Travel & Life · Published 2026-11-03

How to Get a SIM Card or eSIM in Korea (2026 Guide for Tourists and Residents)

Short answer: If you are visiting Korea for a few days or weeks, buy a prepaid tourist eSIM online before you fly, or pick up a prepaid SIM at an airport roaming center on arrival. If you are moving to Korea, a tourist SIM is only a stopgap. A normal monthly plan needs your Alien Registration Card (ARC), and the rules differ by carrier.

This guide covers both cases, based on the Korea Tourism Organization’s VisitKorea page and the carriers’ own English pages. Prices and conditions change, so treat the numbers as a snapshot and check the carrier before you buy.

Your options at a glance

According to VisitKorea (last updated September 11, 2026), the roaming centers at Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae and Jeju airports are run by the carriers. They sell prepaid USIM cards, offer card pickup, and also rent Wi-Fi eggs and smartphones. The three carrier roaming sites listed there are KT, SK Telecom and LG U+. VisitKorea does not list prices, so check each carrier’s site.

Tourist eSIM: buy online, scan a QR code

An eSIM is built into your phone, so there is no card to insert. You buy the plan online, receive a QR code, and scan it in your phone’s settings. LG U+ describes the steps as:

• iPhone: Settings, Cellular, Add eSIM, then scan the QR code.
• Android: Settings, Connections, SIM Manager, Add eSIM, then scan the QR code.

Before you buy, dial *#06# on your phone. If an EID number appears, your phone supports eSIM. LG U+ also says it works only on phones that are not country-locked.

A few conditions from LG U+’s pages are worth knowing:

• The phone needs an internet connection (Wi-Fi is fine) while you install the eSIM.
• Once installed, an eSIM cannot be reinstalled or reissued, so do not delete it by mistake.
• The plan starts when you first use data in Korea, but the eSIM must be activated within 60 days of purchase.
• LG U+ lists phones it does not support. Its FAQ names Google Pixel and OPPO, and its eSIM product page also names Motorola. Check the current list before paying.
• You can use tethering (hotspot) with the eSIM or SIM.

Tourist physical SIM: pick up at the airport

LG U+ sells a physical SIM for pickup at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (Arrival Hall, Level 1), Gimpo Airport (Terminal 1) and Gimhae Airport (Terminal 1). It states there is no delivery service. You upload your passport when you reserve, and the page says a credit or debit card is needed at the counter. Counter hours differ by gate and can change with flight schedules; for example, Incheon T1 Gate F and T2 Gate 3 are listed as 24 hours, while others close at night.

An airport SIM is a good choice if your phone has no eSIM, or if you want a staff member to install and activate it for you. LG U+ says the physical SIM can be activated right at the airport.

Example prices: LG U+ unlimited data (data only)

LG U+ lists the same prices for its data-only eSIM and physical SIM tourist plans. This is one carrier’s example, not a ranking, and This guide did not compare it with other carriers’ current prices.

Prices as shown on LG U+’s English pages on November 3, 2026. The page shows 1 to 5 days with a “more” option for other lengths that This guide could not expand.

LG U+ says the data is unlimited without speed limits or throttling, though speeds may be managed during heavy network congestion. The usage period is counted from your first data use. It also lists a free T-money transit card for plans of 3 days or more, and a limit of 3 items per passport.

What a tourist SIM cannot do

This is the most common surprise for visitors. On LG U+’s data-only plans there are no outgoing calls or texts, and SMS verification is not available. LG U+ also states that identity verification for banking or government services is not supported on any of its tourist plans. If an app needs to send a code to a Korean number for verification, a data-only tourist SIM may not work, so plan for another way to sign in.

If you live in Korea: resident plans

Tourist products are not meant for long stays. For residents, the rules depend on your documents and the carrier. KT’s English support page lists the Alien Registration Card (ARC) as the document for foreign nationals and says:

• Prepaid lines can also be signed up with a standard passport.
• A passport-based prepaid line is available for 90 days from activation; an ARC-based prepaid line is available until the card expires.
• At least 90 days must remain on your visa to subscribe to KT mobile services.
• Each subscriber can have one prepaid and one postpaid line under their name. The page’s wording on how many postpaid lines are possible for some visas is unclear, so ask KT.
• Postpaid bills can be paid by auto-debit from a Korean bank account or a Korean credit card.

These are KT’s rules. SK Telecom and LG U+ may require different documents, and This guide did not verify their current resident requirements. Ask the carrier directly.

Quick checklist

• Is my phone unlocked? Does *#06# show an EID (for eSIM)?
• Is my phone model on the carrier’s unsupported list?
• Do I need a Korean number or SMS codes, or is data enough?
• Have I bought the plan length that matches my trip, and will I activate within the allowed window?
• If I am staying long term, do I have my ARC and enough visa time left?

Common mistakes

• Deleting or resetting the eSIM profile before the trip ends (it cannot be reinstalled).
• Buying a data-only plan and then finding an app needs SMS verification.
• Assuming one carrier’s prices and rules apply to all carriers.
• Arriving without confirming the counter’s hours for your flight time.

This guide is general information, not personal advice. Confirm current prices, hours and requirements with the carrier or airport before you buy.

Sources

• VisitKorea (Korea Tourism Organization): Electricity & Communications
• LG U+ Korea eSIM (tourist plans and eSIM conditions)
• LG U+ Korea SIM Card (airport pickup and restrictions)
• LG U+ FAQ: eSIM vs physical SIM
• KT Global Shop: What You'll Need to subscribe

Related guides

• Alien Registration Card (Residence Card) in Korea: Who Must Apply and How (2026)
• Best Time to Visit Korea: Weather and Seasons Month by Month (2026)
• Emergency Numbers and Medical Help in Korea for Foreigners (119, 112, 1330 and More)
• Paying in Korea as a Visitor: Foreign Cards, Cash, ATMs and Currency Exchange (2026)