South Korea SIM Card for Tourists: What to Buy and Where

You land in Seoul, your maps app spins, and you need data before you find the train. For most visitors the fix is a prepaid SIM or an eSIM from one of Korea's three mobile carriers. You can buy it at an airport counter, at a convenience store, or online before you fly. If your phone takes an eSIM, you can have data running the moment you land.

In short:

  • Korea has three mobile networks: SK Telecom, KT, and LG U+. VisitKorea lists all three and their roaming sites.
  • You can get a physical USIM or an eSIM. VisitKorea says an eSIM is bought online, then set up by scanning a QR code.
  • Carrier tourist eSIMs usually bundle unlimited data with a Korean number. A travel eSIM like ours is data only, from $4 for 1 GB and 7 days (price on November 2, 2026).
  • Carry your passport. Korean law requires ID checks to register a line, though we could not confirm the exact rule for a tourist prepaid SIM.
South Korea eSIM from $4Install at home, connect when you land.See plans

Moosetrip sells eSIMs, so keep that in mind as you read. We have not tested these networks or counters. Everything below comes from the sources listed at the end. We did not get a current carrier price we could trust, so we do not quote one.

The three carriers and the official tourist site

Korea has three mobile network operators. VisitKorea, the national tourism site, lists them with their roaming pages: SK Telecom (sktroaming.com), KT (roaming.kt.com), and LG U+ (lguplus.com). Smaller budget brands resell these same networks, but a tourist usually buys straight from one of the three or from a shared tourist storefront.

That shared storefront exists. VisitKorea points visitors to krsim.net, which it names as an official site for SIM cards and eSIMs in Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. On krsim.net (checked November 2, 2026) you can see the main tourist products side by side: an SK Telecom SIM and eSIM, a KT SIM, and an LG U+ eSIM. So you have one page to compare before you land, instead of three carrier sites.

Our own catalog lists two of the three networks for South Korea, SK Telecom and LG U+. KT is not on our list.

SIM or eSIM: which one fits your phone

VisitKorea describes two forms:

  • A USIM is a physical SIM card. You put it in your phone's tray. You can buy one at an airport roaming center, at some convenience stores, or online for airport pickup.
  • An eSIM is a digital SIM with no physical card. You buy it online and scan a QR code to set it up. VisitKorea says to check that your phone supports eSIMs before you buy one.

So the first question is your phone, not the carrier. If your phone has no eSIM support or is locked to your home carrier, you need a physical USIM. If it takes an eSIM and is unlocked, you can skip the counter line. Check your phone here before you decide.

Where to buy beyond Incheon

Incheon is the airport most visitors use, and we cover its counters in a separate Incheon Airport SIM card guide. But it is not the only place to buy.

VisitKorea says airport roaming centers at Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju International Airports sell prepaid USIM cards and offer card pickup. So if you fly into Gimpo on a short-haul route from Tokyo or Osaka, or into Jeju or Busan's Gimhae, there is a counter in the arrivals area too.

In the city, VisitKorea says convenience stores sell physical USIM cards: CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Emart24. Stock varies by branch, so it says to check the store's website or app first. These stores are on almost every block in Seoul, which helps if you skipped the airport counter or your first SIM did not work.

You can also buy before you travel. VisitKorea says you can order a USIM online and pick it up at the airport, and that eSIMs are bought online outright. An eSIM you set up at home over Wi-Fi means you walk out of the terminal already online.

Data only or a Korean number

This is the choice that trips people up, so here is the plain version.

Carrier tourist plans often include a Korean phone number. On krsim.net (checked November 2, 2026), the SK Telecom and LG U+ eSIM options are listed with unlimited data and an 010 Korean number for calls and texts. A number helps if a shop, a host, or an app wants to send you a local SMS code.

A travel eSIM like ours is data only. There is no Korean number. Your data runs over a local network, and your home US number stays active as a second line, so you still get your usual calls and texts over Wi-Fi or your home carrier's settings. You can top up data on the same eSIM without buying a new one.

When does data only fall short? If an app or service you plan to use demands a Korean mobile number to sign up, a data-only plan cannot provide it. Many map and ride apps accept a foreign number or a credit card instead, which we cover in the Incheon guide. If you are sure you need a local number, a carrier SIM or eSIM with a number is the better buy.

Carrier SIM or eSIMTravel eSIM (ours)
Korean numberOften included (010)None, data only
Your US numberMay share the SIM slotStays on as a second line
SetupAt a counter, or onlineAt home over Wi-Fi, QR code
Where to getAirport, store, krsim.netOnline before you fly
Phone needsUSIM tray or eSIMeSIM support, unlocked

Do you need a passport?

Carry it. Korean telecom law requires a new subscriber to verify their identity. The Korea Herald reported in October 2025 that for foreigners the checks are looser and often come down to a visual passport check, and that carriers differ: it said SK Telecom accepts only a Residence Card for a foreigner's postpaid line, while LG U+ accepts a passport with extra documents and in-person checks.

That report was about postpaid plans for visa holders, not short tourist prepaid SIMs, so we could not confirm the exact rule for a tourist USIM or eSIM. The safe move is to keep your passport in hand when you buy. If you order an eSIM online, be careful that the name and passport number you enter match your passport exactly, since a mismatch is a common reason a registration fails.

How our South Korea eSIM compares

If an eSIM fits your phone, here are our South Korea prices on November 2, 2026:

DataDaysPrice
1 GB7$4.00
3 GB30$7.50
5 GB30$10.50
10 GB30$17.00
20 GB30$28.00

As a generous rule of thumb, 1 GB is about 5 hours of maps and taxi apps, or 1.5 hours of video calls. The plan days start at your first connection in South Korea, not when you buy, so you can set it up early. Our plans are on the South Korea page.

An airport SIM or a carrier eSIM may suit you better if your phone has no eSIM support, if it is locked, or if you need a Korean number. You may need nothing at all if your US plan already includes data in South Korea, so check your carrier's daily cost first.

Flying on to Japan? Compare one eSIM or two for Japan and Korea before you buy a second plan.

Questions

Can tourists use an eSIM in South Korea?

Yes. VisitKorea says Korean providers offer eSIM options you buy online and set up by scanning a QR code, and it says to check that your phone supports eSIM first. Carrier tourist eSIMs are sold on krsim.net; our travel eSIM is a data-only option.

Do I need a passport to buy a SIM card in South Korea?

Carry it. Korean law requires an ID check to register a line. We could not confirm the exact rule for a short tourist prepaid SIM, so keep your passport with you and make sure your details match it.

Where can I buy a SIM besides Incheon Airport?

VisitKorea lists airport roaming centers at Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju, and says convenience stores CU, GS25, 7-Eleven, and Emart24 sell USIM cards, with stock varying by branch.

Will a Korean SIM give me a phone number?

A carrier SIM or eSIM often includes a Korean 010 number. A travel eSIM like ours is data only, with no number, while your US number stays on as a second line.

Sources

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