Gimpo Airport is the second and smaller airport in Seoul, South Korea. Despite being smaller than Incheon International Airport, it is still the arrival point for foreigners to South Korea.
This article will guide you on buying a SIM card at Seoul Gimpo Airport once you arrive and give you some advice on alternatives to staying connected while traveling in Seoul that will help save you money and time.
Keep reading to learn how to buy a SIM card at Seoul Gimpo Airport for tourists. Let’s start!
In this article
There are three ways to get a SIM card at Seoul Gimpo Airport, including:
| Option | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIM Card Kiosks (GMP) | Dedicated kiosks and shops from Korean telecom providers (KT, SK Telecom, LG Uplus) located within the airport. | – Easily available upon arrival. – Helpful staff for setup and choosing a plan. – Variety of data and call packages. | – Might be pricier than other options. |
| Vending Machines (GMP) | (If available) Automated machines dispensing SIM cards. | – Quick and accessible. – Often available 24/7. | – Limited plan choices. – No face-to-face support for issues. |
| Online Pre-Order | Order a SIM card online (from providers like SimOptions, Keepgo, Klook, or Korean carriers) and arrange airport pickup or delivery. | – Ensures you have a SIM card upon arrival. – Wider plan selection and potentially better deals. | – Requires pre-planning. – Chance of delivery delays (for physical SIMs). |
Important Note: Check if your phone is unlocked: most modern phones are unlocked nowadays, but you still need to double-check. A Korean travel SIM card will not work on your international phone if it is not unlocked.
Good to know:
To buy the SIM card, follow these instructions:
Opening hours: 6 am – 11 pm (KT South Korea) and 24/24 for others (double check for sure).
Location: Simply walk through customs into the main arrivals terminal and you will see several different providers.
Requirements: passport for registration, unlocked phone, cash or card for payment.
Pros: get instant Internet access after arrival
Cons: less plans to choose, expensive than online or in-city options, require passport for registration, queue in lines
Important Note:
▶ Our recommendation: If your phone supports eSIM, it is highly recommended to buy an eSIM so you can skip the line and stay connected almost instantly as long as your phone receives the signals of the chosen network carrier. Besides, it is not necessary to present your passport for registration.
The SIM card plan for travelers of SK Telecom, KT South Korea, or LG U+ usually range in price from 6600 KRW (5.05 USD) to 143 000 KRW (109.20 USD). The cost depends on factors like the plan features, the validity and the service provider.
The validity for these plans can range from 1 day up to 90 days.
There are three major mobile operator in South Korea: SK Telecom, KT South Korea and LG U+.
Here are packages of SK Telecom at Seoul Gimpo airport:
| Data | Validity | Price |
| Unlimited | 1 day | 6600 KRW |
| Unlimited | 3 days | 18 000 KRW |
| Unlimited | 5 days | 27 500 KRW |
| Unlimited | 10 days | 38 500 KRW |
| Unlimited | 20 days | 60 500 KRW |
| Unlimited | 30 days | 71 500 KRW |
These plans are data only and do not allow customers to top up, but do allow them to receive calls.
Note:
Here are 10 plans of KT Telecom at Gimpo Airport:
| Data | Validity | Price |
| 10 GB + 2 GB | 1 day | 6600 KRW (offline only) |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (6 GB) | 3 days | 18 000 KRW (offline only) |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (10 GB) | 5 days | 27 500 KRW |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (14 GB) | 7 days | 33 500 KRW |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (20 GB) | 10 days | 38 500 KRW |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (30 GB) | 15 days | 47 300 KRW (online only) |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (40 GB) | 20 days | 60 500 KRW (offline only) |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (60 GB) | 30 days | 71 500 KRW |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (120 GB) | 60 days | 107 200 KRW |
| 10 GB + 2 GB/day (180 GB) | 90 days | 143 000 KRW |
Note:
Here are 8 plans of KT Telecom at Gimpo Airport:
| Data | Validity | Price |
| “Unlimited”, 3 GB/day (15 GB) | 5 days | 27 500 KRW |
| “Unlimited”, 3 GB/day (21 GB) | 7 days | 35 000 KRW |
| “Unlimited”, 3 GB/day (30 GB) | 10 days | 38 500 KRW |
| “Unlimited”, 3 GB/day (45 GB) | 15 days | 55 000 KRW |
| “Unlimited”, 3 GB/day (60 GB) | 20 days | 60 500 KRW |
| “Unlimited”, 3 GB/day (90 GB) | 30 days | 71 500 KRW |
| “Unlimited”, 3 GB/day (120 GB) | 40 days | 99 000 KRW |
| “Unlimited”, 3 GB/day (180 GB) | 60 days | 143 000 KRW |
Note: Unlike the two major carriers SK Telecom and KT, you cannot order a SIM card online from LG U+ in advance through their website.
To buy South Korea SIM card at Seoul Gimpo airport, customers need to prepare:
The process of registering will take about 1-2 minutes
Factors to consider before buying a SIM card at Gimpo Airport:
▶ Our recommendation: To avoid this registration scheme, consider buying eSIM for South Korea. This can be done online before departure or after arrival.
This option is always available no matter where you are. Buying a prepaid eSIM data plan allows you to skip the hassle of finding a physical SIM card at the airport.
You can land at the Gimpo airport and feel confident that you have Internet access right after arrival. The data connection of eSIM plan will be on your phone automatically as long as it connects with the South Korean network operator.
To buy eSIM for South Korea, you can choose Gigago – one of the best eSIM providers in the world. Plans of Gigago eSIM are considered the most diversifying in comparison with others. For South Korea, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from a 3-day plan with 1GB of data per day for $5.90 as their most minimal plan. They also have 5-day, 7-day, 10-day, 15-day, 20-day, and 30-day plans ranging from 1GB to unlimited data per day, with prices from $5.90 up to $106.50.
Once you have purchased the plan, you can activate it by scanning a QR code directly using your phone camera. It will automatically load on your device. That’s simple.
► See more details about Gigago eSIM plans for South Korea.
It depends on the carrier you choose. KT South Korea’s booths are open from 6 am to 11 pm. If you arrive outside of these opening hours, you may not be able to buy KT SIM cards. Other carriers open 24/24. For the most updated information, check with your provider in advance.
The price of SIM cards at Seoul Gimpo Airport typically ranges from 6600 KRW (5.05 USD) to 143,000 KRW (109.20 USD), depending on the plan features and validity.
The validity period for SIM cards purchased at Seoul Gimpo Airport can range from 1 day to 90 days.
Yes, besides the airport, you can find SIM cards at local telecom stores or online platforms.
You may need to present your passport when purchasing a SIM card at Seoul Gimpo Airport. It’s advisable to have a copy of your passport and any necessary identification documents.
Yes, the SIM card purchased at Seoul Gimpo Airport can be used in other cities in South Korea without any issues.
There you have learnt how to buy a SIM card at Seoul Gimpo Airport. As we discussed, buying at the airport can be fast but the cost is rather expensive in comparison with other options. You can consider buying eSIM as an alternative that offers all benefits of what you will get if buying at the airport but eliminates all hassles associated as well. Just make sure you prepare your best for the trip.
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