Korean Job Discussion Forums

[LeaforKorea]

I'm hoping some tech-savvy people on here can give me some advice.

I have an i-phone4, not a 4s, and it doesn't have a sim card slot. I'm in the U.S. and my phone carrier service is through Sprint. They tell me I can get an international phone plan, but it will still be REALLY expensive to make phone calls in Korea even if I'm calling a number in Korea.

I plan to purchase a Korean cell phone and plan as soon as I can, but it might take me a few days at least to figure out where to go and how to do that.

So I'm hoping people on here can tell me what they did about a cell phone when they arrived before they got a Korean cell phone.

[ttompatz]

a) Do without.

b) You can't get a "plan" until you get an ARC.

c) You can get a prepaid phone with just a passport but you'll have to hunt around to find someplace to sell it to you and get you set up (get a Korean co-worker to help you).

d) You can rent a phone at the airport (not cheap either).

e) Ask your hagwon to help you (usually the easiest option).

f) If you are at a public school then see a,b,c,d.

.

[vaticanhotline]

It only takes a couple of weeks to get your ARC. Don't worry, there are a plethora of other ways to communicate with people; you don't absolutely need to have a phone before you get a Korean phone.

[LeaforKorea]

Thanks guys. I keep forgetting I'm in the 21st century and there are a plethora of other ways to communicate now besides a phone, lol.

[tmax500]

I recently bought a new unlocked iphone4 for Won330,000 at Imart 8th floor next to Yongsan station (iphone 4s should cost 430,000 and iphone 5 650,000 maybe). If you have your ARC you can set up the connection on the same floor - all the Korean tel service providers are open there during office hours.

With your ARC and phone you could alternatively go to Olleh HQ at Gwanghwamun station (huge building next to Kyobo bookstore), there are some English speakers and they can set it up for you. If you want a 3G data package (minimum 300MB for Won8800 per month prepaid) you will get free wifi on all subway trains and platforms and lots of other places too. Smaller regional olleh offices also possible but they don't speak English (no problem if you're with a Korean). Olleh has an English CS line anyway from 9am to 6pm: tel 1583.

If you prefer a postpaid plan they've many options. There's also some kind of green recycling plan where you can trade in your old smartphone for a discount on a new one (not sure if a US iphone is possible).

[Weigookin74]

Does an unlocked North American smart phone work here with a Korean sim card set up? Just curious. (I'm still using an old 2G phone to save cash. I'll prob convert over next year. Ha ha.) Also, are there any unlimited plans? A friend told me there was some phone shop at the Seoul Global Center?? that gave unlimited. He claimed other phone shops in Korea will rip you off. They'll overcharge you and then give you a "discount". I don't know much about it as I don't use one of these phones myself.


the KT shop (olleh square) at KwangHwaMoon?
It's "100 Sejong-Ro Chongro-Gu Seoul", 서울시 종로구 세종로 100번지 You can check it from KT website.=================================
Seoul Global Center,Shinhan Bank
General Manager (지점장)
Dir) 02-773-3147
Tel) 02-773-3131
Cell) 010-4191-2739


Friend sent me that link a few months ago. If you find the place it might be a better deal? But, don't quote me on it or anything like that. My friend had an unlimited contract with his smart phone or so he claimed. The local phone shops in my area don't have an unlimited plan so maybe they just rip you off.

[tmax500]

I don't know if American iPhones work here, but if unlocked I'd guess so (you could ring and ask). I guess you're not with KT olleh if you have a 2G phone - they turned off 2G a couple of years ago (to free network space for 4G services). KT Olleh HQ is at 100 Sejong-ro (the Lee Sunshin and King Sejong statues are right outside).

Here are their plan options: http://www.ktexpatblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/olleh_service_guide_English.pdf. The unlimited postpaid call plan is expensive in my opinion (unless you make a lot of calls).