Best eSIM For South Korea
In this article, we will explore the best eSIM option for South Korea.
One of our handy South Korea travel tips is to buy a Korean eSIM before you arrive in South Korea, so you have data from the second your plane touches down in the country.
Our guide to South Korea eSIMs will help you ensure you get the best value for money and the strongest data signal when travelling in Korea.
The eSIM South Korea we talk about in the guide is offered by Airalo, our recommended eSIM provider for worldwide travel.
So, let’s dive into: Best eSIM for South Korea
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Ulsanbawi Rock Viewpoint - Seoraksan National Park - South Korea
What is an eSIM?
Let’s start with the basic question, what is an eSIM? Well, an eSIM is essentially a digital version of a physical SIM card.
The eSIM allows for greater flexibility when connecting with local network providers in the country you’re visiting.
Most phones nowadays are compatible with eSIMs, meaning you can download an eSIM directly onto your device without having to buy a physical SIM card.
To put that into context, instead of buying a Korean SIM card at Seoul Incheon Airport or finding a SIM Card at Busan Gimhae Airport, you can simply buy an eSIM and download it directly onto your device - it’s so convenient!
Did you know? eSIMS are also more environmentally friendly as they produce an average of 46% lower emissions than physical SIMs.
Best eSIM for South Korea
Now that we have explained what an eSIM is, we will finally reveal our choice of the best eSIM for South Korea.
Airalo is our choice for the best Korean eSIM to download because they are a company we have used around the globe. We know them and trust them, so we like to promote them.
They also happen to be the world’s first and largest eSIM store, so you know you’re buying from a reputable and trustworthy source.
Airalo currently has two different eSIM South Korea Packages:
South Korea is a technology leader worldwide, so you are guaranteed access to fast and reliable data connections using eSIM Korea. This means you’ll encounter no problems when browsing the 10 best apps to use in Korea.
Worth noting: both options are data-only packages, so if you need to make phone calls and texts away from data/wifi while in South Korea, we recommend buying a physical sim in Korea instead.
How to buy a Korean eSIM
The process of buying the Korean eSIM is very simple and straightforward.
Firstly, head to the Airalo website and choose between the 10-day and 30-day options, then press ‘buy now’.
From here, you will either log in to an existing Airalo account or simply create a new one using your email address.
Once you’ve created an account, you need to go through a simple ID verification process before purchasing, but it’s very straightforward if you follow the on-screen instructions.
Important: the data package begins from the day of activation, so once you’ve bought the eSIM, don’t activate it until the day you are due to travel to South Korea.
Tips for downloading the eSIM South Korea
Before buying the eSIM South Korea, please check your phone is compatible with an eSIM. You can view a full list of Airalo eSIM-compatible devices here.
We recommend downloading the Airalo App once you’ve bought your eSIM - from the app, you can track how many days of data you have remaining.
As mentioned, with a Korean eSIM you have mobile data but no access to phone calls or text messages. If you need these for work purposes, then it is best to look at a physical Korean SIM card option instead.
If you happen to extend your stay in Korea, you aren’t able to extend the eSIM package, but you simply buy a new package and activate it the same way as the initial package.
South Korean eSIM Alternative
We appreciate that some people may be combining their South Korea trip with other parts of East Asia - a joint Korea and Japan trip, for example.
With this in mind, we wanted to briefly introduce you to an eSIM Korea alternative that covers 14 Asian countries in one go.
The Asia eSIM covers travel in South Korea and other popular countries to visit such as China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. You can see a full list of the countries covered by the Asia eSIM here.
Some example packages that Airalo offers for the Asia eSIM are:
There we have it, folks, a complete round-up of the best eSIM for South Korea. Whether you want to send photos to your family of the incredible Ulsanbawi Hike in Seoraksan National Park or want to research the best day trips from Seoul, the Korean eSIM will handle all of your needs.
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