YES IT IS POSSIBLE!!! Even with your passport!!

Before I came to Korea last March, this was one of the questions that I kept trying to find an answer to but to no avail. The information was mostly too outdated and I actually rented a phone for my 2-week holiday in Seoul.

However, I found out later from one of Kimchi Hostel’s former staff, Daniel, that we can actually get a pre-paid SIM card using our passport.

So I’m writing this to share with people who might have the same question as I did.

KT Olleh (or Korea Media rules) has changed since January 2011, you can read about it here.

Venue: KT Olleh Square at Gwang Hwa Mun (Gwang Hwa Mun Station, Line 5, Exit 2) [Note: or any GLOBAL KT OLLEH outlets] But KT Olleh Square is recommended because they are like the main branch and they have English-speaking staff.

What do you need to bring:
1. Passport (Very Important) and yes, you can get it with just your passport. (Insist that you can, give the staff the webpage from their own website. Don’t let them push you to another outlet.)
2. Your phone (Make sure that the phone is already in use in Korea). Your phone must also not be LOCKED (i.e. You can remove your SIM card from your phone)
3. Make sure you have your IMEI and Serial number of your phone. (I know iPhone has it in the phone settings, so there’s easy. Other phones, please make sure you have these information handy.)
4. Cash (Foreign credit cards are not accepted.)

Cost: 5,500KRW for the SIM card.
Top-up starts from 2000KRW.

A top-up of 10,000KRW should last you for a week.

Please go before 6pm, in fact go early. The processing takes some time BUT it shouldn’t take a day.

NOTE: The SIM card/number would only be valid for 3 months. If you are going to stay in Korea for more than 3 months, you would have to go to the shop to validate your visa so you can continue using the number beyond 3 months.