Internet in South Korea: All you need to know

If you’re traveling to South Korea and planning to use international roaming, a single MB can cost you over $10, and that doesn’t include extra charges for texting or calling abroad.

But international roaming is not the only way to get mobile internet abroad. This guide will explore all the internet options in South Korea that travelers have, such as a travel eSIM, to stay connected during their trip.

Peace of mind before you fly

Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.

Buy an eSIM for South Korea

Holafly eSIM for South Korea: Unlimited data in South Korea

The Holafly eSIM for South Korea uses South Korea’s advanced technology to offer high-speed mobile internet without the hassle of physical SIM cards. You get a reliable, unlimited internet connection, up to 500 MB of hotspot data, personalized days, and 24/7 customer support. 

Plus, depending on how long you’re staying, your unlimited eSIM plan can cost anywhere from $6.90 to $1.55 per day,  ideal for heavy internet usage, such as video streaming or tethering. The only requirement is an eSIM-compatible phone.

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Local SIM card for South Korea

If you have a SIM-only phone, you can use a prepaid SIM card from South Korea’s leading mobile providers: SK Telecom, KT, and LG U+.

When you arrive in South Korea, you can get a data plan from one of these carriers, with prices ranging from around $5 to $52 USD. These plans often include up to unlimited data and are valid for 1 to 30 days, depending on the option you choose.

You can buy a SIM card at airports, retail stores like Lotte or 7-Eleven, and some online retailers. Just make sure you bring your passport, as it’s required by local providers when purchasing a Korea SIM card,

The best option depends on your expected internet usage, travel duration, and device compatibility. Here’s a quick look at the plans local providers offer.

While this is a reliable option for getting mobile internet in South Korea, SIM-swapping can become an issue, or even impossible, if your mobile devices don’t support SIM cards.

Note: Some unlimited plans have a data cap, which will slow down your internet usage.

Roaming in South Korea

International roaming is a good option for staying connected in South Korea, but it’s not the cheapest.

Depending on your plan, you can pay up to $12/day for a 1-day roaming pass, r you might have some roaming data included in your plan at no extra cost.

Let’s take a closer look at the different roaming options available for visitors looking to get internet in South Korea.

USA roaming in South Korea

Pricing for International roaming in South Korea for USA mobile providers varies a lot.

For T-Mobile users, Experience Plans offer built-in roaming, up to 15 GB of high-speed internet, and unlimited data at lower speeds.

For AT&T and Verizon users, travelers can get internet access with daily roaming passes, which cost $12 and include unlimited data, text, and calls.

But these aren’t the only available options in South Korea. There are also pay-as-you-go rates. Here’s a breakdown of all available roaming options:

UK roaming in South Korea

UK mobile providers have different roaming options for South Korea, ranging from free plans to 14-day roaming passes.

Three is the only mobile provider offering free roaming on Value and Complete plans for up to 56 days, while EE, Vodafone UK, and O2 offer roaming passes and pay-as-you-go rates.

Here’s what you should consider based on your UK mobile provider

Canada roaming in South Korea

Mobile providers in Canada offer two roaming options for South Korea: roaming passes and pay-as-you-go rates.

Rogers is the only mobile provider offering roaming passes for 14 to 30 days, which range from $90 to $100 CAD, unlocking your local allowance while in Korea.

However, daily roaming passes are an alternative for shorter trips, and Bell and Telus also offer them.

Let’s explore the pricing for the different roaming plans from Canadian mobile providers.

Note: Rogers daily roaming passes are available for up to 20 days per billing cycle.

Australia roaming in South Korea

Australian mobile providers Optus, Telstra, and Vodafone AU also offer two roaming plans to stay connected in South Korea.

They currently work with daily roaming passes and pay-as-you-go rates. There aren’t week or month-long roaming passes available.

Here’s a quick look at how much roaming costs for mobile providers.

Public WiFi in South Korea

Public WiFi is a great option in South Korea to avoid spending too much on internet usage, but it’s not the safest option.

When you arrive at places like the Incheon International Airport, you can use free WiFi. This also applies to restaurants, malls, and train stations across the country.

However, free WiFi is not the safest way to get mobile internet. Since it’s free, everyone can access it, which makes your personal and financial information unsafe. Plus, chances are you won’t get high-speed internet with a free hotspot.

If you want to use free WiFi, do so for a short period of time, such as sending a message, searching for an address, or something similar, but avoid using it full-time on your trip.

Pocket WiFi in South Korea

Pocket WiFi is useful for group travel or high internet usage, but it comes with high rental fees and potential data limits.

However, using a pocket WiFi in South Korea can cost you even more than using roaming, as renting one of these devices can cost $49/day without including delivery fees and other add-ons, like portable charges.

But if you need high-speed internet to share with others or to connect to other devices you own, using Holafly Plans is a great alternative to getting WiFi in South Korea.

For $64.90/month, you get unlimited data, unlimited hotspot data, 24/7 customer support, and coverage in over 170 destinations with one eSIM, and it costs less than international roaming especially with heavy internet usage.

Peace of mind before you fly

Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.

Explore Holafly Plans

What is the best way to get internet in South Korea?

South Korea has one of the highest internet penetration rates globally, with over 90% of the population being online users thanks to excellent internet infrastructure.  

Whether you’re a tourist or a digital nomad, your internet usage needs will vary,  but having flexible, secure internet access is key. A travel eSIM gives you just that, as it can include unlimited data, up to unlimited hotspot data, excellent coverage, and a price that is way lower than roaming.

While other options, like a prepaid SIM card, have a similar price, most modern smartphones leave the SIM card tray aside, meaning some devices won’t work with them at all.

Roaming and pocket WiFi devices limit internet usage a lot, and since these are so expensive, it’s better to avoid them.

Here’s a quick view of every option and how they work:

So, using an eSIM for South Korea is a cost-effective and secure way to get internet access, and you only need an eSIM-compatible phone

Planning a trip to other Asian countries? Find out how mobile internet works there:

• Internet in China
• Mobile internet in Hong Kong
• Internet in Indonesia
• Mobile internet in Japan
• Internet in Singapore
• Mobile internet in Thailand

Internet in South Korea – Frequently Asked Questions

Plans that may interest you

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Julio Osuna

English Content Writer

I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.

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