DriftAsia Reference

South Korea
mobile operators

Which operators power our eSIM plans for South Korea, the local network to lean on, and what a tourist SIM costs on the ground.

The DriftAsia eSIM plans for South Korea shown on this page use SK Telecom, LG U+ and offer 5G depending on the plan. Check each plan for its exact network, data allowance, validity and price before choosing. Available plans are fully refundable within 30 days as long as the eSIM has not been used on a network at the destination.

Main operatorSK Telecom
Local SIM$18-28
Operators in our plans2

World-leading 5G density; near-total coverage including subways.

89 MSI97 NQI

Plan share by operator

Share of the eSIM plans we sell for South Korea, by underlying operator.

SK Telecom: 58% (91 plans) LG U+: 42% (67 plans) 2 OPERATORS
  • SK Telecom58%
  • LG U+42%

Network at a glance

SK Telecom is the network most travellers lean on in South Korea. 5G is live on at least one operator we carry, so newer phones can reach top speeds in covered areas. On our Mobile Speed Index it scores 89, placing it among the stronger networks in the region. Median data price has eased from $1.18 per GB in April 2026 to $1.08 in August 2026.

The operators behind our plans

Each network we carry in South Korea, with who runs it and what generation it reaches.

SK Telecom#1
Owner
SK Group
Network
5G
5G
5G since April 2019
Plans we carry
91
LG U+#3
Owner
LG Corporation
Network
5G
5G
5G since April 2019
Plans we carry
67

Common questions

Which operator is best in South Korea?

SK Telecom offers the widest reach for most travellers. World-leading 5G density; near-total coverage including subways. Our eSIM plans run on the strongest available network, so you do not have to choose a SIM at the counter.

Does South Korea have 5G?

Yes. At least one operator we carry runs 5G, available mainly in larger cities and along major corridors. Older devices fall back to 4G automatically.

How much is a local SIM in South Korea?

A tourist SIM bought on arrival typically runs $18-28. An eSIM skips the queue and the passport scan, and activates by QR code before you land.

How many operators power South Korea eSIM plans?

We carry plans across 2 operators in South Korea. The donut above shows how our catalogue splits between them.

How we read this

Plan share counts how many of the eSIM plans we sell for South Korea run on each operator. It reflects catalogue depth, not subscriber market share. The top operator is the network we would hand a traveller who can pick only one.