I’ve been searching around and it seems going with KT Pre-Paid service (선불폰? 카드폰?) seems to be the most recommended option and that bringing a Korean friend along is pretty much required to get anything done well. Any advice, particularly from those who have gone through this process before?
Advice to get a cell phone for foreigners?
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I’d recommend LG Telecom. If you have the alien ID card, there’s no need for the Korean friend.
If you’ve got your heart set on an iphone, then you have no choice but KT, and you should probably go to the Myoungdong branch from what I’ve heard.
Been with LG for years without any problems except for the junk Samsung/Anycall phones they push on everyone. If they try and tell you the phone is free, make sure they’re not just talking about paying for the price of the phone in installments, which apparantly translates in Korean as “free.” Generally just be aware that most problems are caused by the scammers in the little shops that may or may not know all of the company’s own policies (esp in regards to foreigners gettting phones), rather than the companies themselves.
Yeah, I’m with Steve. I’ve heard that LG is the only telecom company in Korea that will give a contract to a legal foreigner without a two-year contract. It should save you a lot of money over going the pre-paid way.
@Steve
@Steve
I wasn’t planning on checking them out, but now I will. Thanks for the advice Steve(s)!
And here I was going to recommend the prepaid route – especially if you make as many calls as I do (that is to say, perhaps 2 or 3 a week on average). It’s cheap, simple to recharge, no worries about the bill arriving or not, and simple. I have no need for a fancy phone (although the iPhone is tempting, it’s way too expensive to be worth it).
Bring a Korean friend for explanation – and enlist the Seoul Global Center down near City Hall
@Chris in South Korea
haha. I probably will be receiving more than making =) I bought a iPod touch before coming with one goal being I don’t want to get a nice phone I won’t use when I return to the US. I’m going to shop around, probably go to a LG and a KT shop and compare options. I’ll definitely bring a Korean friend, if for nothing else to help understand the options better and explain it to me.
What does the Seoul Global Center do? Can I go there and get info?
cool i learnt something (: thanks for bringing out this issue here, will be loads of help when i go to korea.
Just found out this morning that I’m offered a place for Yonsei Summer Program through my uni! XD Which means that I’ll be in Korea from late June to early August ^^ Will you still be there then?
@Shanna
Sweet, congrats! Yep, I’m here until December.
I have nothing negative to say about SK. You’re well past their age requirement of I think 20 or 21 (Korean age). If you have your ARC (and possibly your passport, I can’t remember) you’re good to go the pre-paid route. The phone selection can be a little limited but since you’re only there for another 10 months or so that shouldn’t be a problem.
However, LG has yet to cancel a pre-paid plan my friends have gotten, at least after a few months of inactivity. So if you go back to Korea a few months or so later you don’t have to worry about re-registering. Just recharge your phone like normal. I’ve heard a lot of bad things about KT and even a couple of my friends weren’t really satisfied, even with the pre-paid route.