3 Best South Korea SIM Cards for Tourists: Incheon Airport Pick-up

With more than 200k bookings, this South Korea SIM card is the most popular option among travelers. Our team at Travlists likes that it provides up to 5G connectivity and is available for pick-up at Incheon Airport, Gimpo Airport, and Gimhae Airport. Alternatively, if you want to use an eSIM so you won’t have to physically install a SIM card on your phone, you can also get this bestselling eSIM on Klook.

In a nutshell

• Cheapest SIM card for Korea. The most affordable option comes from SKT, which has unlimited data plans starting at only $3.99. Book their SIM card here for pick-up at the airports in Incheon, Gimpo, Busan, Daegu, and Jeju.
• Most popular Korea SIM card. Recommended by 11k travelers and booked more than 200k times, this SIM card from KT (formerly KT Olleh) is the most purchased option. I have been personally using a KT SIM card for the last 5 years, and I’m really satisfied with the 5G speeds and stable connection. Book a plan for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, or up to 3 months here — use our Klook promo code TRAVLISTS to get an extra 3-8% discount.
• Korea SIM card with T-Money. If you are thinking about buying a SIM card and a T-Money transportation card, consider booking this 2-in-1 bundle from LG U+. Their SIM card is encased in a T-Money card that you can use to take the subway, buses, and cabs in South Korea.
• SIM card with phone number. Need to make calls and texts while exploring South Korea? You can get a Korea SIM card with phone number here.

Quick Book

Best SIM Cards for South Korea

South Korea SIM Cards with Unlimited Data

All three major carriers or telcos in South Korea, namely KT, SKT, and LG U+, offer SIM cards with unlimited data plans for tourists. However, they vary in terms of duration and rates. Check out the quick comparison below:

PROVIDER	PLAN	PRICE
1. SK Telecom	Unlimited data for 1-30 days	Book from $3.99 ➜
2. KT	Unlimited data for 1-90 days	Book from $4.59 ➜
3. LG U+	Unlimited data for 3-30 days ($4.33 per day)	Book from $12.99 ➜

Korea SIM Card with Phone Number, Calls, & Texts

If you need a SIM card with a local phone number (starting with +82), you can get one here. They offer SIM cards with data, calls, and texts starting at only $4.59 (top-up for calls and texts cost an extra $7.6). This option is also the only one that offers long-term plans (60-90 days available), making them a suitable option for business travelers and students.

SIM Card Pick-up Locations & Hours

In South Korea, prepaid SIM cards can be picked up easily at the following airports:

AIRPORT	HOURS	OPTION
1. Incheon International Airport Terminal 1	Open 24/7	Book ➜
2. Incheon International Airport Terminal 2	Open 24/7	Book ➜
3. Gimpo International Airport	6:30am-11pm daily	Book ➜
4. Gimhae Airport	6:30am-11pm daily	Book ➜
5. Daegu Airport	6am-10pm daily	Book ➜
6. Jeju International Airport	7am-7pm	Book ➜

As an alternative, if you will travel to South Korea from Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and other countries, you may find a SIM card that you can pick up in these airports outside Korea here.

South Korea SIM Card Providers & Reviews

As mentioned above, the best providers of South Korea SIM Cards are the country’s leading networks: KT, SKT, and LG U+. These carriers provide high-speed browsing with up to 5G speeds, so you can enjoy an internet experience like locals do. Check out our listing with more details and reviews below:

1. KT (Korea Telecom or KT Olleh)

KT (also known as Korea Telecom or KT Olleh) is one of the major telcos in South Korea. A brand endorsed by top actors and K-pop icons, KT SIM cards provide an ultra-fast and stable internet connection nationwide. I have used KT’s tourist SIM cards three times before moving to South Korea, and I really like my overall experience. I was able to connect with 5G speeds and encountered no down time. This is why I have KT as my daily postpaid SIM card now (been using it for 5 years).

• PRICE: Book here starting at $4.59
• WHAT YOU’LL GET: Unlimited data for 1-90 days, optional calls and texts, mobile hotspot, SIM cards in various sizes, Klook Cash, & nationwide coverage in South Korea powered by KT
• PICK-UP LOCATIONS & HOURS. This South Korea SIM card can be picked up at the following:
  • Incheon International Airport Terminal 1
    • 1/F Gate 10-11 (E), KT Roaming Center: Open 24/7
    • 1/F KT Roaming Center Counter C: Open 6am-10pm
  • Incheon International Airport Terminal 2
    • 1/F Gate 2-3, KT Roaming Center: Open 24/7
  • Gimpo Airport
    • 1/F Gate 1, KT Roaming Center: Open 6:30am-11pm
  • Gimhae International Airport
    • 1/F Gate 3, KT Roaming Center: 6am-10pm daily
• BEST REVIEW: “It was my second time ordering this product and it was very convenient to use and easy to redeem. I only restart my phone twice and works fine during my stay…”

2. SKT (SK Telecom)

As the second largest network in South Korea, with around 45% market share, SKT or SK Telecom is a SIM card that is trusted by locals. Their tourist SIM card plans start at only $3.99, making it the most affordable option among the three carriers in this list. While I have no experience trying out a SIM card from SKT, I am subsribed to their home WiFi service. The internet speeds are equally fast, and I have encountered no issues whatsoever with this telco.

• PRICE: Book here starting at $3.99!
• WHAT YOU’LL GET: Unlimited data for 1-30 days, domestic texts and calls (optional), mobile hotspot, Klook Cash, & nationwide coverage in South Korea powered by SK Telecom
• PICK-UP LOCATIONS & HOURS. This South Korea SIM card by SKT can be picked up at the following:
  • Incheon International Airport, Terminal 1
    • 1/F Gate 9-10, SKT Roaming Center Counter: Open 24/7
  • Incheon International Airport, Terminal 2
    • 1/F Gate 4-5, SKT Roaming Center Counter: Open 24/7
  • Gimpo International Airport
    • 1/F Gate 1, SK Roaming Center Counter: Open 24/7
• BEST REVIEW: “[This… SIM card] was easily redeemable at the Incheon Airport… speed [was] reliable wherever we [went]… What we liked most about it is it was easy to [set] up. We were able to use the mobile data as soon as we inserted the [SIM] in…our phones! We definitely recommend this when traveling around Seoul,” reads a review for this SIM card in South Korea on Klook.

3. LG U+

If you’re thinking about getting a transportation card in South Korea, then consider this SIM card with a free T-Money Card from LG U+. Their Korean SIM card with unlimited data and optional phone number comes with a free T-Money so you don’t have to purchase one separately. My bestfriend and business partner, who is a Korean, has been using LG U+ for years now. He likes the service, network speeds, and the decent pricing plans that are budget-friendly.

• PRICE: Book here starting at $12.19 for 3 days (around $4.06 per day)
• WHAT YOU’LL GET: Unlimited data for 3-30 days, T-Money card, domestic texts and calls (optional), mobile hotspot, Klook Cash, & nationwide coverage in South Korea powered by LG U+
• PICK-UP LOCATIONS & HOURS. This South Korea SIM card with T-Money by LG U+ can be picked up at the following:
  • Incheon International Airport, Terminal 1
    • Arrivals Hall, Gate 6-7 or 10-11, LG U+ Booth: 6am-10pm
  • Incheon International Airport, Terminal 2
    • Arrivals Hall, Gate 4-5, LG U+ Booth: 6am-10pm
  • Gimhae International Airport
    • Arrivals Hall, Gate 2-3, LG U+ Booth: 6am-10pm
• BEST REVIEW: “I highly [recommend] buying this 2-in-1 data [SIM] and T-money card… super [fast]! I had no problems searching for directions to get from one place to another… It’s really fast and reliable. Let’s not forget the T-money card. It is so convenient as I no longer have to purchase single journey tickets. This card can be used in trains, buses, taxis and convenience stores. Amazing!”

South Korea SIM Card vs. eSIM

While embedded SIMs (eSIM) and SIM cards function the same way, they differ in the installation process. SIM cards from KT, SKT, and LG U+ need to be picked up at the airport counter and be physically installed, while eSIMs can be downloaded and used right away. Our team at Travlists has tried both, and we found that eSIMs are more convenient to use. There was no need to queue at the airport counter or swap our current SIM cards with another. However, I know some folks who still prefer using the physical SIM card as it is more familiar to use.

If you are considering to get a South Korea eSIM, you can choose from any of the following:

• South Korea eSIM by SKT
• South Korea eSIM by KT
• South Korea eSIM by Airalo (15% off with code TRAVLISTS15)
• South Korea eSIM by BNESIM (30% off with code TRAVLISTS)

Seoul Travel Deals

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