Korea Travel Essentials #3: Get a SIM or eSIM for Data — Carrier Counters, Passport Check and Country Lock
Part 3 of Korea Travel Essentials — five things to set up before you arrive in Korea.
Decide one thing before you compare anything: data only, or data plus a Korean 010 number. On the KT official pages, that single choice decides whether you can buy online or must go to an airport counter.
Photo: Bambi (bambiblog.com)
The signs above those counters read "SIM · eSIM Unlimited Data — Just add 5,500 won to get 60min call", "FREE Transportation CARD", "5G FAST UPGRADE", "GET FREE T-MONEY" and "SIM Setup Support Here!". That is signage wording in a photo, not a condition verified on an official page.
| Item | Data only | Data + calls/SMS |
|---|---|---|
| Where to buy (KT) | On site & online | On site only (KT roaming center at airport) |
| Data | Unlimited (speed control) | Unlimited (speed control) |
| Incoming call/SMS | Free, after identity verification | Free, after identity verification |
| Outgoing call/SMS | Not available | Additional charge |
| Lines per person (KT) | 4 | 1 |
| Korean-issued cards | Not accepted (KT) | Not accepted (KT) |
| Device requirement | Country lock must be off | Country lock must be off |
Step 1. Decide data-only or data + a Korean 010 number before you look at prices
Source: KT official roaming site, m.roaming.kt.com/eng (captured Oct 9, 2026)
The KT screen is headed "eSIM Plans / Prepaid for foreigners visiting Korea" and states "All numbers are provided with 010". Both products show data as "unlimited(speed control)"; the split is in voice. On both, incoming Call/SMS is free but marked "Available after Identity verification(Entry check)"; outgoing costs extra on the eSIM and is "Not available" on the Data eSIM.
The purchase row is the part that changes your airport plan: the voice eSIM is "Available on site only (KT roaming center at Airport)", while the Data eSIM is "Available on site & online". KT also lists one voice line and four data lines per person. For a physical SIM, the same site lists three steps — reserve and pay, visit the KT roaming center at your arrival airport, then pick up the SIM after identification with a passport or alien registration card.
Step 2. Read the KT price table by day count, not by plan name
Source: KT official roaming site, m.roaming.kt.com/eng (captured Oct 9, 2026)
The table has three columns: Data, Data & Voice ("Approximately 60 minutes provided") and Data & Travel ("0 min (Top-Up Required)", "Free Transportation Card Provided"). Prices are shown VAT included, and the list runs out to 60–90 days.
| Days | Data | Data & Voice | Data & Travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ₩6,500 | – | – |
| 2 | ₩12,000 | – | – |
| 3 | ₩18,000 | ₩23,500 | ₩16,200 |
| 5 | ₩27,500 | ₩33,000 | ₩24,700 |
| 10 | ₩38,500 | ₩44,000 | ₩34,600 |
Two things to notice. There is no 1-day or 2-day row for Data & Voice, so the shortest voice option on this table starts at 3 days. And "unlimited" is conditional: "After 11GB of data usage on a line in a day, you may still use data service unlimited at the speed of 5Mbps. You get your daily 11GB every midnight." A discount label also appears on the table, but its conditions were not checked here, so none of the prices above assume it.
Step 3. Clear three blockers before you fly: country lock, card, one-time install
Source: KT official roaming site, m.roaming.kt.com/eng (captured Oct 9, 2026)
KT states: "To use this service, the country lock on your device must be turned off," and tells you to check with your current carrier. No unlocking method is given on this screen, and it differs by device and carrier — so the only action this page supports is asking your home carrier before departure.
The other two lines are financial. "Payment with credit or debit cards issued in Korea is not accepted," and "eSIM purchases are non-cancellable and non-refundable once the purchase is completed." The same notice says an eSIM can be installed only one time; deleting the profile does not get you a new QR, and a QR not installed within 30 days of purchase is auto-cancelled with no refund. The product is for stays within 90 days, with a maximum of 90 days from first activation including extensions. For physical SIMs, KT notes some handsets may need up to five restarts before the SIM is recognized.
Step 4. Expect data first, calls and texts only after passport verification
Source: SK Telecom official roaming site, skroaming.com (captured Oct 9, 2026)
The SK Telecom steps read: STEP 1 purchase the plan online, STEP 2 download the QR code from the eSIM voucher sent via email, STEP 3 passport verification, STEP 4 use the plan while in Korea. The same page says you can purchase online on the official website or at an airport roaming center.
Source: SK Telecom official roaming site, skroaming.com (captured Oct 9, 2026)
Two sentences explain what works before and after that check: "Data usage is available regardless of passport verification status," and "Receiving voice & text is available after passport verification; outgoing calls and messages require top-up." For an online-paid eSIM, SK Telecom says verification can be completed at the airport roaming center or through the emailed voucher. The product is for foreign visitors only — a Korean passport cannot be used — and for stays of 90 days or less. KT words it differently on its own screen (incoming Call/SMS free, available after Identity verification), but the split is the same. A phone with working data and no calls right after landing matches the published flow.
Step 5. Find the counter: Incheon Terminal 1 and 2 locations and hours
Source: KT official roaming site, m.roaming.kt.com/eng (captured Oct 9, 2026)
Source: SK Telecom official roaming site, skroaming.com (captured Oct 9, 2026)
Source: SK Telecom official roaming site, skroaming.com (captured Oct 9, 2026)
| Carrier | Location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| KT | Incheon T1, 1F arrival floor, near Arrival Hall A (opposite Exit 2) | 06:00–22:00 |
| KT | Incheon T1, 1F arrival floor, near Arrival Hall F (opposite Exit 13) | 24 hours |
| SK Telecom | Incheon T1, 1F, opposite Gate 13 | 24 hours |
| SK Telecom | Incheon T1, 1F, opposite Gate 2 | 06:00–22:00 |
| SK Telecom | Incheon T2, 1F Arrival Hall, opposite Exit 7 | 24 hours |
The KT screen also lists Terminal 2, Gimpo and Gimhae as separate tabs, which were not opened here. At Incheon Terminal 1, both carriers list a 24-hour desk on the arrival floor, so a late-night landing there still has an open counter. LG U+ appears on the counter signage in the photo above; its official page was not checked, so nothing beyond "a counter exists" is claimed.
What these screens do not answer
No SK Telecom price table was captured, so every amount in this post comes from the KT table only. No judgment is made about which carrier is cheaper or faster — the two official pages are placed side by side as written.
Unlocking procedures, APN values and device-specific installation steps do not appear on these screens. Neither does what happens if passport verification is rejected, or whether a refund applies in that case. How a companion's or a child's device is handled, beyond KT's per-person line count of 1 voice and 4 data, is not shown either.
Worth asking at the counter: whether your handset model is supported, what happens if the QR fails, and how the remaining period is handled when you leave. KT customer center +82-2-2190-0901, press 6 for foreign customers, Mon–Fri 09:00–18:00 excluding holidays. SK Telecom shows 82-2-6343-9000 and [email protected] on screen.
Back to the series: Korea Travel Essentials: 5 Things to Set Up Before You Arrive
