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m3erds
Joined: 22 Feb 2010
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 Posted: Sat May 29, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject: Can I get a cellphone without my ARC card? |
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| Ive been in Korea for two weeks and Id like to get a cell phone. I dont have an ARC card yet and Ive heard it is taking awhile for immigration to process them right now. Can I get a cell phone without the ARC card? |
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schlotzy
Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Nope, not that I'm aware of...not unless you get a Korean friend to sign up for it under his or her name and then switch it to yours 4 months later. This is usually the way to get the best deal on a cell phone anyway. You can often get a better phone for a cheaper price with better contract options. |
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StavvioD
Joined: 31 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| I got a pay-as-you-go phone using my passport at the small phone shop in Itaewon next to sultan kebab shop on the backstreet from the subway station...(sorry, I don't know which exit). However...as I've now discovered, it's not registered on the main LG network, so I can't just go into any LG shop and get a top up on the computer. I have to get the cards from the phone shops, which means getting travelling 40+ minutes or getting friends to buy them and send me the codes to do it myself. |
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Paladin Brewer
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 7:40 pm Post subject: |
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| I got a cell phone before my ARC card, though my school was paying for it as a gift so maybe thats different? It's under my address though as far as I know |
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tefain
Joined: 19 Sep 2007
Location: Not too far out there
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| Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 8:03 pm Post subject: |
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You could always get a prepaid phone from someone else.
Check the Buy/Sell/Trade forum or you can try your luck with stores that specialize in second hand and prepay phones. |
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jomiro
Joined: 10 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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itaewon
prepaid phone. no contract.
no arc necessary |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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| jomiro wrote: |
itaewon
prepaid phone. no contract.
no arc necessary |
+1
There a bunch of places in Itaewon near near the subway exit. Small shops. Half of them have Arab or Indian guys working there who can speak English. You'll need your passport. MAKE SURE it's in your own name (or someone that you see on a regular basis) otherwise you may have a problem putting credit on the phone later.
If you put 10,000 Won credit on the phone then you can make outgoing calls for 1 month. I'm not sure how long after that you can receive calls but It should be AT LEAST another month.
If you want to use the phone a lot, then you should consider getting a monthly plan when your ARC arrives.
If you don't live near Seoul, then you can ask around at the cell phone offices in your city. Get a Korean to come with you. Find the actual offices, not just the simple stores (they also sell phones at the big offices). At many of the stores they just sell the phones, but at least they can point you towards the offices. Beg and plead them to sell you a used phone (the big offices will have a drawer full of them that other people have traded in for a new phone) and to let you sign up for a pre-paid plan with only your passport. If they see that you have the E2 visa already it will help you, but technically isn't necessary. The phone companies CAN give foreigners a prepaid or monthly plan with only a passport. There is no law against it. It's simply the choice of each office about whether or not to do it. They will NEVER give you monthly plan, but they will sometimes give you a prepaid plan. Tell them that you just want a prepaid plan for now until your ARC comes and that you'll get a monthly plan after that (which will get you a free or cheap phone - which is why you want to get a cheap old phone now). If you're in (or near) Bucheon, I can tell you where to get this done without making a trip to Itaewon. |
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m3erds
Joined: 22 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| Im in Nowon so going to Itaewon is no big deal. Whats the protocol for having a Korean get a phone for me then switch it over. Are you supposed to hide that a foreigner is getting it or make that clear from the beginning? Should i go with when it happens? |
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butter_opera
Joined: 07 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| you can get a pre-pay phone with a drivers license at any cell phone store near a US military base! The rest of Korea will require that you have your ARC card! |
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oldtactics
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 7:33 am Post subject: |
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| Sorry to bring up an old thread - Is there somewhere in Busan that I can buy a pay as you go phone + cards? Haven't been down here very long and I'm not sure where to look. |
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waseige1
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:03 pm Post subject: Busan |
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| oldtactics wrote: |
| Sorry to bring up an old thread - Is there somewhere in Busan that I can buy a pay as you go phone + cards? Haven't been down here very long and I'm not sure where to look. |
Hard to find and expensive when you find one. I knew a guy that sold them at times, but his inventory was VERY limited and sporadic. |
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oldtactics
Joined: 18 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Busan |
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| waseige1 wrote: |
| oldtactics wrote: |
| Sorry to bring up an old thread - Is there somewhere in Busan that I can buy a pay as you go phone + cards? Haven't been down here very long and I'm not sure where to look. |
Hard to find and expensive when you find one. I knew a guy that sold them at times, but his inventory was VERY limited and sporadic. |
Thanks - I think I'll just wait until I get my new ARC then. |
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