PikoeSIM
Excellent
South Korea eSIM
Plans from€0.25
100 MB 7 days
Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul
- 4G/5G data
- One prepaid price
- Check compatibility first
- Hotspot included
Choose your plan
Data for 7 days
Data for 15 days
Data for 30 days
Tech specs
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Country coverage | South Korea only. These plans do not reach North Korea or any other destination. |
| Local networks | SK Telecom South Korea |
| Network technology | Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. |
| Data & validity | Each plan has a fixed total allowance and the validity shown. Nothing here is unlimited or daily-renewing. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. There is no local phone number and no standard calls or SMS. Calls inside apps use your allowance where that service is reachable. |
| Hotspot | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. |
| Your phone | You need an eSIM-compatible, network-unlocked phone. Check your exact model and regional variant before buying. |
How it works
Pick a plan, add the eSIM to your phone, then connect once you're in South Korea.
01Choose your plan
Choose data and validity that cover your trip. Save the setup instructions for offline access.
02Install before you fly
Install over Wi-Fi using your plan's instructions. Check when the plan's validity starts.
03Connect in South Korea
On arrival, turn on the eSIM and select it for mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your regular SIM.
Compare ways to get online in South Korea
Use prepaid data on the phone you already carry. This is how PikoeSIM compares with a rental router, home-carrier roaming and a physical SIM.
Swipe or scroll to compare all four options
| What matters | PikoeSIMTravel eSIM | Pocket Wi-FiRental router | RoamingYour home carrier | Local SIMPhysical SIM card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Getting connected | Download the eSIM to your phone, then follow the activation steps that come with your plan. | Book delivery or collect a rental router from the provider. | Turn on roaming and confirm your destination is covered by your home plan. | Buy a SIM card and insert it into a compatible SIM slot on your phone. |
| Extra equipment | None. You use the eSIM-compatible phone you already have. | A separate device to carry, charge and keep within range. | None. You keep using your existing phone and SIM. | A physical SIM card. You might need to remove your usual SIM to fit it. |
| Data & cost | From €0.25 for 100 MB / 7 days. You pick a fixed allowance when you order. | Rental fees and data terms vary by provider. Check delivery, loss and damage fees before booking. | Your carrier's rates apply. Some home plans already include roaming at your destination. | Prepaid prices, data allowances and validity periods differ between local operators. |
| Sharing your data | The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. | Connect phones and other devices to the router. They all need to stay inside its Wi-Fi range. | Tethering depends on your carrier and your roaming plan. | Check that the local plan allows tethering before you rely on it. |
| Calls & SMS | Data only. Make calls and send messages through internet apps. | Internet only. Regular calls and SMS still use your phone's mobile plan. | Calls and SMS are billed under your carrier's roaming terms. | A local number, calls and SMS depend on the specific plan you buy. |
| After your trip | There's nothing to send back when your trip ends. | Return the router and accessories on time. Late or missing returns can trigger extra fees. | No hardware to return afterwards. | You don't need to return any rental device. |
Frequently asked questions.
Answers to common setup and buying questions.
How do I pick the right data allowance for my trip?
For a tourist on a 7 days city break, 3 GB at €2.19 is a sensible middle option among the prepaid data plans: it covers maps, messaging and light photo sharing without smallest-allowance anxiety. Staying 30 days? The 10 GB plan at €7.66 suits a longer visit, and 50 GB only makes sense for constant video or heavy tethering. No single plan is the best value for everyone, and an affordable plan is one whose total price fits your whole trip, so these recommendations start from your trip length.
Which network carries the connection in South Korea?
Listed networks: SK Telecom South Korea. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions.
How do I check my phone is compatible?
An eSIM is a virtual SIM card, so compatible phones must be eSIM-capable, network-unlocked and the right regional variant. On an iPhone running recent iOS, Settings > General > About should show No SIM Restrictions, and you add the eSIM from Cellular settings. Android models vary widely, and regional eSIM features can differ even within one model line, so follow your manufacturer's guidance for your exact device.
When do I install the eSIM, and when does validity start?
Install over reliable Wi-Fi and keep the supplied instructions available offline. Follow the plan's activation steps before you enable the travel line: installation and the start of validity can be separate events, so the trigger depends on the instructions that come with your order. Instant installation is not a verified guarantee, and a QR code for your eSIM card or your phone's own eSIM setup may be involved. Select the travel eSIM for data once you reach South Korea.
Do I keep my normal phone number while travelling?
Yes, you keep your existing SIM and messaging accounts. This prepaid data plan has no local phone number and no standard calls or SMS, though apps like WhatsApp keep using your existing account. Verification texts to your regular number depend on that SIM, your carrier and the service sending them, so check your carrier's roaming charges before leaving the home line on.
Can I share data with a hotspot?
The listed networks support hotspot. Any device you connect draws from the same data allowance. Connected devices draw from the same total allowance. Switch on the data hotspot only when you need it, and push cloud backups, software updates and large downloads to Wi-Fi so a laptop doesn't eat the remaining allowance.
Does the allowance renew daily or stay unlimited?
No. The shown allowance is the total for the shown validity period. A 30-day plan is not a monthly subscription and does not give a fresh allowance each day; 30 days is roughly one month but not always a full calendar month. A layover of one day (1 day) needs far less than a two-week (2 weeks) holiday, and no plan here runs exactly 14 days, so match trip length to the 7-day or 15-day options instead. Leave video streaming such as YouTube for Wi-Fi if you need the plan to last.
Which areas does the South Korea plan cover?
South Korea only. These plans do not reach North Korea or any other destination, and crossing a border won't switch your coverage.
What happens if I run out or want a refund?
Before you buy online, check the pricing and terms supplied with your order. Top up availability and account-credit rules are not confirmed, and a new plan does not automatically extend the current one. Keep your order reference for support, and remember refund eligibility depends on the purchase terms plus activation and use. A no contract search term is not a confirmed seller policy, so read the conditions.
Why might I have no internet after arriving?
Confirm you're in South Korea, the travel line is on and selected for data, and your allowance and validity remain. Follow the supplied APN and roaming instructions for that line, then briefly try airplane mode or a restart. If reception or connection quality stays poor, move to another spot and test again. Keep the profile installed while the network operator or support investigates, and share your phone model, location and order reference.
How do I stop my home SIM from roaming?
Set the travel eSIM as the mobile-data line, disable automatic data switching and leave roaming off on your regular SIM. Apply any roaming instruction for the travel eSIM to that line only. Home-carrier charges can still apply to calls and texts on the regular number.
Can I get a Korean number for verification codes?
No local phone number or SMS is included, so a booking or account that requires a Korean number needs another verification method. Data can open the app, but it can't provide the number. Keep your existing accounts signed in before departure.
Using your eSIM through South Korea
Match a prepaid data plan to your South Korea route
One prepaid plan covers Incheon arrival, palace visits in Seoul and a few days in Busan, for sightseeing or for visiting family. Save your accommodation address in Korean and English so a driver can find the exact building.
For a short city trip, 3 GB for 7 days at €2.19 leaves more room for maps and messaging than the MB-sized options. A 10 GB, 30-day plan at €7.66 suits a longer stay with regular photo sharing. The 50 GB plan also runs 30 days and only pays off with heavy use, since laptop updates and video drain it fast.
The 100 MB plan is the cheapest listed at €0.25, but the lowest price isn't the best price if you run out mid-trip. The 100 MB and 500 MB options are tight allowances for the occasional message or map check. Step up for regular navigation, photos or tethering. Every plan is a fixed total that does not reset daily.
Seoul streets, coastal days and the stretch between them
Listed networks: SK Telecom South Korea. Connects to 4G/5G where the network offers it. Speeds and signal vary with your phone, location and network conditions. Save tickets, addresses and your return route before you lose Wi-Fi. 4G and 5G speeds depend on your location and phone, and we don't claim best coverage: more gigabytes mean more data, not stronger reception.
Seoul: keep your terminal and station separate.
Before you land at Incheon, note which terminal you arrive at and save your accommodation name in Korean. Both terminals put their railway facilities in a basement-level transportation centre, so check the map for your specific terminal before leaving arrivals.
Open the airport railroad guide to work out your connection, then use data to pull up the onward route and message your host. A station name alone won't fix a meeting point, so agree on an exit number or a nearby building entrance.
For a day at Gyeongbokgung, download the palace visitor information before you leave your room. Keep a saved hotel pin for the way back, and do app downloads on Wi-Fi so a small arrival allowance isn't spent on setup.
Save before you goTerminal map, hotel address in Korean, onward station and the exit you agreed on.
Busan: fix a meeting point before the climb.
Gamcheon Culture Village climbs a hillside with terraced houses, stepped lanes and murals. Check the official tourism listing for the visitor area, then pick a specific entrance or café as your group meeting point.
Save the final walking directions before you set off. A pin can disguise a steep approach, so ask your accommodation about the route if stairs or luggage are a worry, and keep your return stop and hotel address available offline.
One South Korea plan supplies data in both Seoul and Busan wherever the listed network offers coverage. You don't need a separate city eSIM, and a bigger plan won't improve reception indoors or en route.
Save before you goThe village approach, your return stop and a meeting point everyone can spot.
Choose your South Korea plan
Compare data amounts and durations to find the plan that fits your trip.
Choose a plan
