South Korea

It comes down to how long you're staying and how much data you use. We sell 19 prepaid South Korea eSIM plans on T + C, starting at $2.20 for a 1GB, 7-day plan.

For a typical one- to two-week trip, the 10GB, 30-day plan at $7.70 comfortably covers maps, ride-hailing, messaging and social media. If you stream, work remotely or share a hotspot, the 50GB plan has the lowest cost per gigabyte at $0.53/GB.

South Korea eSIM prices start at $2.20 for a 1GB, 7-day plan and go up to $35 for 50GB over 30 days. Bigger plans work out cheaper per gigabyte, down to $0.53/GB. You pay once, upfront: there's no contract, no subscription and nothing billed to your phone account while you're away. Prices are shown in USD.

Multi-country plans that include South Korea start at $2.20.

Our South Korea plans run on T + C. The eSIM connects automatically once you arrive, on 4G/LTE or 5G where the network and your phone support it.

Most South Korea plans don't cut you off: once the high-speed data is used, you stay connected at 128 kbps until the plan ends. That's enough for messages and email, but not for video. The 1GB and 2GB plans stop when the data runs out.

Choose from 7, 15 or 30 days. You have 90 days from purchase to start using the eSIM, so you can buy it well before your trip. Install it at home over Wi-Fi, then switch the eSIM line on when you land in South Korea, so none of your plan is used before you arrive. Staying longer? Simply buy another plan.

• 1Choose a plan and check out. Your QR code arrives by email straight away.
• 2Before you leave, scan it on your phone: on iPhone go to Settings → Mobile (or Cellular) → Add eSIM; on Android go to Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM. Menu names vary by model.
• 3When you arrive in South Korea, select the eSIM for mobile data and turn on data roaming for that line.

If data doesn't start within a few minutes, restart your phone and check that roaming is on for the eSIM. If it still won't connect, set the APN to “e-ideas” in the eSIM's mobile data settings.

South Korea-only plans work inside South Korea. If your trip continues to Japan, Thailand, Singapore or China, a multi-country eSIM saves you buying a second one:

• Japan, Korea: Japan + South Korea, from $2.20
• Asia 11 (Tik Tok): 11 countries, from $4.40
• ASIA 12: 12 countries, from $2.20
• ASIA 22: 22 countries, from $3.30

Switch to “Multi-country” above the plans to compare them.

The South Korea eSIM is data-only, so it doesn't come with a local phone number or SMS. Anything that runs over data works as normal: WhatsApp, iMessage, FaceTime, Messenger and other calling apps. Hotspot (tethering) is supported, so you can share data with a laptop or a travel companion. Keep your home SIM switched on if you need calls or bank SMS codes, but turn off data roaming on it to avoid your home carrier's charges.

Most phones released since 2019 support eSIM, including iPhone XS/XR and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer, as well as eSIM-capable iPads and tablets. Your phone also needs to be carrier-unlocked. To check, open Settings and look for “Add eSIM” under Mobile/Cellular on iPhone, or SIM manager on Android.

An eSIM is ready before you fly: no searching for a SIM shop at the airport, no ID or registration, and no tiny SIM card to lose. Your home SIM stays in your phone, and you're online the moment you land to book a ride, check maps or message home. Prices are fixed upfront from $2.20, so there's no roaming bill waiting when you get back.