- Seoul – Gimpo International Airport – 1st Floor Arrival Floor, Baggage Deposit/Packing near Gate 1 (6:30am – 8:00pm)
- Busan – Gimhae International Airport – 1st Floor Arrival Floor, Between Gates 3 and 4 (5:30am – 10:30pm)
Prepaid SIM Card Korea – Long Term
- Seoul – Incheon International Airport
- Terminal 1 – Travel Center on B1 Level (7:00am – 9:30pm)
- Terminal 2 – Travel Center on B1 Level (7:00am – 9:30pm)
- Seoul – Gimpo International Airport (near Domestic Flights) – Travel Center on B1 Floor at Gimpo Airport Station – Line 5, 9 and Airport Railroad (7:00am – 9:30pm)
- Seoul – Seoul Station (Train) – Travel Center at City Airport Terminal on B2 level (8:00am – 9:00pm)
- Seoul – Hongik University Station Office – KT Sim Card Office – 1 min from Exit 2 (9:00am – 6:00pm)
Pick-up Locations Outside South Korea
- Hong Kong – Hong Kong International Airport – Terminal 1 – Arrivals Area, Counter A13 (7:00am – 11:00pm)
- Thailand – Suvarnabhumi Airport – AIRPORTELs Counter located at B Floor, RB17 -Next to Airport Rail-Link Station (8:00am-11:00pm)
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Join the South Korea Travel Planning Facebook Group
Check out our South Korea Travel Planning Facebook Group – you are welcome to join and it is a great resource to enable you to ask questions about your upcoming trip to South Korea!
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you book after clicking on one of these links then we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Hi there! I wanted to know if its also convenient to buy the sim card at the airport itself? At the convenient store/or at their own counters?
There probably are options, however i prefer to do the research before I leave so that I do not have to spend time on it after along haul flight 🙂
Hi, about the Jeju airport? Any suggestion.
Hi, Trazy offers a separate sim card product which can be picked up in Jeju Island. Here is the link: https://koreatravelplanning.com/recommends/prepaid-lte-4g-3g-sim-card-unlimited-data-only-1-5-10-days-pick-up-jeju/
Hello!
Do you know if I can meet up at the counter at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and buy the SIM card without booking?
You are better off pre-booking, that way all you need to do is find the counter when you arrive.
Hello Anne,
Unfortunately I didn’t find your FB group and this info until after I have arrived and I am now in seoul. Do you have advice on where I should go to sort out a SIM card now that I’m in the city?
I’ll be here for 4 months doing a term at Korea University.
Thanks!
Jason
Our article still has some longer term options with both data and voice.