Korean Job Discussion Forums

desultude · Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:09 am Post subject: Free wifi in Korea?

Hi techies

I have a question. I am returning to Korea with my new macbook, and I am wondering what the state of free wifi is there, in general. There is lots of wifi here in the States, but it all requires subscription services- even the famous Starbucks wifi.

Is there generally free wifi in bookstores and coffeehouses? On uni campuses? (Keimyung didn't have it when I left, but I think it was in the works.)

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

Caribou Coffee has free wifi as do a number of independant coffee shops. Netspot which is widespread is only 20,000 won per month but I dont' know about speed as I hasven't paid for it.

Richard Krainium · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

All my neighbors have unsecured wireless networks. Laughing

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

The chances of finding an unsecured wireless network from a neighbor is pretty good. However, Koreans are very stingy about leaving stuff on, so chances are that they'll turn off their modem/router/computer when its not in use.

Most public access points use Netspot and you need a netspot account to access it.

desultude · Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:44 am Post subject:

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

Can someone point me towards accessing Netspot on a Mac? everytime I go to their site, I am prompted to download an .exe file.

Canadian Club · Joined: 12 Aug 2006

A lot of coffee shops have free wireless... I've picked it up (or have seen others doing so) at a few places.

I can also join a few wireless networks from my neighbours, but pkang is right about people turning their machines off when they're not using them.

Richard Krainium · Joined: 12 Jan 2006

Internet on the beach: Vacationers enjoy wireless Internet services at Gyeongpo Beach in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, Monday. Gangneung City offers connection to the mobile Internet free of charge.

desultude · Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 6:59 am Post subject:

EssPea · Joined: 10 Jul 2007

Keep in mind a lot of the buildings here are made of concrete, which is not good for wireless signal transmission. When my laptop is in line of site of my router I get 90% signal strength, when it is behind a concrete wall it drops to 50% (the same distance away).

There were a lot of unsecured networks in my building, but none with enough signal strength to be reliable.

paquebot · Joined: 20 Jun 2007 Location: Northern Gyeonggi-do

I don't know how many of these are free wi-fi spots, but I came across the following list of hotspots in South Korea -- broken up by region and further described by name, address, service provider, and type of establishment (mall, restaurant, school, etc.):

http://tinyurl.com/ywjbsb

Who knew that Gyeonggi Bukbu Auto Dealers Centre in Uijeongbu, Chilam-dong Post Office in Jinju, and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation - Hyojachon Branch in Bundang all had wifi access?

Edit: After some digging around I did manage to get a list of free wi-fi hotspots. List available here: http://tinyurl.com/32qwbs

Gatsby · Joined: 09 Feb 2007

That's interesting. I wonder, do all Family Marts have wifi?

seoulman1 · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Location: Jamsil

how much will you be downloading? if you downloading heaps of games and movies then your better off getting your own connection rather than leeching off some other poor saps bill.

johndoe · Joined: 29 Jun 2005

This will cost you about 20,000 Won and 20 mins. I used to use one like this in the city and get like 30-50 unsecured wifi signals! Laughing