eSIM, SIM or pocket Wi-Fi for Korea, and the apps to install
Korea has some of the fastest mobile data in the world and free Wi-Fi on the subway, but you will want your own connection from the airport onward: the maps, the taxi app and translation all run on it. Sort it before you fly, and install the Korean apps at home, because the one you are used to may not work the way you expect.
The surprise for most visitors
- Google Maps does not give walking or driving directions in Korea, only public transport, because of restrictions on exporting Korean map data. Use Naver Map or KakaoMap instead.
- Many Korean apps want a Korean phone number to sign up. A data-only eSIM has no number; if you need one, get a SIM or eSIM that includes it.
Which connection
| Data eSIM | The easiest option if your phone supports eSIM: buy online, scan the QR code at home, and it connects when you land. Unlimited-data plans on the Korean networks are cheap for a week or two. Usually data only, with no Korean phone number. |
|---|---|
| SIM or eSIM with a number | Sold at the airport counters and online, and the choice if you want a Korean number for app sign-ups, restaurant queues and delivery. Needs your passport at pick-up. |
| Pocket Wi-Fi | A small router picked up at the airport, shared by a whole group over Wi-Fi. Good for families; one more thing to charge and to return before you fly home. |
| Roaming | Simplest and usually the most expensive. Check your own carrier’s daily pass before you dismiss it; some are reasonable. |
The apps to install
| Naver Map | The map most Koreans use, with walking, transit and driving directions, subway exits, and restaurant listings. English interface available. Search in English or paste the Korean name. |
|---|---|
| KakaoMap | The alternative, with equally good transit directions and a clean interface. Having both helps when one does not find a place. |
| Kakao T | The taxi app. Enter the destination, and the driver sees it in Korean; you can pay in the app or in the car. Late at night in busy districts it is much faster than hailing. |
| Papago | Naver’s translation app, better than most at Korean. The camera mode reads menus, signs and kiosk screens. |
| A subway app | Kakao Metro or a similar app shows the full network, the fastest transfer and the best carriage to board for a quick exit. |
| Ticketing apps | For concerts, install the platform named for your show and set up the account days ahead. The K-pop tickets guide explains which. |
Practical notes
- Free Wi-Fi is on the subway, in most cafés and at many tourist sites, but it is not reliable enough to navigate by.
- Save your hotel’s address in Korean. Taxi drivers and delivery staff work from the Korean address, not the English one.
- Most shops take foreign cards. For transport, see getting around Seoul for T-money and the travel cards.
Incheon Airport to SeoulGetting around SeoulEntry requirementsKorea basics
