Korea eSIM: the airport SKT plan, for less

An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your smartphone.
Instead of swapping a physical chip, simply scan a QR code to activate mobile service instantly.

With a traditional SIM card, you need to eject the tray with a pin and replace the chip, and there is always a risk of losing it. eSIM completely eliminates this inconvenience.

After purchasing, simply scan the QR code sent to your email with your smartphone camera to complete the installation. It can be installed in advance from anywhere in the world before departure. Most modern smartphones support eSIM, including iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and Google Pixel 3a and later.

However, during the transitional period from USIM to eSIM, some devices were released under the same model name but with eSIM support varying by country of release. In such cases, you should check directly on the device. Exact eSIM compatibility for specific models can also be found in the relevant section of this FAQ.

Smartphones that support eSIM can use a physical SIM and eSIM simultaneously (Dual SIM), allowing you to keep your home country number while adding a Korean number.

If you are looking for a travel eSIM for Korea, Korea eSIM Red, an official SK Telecom product, is the most popular choice. It offers truly unlimited data with no speed restriction and includes a Korean phone number starting with 010, so you can handle almost everything needed for travel or daily life in Korea with a single eSIM.

SK Telecom Official Partner · Korea eSIM

iPhone (Unlocked + eSIM compatibility can both be checked directly):

• Check unlock status: Settings > General > About → if "No SIM restrictions" appears under "Carrier Lock," the phone is unlocked
• Check eSIM compatibility: Dial *#06# in the phone app. If an EID starting with "89…" or an eSIM IMEI appears, the device supports eSIM

Android (Only eSIM compatibility can be checked directly):

• Check unlock status: This cannot be verified directly on the device. You must contact your home carrier to confirm unlock status
• Check eSIM compatibility: Dial *#06#. If an EID starting with "89…" appears, eSIM is supported

⚠️ The phone must be unlocked. If it is locked by your home carrier, it will not work.
⚠️ Tablets such as iPad or Apple Watch are not supported. Smartphone only.
⚠️ Chinese domestic models (国行) generally do not support eSIM.

If you purchased SKT Korea eSIM Red, you can exchange it for a physical USIM at the airport and receive it on-site.

SK Telecom roaming booths at Incheon Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (24 hours) allow immediate purchase and activation.

The physical USIM provides the same SKT network, unlimited data, and 010 phone number as the eSIM. After arriving at the airport, simply present your passport at the booth and the SIM will be activated on-site, allowing you to begin using the service within about five minutes. Booths are also available at Gimpo, Gimhae, and Jeju airports.

Additionally, if you purchased an eSIM but failed to install it, you can exchange it for a physical USIM for free at the airport booth as long as the eSIM has never used data. If you are unsure whether your device supports eSIM, you can try purchasing the eSIM first and then exchange it at the airport if necessary.

Most travel eSIM services (Airalo, Holafly, etc.) provide only data and do not include a phone number. However, in Korea, not having a phone number can cause significant inconvenience — KakaoTalk registration, restaurant waiting notifications, delivery orders, WOWPASS alerts, and communication with taxi drivers all require a Korean number.

With Korea eSIM Red, the 010 number is sent immediately by email after purchase, allowing you to know the number in advance. You can share it as an emergency contact or enter it in the K-ETA and e-Arrival registration process before entering Korea. Incoming calls are unlimited and free, and incoming SMS is also free.

However, passport registration is required for outgoing calls and messages. This can be completed after entering Korea at krsim.net/esimreg. After registration, you can use outgoing calls by charging the desired amount in advance.

Sometimes the Korea eSIM website (krsim.net) runs promotions offering free credit top-ups, so it may be worth checking.

Yes. A real Korean mobile phone number starting with 010 is provided free of charge. Incoming calls are unlimited and free, while outgoing calls can be used after topping up call credit.

After purchasing, the 010 number is sent by email, so you can know the number before arriving in Korea. This number can be used to receive reservation confirmation calls from restaurants, waiting notifications, delivery alerts, KakaoTalk registration, and many other services commonly used in Korea.

If outgoing calls are required, you can register your passport at krsim.net/esimreg, after which 5 minutes of free call credit will be charged immediately. Additional credit can also be topped up if needed. (The free 5-minute credit is a promotional benefit and may change · As of Feb 2026)

In most travel situations, receiving calls is sufficient, but it is recommended to complete passport registration in advance in case you need to call hotels, hospitals, or emergency services. (The 1-day data-only plan does not include a phone number.)

No. With Korea eSIM Red, your speed never slows down based on data usage — whether you choose the 4G LTE option (minimum 100Mbps) or the 5G option (minimum 200Mbps), it stays the same no matter how much data you use per day. There are no daily usage limits or throttling.

Many travel eSIM products advertise "unlimited," but in reality reduce speeds to 128kbps–1Mbps after exceeding 1–2GB per day. At that speed, even loading maps becomes frustrating, and real-time translation apps or video calls become practically impossible. Korea eSIM Red guarantees the same maximum speed on your chosen 4G or 5G option whether you use 100GB or 200GB, so you can stream YouTube, run AI translation apps, upload to social media, and perform other high-data activities simultaneously without any issues.

Korea's mobile network infrastructure is among the best in the world — both the 4G LTE and 5G options deliver consistently fast, reliable speeds in everyday use.

For example, if you activate a 5-day plan at 3:00 PM after arriving in Korea, it will expire exactly 120 hours later at 3:00 PM five days later. Since the counting is based on the exact moment you first use mobile data, rather than midnight, your usage time will not be wasted even if you arrive late at night.

For instance, if you stay for 3 nights and 4 days, depending on your arrival and departure time, a 3-day plan may still cover your entire stay in Korea.

In contrast, many low-cost international roaming eSIM products calculate the usage period based on midnight in the issuing country. In that case, even using the service for only one hour after arrival could deduct an entire day of usage.

With Korea eSIM Red, you may scan and install the QR code in advance without losing usage time, because the usage period begins only when you first connect to mobile data in Korea.

A 1-day data-only plan (without phone number) is also available for short transit or same-day visits. Due to security policies, extending the usage period is not possible, so if your schedule is uncertain, it is recommended to choose a slightly longer plan. All plans include truly unlimited data with no speed restriction and a Korean phone number starting with 010.

Korea eSIM Red is available in 1–10 days / 15 days / 20 days / 30 days / 60 days / 90 days options. All products are counted in hours rather than calendar days.

For example, if you activate a 5-day plan at 3:00 PM after arriving in Korea, it will expire exactly 120 hours later at 3:00 PM five days later. Since the counting is based on the exact moment you first use mobile data, rather than midnight, your usage time will not be wasted even if you arrive late at night.

For instance, if you stay for 3 nights and 4 days, depending on your arrival and departure time, a 3-day plan may still cover your entire stay in Korea.

In contrast, many low-cost international roaming eSIM products calculate the usage period based on midnight in the issuing country. In that case, even using the service for only one hour after arrival could deduct an entire day of usage.

With Korea eSIM Red, you may scan and install the QR code in advance without losing usage time, because the usage period begins only when you first connect to mobile data in Korea.

A 1-day data-only plan (without phone number) is also available for short transit or same-day visits. Due to security policies, extending the usage period is not possible, so if your schedule is uncertain, it is recommended to choose a slightly longer plan. All plans include truly unlimited data with no speed restriction and a Korean phone number starting with 010.

If the status shows "Activating…", it is working normally. The usage period starts the moment you first connect to mobile data in Korea, so installing it before departure is actually recommended.

The QR code must be scanned within one year after receipt, and once installed, data usage must begin within 30 days. After installation is complete, you only need to turn off airplane mode when you arrive in Korea and it will connect automatically.

If automatic connection does not occur, check whether the eSIM is enabled in Settings > Cellular, and try manually selecting "SKT" as the network.