요약
- •On arrival, a prepaid SIM or eSIM (from the airport or online) gets you connected immediately with just your passport.
- •For a cheaper long-term postpaid plan, you generally need your Residence Card and a Korean bank account or card.
- •Budget MVNO carriers (알뜰폰) run on the big three networks (SKT, KT, LG U+) for much lower monthly prices.
- •A working Korean phone number is required for banking OTPs, deliveries, and most app sign-ups — set this up early.
- •Prepaid is flexible and passport-only; postpaid is cheaper per month but needs more documents.
핵심 정보
- Day one
- Airport eSIM or prepaid SIM with passport only
- Long-term
- Postpaid plan needs Residence Card + payment method
- Cheapest
- MVNO (알뜰폰) plans on the major networks
- Networks
- SKT, KT, LG U+ (MVNOs resell these)
- Why it matters
- Number needed for bank OTP and app verification
- eSIM
- Instant activation on supported phones
단계별 안내
- 1
Get connected on arrival
Buy a prepaid SIM or eSIM at the airport or online before you land. You only need your passport, and it works immediately.
- ▸eSIM activates without a physical card
- ▸Choose a data amount that covers your first weeks
- 2
Decide prepaid vs postpaid
Prepaid is flexible and passport-only. Postpaid is cheaper per month but requires a Residence Card and usually a Korean bank account or card.
- ▸Stay on prepaid until your ARC arrives
- ▸Postpaid makes sense once you are settled
- 3
Get your Residence Card
A postpaid contract normally needs your Residence Card and a Korean payment method, so complete immigration registration first.
- ▸Have your ARC and bank card ready before visiting a store
- 4
Compare MVNO plans
Budget MVNO (알뜰폰) carriers use the same SKT/KT/LG U+ networks at much lower prices. Compare data, calls and contract length.
- ▸MVNO SIM-only plans avoid device lock-in
- ▸Check English support before signing
- 5
Sign up and verify
Sign the plan in-store or online. Your new Korean number then lets you receive bank OTPs and verify apps like delivery and maps.
- ▸Keep your number consistent across bank and government accounts
- 6
Set up essential apps
With a verified number, register for banking, delivery, maps and messaging apps that power daily life in Korea.
- ▸Link the number to your bank for OTP
- ▸Update the number anywhere you registered a temporary SIM
자주 묻는 질문
- Can I get a SIM with just my passport?
- Yes — prepaid SIMs and eSIMs are available with only a passport, which is ideal for your first days before your Residence Card arrives.
- What do I need for a postpaid plan?
- Postpaid plans usually require your Residence Card and a Korean bank account or card for automatic payment.
- What is an MVNO / 알뜰폰?
- MVNOs are budget carriers that resell the SKT, KT and LG U+ networks at lower monthly prices, often as SIM-only plans.
- Is eSIM available in Korea?
- Yes, eSIM is widely supported and activates instantly on compatible phones — a convenient option on arrival.
- Why do I need a Korean number so urgently?
- Banks send OTP codes to Korean numbers, and most apps and deliveries require phone verification, so it is one of the first things to set up.
- Can I keep my number when I switch to postpaid?
- You can often port a prepaid number to a postpaid plan; confirm portability with the new carrier when you sign up.
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