Last Updated on September 16, 2024 by Christine Kaaloa

Updated: May 2019 For unlocked mobile users, you can also get  a Korean SIM card and data plan too!

Traveling to Korea and want to keep in touch with friends or have a backup phone?

Renting a phone in Korea in person

Firstly, Korea is a CDMA based network; unless your foreign phone has CDMA capability, it may not work here. If you’re using the roaming fees from your mobile provider back home, then that can be stressful.

It’s not worth it. Korea rents cheap mobile phones, smartphones and WIFI eggs, that you can use as hotspots.

Why have a phone in Korea?

In many cases, having a phone is nice to have as a safety backup. But here’s two reasons I’d recommend having a phone:

1. You have friends you’re traveling with
2. You need help getting around via navigational apps like Google Maps, Google Translate, Waze or Metro app.  Korean cities tend to be big and spaced out, addresses don’t run chronologically and subways can have multiple exits, letting out on different streets. Unless we know the neighborhood we’re meeting at, a phone comes in handy.
3. You have Korean friends or want to conduct business calls through Kakao app.  Kakao is the main app used by Koreans.
4. To make emergency calls: The information hotline in Korea is 1330. If there’s a number you want to remember to call for train times, directions, restaurant information, or last-minute information,.. this is it. It directs you to the tourism office. While there are city prefix codes, 1330 is the number calls will route back to.

What are the best phone rental companies in Korea?

SK Telecomm, S-Roaming, Olleh KT . My preferred company is SK Telecomm . I have an account with them seeing as I’ve visited a lot.

Where can rent a phone in Korea?

There are rental stalls at the main airports, such as Incheon (not far outside the international  baggage claim),  Gimhae- Busan , Jeju International Airport, Gwangju rent them. Domestic airports in Korea, generally don’t have mobile rental shops.

You can pick them up and drop them off at the main airports that rent them out. You can drop them off at different airport locations as long as the airport has a kiosk rental desk.

Some airports, such as Busan and Incheon have their rental shops placed in travel convenient spots. For instance,  downstairs (near ‘Baggage Claim and Arrivals’) is where you’d rent the phone and upstairs (‘Departure and Check in’) is the drop-off.

The mobile rental shops tend to be located side-by-side.

How much does a Korean rental phone cost ?

Renting a basic phone can run around 3,300 – 6,000 won a day for a basic phone. A smart phone will cost 8,000 won and up!

If you’re returning to Korea and use the same account, you could get as much as 1,500 won per day (under $1.50) ! On a recent trip, my mom paid 18,000 won for 12 days!

Usually, locals calls cost around 600 won/minute, while text is 100 won/ text. Long distance charges range. Smartphones with an unlimited data plan, a SIM card option or internet hotspot eggs will price higher. Unless you’re doing business, a basic phone is all you need.

Can I reserve rental phones in advance?

If you rent a Korean phone or purchase a Korean SIM from a telecomm service from a kiosk at the airport, you cannot reserve in advance. .

If you want to book in advance for peace of mind, it’s easy and more convenient to do it through the online options I presented.

What documents will I need to bring to rent a phone in Korea?

You’ll need a passport and a credit card. If you’re looking to rent a Korea 4G WiFi egg, just click on that link and you can pick it up at any Korean airport!

What are the cons of renting a phone in Korea?

The cons of renting rent a Korean phone, is that you will not have your favorite mobile apps and email pre-installed. You will have basic functionality if you get a clam shell phone and have internet access with a rented smartphone. Also, your Korean phone will have Korean defaults, so there may be a couple of hiccups in using it and occasionally getting texts or default internet browsers using the Korean language.

What if I want to use my unlocked phone: Can I buy a Korean SIM card to use with it?

Yes, you can. Before Korea used to be strictly CDMA and closed to many phones outside of Korea. These days with technology and western mobile makers shifting up to devices to take both CDMA and GSM, you can use your unlocked phone in Korea.

I typically prefer using my own mobile phone when I travel because I have all my travel, banking apps and email.  My phone is customized to my personal use and I have already downloaded apps that I need. My default language  is also set to English.

I can always turn my iPhone into a hotspot to tether other devices like my laptop. So it basically does the same job as an Wi egFig minus the extra weight.

Tip: Check out my post on how to turn your phone into a wifi hotspot).

Korean SIM cards allow you to use your mobile phone. The only requirement is that you need an unlocked phone.

Buying a Korean SIM at the airport

If you’re flying into Incheon Airport, you can buy a Korean SIM at any one of the telecomm provider stands, such as KT, SKT, LG U+. However, not all airports in Korea sell SIM cards or rental phones. Typically, only the international airports in Korea- Incheon and Busan reliably house telecomm stores for travelers’ needs.

Convenience stores, such as 7 Eleven, GS25, CU, also sell Korean SIM cards.

Three alternate online options to renting a phone in Korea:

1. Buy an eSim plan online

These days eSIMs make using your personal smart phone and having internet data plans a breeze. I use Airalo. I love this option because you can activate your card at any time – before or upon arrival, provided you have initial WiFi to activate your mobile app.  They have two options: local eSIM and  global eSIM. The local eSIM is to activate your internet data plan with a local provider. This means you can only use it in your destination country.

The global eSIM allows you to activate and use your internet data plan across multiple countries, so if you’re flying into a connecting country or traveling through several countries, they you can have internet in each country.  I’ve tried it and service is pretty good. It cuts down my stress and ToDos greatly as I am no longer searching from open WiFi or local SIM dealers when I arrive. It is also cheaper than having your home phone on roaming.\!

2. Buy a Korean Travel SIM online with Airport Pickup

Buying a Korean SIM online from Klook is one of the easiest and quickest way, because you can use your own unlocked phone- provided it is able to use other SIM cards. Just pick it up at the Klook desk at the airport. It gives you an internet data plan and is still economical too.

You see, not all airports in Korea sell SIM cards. For instance, domestic airports in Korea generally do not sell rental phones and SIM cards to travelers. Not to mention, with buying it online, at least you don’t have to stress about it when you get there. Unless you know you are flying into Incheon Airport, it is just easiest to buy a SIM at the airport you know you’re flying into and pick it up when you arrive.

Wherever a Klook desk is, you can pick one up without worry and Klook even has options for you to have it sent to your home country. They’re limited in the countries they send it to however. Here’s are a few popular options I found below:

Seoul: Korean 4G SIM card – pickup in Incheon Airport (international)

Seoul: Korean 4G SIM card – pickup in Gimpo Airport (domestic)

Busan: Korean 4G SIM card – pickup at Gimhae Airport

3. Rent a WiFi egg or hotspot in Korea online

If you want an internet hub for multiple devices or for a family or group to use, you want a global wifi hub or egg.

A Korea 4G KT WiFi egg from Klook costs around $2.45 a day with pickups at Incheon, Busan and Gimhae Airports

A Skyroam Solis 5G Global Hotspot costs approximately $9.00  -$12.00 a day but you can add up to 16 devices and can use it in multiple countries. This requires advance booking as they need to mail you the hotspot. After you receive your Skyroam Solis, you can activate it via mobile app.

Tip: Use my referral code GRRRLTRAVELER for a discount.

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