# eSIM for Seoul

A South Korea eSIM is the plan for Seoul, and it also covers Busan, Jeju and every other part of the country. A typical visit is about five days, so choose a plan valid for at least a week. Install it at home, then switch it on after landing at Incheon or Gimpo.

Plans for South Korea cover the whole country, including Seoul.

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## For a 5-day visit
- 1 GB, 7 days, 1.38 USD
- 3 GB, 15 days, 3.34 USD (Suggested for 5 days)

## For a longer stay
- 5 GB, 30 days, 5.31 USD
- 10 GB, 30 days, 9.24 USD
- 20 GB, 30 days, 15.63 USD
- 50 GB, 30 days, 29.85 USD

## How much data for 5 days in Seoul
- Light (maps and messages): about 1.5 GB
- Normal (plus social media and browsing): about 3 GB
- Heavy (video and video calls): about 7.5 GB

An estimate from typical use, not a measurement.

## Arriving in Seoul
Most international flights land at Incheon International Airport (ICN), west of the city. The AREX airport railroad has an express train to Seoul Station and an all-stops train that serves Gimpo Airport and Hongik University, among other stops. Airport limousine buses run to many hotels and districts. Gimpo Airport handles short flights, including routes from Tokyo Haneda and Osaka, and Seoul's subway line 5 and line 9 stop there as well.

Having data when you land lets you open a map, check which exit to use and message your hotel. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi by scanning the QR code from your confirmation email. Once you arrive, switch the eSIM line on, turn on data roaming for it, and keep your home line's data off.

## Getting around
Seoul's subway is run mainly by Seoul Metro, with extra lines run by other operators, and it reaches nearly every area a visitor goes to. Pay with a T-money card, which you can buy and top up at convenience stores and station machines. The same card pays on buses, and it also works in taxis. Seoul also has a public bike share, Ttareungi, which is used through its app.

Google Maps gives limited directions in South Korea, so many visitors install Naver Map or KakaoMap, which show live bus arrivals and exit numbers. Kakao T is the main taxi app; a data-only eSIM does not come with a Korean phone number, so some steps in it may ask for one. Taxis can also be hailed on the street.

## Where you'll use data
Visitors split their time between Gyeongbokgung Palace and the hanok lanes of Bukchon, Myeongdong for shopping and street food, Insadong for tea and crafts, Hongdae for nightlife, Itaewon, and Gangnam on the south side of the Han River. Namsan Seoul Tower and the Han River parks are common evening stops. Restaurants and cafes often use QR menus or table-order screens, and map apps are used to find places because many listings are in Korean.

Day trips stay inside South Korea, so the same plan covers them. The fortress city of Suwon is a short ride away by train, Nami Island is reached by train and ferry, and the fast KTX train goes to Busan from Seoul Station. Download an offline map before hiking in Bukhansan or the other mountain parks around the city.

## Common questions

### Will the eSIM work as soon as I land at Incheon?
Yes, if you installed it at home before the flight. Switch the eSIM line on and turn on data roaming for it. If nothing connects after a minute or two, turn airplane mode on and off once.

### How much data do I need for five days in Seoul?
About 3 GB for normal use, which is 0.6 GB a day rounded up to the next half gigabyte: maps, transit apps, messaging and photos. If you stream video or video call often, plan on around 7.5 GB, at 1.5 GB a day.

### Can I pay for the subway with my phone?
The usual way is a T-money card, bought at a convenience store or station. Some phones can hold a transit card in a wallet app, but support varies, so check before you rely on it. Tapping a card does not use your data plan.

### Does the plan give me a Korean phone number?
No. These plans are data only. Use KakaoTalk, WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls and messages. Some Korean apps ask for SMS verification with a local number, so keep your home line on, with its data off, if you need codes.

### Does the plan work on a day trip to Busan or Suwon?
Yes. A South Korea plan covers the whole country, so Suwon, Nami Island, Busan and Jeju are all included, and nothing needs to be changed when you leave Seoul.

- [All South Korea eSIM plans](https://simorago.com/en/esim/south-korea.md)
- [Full South Korea guide](https://simorago.com/en/esim/south-korea/details.md)

Source: https://simorago.com/en/esim/south-korea/seoul