Free eSIM in South Korea — free data for first-time users, claimed in the Wanderly app.
How many days?
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Total plan price
Price per GB
$0.70
- Coverage
- Single country
- Plan type
- Data only
- Top-up
- Unavailable — buy another plan
- Activation
- On network connection
Data-only eSIM
Validity starts at the first network connection.
Top-ups unavailable. Usage tracking supported. Hotspot supported.
Calls and SMS are not included. Internet calling apps use your data.
Coverage (1 country)
South Korea
Refund eligibility depends on the plan and its activation status. Contact Wanderly support before installing or using the eSIM.
What's Included
South Korea eSIM plans at a glance
Wanderly lists 38 fixed-data South Korea plans, ranging from 1GB up to 50GB over 3 to 30 days. Prices start at $2.99, and the lowest cost per gigabyte is $0.40/GB on the 50GB 3-day plan.
Unlimited day-passes are also available from $2.99 per day, billed per day rather than per gigabyte. 10 of the 43 South Korea data-only plans can be topped up without reinstalling the eSIM.
Calls and SMS depend on the selected plan. Install using the supplied QR code and keep your home number on its own line. Activation timing varies by plan; check your selected plan's terms before purchasing or installing.
How much does a South Korea eSIM cost?
A South Korea eSIM from Wanderly costs $2.99 for 1GB (7 days), $3.99 for 5GB (3 days) and $10.99 for 20GB (3 days), as a one-off price with no subscription. Larger plans cost less per gigabyte: $2.99/GB at 1GB against $0.55/GB at 20GB.
Across its data-only plans, South Korea works out at a median of $0.65 per GB, below the $1.41 median across the 181 countries in the Wanderly eSIM Price Index. 2 of them have a lower median.
| Data | Validity | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| 3GB | 3 days | $2.99 | $1.00 |
| 5GB | 3 days | $3.99 | $0.80 |
| 10GB | 5 days | $5.99 | $0.60 |
| 20GB | 3 days | $10.99 | $0.55 |
Cheapest current data-only plan at each size, as charged at checkout. Prices follow the live catalogue. Compare South Korea with every country in the eSIM Price Index.
🇰🇷 About eSIMs in South Korea
South Korea has the fastest 5G network on the planet, and Wanderly connects you to it. Plans run on SK Telecom or KT, which together cover Seoul, Busan, Jeju and the entire high-speed rail corridor with near-flawless signal. Real-world speeds in Gangnam and Hongdae regularly exceed 500 Mbps.
Korea leans hard on apps. You will use Naver Maps and KakaoMap far more than Google Maps (Google is deliberately restricted for mapping in Korea), and Papago for translation. That means constant data — plan on 8–10 GB per week for a normal itinerary, more if you rely on video calls or K-drama streaming on the KTX.
Airport pickup SIMs at Incheon are quick but often twice the price of an eSIM you install in advance. Wanderly delivers the QR by email within a minute; you scan it once, arrive, and connect the moment you clear immigration.
How to activate your eSIM in South Korea
- 1Order in advanceBuy your Korea eSIM before departure — you cannot install one reliably without Wi-Fi, and airport Wi-Fi at ICN can be crowded.
- 2Install and labelScan the QR from Settings and label the profile ‘Korea’. Keep your home SIM active for iMessage and 2FA codes.
- 3Activate on arrivalToggle airplane mode after landing, set Cellular Data to the Korea eSIM, and enable Data Roaming. This is required for eSIMs and does not incur roaming charges.
- 4Grab Naver MapsDownload Naver Maps or KakaoMap. Google Maps is unreliable for walking directions inside Korea due to national mapping rules.
South Korea eSIM FAQ
Which network does Wanderly use in South Korea?
Plans connect to SK Telecom or KT — the two largest carriers. Both deliver full 5G in cities and continuous 4G/LTE along the KTX and rural routes.
Does it work on Jeju Island?
Yes. SK Telecom and KT both have full coverage on Jeju including Seongsan Ilchulbong and the coastal Olle trails.
Do I need Korean apps to use my eSIM?
No — the eSIM works with any app. But you will want Naver Maps, KakaoMap and Papago for navigation and translation once you have data.
Will it work on the KTX high-speed train?
Yes, coverage runs the length of the Gyeongbu and Honam lines including tunnels around Daejeon and Dongdaegu.
Is tethering allowed?
Yes. All Wanderly Korea plans support hotspot with no throttling on 5G-capable devices.
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