Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sksahni87]

Hey guys, I am new to Korea and am in need of some advice. I am looking into getting a cell phone and will probably start a plan, but wanted to know if anyone knows the average pricing, minutes/texts, and good companies to sign with. What do you have? much do you pay? Are you happy with it?

Also, what is the best internet service? And what is the best deal? Do most people have DSL? or dial up?

Thanks a lot, any advice is much appreciated!

[Alphabet_Stew]

BEST internet company - KT Megapass
BEST Cellphone service provider - KT Show

However, as a foreigner - for cellphone you would be better off going with LG

[schlotzy]

LOL @ dial-up. Korea has the fastest and largest number of connections on the planet.

[sksahni87]

[Alphabet_Stew]

Internet (depending on what company you use) - will cost you 25,000~37,000won per month (24hr internet/365 days per year / unlimited fast downloads/uploads)

C&M also offers cheap "combined internet & cable TV" packages



Phone calls are cheap at 250 won per call or 200won per text message

Overseas calls can be made for 250won for "talk as long as you want" if you phone 1688-4949 then when the lady starts talking dial in the phone call you want to call overseas then press #


Don't worry - if you have been invited to come and work here - your school should be able to help you work out a free package.

If your'e coming here as a student - then find a friend to help you choose the right package.

[crossmr]

KT now has special stores set up to service foreigners. Global stores with English speaking staff and translation services.
If you want to get something, and you don't live far from one, you're probably fine to go there. I went and ordered my iPhone 4 there last weekend.
took 5 minutes.

[alwaysbeclosing100]

internet KT
phone LG

[uklathemock]

LG Telecom is the most foreign friendly imho.
700 minutes a month? That will cost you a fortune here. I find the cost to be about double the cost of plans in the U.S. I used to have an unlimited voice + text plan in the U.S. for around $90. A friend of mine here is on his phone for about 2 hours a day and his bill is around 160,000 won a month. lol

[Meow?]

My Qook bill is about 35k a month. Yes, 24/7 unlimited. When I applied for 1 year contract, it was 42k a month. So I pushed for a 2 year contract.

When I first came here, I opted for pre-paid phones. Pre-paid cads could last for a month (strictly nowadays... SK was strictly 10k won per month before while LG was "as long as you still have some money on your phone, it doesn't matter if it takes a year before your next recharge"). With how many text messages I send, it would still not consume 5k. As for calls, I simply use a third-party, pre-paid card. It works internationally and locally. A pre-paid card worth 10k won could provide hundreds of minutes (if you're using a pre-paid cell phone) and even more hundreds of minutes (if you're using a contract phone) calls locally. International? Depending on the card and country you're calling to.

My previous plan (up to last week) was 16k won a month. I didn't scrutinize the numbers but so far, but sometimes I even end up calling directly international since I feel like I haven't consumed as much as the bill for the month (KT). Now I upgraded to 55k a month (300/300/unlimited)... just because I got a smart phone... yeah, I know. It doesn't make me smart.

All I'm saying is, when it comes to long local calls, pre-paid international or local third party cards is the way to go. That saves more than enough for your many many MANY text messages.

[hondaicivic]

[hondaicivic]

[Meow?]

20k for the very start. But you'll still be obligated to recharge after a month or so days (call the customer service. Most of them can speak English. They can tell you how long your recharge would last). The money, IIRC, would compound. But you have to check it from customer service again. I think that was the reason why I left one company. The thing is, after the final date for your recharge, then didn't recharge for about 3 days after, all the money you have left on your pre-paid phone will be gone. There should be some numbers you can dial to check your balance and account period and everything else.
On some companies, when you recharge a week after the last one, the time will compound to each other. On others, it will still be a month after your last recharge. Regardless of whether you did it a week after your previous one.... yeah, I guess that's why I left SK... I think. I can't remember much.

[T-J]

[singerdude]

Yeah, but he was talking about unlimited. On lower plans, yes, I think Korea is cheaper because you only pay for outgoing. The unlimited plans in the US are definitely better.