Thanks to waygook.org member confusedsafferinkorea for providing much of the information here.

Can I use a phone brought from home in Korea?

Certainly possible, but the phone must be unlocked and it's certainly not a painless process. Check this link to see if the phone can work in Korea:

http://expatblog.kt.com/category/Service%20Guide%20%28English%29/Non-Korean%20Phones?seq=1

If the phone can work, but  hasn't received radio wave authorization in Korea, you must register it with the KCC. This link shows you how to check if your device has received radio wave authorization:

http://expatblog.kt.com/category/Service%20Guide%20%28English%29?seq=4

To register your phone with the KCC, here are the steps:

1. Buy unlocked phone (or unlock a locked phone)
2. Ask school to install "employment digital certificate" on your computer
3. Register your foreign device on the "Korea Communications Commission" website (You will also need a digital certificate known as a 공인인증서/개인인증서 in order to complete this process.  These can be issued to you from your financial institution, free of charge. Apparently it is instantly available via online banking, but you might need a Korean to find it.)
4. Print the certificate out once you have done registering
5. Bring your ARC, foreign device registration certificate, necessary phone  information, bank book to a BIG telecom/cellphone stores (not local small stores), bigger stores knows better.

*You MUST save the digital certificate (공인인증서) on the computer that you will be using for registering your phone! Once the file is saved if can not be removed or duplicated. So I recommend that you save it in a USB.

Go to this link to help you navigate the KCC web site:

http://expatblog.kt.com/41


How does pricing work for phones in Korea?

Non-smartphones have a base plan of 12,000 KRW.  Here is KT Olleh's standard rate plan:

http://expatblog.kt.com/85

Smartphone plans are obviously pricier, and if you don't buy the phone outright, the price of phone is paid over two or three years (no interest). In addition, certain monthly discounts are given if you purchase the phone this way.

Here's an example:

http://expatblog.kt.com/category/Service%20Guide%20%28English%29/Additional%20Information?seq=2

Only two-year contracts are offered on smartphones. If you terminate early, you'll pay the remaining balance of the phone (and any discounts you received will be withdrawn) plus a termination fee, up to 50,000 KRW. Here's an example:


http://www.mobileboo.com/?page_id=40 (Scroll down to "Can I terminate a contract...")

Mobileboo has received positive reviews:

http://waygook.org/index.php/topic,14322.0.html


I plan to travel; will my Korean phone roam overseas?

Possibly. Call your provider to confirm and inquire about the roaming charges. (Check the bottom of this post for your provider's contact info.)

If it'll work, you'll simply have to turn on the phone in the country and then you'll be able to make/receive calls and text messages using the same phone number you use in Korea.

KT roaming info:

http://expatblog.kt.com/category/Service%20Guide%20%28English%29?seq=32

I bought a phone in Korea and want to use it with my provider back home. Will it work?

Possibly, but if there's any chance for it to work, it must be unlocked. All carriers provide unlocked phones except LG Telecom.

Waygook.org member confusedsafferinkorea and his wife bought an HTC Desire HD and iPhone 4 in Korea and they both worked in the Phillipines by simply inserting a Phillipine SIM card.

Of course, this is likely to vary country to country. Contact your home cell phone provider to confirm.

Which provider is the best? KT Olleh, SK, LG?

As an oligopolistic industry, there is likely very little difference in pricing, and expats appear to be satisfied regardless of the provider:

http://waygook.org/index.php/topic,19712.0.html

Also check out http://www.mobileboo.com. It's an all-English service that apparently offers cheaper rates (through SK) on iPhones and Galaxies. They also allow you to break a two year contract easily.

Is there a way of getting just a prepay sim card?

Yes, simply go to any LG, KT, etc. store. However, if you were given a second-hand, NON-prepaid phone, inserting a pre-paid SIM card won't work.

Is it possible to get a cell phone without an ARC card?


Some dealers will give you a phone with just your passport, but not a smart phone. Otherwise, check out thearrivalstore.com.  According member hbtunes, the contract is for six months, after which you can extend the contract a month a time. The fees are $125 (deposit) and $60 for a new phone, basic phone. The deposit is given back to you after you return the phone.

Check the web site for more details (thearrivalstore.com).


More questions?

English service:

KT Telecom: 02-2190-1180, 1588-0010 (for this line, press # and 0, then request an English representative)

http://expatblog.kt.com/category/Service%20Guide%20(English)

http://expatblog.kt.com/

SK Telecom: 080-252-5011

http://www.sktelecom.com/eng/

http://www.mobileboo.com  --> Galaxies and i-products for foreigners via SK

LG Telecom: 1544-0010 (press # for English Service)

http://www.lgtelecom.com/jsp/eng/home_service1.jsp?A=2&B=2&C=1

Has anyone had to replace their iphone 4s early in their contract?  I went to sk telecom today and they want to charge me about 860,000krw as a fee to replace it, paid over the next 22 months of my contract.  Basically, that's so much more than it would cost to buy one outright. 

So I guess my question is, are there other ways to buy and hook up an iphone to my current sk contract?  Locked/Unlocked/mailed from the USA... I'm open to any ideas.

Thanks!

I'm in a similar situation and would like to know how to do this too.

Hi,

Does anyone know what phones KT offers for the i-Slim and/or i-Light plans? Do they offer smart phones? I messaged their twitter account more than a month ago and then again last week and I never got a response both times.

I was only able to find this:
http://shop.olleh.com/weblogic/IndvListServlet?type=english

But it's for the LTE plans, which is a bit too expensive/has too much stuff I won't use.

But just in case, are those phones (Galazy S III, Optimus LTE 2, and Vega Race 2) good? I obviously know very little about phones. I just need a smart phone that has map apps such as naver maps, Seoul Bus, and Seoul Subway and the like.

Thanks!

I'm just curious what kind of deals other waygooks got on either of these phones?

2 years ago I signed a 2 year contract and got an "ok" Motorola smart phone. It was fine at the time and it was the only thing SK would give me while on an E2 visa.

However, the contract term is nearly up and this phone is ages behind every current model.

I want something 4G, so that's why I'm looking at these two. I'm just curious if any telecom will let me have either one on an E2 or do I need to get my girlfriend to get it for me?

weRborg I have merged your topic with the existing FAQ about cellphones. mobileboo.com is a good place to start for costs. The iPhone 5 isn't out in Korea yet, but through mobileboo I have a 4S costing 76k a month incl 300 mins, 300 texts & unlimited data on a 2 year plan.

Apple People....

I've bought an Iphone5, When it comes time to return back to the states, so long as it's unlocked and paid off I shouldn't have a problem using it at home?