eSIM or SIM card in Korea: which one to choose, and when you need a real Korean number

An eSIM is enough for most short trips. A Korean 010 number helps with some queues and bookings. What to know before you choose.

Updated 26 October 2026 · Dari team · 2 min read

Machine translation from French, being reviewed. Read the French version (reference)

In Korea almost everything runs through your phone: maps, translation, taxis, payments. So you need internet from the moment you land. You have three options: an eSIM, a physical SIM card or a pocket Wi-Fi router.

eSIM: the easiest for a short stay

You buy it online before you leave, receive a QR code and activate it when you arrive¹. No counter, no queue.

• Most tourist eSIMs give you data only, without a Korean 010 number¹.
• Some KT and LG U+ plans include a number².
• Your phone must support eSIM, and not every model does². Also check that it is not locked to your carrier.
• Once installed, an eSIM is hard to move to another phone if yours breaks¹.

SIM card: when you need a number

A Korean carrier SIM usually gives you a local 010 number for calls and texts¹². You pick it up at the airport (Incheon, Gimpo, Gimhae) or in a shop².

Prices reported by Korea Experience in 2026 for 5 days of unlimited data: about ₩25,000 at LG U+, ₩27,500 at KT, ₩28,000 at SKT; about ₩71,500 for 30 days¹. The SK Telecom counter in Incheon Terminal 1 (arrivals, 1st floor) opens from 6 am to 10 pm¹.

What is a 010 number for?

• Kiosk waitlists at popular restaurants (CatchTable, Tableling) text you when your table is ready¹.
• Shops, a host or a friend can call you.
• For a long stay you need a number in your name, linked to your residence card, for delivery apps, some tickets and identity checks. A tourist SIM cannot do this¹.

What about pocket Wi-Fi?

Handy for a group, but you have to charge it, carry it and return it. It does not give you a Korean number².

Moving to Korea?

Start with an eSIM or a prepaid SIM, then get a plan in your own name once your residence card arrives. That plan is what unlocks online banking and Korean apps.

Frequently asked questions

Does a tourist eSIM come with a Korean number?

Usually not: most are data-only plans¹. A few KT and LG U+ plans include one².

Where can I pick up a SIM card when I arrive?

At the counters of Incheon, Gimpo and Gimhae airports, or in a carrier shop².

Sources

1. Korea Experience, « Korea Travel SIM Cards vs eSIM: Best 2026 Options for Tourists » (22/01/2026, mis à jour le 08/02/2026) · checked on 26 October 2026
2. Trazy, comparatif SIM, pocket WiFi et eSIM en Corée (mis à jour le 11/06/2025) · checked on 26 October 2026