Young’s I/OGuides that smooth out small travel hassles
← Arrival, payments, transportAll of Korea · Right after arrival
Compiled from travel guide materials

Internet on Arrival: eSIM or Airport Pickup, No Phone Number Included

Navigation, taxi calls and translation all depend on the internet. If you install an eSIM before you leave, you can switch it on as soon as you land. Just be aware that data-only plans have no Korean phone number.

Checked on
Phone number
Data-only eSIMs and pocket Wi-Fi do not come with a Korean number
When to install
Some eSIM products have a short 30-day window to start using after issue (check each product)
Caution
Your phone must be SIM-unlocked and support eSIM. Buying at the airport tends to be expensive
International calls
One source says calling with a Japanese SIM costs around 99 yen per 30 seconds (check the rates)

Products, prices and conditions vary by seller. Check the seller's information before you buy.

How to do it

  1. Buy an eSIM in Japan and finish installing it (most need Wi-Fi).
  2. After arriving in Korea, turn off airplane mode and turn on the eSIM line and data roaming.
  3. For places that need a Korean number, such as restaurant reservations, assume you won't have one and look first for reservation services that work by email.

Korean to show on the spot

유심 카운터가 어디예요?

Where is the SIM counter?

Wi-Fi 비밀번호를 알려 주세요.

Could you tell me the Wi-Fi password?

Sources checked