Getting a phone plan in Korea as a foreigner: prepaid, alddeul plans and eSIM

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A Korean phone number is more than a way to make calls. It is how banks, delivery apps, online shops and government sites check who you are, through a text message sent to a number registered in your own name. So getting a plan in your name, rather than borrowing one, makes the rest of life in Korea much easier. Here is how it works.

The three kinds of provider

The big three carriers: SK Telecom, KT and LG U+. They have stores everywhere, staff used to foreign customers in some branches, and bundled deals with home internet.
Alddeul phones (알뜰폰, MVNOs): budget providers that rent capacity on the big three networks. Coverage is the same network, at a lower monthly price, usually with fewer frills and support mainly online or by phone.
Tourist SIMs and eSIMs: sold at the airport and online for short stays, data-focused and often without a usable identity-verification function.

Prepaid vs postpaid

Prepaid: you top up in advance. Usually available with a passport, so it is the realistic choice for your first weeks or for a short stay. Some providers allow you to link the line to your Alien Registration Card (ARC) later; others do not, so ask before buying.
Postpaid: a monthly plan billed afterwards, with or without a contract. In practice most providers want an ARC (Residence Card) and a way to pay, often a Korean bank account for automatic debit. Some guides report that foreign-issued debit cards are often refused.

Many people start prepaid on arrival, get their ARC and a bank account, then move to a postpaid alddeul plan.

Alddeul plans

Alddeul plans are popular with long-term residents and students because the same network costs noticeably less. Things to check:

Which network the plan runs on (SKT, KT or LG U+) and whether your phone works on it.
Whether the low price is a promotional rate for the first months.
Whether the provider accepts foreign customers for online sign-up, or only in person or by phone.
Data speed after you use up the allowance.

Comparison sites in Korean list hundreds of plans; a Korean friend or colleague can help the first time.

eSIM

Most recent iPhones and many Android phones support eSIM, and Korean carriers and many alddeul providers offer it. That lets you keep your home number on the physical SIM and add a Korean number. Check that your phone is not locked to your home carrier before you arrive.

Documents you will need

Passport (for prepaid and for the first visit).
ARC, once issued, for postpaid and most alddeul plans.
A Korean bank account or an accepted card for payment.
Make sure your name is spelt identically on every document and in the application. Mismatches between passport and ARC spelling are a common reason verification fails.

Identity verification is getting stricter

Korea has been tightening checks on new phone lines to stop phones being opened in other people's names. From 6 July 2026, a phased multi-step identity check, including face verification, began applying to new activations and number porting at the three carriers and alddeul providers, with alternative methods offered for people who cannot use it. How it applies to foreign residents is still being worked out, so ask the provider what they currently accept before you go to a store.

Number portability

You can move your number between carriers and alddeul providers (번호이동). The new provider handles the transfer. Check:

Whether you are under a contract with early-termination fees, or still paying off a handset.
That prepaid numbers can be ported: some prepaid tourist lines cannot be moved to postpaid and you will get a new number.

Practical tips

If your Korean is limited, go to a store in an area with many foreign residents, or use providers with English support.
Keep your plan in your own name; many verification problems come from lines registered to someone else.
Update your provider when you renew your ARC, or verification may start failing.

Requirements change and differ between providers, so confirm with the one you choose. Which provider worked for you, and what did they ask for? Share your experience in the comments.