Korean Job Discussion Forums

[socks_optional]

http://www.thearrivalstore.com/products/cellphones/smarpphone-optimus-big.html

How does the Arrival Store's smartphone plan compare to Korean companies? I ask this because I'm less than a month away from being in Korea. Because of recent changes to the requirements to get an ARC, it will take me a bit longer than usual to receive one while I wait for another FBI background check to come in. Taking that into account having a phone waiting for me right off the plane seems very desirable. So does this smartphone plan (and cost of the phone) compare favorably with Korean companies?

[alongway]

if you go with KT, you don't have to pay a deposit..that's one big difference right off.
between the phone fee and the monthly fee, I'm only paying around 80,000 a month for my iphone.

[Hiromi C]

That's the phone and plan I have. It would have taken me a month from the time I stepped off the plane to get my phone. I'm used to being wired and having a smart phone allows me to tether my laptop, which was a huge help until I got my internet set up, too. No PC bangs for me.

That said, yes, you're going to pay for the convenience.

$200 deposit (refundable)
$119 for the phone (non-refundable)
W83,377 a month (I don't think the brochure price includes VAT)
W10,000 registration fee for the first three months
W20,000 activation fee for the first month

So, after the first 3 months, the monthly fee is about the same as what alongway is describing. But you have ~$160 in up front fees on top.

If you want to think about it this way, the upfront costs mean about a $12 a month "I don't know Korea and/or really don't want to be phone-less" tax.

Now that I know how things work, I wouldn't do it again, but for that peace of mind, I don't at all regret spending that ~12 bucks a month more than someone with a normal contract.

[socks_optional]

[plchron]

Had the same dilemma when I came over in August. I Don't know what the arrival store prices were, but I waited (a month of facebooking meeting spots with people and then not being able to communicate with them if i got lost. I even had to hop into a few pc bangs to recheck my directions, etc.)

When I got my ARC I went to LG, there was no deposit, standard 2 year contract, 3d smartphone for 60,000 a month + 20,000 one time activation fee.They have different plans. 60,000 gets me unlimited internet data + 200 minutes and 300 txt messages ( or vice a versa).

Not having a phone for a month sucked but now I think it was worth it.

[furtakk]

wait until you get your arc. it's really easy to get set-up on an iphone/galaxy on your own and it'll end up costing you less (not to mention that they're better phones).

if you absolutely need a phone your first month, take your passport to a used cellphone shop and set-up a cheap pay as you go phone. if you have an ipod touch or something similar, there's open wifi all over seoul.

[jessegb]

The Arrival Store phoned me earlier and I'm now trying to make the same decision.

plchron - so you got your phone on LG? what model is it? And how much would it cost if you ended after a year?

I have just been trying to work out what the best option is for a one year (or de facto one year) contract. After calculating various options I have found that - assuming I only commit to a 1 year contract (including cancellation etc.) - an iphone or other smartphone from mobileboo will cost 111,000/month, which is roughly about the same as the arrival store (assuming I don't return the phone and lose my deposit) for a non-iphone smartphone. An iphone on KT's one year plan here - http://shop.olleh.com/ollehshop/Cellphone/iphone_foreigner.jsp - will cost 104,000.

Does anyone know if KT is the only network that does 1 year contracts for foreigners? And if so, what other phone options do they have? The only one I can find out about online is the iphone. As I have absolutely zero interest in getting an iphone, indeed I would prefer something android based, it would be good to get an idea of the prices.

Cheers

[Hiromi C]

[plchron]

[jvalmer]

I plan on upgrading to a smartphone... finally. I do plan on outright buying it though, so I'm hoping no deposit is required? Also, I don't have a Korean credit card, does that matter?

[jessegb]

I'm just wondering whether it would just be cheaper to pick up a cheap decent android phone in the UK (like a ZTE Skate) and get on a KT contract over there, as apparently any WCDMA (i.e. 3G) phones will work on their network. Then there is no cost for the smartphone and a 1 year contract would be fine. Seems like it would probably work out cheaper...

[TASscot]

This is not a spam or advertisement, it's simply a relative update as The Arrival Store cell phone options have changed drastically since the writing of this post and new guests should be aware of the info.

In addition to simple and smart phone leases (set up on short contracts 6 or 9 months), the Arrival Store offers the exact same phone plans and prices that are offered by SK and KT Telecom. These, include the iPhone 5 and Galaxy S3 etc and can be seen under: Products > Two Year Phones. Plans and contracts are standard issue from SK or KT. No deposit necessary.

Actually, our KT phone plans end up saving customers roughly 40,000 won over a neighborhood shop (excluding the iPhone, but iPhone prices are exactly the same) at the moment.

In addition rental phones are also offered at nearly half the price of those offered at Kiosks at the Incheon Airport, and simple and smart phone leases that have contracts as short as 6 months (simple: 30,000-35,000 won/month on average AND smart 75,000 won/month on average).

Happy to answer any questions.