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bellatore
Joined: 04 Oct 2006
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 Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:01 am Post subject: Cell phones for foreigners |
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| I just came to Korea a month ago and I'd like to have one of those cool Korean cell phones with the bells and whistles. I'd like to take it home to California when I leave next year and have it unlocked. The unlocking isn't the problem. How do I get a phone? I've heard you can only buy a used phone if you're a foreigner and you have to have prepaid or that you have to put down a huge deposit for a plan. Doesn't this mean you have to turn in the phone at the end of the plan??? Someone, please educate me on cell phones for foreigners here. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 2:11 am Post subject: Re: Cell phones for foreigners |
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| bellatore wrote: |
| I just came to Korea a month ago and I'd like to have one of those cool Korean cell phones with the bells and whistles. I'd like to take it home to California when I leave next year and have it unlocked. The unlocking isn't the problem. How do I get a phone? I've heard you can only buy a used phone if you're a foreigner and you have to have prepaid or that you have to put down a huge deposit for a plan. Doesn't this mean you have to turn in the phone at the end of the plan??? Someone, please educate me on cell phones for foreigners here. |
This has been covered many times before and is in the stickys.
But for the newbies here in country:
You have to buy your phone. You do NOT return it when you leave (unless it is a loaner from your hakwon).
You CAN get a cellphone new or used in just about any shop but you may need a translator to help you.
You CAN get monthly service billing or a "CARD PHONE" that uses prepaid time.
IF you get a card phone (read prepaid time cell phone here) there is NO hookup fee and no deposit and no monthly fee. You simply buy the phone and buy time as you need it. Card phones are about 4x more expensive per minute of talk time than monthly ones.
If you get a phone from SK or KTF then you need your ARC, possibly your passport and a DEPOSIT of 200k-250k won PLUS the cost of the phone.
If you get a phone from LG you do NOT need to make a deposit.
You DO need your ARC, PASSPORT, BANKBOOK that has been open for more than 3 months and the cost of the phone.
If you get a card phone there is NO CHARGE for the hookup fee.
If you get a monthly plan there is a 55k won hookup fee.
If you want a phone shop that is willing to assist a foreigner then the shop at Yeongdongpo-gu office (Purple or Green line) subway stop (out exit 3, walk straight ahead, cross the first light and it is the right hand one of the 2 on the corner. Ask for InSook) can help you. She speaks English and is willing to assist a foreigner to get a phone. This is 2 stops away from the Seoul Immigration office.
I think that covered it all. |
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bellatore
Joined: 04 Oct 2006
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| Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:40 pm Post subject: with much gratitude |
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| Thank you so much for the info!!! Sorry I missed the sticky! |
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hanguker
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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Does anyone know the approximate price for a basic issue "card phone"?
You only pay for calling out right?
Does the caller have to pay anything extra when they call you on this kind of phone?
Thanks for the info. Merry Christmas (happy holidays...) |
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DCJames
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 7:31 am Post subject: Re: Cell phones for foreigners |
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[quote="ttompatz"]
| bellatore wrote: |
If you get a phone from SK or KTF then you need your ARC, possibly your passport and a DEPOSIT of 200k-250k won PLUS the cost of the phone.
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I bought a new phone from SK last month and did not have to pay any sort of deposit because I had over 18 months of service with KTF prior to buying my new phone. They said that my previous service with KTF excluded me from paying any sort of deposit. |
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melaniepitts
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Location: Daejeon, S. Korea
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| Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 11:47 pm Post subject: Where in the stickies? |
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I have been searching the site as well for this type of info and couldn't find it either...
So if I buy a used phone from someone... I should be able to bring it to one of the mobile phone companies and set it up in my own name and on a prepaid plan without any type of paperwork from the previous owner of the phone?
I'm just double checking as when I bought a used phone from a foreigner, I just continued with the pre-pay plan and kept the phone number, but ended up running into problems later as the phone was not officially in my name so KTF wouldn't help me (even though I had been using the phone for almost 2 years and had a Korean there to help translate the situation). I don't want to get stuck in that type of situation again.
Please confirm the following: I buy a used phone off of someone who had a contract and cancelled it. I should be able to take this phone into any mobile phone company, put it into my name and put it onto a prepaid plan without any issues?
Thank-you for your help!
Melanie |
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