Mobile carrier / 010
Living in Korea

Korean mobile carriers for foreigners

Getting a real 010 number in your name is the key that unlocks 본인인증 — and with it banks, delivery apps, 당근마켓, and government sites. 7 carrier/plan options compared (5 that pass identity verification, 3 that work with no ARC yet), the prepaid-vs-postpaid reality, and the arrival → ARC → port flow + 8 tips.

7 carriers + plan options

7 results

KT

케이티
📡 Major carrier

₩33,000–90,000/mo · lock-in: 12 months (postpaid)

EN: strong본인인증 OKARC needed
Best for
Foreigners who want the best English support on a major network
Highlights:
  • • Strong English customer service + global stores
  • • Full 본인인증 on a postpaid 010 line
  • • Good coverage nationwide
  • • Olleh foreigner plans

Often the easiest major for foreigners — English-speaking staff at global/foreigner branches. Postpaid needs your ARC; saves ~30% vs prepaid.

LG U+

엘지유플러스
📡 Major carrier

₩33,000–90,000/mo · lock-in: 12 months (postpaid)

EN: strong본인인증 OKARC needed
Best for
Strong English support + competitive data plans
Highlights:
  • • Good English/foreigner service
  • • Full 본인인증
  • • Often aggressive data promos
  • • Solid urban coverage

The other foreigner-friendly major alongside KT. Compare its current promo data plans against KT before signing a 12-month contract.

Foreigner-focused MVNO (English + ARC help)

외국인 특화 알뜰폰
💸 알뜰폰 (MVNO)

₩12,000–40,000/mo · lock-in: usually none

EN: strong본인인증 OKNo ARC
Best for
Foreigners who want English signup + a smooth prepaid→postpaid path
Highlights:
  • • English signup + support (e.g. Kimchi Mobile)
  • • Prepaid now, convert when ARC arrives
  • • Helps with 본인인증 setup
  • • No-Korean-required onboarding

The smoothest path for non-Korean speakers — start prepaid with a passport, then convert to a 본인인증-capable postpaid 010 line once your ARC lands, keeping the number.

Tourist data eSIM (no number)

데이터 eSIM
🎫 Prepaid / tourist

₩5,000–30,000/mo · lock-in: none

EN: strongNo 본인인증No ARC
Best for
Short trips needing data only (not a resident solution)
Highlights:
  • • Data-only, instant eSIM
  • • No KR number
  • • Cheapest for short stays
  • • Buy abroad before flying

For tourists who just need data — see /sim for the full tourist comparison. NOT for residents: no 010 number means no 본인인증. Listed here for contrast.

SKT (SK Telecom)

SK텔레콤
📡 Major carrier

₩33,000–100,000/mo · lock-in: 12 months (postpaid)

EN: some본인인증 OKARC needed
Best for
Widest / strongest network coverage
Highlights:
  • • Largest subscriber base + coverage
  • • Full 본인인증
  • • Best rural/edge coverage
  • • T-membership perks

The biggest network — pick it if you travel to the countryside or want the strongest signal. English support is a notch below KT/LG U+.

알뜰폰 (MVNO resellers)

알뜰폰
💸 알뜰폰 (MVNO)

₩10,000–35,000/mo · lock-in: often none

EN: some본인인증 OKARC needed
Best for
The cheapest monthly bill once you have an ARC
Highlights:
  • • ~30–50% cheaper than the majors
  • • Runs on SKT/KT/LG U+ networks (same coverage)
  • • Often no lock-in
  • • Foreigner-focused MVNOs (e.g. Kimchi Mobile) offer English + ARC help

Best value for residents. Same network, much cheaper. English/ARC support varies by brand — pick a foreigner-friendly MVNO. A postpaid MVNO 010 line still passes 본인인증.

Prepaid (선불폰) — arrival default

선불폰
🎫 Prepaid / tourist

₩15,000–50,000/mo · lock-in: none

EN: someNo 본인인증No ARC
Best for
Your first weeks, before the ARC arrives
Highlights:
  • • Passport-only — buy on arrival
  • • No contract
  • • Available at airport + carrier shops
  • • Top-up as you go

Everyone starts here: postpaid needs an ARC that comes 2–6 weeks after landing. Caveat: many prepaid lines do NOT pass full 본인인증 — treat it as a bridge, then port to postpaid.

Prepaid vs postpaid — the key facts

Prepaid (선불) — passport, day one

Buy with just a passport on arrival (airport or carrier shop). No contract, top-up as you go. The catch: many prepaid lines can't complete 본인인증, and it costs more per GB than postpaid.

Postpaid (후불) — needs your ARC

The cheap, full-feature contracts. Requires an ARC (which arrives 2–6 weeks after you land) + sometimes a Korean bank account for auto-pay. Saves ~30–34%/month but locks you into ~12 months.

A 010 line = the 본인인증 key

A postpaid 010 number registered in YOUR name is what unlocks identity verification for banks, Kakao/Toss, 당근마켓, government sites, and delivery apps. This is the real reason to upgrade from prepaid.

Number portability (번호이동)

When you switch carriers (e.g. prepaid → postpaid, or major → 알뜰폰), you can KEEP your 010 number via 번호이동. Your Kakao/bank OTPs and 2FA keep working — port, don’t restart.

Majors vs 알뜰폰 (MVNO)

MVNOs resell the exact SKT/KT/LG U+ networks for ~30–50% less, usually with no lock-in. Coverage is identical; the trade-off is thinner support + fewer perks. Best value once you have an ARC.

Setup flow — 5 steps

Arrival → ARC → port to a 본인인증-capable 010 line.

  1. 1

    Land → grab a prepaid SIM · 선불 유심

    At the airport or a carrier shop, buy a prepaid SIM/eSIM with your passport for your first weeks. Pick one with decent data; you'll replace it once your ARC arrives.

  2. 2

    Register your address + get your ARC · 외국인등록증

    Apply for your ARC (외국인등록증) at immigration after arrival; it takes ~2–6 weeks. The ARC is the gate to a postpaid line + 본인인증.

  3. 3

    Choose major vs 알뜰폰 · 통신사 선택

    For best English: KT or LG U+. For cheapest: a foreigner-friendly 알뜰폰 MVNO on the same networks. Decide on data needs + budget + how much English help you want.

  4. 4

    Open a postpaid 010 line in your name · 후불 개통

    Bring ARC + passport (+ a KR bank account or card for auto-pay). Open a postpaid 010 line — and use 번호이동 to KEEP your prepaid number if you want continuity.

  5. 5

    Verify your identity everywhere · 본인인증 설정

    With the 010 line in your name, run 본인인증 in your banking app, Kakao/Toss, 당근마켓, and government sites. This is the moment Korean daily-life apps actually open up — see /banking-arc.

Tips — porting, lock-in, 알뜰폰

  • Prepaid is a bridge, not a homeStart prepaid (passport), but plan to move to postpaid once your ARC lands — prepaid often fails 본인인증 and costs more per GB. Don't over-invest in a prepaid plan.
  • Port your number (번호이동)When upgrading or switching, ask for 번호이동 to keep your 010 number. Restarting with a new number breaks every OTP/2FA you've already set up.
  • 알뜰폰 = same network, less moneyMVNOs run on SKT/KT/LG U+ themselves, so coverage is identical for ~30–50% less. Once you have an ARC, a foreigner-friendly MVNO is usually the smart resident choice.
  • KT / LG U+ for EnglishIf you want to handle everything in English, KT and LG U+ have the best foreigner support + global stores. SKT has the strongest network but slightly less English help.
  • Postpaid needs ARC + often auto-payBring your ARC + passport and usually a Korean bank account or card for the monthly auto-payment (자동이체). No ARC yet = prepaid only.
  • Watch the 12-month lock-inMajor postpaid plans typically lock you in for 12 months with an early-termination fee. If your stay is shorter or uncertain, a no-contract MVNO is safer.
  • A line in YOUR name mattersFor 본인인증 to work, the 010 line must be registered to you (your ARC), not a friend or employer. Borrowed lines won't verify your identity on banks/apps.
  • Keep prepaid running until portedDon't cancel the prepaid SIM before the postpaid line is active + the number ported — you don't want a gap that drops your OTPs mid-setup.

Phrasebook for the carrier shop

I'd like a prepaid SIM, please.
선불 유심 주세요.
Seonbul yusim juseyo.
I'd like to open a postpaid plan.
후불 요금제로 개통하고 싶어요.
Hubul yogeumje-ro gaetonghago sipeoyo.
I want to keep my number (port it).
번호이동 하고 싶어요.
Beonho-idong hago sipeoyo.
I have an Alien Registration Card.
외국인등록증 있어요.
Oegugin-deungnokjeung isseoyo.
Is there a contract / lock-in?
약정 있어요?
Yakjeong isseoyo?
Does this work for identity verification?
이거 본인인증 돼요?
Igeo bonin-injeung dwaeyo?

See also

Short-trip data SIM/eSIM: /sim. What a verified number unlocks: /banking-arc. eSIM for app verification + taxis: /kakao-t-setup.