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Destination · Asia

Best eSIM for South Korea from Australia

36 plans from 4 providers, priced in Australian dollars and ranked by cost per GB.

The cheapest South Korea eSIM we list is Ubigi's 3 GB plan for 7 days at A$12.00 (A$4.00/GB). The most data for the money is Airalo's 50 GB plan for 30 days at A$71.50 (A$1.43/GB), and our best-network pick is Ubigi's 25 GB plan for 30 days at A$43.00 (A$1.72/GB). The plans we list name SK Telecom or LG U+; we rank SK Telecom first using published network information, not our own tests.

How much data will I need?

As a rough guide from Telstra's figures, an hour a day of browsing and email uses about 0.1–0.5 GB over 7 days and 0.2–1.1 GB over 14 days, and an hour a day of standard-definition video adds about 4.9 GB and 9.8 GB. Source: Telstra

Prices checked 1 Nov 2026 · Page updated 2 Nov 2026
Best for

Our picks for South Korea

Each pick follows the rule shown, applied to the table below.

01 · CheapestUbigi
3 GB · 7 daysA$12.00
LG U+, SK Telecom · Hotspot · 5GA$4.00/GB

Rule: lowest price with at least 3 GB and 7 days.

Get Ubigi plan
02 · Most dataAiralo
50 GB · 30 daysA$71.50
SK Telecom · Hotspot · 5GA$1.43/GB

Rule: lowest cost per GB with at least 20 GB; ties go to more data, then more days.

Get Airalo plan
03 · UnlimitedAiralo
Unlimited · 10 daysA$51.00
SK Telecom · Hotspot · 5GA$5.10/day

Rule: lowest price per day, comparing each provider's 10-day plan or its nearest from 7 days (compared at 10 days).

Get Airalo plan
04 · Best networkUbigi
25 GB · 30 daysA$43.00
LG U+, SK Telecom · Hotspot · 5GA$1.72/GB

Rule: best published network (SK Telecom first), then 5G, then hotspot; lowest cost per GB with at least 5 GB and 7 days. Based on published network, not yet speed-tested.

Get Ubigi plan
All plans

Compare 36 South Korea plans

Showing 15 of 36 · prices in AUD, checked 1 Nov 2026 · fixed-data plans by cost per GB, then unlimited by price per day. Sorted by cost per gb, low to high.

  • AiraloMost data
    A$71.50
    50 GB · 30 daysA$1.43/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • UbigiBest network
    A$43.00
    25 GB · 30 daysA$1.72/GB
    LG U+, SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Ubigi
    A$21.00
    10 GB · 7 daysA$2.10/GB
    LG U+, SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$42.50
    20 GB · 15 daysA$2.13/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$44.00
    20 GB · 30 daysA$2.20/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Ubigi
    A$24.00
    10 GB · 30 daysA$2.40/GB
    LG U+, SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$26.50
    10 GB · 7 daysA$2.65/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$27.00
    10 GB · 15 daysA$2.70/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$28.00
    10 GB · 30 daysA$2.80/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$15.00
    5 GB · 7 daysA$3.00/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$15.50
    5 GB · 15 daysA$3.10/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$16.50
    5 GB · 30 daysA$3.30/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Simify
    A$99.00
    30 GB · 30 daysA$3.30/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Simify
    A$75.00
    20 GB · 30 daysA$3.75/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan
  • Airalo
    A$12.00
    3 GB · 3 daysA$4.00/GB
    SK Telecom · Hotspot: Yes · 5GGet plan

Cost per GB is price ÷ data; unlimited plans show price per day. Airalo unlimited (3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 30 days): slows to 1 Mbps after 3 GB a day. Holafly unlimited (3, 5, 7, 10, 15 and 30 days): may slow speeds for up to a day under its fair-use policy; no threshold or speed is stated. Ubigi unlimited (7 days): slows to 2 Mbps after 25 GB. Ubigi unlimited (15 days): slows to 2 Mbps after 30 GB. Ubigi unlimited (30 days): slows to 2 Mbps after 60 GB.

The table lists plans of 30 days or less. Holafly and Simify also sell longer South Korea plans.

Providers

Who sells South Korea eSIMs

Listed A to Z. Each phone screen points out one fact from that provider's details or plans. Screens are illustrative.

Airalo logo

Networks
SK Telecom
Plans from
A$6.00 · 18 plans
Hotspot · 5G
Yes · Yes
Unlimited
Yes
Visit AiraloReview
Needs its app to install

Holafly logo

Networks
SK Telecom, LG U+
Plans from
A$20.00 · 6 plans
Hotspot · 5G
Limited · Yes
Unlimited
Yes
Visit HolaflyReview
All plans unlimited, fair use applies

Simify logo

Australian company
Networks
SK Telecom
Plans from
A$29.00 · 4 plans
Hotspot · 5G
Yes · Yes
Unlimited
No
Visit SimifyReview
From A$29.00, 4 plans

Ubigi

Networks
LG U+, SK Telecom
Plans from
A$5.00 · 8 plans
Hotspot · 5G
Yes · Yes
Unlimited
Yes
Visit UbigiReview
From A$5.00, 8 plans
Destination notes · updated 2 Nov 2026

Using an eSIM in South Korea

Three operators

South Korea's three major mobile network operators are SK Telecom, KT and LG U+. The plan page names which one a travel eSIM uses, and the table shows the operator's own name. We rank SK Telecom first using published network information, not our own tests (how we pick).

Asia Business Daily reported on 30 December 2025 that the Ministry of Science and ICT had published its 2025 coverage and quality inspection. It reported a 5G access availability rate of 97.69% in the areas the ministry inspected and said the problem areas were mainly subway and high-speed rail sections. It also reported that measurements met the 100 Mbps needed for HD video streaming 96.05% of the time in rural areas, against 99.08% in large cities. On that streaming test the operators were close: SK Telecom 98.39%, LG U+ 98.28% and KT 97.88%, which is part of the basis for our ranking, although KT had the fastest average 5G and LTE download speed in the same inspection. These are the ministry's own measurements, as the newspaper reported them.

Local carrier eSIMs and Korean apps

LG U+ sells its own tourist eSIM, and its page is a useful guide to what a Korean number does and does not do. Its data-only eSIM has no outgoing calls or texts. With its voice and text service, SMS verification works for restaurant and taxi reservation apps, but identity verification for banking and government services does not. On the data-only service, SMS verification is not available.

LG U+ is a local carrier rather than one of the providers we compare, so we do not rank its plans. Read its page for what each version includes.

Before you buy an eSIM

LG U+ says a tourist eSIM cannot be reissued once installed, cannot be restored if deleted and cannot be refunded after payment. The same cautions apply to most eSIMs: install it at home over Wi-Fi and check the refund terms before you pay. Our guide covers the steps: how to set up a travel eSIM.

Sources

FAQ

Questions about eSIMs for South Korea

What is the best eSIM for South Korea from Australia?

It depends on how long you are away and how much data you use. The picks at the top of this page show the cheapest plan, the most data for the money and the best-network option, each with the rule that chose it. The table ranks every South Korea eSIM plan by cost per GB. To see two providers side by side, try Airalo vs Holafly.

Can I get unlimited data on a South Korea eSIM?

Providers sell unlimited plans for South Korea. Filter the table to Unlimited to compare them by price per day. Unlimited plans can come with fair-use rules, such as slowing down after a set amount of data, and the table prints the rule where the provider states one.

Can I get a South Korea eSIM with a phone number?

Every plan in our South Korea table is data only, with no Korean number for calls or texts. LG U+, one of the three Korean operators, sells its own tourist eSIM in a data-only version with no outgoing calls or texts and a separate data and voice version (LG U+). That is a local carrier product rather than one of the providers we compare, so check what it includes on LG U+'s page.

Will Korean apps work without a Korean number?

LG U+ says that with its voice and text service, SMS verification works for restaurant and taxi reservation apps, but identity verification for banking or government services is not supported. It also says SMS verification is not available on its data-only service (LG U+). Those are LG U+'s terms for its own tourist eSIM. We have not found an official source on how this works for a travel eSIM from an overseas provider, so do not count on one for any app that needs a Korean number.

Do I need to show a passport to get a South Korea eSIM?

LG U+ limits its tourist eSIM to 3 items per passport (LG U+). Korea's science ministry said on 30 June 2026 that it plans to tighten ID checks and the one-line-per-person rule for foreigners opening Korean mobile lines, so that limit may change (Korea Policy Briefing). We have not found an official source for the identity rules that apply to a travel eSIM from an overseas provider, so check the plan page for any ID step before you buy.

Which network is a South Korea eSIM on?

South Korea has three major mobile network operators: SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ (Asia Business Daily). The plans we list name SK Telecom, and some also name LG U+; none names KT. The plan page names which one a plan uses. Check the coverage map for that operator before you go, and see how we pick for how we rank them.

Can I keep my Australian phone number with an eSIM?

Most phones with eSIM can use two lines at once, so the travel eSIM can handle data while your Australian line stays on for texts. Your Australian line can still start roaming charges, so set it up carefully. Our guide covers the settings: how to keep your Australian number.

Do I turn off data roaming when using an eSIM?

Turn data roaming on for the travel eSIM, because most travel eSIMs are roaming eSIMs, and turn it off for your Australian line so it cannot use data abroad. The steps are in how to set up a travel eSIM.

When does an eSIM's validity period start?

Every plan in our South Korea table starts when the eSIM first connects in Korea. Other eSIMs differ: LG U+, for example, says its own tourist eSIM must be activated within 60 days of purchase and that its usage period is counted from the first use of data (LG U+). Check the plan page before you buy, and see how to set up a travel eSIM.

What is the disadvantage of an eSIM?

A travel eSIM needs a phone that supports eSIM and is unlocked (how to check). You need an internet connection to download it, so install it at home over Wi-Fi, and many eSIMs cannot be reinstalled once removed. LG U+ says the same of its own eSIM, and that it cannot be refunded after payment (LG U+).

Method · updated 1 Nov 2026

How we compare South Korea eSIMs

  1. We take each plan's price from the provider's site and convert it to Australian dollars on the check date.
  2. Cost per GB is price divided by data. Unlimited plans are compared by price per day.
  3. Network is the South Korean carrier the eSIM connects to. Hotspot and 5G are as the provider states them.
  4. Each pick follows the rule printed with it, and each is a different plan. Remaining ties go to the lower total price.
  5. We recheck prices at least every 30 days and show the check date on every plan.

How we make money

eSIM Mate is free to use. No link on the site earns a commission yet. Once a provider approves us, its links will: the provider pays us, never you. That will never change your price or the order of plans, and we list providers whether or not they pay us.

Read our full disclosure
Best network · Ubigi25 GB · 30 days · A$43.00
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