Korean Job Discussion Forums

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

Can someone give me some information of how to sign up for a monthly service plan through either SK telecom or KTF? Apparently the rate for monthly service is supposed to a lot cheaper than phone cards. I hear a 200,000 won security deposit is required, but the Korean at my local SK store said no if I purchase a phone though them and pay the 55000 won activation fee. All I need to provide them is my ARC, passport, and a Korean bank book. Is this true or is the 200,000 won deposit absolutely required? I don't want to purchase a brand new phone only to discover that it's a card phone.

I checked out SK's website, and it never mentioned anything about a deposit. Also, what is their flat rate every month?

Any information would be great.

Thanks

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

hogwonguy1979 · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: the racoon den

I had a nasty experience with SK, their website said for a foreigner all you needed was your passport, ARC and bankbook along with an activation fee. So there was a person with a table near where I was working and I got a new phone cheap and thought I swithced. Well I get a call the next day at home saying I need to put down a 200,000 won deposit. I say "whoa your website says nothing about that" their response was "oh thats only for diplomats, executives for major companies and higher ups in the USFK, Englishee teacher pay deposit"

Obviously I told them to stick it. I did switch to KTF but feel they bait and switched me.

Best advice as a foreigner is go with LG

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

hmm, never thought about getting service through LG telecom. I know they are not as common as KTF or SK, at least not my area of Seoul. How is their reception? Are certain phones locked to their network?

Thanks

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

At first, I thought LG wasn't very common either but, actually, it is. Once I was told it was, I started to notice they have shops pretty much everywhere that you find KT and SK shops. It's just that in one building there will be like 3 kt shops, 3 sk shops, and 1 LG shop...so it can be easy to miss the LG shop.

I've had a KT pay as you go phone (card) since I've been here and have never liked the service I've received from KT. They are very indifferent to you as a foreigner. I hear SK is the absolute worst for foreigners and they really, they would just prefer to not have you as a customer. I've heard tons of good things about LG and, of course, the reception shouldn't be an issue.

lostinseoul77777 · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Location: Seoul, Gangnam

I have an SK pre-paid card. Although they weren't overly friendly when I got the phone, they weren't rude either. The minute rates are a bit pricier than a regular plan, but it's not too bad considering they don't charge you for incoming calls.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

I bought a phone and use it as a prepaid. Every 4 or 5 week I go into SK Telecom and put 10-20,000 won down and my phone is charge. I send text messages and make calls, but not very much.

It's cheap and hassle free for the most part.

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Thu Mar 23, 2006 4:11 am Post subject:

Here is the low-down with LG...

They are a bit cheaper, but the trade-off is that many of the "best" phones are with SK Telecom, 2nd to KTF (an opinion of mine). If having the latest 7 megapixel camera phone, and greatest whatever doesn't matter to you, then LG is a better deal because foreigners don't have to pay the 200,000 won deposit.

Another trade-off is that the signal coverage is not as good. Especially below-ground. Subways seem to be fine around Seoul, but if you have a basement apartment, you MIGHT have troubles. I find that I can't get a good signal in the basement of one of the school buildings. Over time, however, LG's signal has improved, and it's really not a huge issue with me. If you live outside of Seoul, or a larger city, it MIGHT be different. Ask Korean friends and they will know.

With any of these companies, if you move into a place where you don't get a clear signal, they will install a sort of flat antenna in your place, or very near it, to improve the signal. I almost had that done, but the thing was so friggin' huge, like the size of an 8x10 photo! I didn't want that thing on my wall. Luckily, it just turned out that my internal phone antenna had degraded somehow, and fixing it (warranty) made everything just fine.

I like LG for the savings. I also like having my own phone in my own name, and NOT paying a big deposit. I find that, unless you ask for it, many companies will conveniently "forget" that you ever paid a deposit when you cancel your plan. I can't say that SK or KTF would do that, but my past cable and internet companies attempted to do just that.

Oh, if you have a significant other or friend that most of your calls go to, you will save money by being with the same phone company. I was told that there are also certain plans for this type of thing as well.