Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BaldTeacher]

I use an old-ass Motorolla phone when I'm in Korea which works well for me. I think I want an iphone though, so I can play games and f around when I'm bored. If I bought one of them before I went to Korea how would I get it activated for use over there?

When I bought my phone, there was only a small selection of crappy old phones that foreigners could get.

[winterwawa]

You should be able to get international ROAMING. Just ask the dealer you buy the phone from.

[Troglodyte]

As long as it's not locked to a network (and even then you can get them unlocked) you could use it here. BUT..... (here's the kicker) you'd have to pay about 300,000 Won to get it registered to use it with a Korean cell company provider. It's not like most of the world where you can just pop in a SIM card and use it.

If you use it with roaming, then you're going to pay a lot. If you want to use it here with a Korean company, you're going to pay a lot. If you buy one here it will cost a lot AND you can only fully use it here.

[TheresaTheresa]

[cragesmure]

Or you could just go and try to buy a new one, only to be told "No foreigners!". Geez, it's not like I'm trying to get into a nightclub or anything...

[allovertheplace]

If the primary purpose is not calling get an ipod touch with wi fi and it should work fine.

[eb]

If your phone has 3/4G capacity , then it should automatically register on
the ATT/T-Mobile network(thier GSM broadband extends all the way out to Japan/Korea (and as far up as Siberia).No need to call a Korean Phone Company at all ( they have already those roaming agreements with KT and LG). Just look for anything over 2100 Quadband ( 1800/1900) only registers out in Europe and South America.

-I've been very very happy with thier Blackberry 9000. But, now, Iam upgrading to the 4G verison.

[BaldTeacher]

Thanks everyobody. Has anyone had success with an iPhone, because I thinj my parents are giving me one as a Christmas gift before I go over.

[mdickun83]

Somewhat along these lines:

I'm going to be coming to Korea in Feb and I'm wondering about what I should do in terms of a wireless device. Any help would be appreciated.

Currently I have an Envy 2 or something from like 250 years ago. It works fine for my purposes. But I think taking it with me and getting international roaming/ not having a korean number would be a pain/ expensive. So here are the options I'm thinking:

1. Buy an Ipod touch here. Get a similar phone to the one I have for texting/ talking once in Korea. This is the leading option for me because I'm kind of nervous strutting around the streets there where I don't know the language and can't ask for directions. At least with the touch, I can have something that would have me linked in to mapquest and other useful things. Plus, I need an MP3 player.

2. Once over there, buy an Iphone or Blackberry (I lean towards Iphone because all my music is in itunes format). Negative to this option is walking around for a few weeks with no mobile internet. Now, currently I don't have mobile internet, but it isn't that much of an issue because I can simply ask people for help.

3. Buy a phone here and get international roaming. I'm not sure but that seems expensive. Also, I'm not sure how people I meet in Korea would call/text me.

I'm a big dummy when it comes to these things. Any info would be great. If there's an option that I didn't think of please feel free to let me know.

[eb]

I-Phones work fine. Heads up:You won't be able to just "walk in" and buy
a nice normal phone with a regular plan.

Need to your contract plan in USA and then before you travel , go ahead and add this on:

http://www.tmobile.com/International/RoamingOverview.aspx?tp=Inl_Tab_RoamWorldwide

Trust me, you DO NOT wanna be in Korea without a proper phone. It neither safe nor smart.

[Troglodyte]

Here's what a lot of foreigners do.

As soon as you're settled in, if you're on the Seoul subway line, make a trip into Itaewon. Near the subway station there are shops that will sell you a cheap old prepaid phone for about 10,000 to 30,000 Won, plus 10,000 credit to start you off. That credit is good until you use it or 30 days goes by. Hopefully in that time you'll have your ARC. With the ARC, you should be able to get a monthly plan. Or, if you don't make many outgoing calls, just keep putting credit on the prepaid phone every month.

If you're in another city too far from Seoul, then look for a T-Free shop near you.
http://freet.co.kr/
A lot of other companies like LG, SK, KTF will give you a hard time to get a prepaid account.

[mdickun83]

Can I buy a smart phone with the prepaid plan?