Phone plans and SIM cards in Korea for working holiday makers

Tourist SIM, eSIM or a monthly plan? What you can get with just a passport, what changes once you have an ARC, and how to save money.

Last checked 2 November 2026. Rules change, so confirm anything important with the official source linked in the article.

You need mobile data in Korea for maps, KakaoTalk and job hunting. The right phone plan depends on one thing: whether you have your ARC (residence card) yet.

Before your ARC: tourist SIM or eSIM

With only your passport, you can get:

A tourist prepaid SIM from the big carriers (SKT, KT, LG U+), sold at the airport and online. Unlimited data for a set number of days.
An eSIM from an international eSIM seller, bought online before you fly. Data only, no Korean number.

As a rough idea, carrier tourist SIMs cost about ₩38,000 for 10 days and ₩70,000 for 30 days of unlimited data in 2026. Ordering online for airport pickup is usually a little cheaper than walking up to the counter.

The catch: a passport-registered number usually works for calls and texts, but not for “identity verification” (본인인증), the text-message check Korean banks, apps and websites use. That’s why most working holiday makers switch plans once they get their ARC.

After your ARC: a monthly plan

Once you have your ARC, you can sign up for a regular monthly plan. You have two choices.

Big carriers (SKT, KT, LG U+)

Shops everywhere, sometimes with English-speaking staff.
Often more expensive, and may push a long contract or a new phone.

Budget carriers (알뜰폰, “MVNO”)

Use the same networks as the big three, at a much lower price.
Many have no contract and plans that cost a fraction of the big carriers’.
Sign-up is often online and in Korean, so ask a Korean friend or coworker to help, or look for providers that market to foreigners.

Tip: ask whether your prepaid number can be converted to the new plan. Keeping the same number saves you updating it with your employer, bank and landlord.

Things to know

Bring an unlocked phone. If your phone is locked to a carrier at home, a Korean SIM won’t work in it.
Cancel before you leave Korea. Leave a few days for it, and get confirmation that the plan is closed. Unpaid bills can cause problems if you come back to Korea later.

Which should you choose?

Your situation	Best option
First few weeks, waiting for ARC	Tourist prepaid SIM or eSIM
Have your ARC, staying months	Budget (MVNO) monthly plan
Need help in English, don’t mind paying more	Big-carrier monthly plan