On our most recent trip to South Korea we decided to purchase a KT Olleh Sim Card to use while travelling. We wanted to provide a short review of this KT Sim Card option, and also provide further information on how to order your sim card for South Korea.
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 resources 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.
Benefits of Purchasing a Sim Card for Korea
In our experience as travellers we can confidently state that either purchasing a sim card or renting a pocket wifi are great options to ensure that you have an affordable option to access data while on the go. Both options provide convenient access to the internet without the hassle of trying to find free Wifi. As you should be aware, free wifi can be a pain, due to having to find it, then log in to each wifi hotspot, plus you never really know how secure these options are. You can also use your accommodation wifi, however these are only available while you are in the building.
In our recent visit to South Korea we used data continuously – for things like the KakaoMap app to help get around. Note that Google Maps only has limited options in South Korea – so KakaoMap is the best option to get around by car, on public transport and for walking. We also regularly used data to look up information about our planned destinations, and to use the waiting time app for Everland theme park rides! And let’s not mention the urge to post to social media to share our journey with our friends and family 😀 . Check out our article on the best apps to load onto your phone for your trip to South Korea.
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. With unlimited data it is very easy to use apps like Whatsapp to make phone calls and send messages.
KT Sim Card Review
Overview of the KT Olleh Prepaid Data Only Sim Card
The KT Olleh prepaid data only sim card is a fast 4G sim card with unlimited data which is available for either a 1, 5, 10 or 30 day period. Your days commence on the date you activate your sim card.
If you are looking for a sim card with voice capability or for a longer time period I suggest you check out our detailed best sim card in Korea article at this link.
Current pricing for the KT Sim Card through Klook is as follows (note prices are correct as at April 2022, and are subject to change due to exchange rate variations and product pricing changes)
You also have the option to add on domestic calls and SMS when you collect your card by paying an extra fee of 11,000 Won which enables you to use 42 minutes of domestic calls.
- 1 day for $US 5
- 10 days for $US 28
- 30 days for $US 52
The KT Olleh sim card is available to be picked up from KT Roaming Centres located in Incheon International Airport Terminals 1 and 2.
Ordering our KT Sim Card through Klook
The first step was to order our KT Sim Card. We decided to pre-order through Klook, as we were already ordering quite a few other activities through them for our South Korea trip and their pricing was competitive. A great advantage of ordering through Klook is that they have a mobile app for your phone so you have all of your bookings in the one place, and for most items you can show an e-voucher, so you do not need to print everything out! Plus the more activities and tickets you book through Klook enables you to access further discounts on future purchases.
It is important to take note of the additional information on the Klook webpage relating to ensuring that you have an unlocked phone, also there are some phones for which you cannot use this option which are detailed on their sim card page. I strongly suggest that you plan to activate the card when you pick it up from the counter, as their staff can assist you to get started and ensure it is working correctly. If you are at the counter and unable to get it activated Klook will provide a full refund.
After making our booking for a 10 day prepaid data only sim card we received an instant booking confirmation from Klook via email within a few minutes, which included an electronic voucher as shown below. The image only has the header, the voucher also includes all of the pick up and cautions to ensure that you have the best chance of success in using your sim card.
Pickup of the KT Data Prepaid Card at Incheon Airport Terminal 1
After we arrived at Incheon Airport we followed the instructions on the Klook Voucher to find the KT Roaming Centre, which is located in the Incheon Airport Arrival hall, located between exits 6 and 7. The counter was easy to find and a photo is below so you see what it looks like.
After a short wait I handed over our Klook Voucher and my passport, and was quickly provided the KT Olleh sim card pack as shown below. A great thing is that the pack includes a sim card ejector tool, and while the sim card is provided as a micro sim, the pack includes sim adaptors for the other sim card sizes.
We subsequently installed this sim card into our son’s Samsung Galaxy S6 phone with no issues. The pack advises to turn your phone on and off at least three times, he did this and it connected and started working with no issues.
Once that step was completed we then continued with our journey.
Using the KT Olleh Telecom Sim Card
The KT Olleh sim card was really set and forget. Our son used it throughout our visit to South Korea, and was regularly accessing the internet to share photos on Instagram and to communicate with his friends. We visited Seoul, Jinju and Gyeongju and had good coverage everywhere that we travelled, both within and between cities.
Overall the KT Olleh sim card worked as promised and we would definitely order it again for future visits.
Other options you may wish to book through Klook include:
- Best SIM Card In Korea For Tourists
- Best Online Pocket Wifi Rental In South Korea For Tourists
- How To Book Tickets For The Incheon Airport Limousine Bus
- Best Hong Kong Sim Card For Tourists
- Best Pocket Wifi Hong Kong Rental
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 resources 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.
Anne Sutherland-Smith is the creative force behind Pretraveller.com, a travel blog that specializes in offering insightful guidance for exploring Japan, South Korea, Australia, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Her passion for these diverse and dynamic regions shines through in her expert advice, particularly in helping travellers stay connected with the latest in SIM cards, pocket WiFi, and eSIMs.
With an unquenchable thirst for Asian and Oceanian cultures, Anne has carved out a niche as a knowledgeable guide for those venturing into the bustling streets of Tokyo, the historical alleys of Kyoto, the vibrant scenes of Seoul, the scenic landscapes of Australia, the vibrant markets of Hong Kong, or the futuristic cityscape of Singapore. Her articles are full of practical tips and detailed information, ensuring travellers are well-equipped for their journeys.
Anne’s approach is grounded in providing reliable, authoritative travel content that enhances the travel experience. From navigating the complexities of digital connectivity on the go to immersing in the local culture, her advice is designed to make travel both enjoyable and seamless.
I am planning to go to South Korea in December and was trying to decide which would be better- a KT Olleh prepaid SIM card or pocket wifi. Your information is very useful. Thank you. Just a quick question though, is it necessary to drop off the SIM card when leaving the country?
No, with the sim card option once you are done you just throw it into the rubbish bin.
hi Anne,
Would you know if I get that KT prepaid data only simcard and use it in my pocket wifi router that I will bring from my country. Would that work ?
You can try to insert the sim card, but I cannot guarantee that it will work.