Which apps work best in Korea?
Naver Map or KakaoMap for directions, Papago for translation and Kakao T for taxis. Install them at home on Wi-Fi.
Prices in pounds · for UK travellers
eSIM for South Korea from the UK
Flying into Incheon for Seoul, Busan or Jeju? Install your eSIM at home, get online as you land, and compare the price in pounds with your UK network’s roaming.
Photo: Inkwon hwang on Unsplash
- QR code by emailinstall before you fly
- Keep your UK numberdata-only eSIM
- 24/7 live chatin the Graba SIM app
- Pay your way
Before you buy: straight answers
Will it work on the KTX to Busan?
Yes, with short drops in some tunnels. Coverage along the KTX lines is strong.
How do the prices compare?
See the like-for-like table on this page: the same data and validity, both priced in pounds, with the source and the date we checked.
What your trip to South Korea costs
Set your trip length and how you use your phone. eSIM bars are data-only plans that cover the whole trip; UK network bars use your UK allowance and include calls and texts. EE and O2 and Vodafone don’t publish a price for South Korea that we can check, so they aren’t charted.
Sources: Three roaming (checked 6 November 2026) · Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
South Korea eSIM
How long is your trip?
Pick the trip that sounds most like yours. Every plan is data only, paid once, with no contract.
Prices in GBP
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questionsWe’ll show the maths behind our suggestion.
Swipe to compare plans
On every plan here
- Uses SKTelecom and LG Uplus, with 5G where available
- Starts when you first connect, so you can install it before you fly
- QR code by emailInstall it in minutes
- Keep your numberData only, your SIM stays in
- 24/7 live chatIn the Graba SIM app
- Pay onceNo contract, guest checkout
More options
Other sizes for different kinds of trip.
Only need a day?
A day pass gives you full-speed data for one day, then slower data for the rest of the day.
500MB to 10GB a day
From £1.99
See day passesHow we choose these plans
For each trip we pick the current plan that costs the least while lasting the whole trip and gives about 0.3 to 0.7 GB a day, enough for maps, messages and social media. A plan may last longer than the trip. Everyone uses data differently, so check your phone’s recent data use. “Best value” only appears when that plan also costs the least per GB of all the plans that fit.
Arriving in South Korea
- ICN Seoul Incheon
- GMP Seoul Gimpo
- PUS Busan Gimhae
- CJU Jeju
Signal where people go
- Seoul
- Fast 4G and 5G across the city, including most of the subway network.
- Busan
- Strong signal in the city, at Haeundae beach and on the KTX train from Seoul.
- Jeju Island
- Good in Jeju City and Seogwipo; hiking trails on Hallasan can be patchy.
- Gyeongju
- Covered in town and at the main historic sites.
- The DMZ
- Tours run from Seoul. Signal is limited near the border, and some areas don’t allow phone use.
Networks our South Korea plans use: SKTelecomLG Uplus
Your UK network in South Korea
South Korea is outside the EU, so Europe roaming deals on UK plans don’t cover it. What each network publishes for South Korea, and a week of it:
| Network | What it charges | 7 days | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
 EE | Varies by plan EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for South Korea. | No published price | EE roaming |
| O2 | Not in O2 Travel South Korea isn’t on O2 Travel’s destination list, so O2’s standard roaming rates apply. Check them on O2’s website. | No published price | O2 roaming |
| Vodafone | Check Vodafone Check what Vodafone charges in South Korea in its roaming charge checker. Its European roaming passes only cover Zone B. | No published price | Vodafone roaming |
 Three | Go Roam Around the World Extra £8 a day in Go Roam Around the World Extra (£7 on plans from 2021 to 2025), or £42 for a 7-day pass. Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data. | £42.007-day pass | Three in South Korea vs eSIM |
Sources: EE (checked 29 October 2026) · O2 (checked 29 October 2026) · Vodafone (checked 29 October 2026) · Three (checked 6 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Graba SIM vs Airalo: the same plans, side by side
Plans with exactly the same data allowance and validity for South Korea, both data-only and priced in pounds. Coverage and networks can differ, so check the plan details before you buy.
Need 10 GB for 30 days? Our 20GB, 30 days plan is £8.99: more data than Airalo’s 10 GB plan (£15.00), for less.
Highlighted: the lower price for each plan. Holafly sells unlimited data only, priced in US dollars, so it isn’t in this like-for-like table.
Sources: Airalo fixed-data plans (checked 9 November 2026). Prices change; check before you buy.
Compare prices for South Korea
Know before you go
- Download Naver Map before you fly: Google Maps gives public transport routes but not full walking or driving directions in Korea. Papago translates signs and menus, and k.ride or Kakao T books taxis.
- The plan gives you data, not a Korean phone number. Some Korean sites only send codes to Korean numbers, so keep your UK SIM on for texts from your bank.
- Korea isn’t in the EU, so EU roaming deals on UK plans don’t apply. Check your network’s Korea rate before you travel.
Crossing a border from South Korea?
A South Korea plan covers South Korea only. This is what your UK network charges next door:
| Going on to | O2 | Three | Vodafone | eSIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanferries and short flights from Busan to Fukuoka and Osaka | £7 a day | £8 a day (Go Roam Around the World Extra) | Check Vodafone | Japan plans |
Set it up before you fly
- Check your phone is unlocked and supports eSIM on our compatibility page.
- Install the plan at home on Wi-Fi with our iPhone or Android guide.
- When you land at Seoul Incheon, switch mobile data to the eSIM and turn on data roaming for it only.
Questions about South Korea
Which apps do I need in South Korea?
Naver Map for directions, Papago for translation and k.ride or Kakao T for taxis. Download them at home on Wi-Fi. Google Maps works for public transport but not for full walking or driving directions.
Will I get a Korean phone number?
No. The plan is data-only. Keep your UK SIM switched on for calls and texts, such as bank codes, and use WhatsApp or KakaoTalk over the eSIM’s data.
Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming in South Korea?
For a week with about 0.7 GB a day, the Graba SIM 20GB, 30 days plan costs £8.99, less than each published UK network option for South Korea (the lowest is Three at £42.00). UK network prices include calls and texts; the eSIM is data only.
What do UK networks charge in South Korea?
EE: EE doesn’t publish one price for every country: it prices roaming by destination, plan and start date. Check EE’s roaming tool for South Korea. O2: South Korea isn’t on O2 Travel’s destination list, so O2’s standard roaming rates apply. Check them on O2’s website. Vodafone: Check what Vodafone charges in South Korea in its roaming charge checker. Its European roaming passes only cover Zone B. Three: £8 a day in Go Roam Around the World Extra (£7 on plans from 2021 to 2025), or £42 for a 7-day pass. Unlocks your UK calls, texts and up to 12 GB of your UK data.
What if something goes wrong?
Live chat in the Graba SIM app is open 24/7. Email and contact-form requests are answered Monday to Friday.
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