Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nate1983]

Is it possible to get short-term contracts (specifically for iPhone) or do some month-to-month service that includes data? If so many people have visas that are only good for a year or less (I have a D-8 that expires in June) how do they manage to get two-year contracts, which I presume is the standard? Are the contracts only for people who are needing to get the phone as well? I figure I would just buy a used one off Craigslist (unless someone here wants to sell me one hah) and then take it to the store for a month-to-month service plan. Would that work? And would I need to wait until I had my ARC? And if I managed to unlock (stupid AT&T) my US iPhone, would that work with a Korean provider?

[modernseoul]

You can rent cell phones at Incheon Airport for a short amount of time however it requires a rather large deposit. People who have E2 visas only similar 1 year visas can get 2 year contacts but have to pay to cancel their phone if they decide to leave.
You can also get pay as you go phones but normally they are used but cheap.
In your situation i.e. being on a D8 visa, I don't see it being a huge problem finding a phone company who can provide you a smartphone if you link the plan to your company. You will need help for the Korean side of things and will need to shop around.
Good Luck

[nate1983]

Okay, thanks for the reply. I've rented phones from Incheon before, but those are kind of expensive and I haven't noticed that they have smartphones. I think trying to link a plan to my company may get complicated, especially if I needed to cancel it or anything, so I'd prefer to do it by myself (I speak Korean so that's not an issue). If I'm able to procure myself a Korean network-compatible phone, can I take it to any of the stores and be like "I'd like a month of talk/text/data, please"? Previously when I stayed in Korea I had a Korean friend give me a phone and she just had her mom charge it up whenever the credit got low, so I'm a bit new to this.

[northway]

I'm pretty sure you can just go month to month with a data plan if you have a phone already. My buddy has an American iPhone and I don't think he had to get a contract.

[coralreefer_1]

A bit off topic but Im going to just add this because I went through it last week.

There has been discussion here several times about foreigners and phone contracts/smartphones..etc.

Last week my old Sony Ericcson was on the fritz and went to get the a new phone. I ended up choosing the Samsung Galaxy S2 4G LTE.

In the display case, the price for that phone was about 550,000 won, but nowhere was it mentioned that the price was in the case if IF you signed a 3-year contract.

I am on a student visa, and didnt want to do a 3-year so I opted for a 2-year contract. In that case, the actual price of the phone was 820,000. My plan was to pay CASH for the phone that day, so I didn't have to have charges for the phone on my bill, and also so that I could take the phone with me if I left before the contract was finished..so I walked over to the bank and withdrew the money needed to pay for the phone completely.


So we started the paperwork, got everything signed and the guy took the phone over to the desk to begin transferring my contacts, other data to the new phone while the girl next to him began putting the infointo the computer. Lo and Behold guess what happened?


Coming straight from the SK telecom office: The phone cost 960,000 won for a foreigner to buy, but a Korean can buy it for 820,000!!!! Note this was not a financing plan...this was to straight out buy the phone, cash in hand that day..100% paid for., same as if my Korean friend bought a roll of kimbab for 1,200 won, but when I went to buy kimbab it would cost 2,000 won

I can understand all of the complaints about foreigners getting shafted for phones because they may suddenly leave with the phone...etc...but I cant understand how a foreigner would be treated differently and charged 140,000 won MORE when paying for the phone straight out in cash (as in, no risk to the company in regards to the phone itself)


The only way I was able to get the phone for 820,000 won was to put a Korean person on the contract for at least three months, and then afterward the Korean person can be removed and I would have gotten the "Korean" price for the phone...otherwise without a Korean the cost of just the phone was 960,000.

Not complaining, I eventually worked it out and was able to get a Korean professor to sign with me so I could get the Korean price..but...there it is~