Prepaid SIM plans from the LG, SK and Olleh
Jun 3, 2015, 10:41 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 9
Prepaid SIM plans from the LG, SK and Olleh
What are the best options for low voice, data intensive prepaid SIM plans from the big 3 Korean mobile networks?
I'm planning a trip and have some friends there who would be willing to buy a prepaid SIM for me.
However, I have almost no knowledge of the plans there.
There's an EG solution, but data caps at 1 GB and it's most likely more expensive as it's geared towards visitors and tourists rather than the local population. I'd like to avoid this solution if possible.
Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated!
I'm planning a trip and have some friends there who would be willing to buy a prepaid SIM for me.
However, I have almost no knowledge of the plans there.
There's an EG solution, but data caps at 1 GB and it's most likely more expensive as it's geared towards visitors and tourists rather than the local population. I'd like to avoid this solution if possible.
Any knowledge would be greatly appreciated!
Jun 3, 2015, 10:48 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: May 2015
Location: YUL/YVR
Posts: 105
Wow, first post sine 2010!
See below for another recent thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/korea...endations.html
See below for another recent thread:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/korea...endations.html
Jun 6, 2015, 2:18 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Somewhere over the rainbow ;)
Programs: OneWorld and soon Star Alliance
Posts: 15
Jun 9, 2015, 11:16 am
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2005
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I read that the KT Olleh SIMs took about 3 days to get after you arrived in country. Don't know if that's true, so if someone could confirm.
SK looked like it had a good deal for 2 GB for around 25000 won. Seems to be the best I've seen so far, though I'm open to better options too.
SK looked like it had a good deal for 2 GB for around 25000 won. Seems to be the best I've seen so far, though I'm open to better options too.
Jun 10, 2015, 9:45 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
If you need something data intensive, just rent an Egg from Olleh. It's much, much simpler for you. Your friends can only get the sim if they're Korean. Foreigners here, generally, aren't allowed to have multiple sim cards with lines floating around (it's tied to our visa restrictions). For instance, I have a postpaid contract, so my sim is in my phone. I can't add another "line."
The cost of the egg is 5,000₩ a day. There is a deposit of 150$? 200$? By credit card, but it's fully refundable.
The cost of the egg is 5,000₩ a day. There is a deposit of 150$? 200$? By credit card, but it's fully refundable.
Jun 10, 2015, 9:58 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
Just looked up rates (you can, too.. Google KT expat blog). Foreigners receive the same rates as Koreans, so I trust these rates. It said a 4GB prepaid card was 38,000₩ and a 1GB was 16,000.
If you go for the Egg, it's unlimited data.
Also, unfortunately, Korea doesn't work as simply "buy a card, pop it in and go." It has to be registered. That's where the pain in the A comes from. That's why I always say just get the Egg. My friend got an Olleh card when he visited. He wasted an hour at the store waiting. Egg, boom, done in 10.
If you go for the Egg, it's unlimited data.
Also, unfortunately, Korea doesn't work as simply "buy a card, pop it in and go." It has to be registered. That's where the pain in the A comes from. That's why I always say just get the Egg. My friend got an Olleh card when he visited. He wasted an hour at the store waiting. Egg, boom, done in 10.
Jun 10, 2015, 2:14 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
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If you need something data intensive, just rent an Egg from Olleh. It's much, much simpler for you. Your friends can only get the sim if they're Korean. Foreigners here, generally, aren't allowed to have multiple sim cards with lines floating around (it's tied to our visa restrictions). For instance, I have a postpaid contract, so my sim is in my phone. I can't add another "line."
The cost of the egg is 5,000₩ a day. There is a deposit of 150$? 200$? By credit card, but it's fully refundable.
The cost of the egg is 5,000₩ a day. There is a deposit of 150$? 200$? By credit card, but it's fully refundable.
I also did that the last time I was there. It wasn't an egg, but it was a U+ access point with LTE. It didn't seem to work half the time if I was in a busy area (Namdaemun, Itaewon, etc). It seemed to not work most when I needed it. Could have been the network, but between that and the battery not lasting terribly long, it didn't work out.
Jun 10, 2015, 9:11 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
U+ is like the Sprint of Korea. It's not nearly as good as KT or SK. Everyone with the Egg has always had good results and a strong charge.
And yes, two weeks does add up. One thing you could do is get an Olleh WiFi unlimited card for three days. It's 9,000₩ and they have them at all convenience stores. Just log in with that card at an olleh Hotspot. That could hold you over until the end of the 3 day period. Olleh has a MASSIVE wifi network, way ahead of any other carrier. Of course, subways, but also bus stops, Starbucks, doctor's offices. You name it, they're there.
And yes, two weeks does add up. One thing you could do is get an Olleh WiFi unlimited card for three days. It's 9,000₩ and they have them at all convenience stores. Just log in with that card at an olleh Hotspot. That could hold you over until the end of the 3 day period. Olleh has a MASSIVE wifi network, way ahead of any other carrier. Of course, subways, but also bus stops, Starbucks, doctor's offices. You name it, they're there.
Jun 10, 2015, 10:12 pm
#12
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
As an another option, I used PocketWiFiKorea.com in April 2015, very good, shared among 5 devices
http://pocketwifikorea.com/
$3.95 USD/day
You pick up and return at ICN airport departure hall (2 people on a bench with luggage full of MiFi hotspots, LOL, like some illegal trades)
http://pocketwifikorea.com/
$3.95 USD/day
You pick up and return at ICN airport departure hall (2 people on a bench with luggage full of MiFi hotspots, LOL, like some illegal trades)
Jun 11, 2015, 8:22 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
And yes, two weeks does add up. One thing you could do is get an Olleh WiFi unlimited card for three days. It's 9,000₩ and they have them at all convenience stores. Just log in with that card at an olleh Hotspot. That could hold you over until the end of the 3 day period. Olleh has a MASSIVE wifi network, way ahead of any other carrier. Of course, subways, but also bus stops, Starbucks, doctor's offices. You name it, they're there.
U+ ended up waiving the equipment fee for the 2 weeks I was there, and I think I paid like 5000 won per day plus tax. It ended up being around $75 US by the time I was done.
Jun 11, 2015, 11:29 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea
Programs: KE Skypass Morning Calm Member, OZ Club
Posts: 2,351
It will work there. There's great coverage in those areas with LTE still. Also, I wouldn't really consider those too rural haha. If you look at this map, you can see that even 평택 (Pyeongtaek has a red 4G bubble around it (as does Cheonan and Asan).
http://wibro.olleh.com/ktwibro/map/4gzone.php
http://wibro.olleh.com/ktwibro/map/4gzone.php
Jun 16, 2015, 1:05 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 9
Just looked up rates (you can, too.. Google KT expat blog). Foreigners receive the same rates as Koreans, so I trust these rates. It said a 4GB prepaid card was 38,000₩ and a 1GB was 16,000.
If you go for the Egg, it's unlimited data.
Also, unfortunately, Korea doesn't work as simply "buy a card, pop it in and go." It has to be registered. That's where the pain in the A comes from. That's why I always say just get the Egg. My friend got an Olleh card when he visited. He wasted an hour at the store waiting. Egg, boom, done in 10.
If you go for the Egg, it's unlimited data.
Also, unfortunately, Korea doesn't work as simply "buy a card, pop it in and go." It has to be registered. That's where the pain in the A comes from. That's why I always say just get the Egg. My friend got an Olleh card when he visited. He wasted an hour at the store waiting. Egg, boom, done in 10.
