How Foreign Tourists Can Use Their Phones in Korea

1. Using Roaming Services

• Activate Roaming with Your Home Carrier: Before traveling, you can contact your mobile carrier to activate roaming services for use in Korea. This allows you to use calls, texts, and data, but the charges can be high.
• Check Roaming Plans: Roaming fees can vary depending on the carrier, so it’s important to check the costs and choose the most suitable plan for your needs.

2. Purchasing a SIM Card

• Purchase a SIM Card at the Airport: The easiest and most convenient way to buy a SIM card is at the airport (Incheon Airport, Gimpo Airport, etc.). There are kiosks and stores specifically for foreign tourists where you can purchase a SIM card and immediately activate data and call services.
• Difficulty Purchasing at Regular Telecom Stores: In most regular telecom stores, purchasing a SIM card as a foreigner can be complicated, as it often requires identification or additional paperwork. Therefore, it’s much more efficient to buy your SIM card at the airport before you leave the airport.
• Types of SIM Cards: There are basic data-only SIM cards as well as SIM cards that include voice calls. You can choose the one that best suits your travel needs.
• Where to Buy: You can buy SIM cards at telecom stores (SK Telecom, KT, LG U+), airports, or online.

3. Renting a Pocket Wi-Fi

• Renting a Pocket Wi-Fi: Various telecom companies and rental services offer pocket Wi-Fi devices at the airport. This allows unlimited data use, and it’s great for group travelers, as multiple people can use it at once.
• Check Data Usage Limits: Make sure to check the data usage limits and rental fees before renting, as some services may provide limited data.

4. Using Wi-Fi in Korea

• Free Wi-Fi: Korea has a large number of public places, such as cafes, subway stations, and shopping malls, that offer free Wi-Fi. Connecting to Wi-Fi in these locations can save you data and reduce roaming charges.
• Wi-Fi Hotspots: Many cafes and restaurants provide Wi-Fi passwords. You can ask for the password and connect when needed.

5. Mobile Payment Services in Korea

• Using Mobile Payments: Korea has widely adopted mobile payment systems like KakaoPay, Naver Pay, and Samsung Pay. You can download these apps and register your international credit card to make payments easily while traveling.

6. Voice Calls and Text Messaging

• Voice Calls: If you purchase a SIM card, you can make voice calls within Korea. However, calling rates can be expensive, so using internet-based calling services (e.g., Skype, WhatsApp, KakaoTalk) may be more cost-effective.
• Messaging Apps: KakaoTalk is the most popular messaging app in Korea. Foreigners can download KakaoTalk and use it to easily stay in touch with Koreans.

7. Changing the Language Settings

• Change Language Settings: If you’re not familiar with Korean, you can change the language settings on your phone to English. Simply go to the "Settings" menu, select "Language & Input," and choose your preferred language. This will make it easier for non-Korean speakers to use their phone.

8. Phone Number Format

• Phone Number Format: In Korea, phone numbers typically follow the format 010-XXXX-XXXX. When dialing from abroad, you need to add the country code +82 and omit the first 0. For example, to call 010-1234-5678, you would dial +82-10-1234-5678.