eSIM for South Korea
A prepaid travel eSIM that gets you online the moment you land in South Korea. You install it from a QR code we email you, in about five minutes, with no SIM shop to find and no passport registration.
- 83 data plans work in South Korea, from $3.99. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
- 9 plans cover South Korea only. 74 more cover it along with nearby countries such as Japan and China.
- Most plans start when you first use data, so you can install at home before you fly. A few start at install, and the tables mark them.
- Data only, with no local phone number. Your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Prices by data and trip length
Prices in US dollars, checked November 3, 2026. The plan page shows the current price before you pay.
| Data | 7 days | 15 days | 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | $3.991 GB, 14 daysAsia plan, 7 destinations | $4.995 GB, 30 days | $4.995 GB, 30 days |
| 3 to 5 GB | $4.995 GB, 30 days | $4.995 GB, 30 days | $4.995 GB, 30 days |
| 10 GB | $7.4910 GB, 15 days | $7.4910 GB, 15 days | $7.9910 GB, 30 days |
| 20 GB | $12.9920 GB, 30 days | $12.9920 GB, 30 days | $12.9920 GB, 30 days |
Plans for South Korea only
Every size and length sold for South Korea alone, without other countries:
| Data | Length | Price | Network | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 GB | 30 days | $4.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 10 GB | 15 days | $7.49 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 10 GB | 30 days | $7.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 15 GB | 30 days | $9.99 | 5G where available | At install |
| 20 GB | 30 days | $12.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
| 30 GB | 30 days | $13.99 | 5G where available | At install |
| 50 GB | 30 days | $23.99 | 5G where available | On first use |
Plans for short trips
Plans that last less than a week, cheapest first for each length:
| Length | Data | Price | Covers | Starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 days | 3 GB | $5.52 | Asia plan, 11 destinations | On first use |
Plans for South Korea and nearby countries
- South Korea, China and Japan: 8 plans, from $5.99 for 4 GB over 5 days.
- South Korea and Japan: 2 plans, from $9.99 for 10 GB over 30 days.
- Asia plan, 6 destinations: from $5.49 for 3 GB over 7 days.
- Asia plan, 11 destinations, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau: from $5.52 for 3 GB over 5 days.
- Asia plan, 14 destinations, including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau: from $4.99 for 1 GB over 7 days.
- Regional plan, 21 destinations, including Japan, China, Taiwan and Hong Kong: from $13.99 for 7 GB over 30 days.
- Regional plan, 80 destinations, including Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong: from $5.99 for 1 GB over 14 days.
Network and plan details
- 42 of the 83 plans connect at 5G where the local network and your phone support it. The rest use 4G LTE.
- Of the 83 plans for South Korea, 70 start when you first use data and 13 start when you install the eSIM.
- Your data goes out to the internet from Hong Kong on 28 plans, the UK on 25 and Singapore on 8. 6 use other places. 16 do not say. Websites usually see that place as your location.
- Hotspot sharing works on every plan here.
- The catalog does not name the local network for these plans.
- Capital: Seoul
- Country calling code: +82
- Plans: 83, from $3.99 to $89.99
Korea is a place where the navigation app you can run matters more than usual. Korean law restricts exporting detailed map data, so Google Maps cannot give you proper driving or walking directions inside the country. The apps locals use, Naver Map and KakaoMap, fill that gap, and both need a live connection. A travel eSIM is what keeps them running.
What you can use the data for
Navigation that works. Download Naver Map or KakaoMap before you go. They handle subway routing, bus arrivals, and walking directions far better than Google Maps does in Korea, and they run on data.
KakaoTalk. KakaoTalk is the messaging app everyone in Korea uses, for friends, hosts, and even small businesses. Staying reachable means staying on data.
KakaoT. The main taxi-hailing app. You can call a cab without any Korean, pay through the app, and watch it arrive on the map.
Translation and ordering. Many restaurants use tablet ordering or QR menus, and camera translation handles the Korean. All of it leans on a connection.
Where it works
Korea has some of the fastest mobile networks in the world, and coverage roams across all of them:
- Seoul, served by Incheon (ICN) and Gimpo (GMP)
- Busan (Gimhae, PUS) and the southern coast
- Jeju Island (CJU), the country's top domestic destination
- Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Incheon city
- The KTX high-speed rail lines between them
5G and LTE coverage is dense across the whole country, including the subway and the KTX. The only weak spots are deep inside mountain national parks like Seoraksan. Everywhere a traveler realistically goes is covered.
Common situations
Concert or K-pop trip
Buy the eSIM before you fly so you can navigate Seoul, find the venue, and message the friends you are meeting the moment you land. Ticket entry and merchandise queues often run through KakaoTalk and Korean apps that need data.
Tourist doing Seoul and Jeju
Activate at Incheon, pull up Naver Map, and you can ride the AREX train into the city without stopping to buy a SIM. A domestic flight to Jeju keeps the same eSIM working with no change.
Business in Seoul
Stay on KakaoTalk and email between meetings in Gangnam or Yeouido. The eSIM runs beside your home SIM so your usual number still works for calls.
How to install your eSIM before you fly
- Buy the plan. The eSIM arrives by email, usually within a minute. Install it at home on Wi-Fi with the one-tap link or the QR code in the email. 13 plans start counting at install or purchase, and the tables mark them. Install those close to your flight.
- Name the line South Korea and keep it off until you land at Incheon. Do not delete it after setup, because an eSIM installs only once.
- On arrival, turn the line on, choose it for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it. Turn off data roaming on your home line.
Screen by screen steps for iPhone and Android are in our travel eSIM install guide.
Phones that work
Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your model on our compatibility page.
Common questions
How much does an eSIM for South Korea cost?
Plans start at $3.99 for 1 GB over 14 days, on a plan that covers 7 destinations. A plan with at least 10 GB for 30 days starts at $7.99. Prices checked November 3, 2026.
Is there an unlimited data eSIM for South Korea?
Not right now. The largest plan for South Korea has 60 GB of data.
Is there a plan for South Korea only?
Yes. 9 plans cover South Korea only, from $4.99. 74 more cover it together with other countries.
Can one eSIM cover South Korea and nearby countries?
Yes. 50 plans cover both South Korea and Japan, from $5.99. 47 cover South Korea and China. 48 cover South Korea and Taiwan. The section above lists the regional plans.
When does the plan start counting days?
It depends on the plan. Of the 83 plans for South Korea, 70 start when you first use data and 13 start when you install the eSIM. The plan page shows the rule before you pay.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. These plans are data only, and your home number stays on your regular SIM.
Why can't I just use Google Maps in Korea?
Korean law limits exporting detailed mapping data, so Google Maps gives poor driving and walking directions inside the country. Naver Map and KakaoMap are what locals use, and they need a data connection, which is the main reason a travel eSIM is worth it here.
Will it work on Jeju Island and on the KTX?
Yes. Coverage includes Jeju and the high-speed rail lines, so the same eSIM works whether you fly domestically or take the train.
Do I need a Korean ID to buy it?
No. A local prepaid SIM asks for passport registration. This is a travel eSIM you buy online from anywhere with no ID check.