How To Buy A Korean SIM Card In Busan Gimhae Airport
You’re planning to arrive at the main airport in Busan, and you need to find the best way to buy a SIM Card. Well, you have come to the right place!
Buying a SIM Card in Busan Gimhae can be a little tricky if you don’t know where to look, so follow this guide in order to make the experience as stress-free as possible.
In this article, we outline how to buy a SIM Card online prior to flying and collect it once you land in Busan. Then, we also provide you with information for buying the SIM Card in person in the terminal and suggestions for convenient Korean SIM alternatives.
So, let’s dive into: How to buy a Korean SIM card in Busan Gimhae Airport
When you’re in a new country, it is important to find the easiest and most stress-free way of getting hold of a reliable SIM card. Buying a Korean SIM card in Seoul Incheon Airport and buying a SIM card in Seoul Gimpo Airport are well-documented, so we thought we would help you by providing this guide for buying a SIM card in Busan Gimhae International Airport.
Flying into Busan Gimhae Airport soon? We recommend booking an affordable, stress-free airport transfer that can you taken you from Gimhae directly to your accommodation in Busan.
Disclaimer - this blog post contains affiliate links where we can earn a commission, if you make a purchase through them (at no extra cost to you).
Busan Gimhae International Airport
Buying a SIM Card online and collecting it at Busan Gimhae Airport
We will begin by highlighting the best way to buy a Korean SIM Card at Busan Gimhae Airport, and it actually involves pre-ordering a SIM card online before you even touch down in South Korea.
This is the route we recommend you take because it’s much less hassle than buying the SIM Card in person. The last thing you want to do when you land in Busan is to lug your suitcases around the airport, frantically searching for the cheapest and most reliable SIM Card packages.
Skip out the stress and order the SIM Card online before you set foot on the plane.
Benefits of buying a Korean SIM online before you travel to Busan:
Completely stress-free - you won’t have to worry about searching for SIM Card packages and providers around the terminal
Unlimited 4G Data while travelling around Busan and the rest of South Korea
Its been paid for already so you don’t have to worry about getting cash out at the airport or hidden international transaction fees on your card
The good thing about the online Korean SIM Card is that you can choose however many days you need the SIM Card for - choose from a 5-day, 7-day, 10-day, 15-day, 20-day, 30-day, 40-day or 60-day packages.
Once you order your SIM Card online, you will receive a confirmation number and instructions on how to collect your SIM Card in the terminal building in Busan.
Essentially, you collect your SIM card at the LGU+ stand, which is located in the international terminal, between gates 2 and 3.
Added Bonus - this Korean SIM Card comes with a complimentary T-Money Transportation Card that can be used on buses and the subway throughout South Korea!
Arriving at Busan Gimhae Airport and buying a Korean SIM Card in person
The second option we are going to outline is the old-fashioned way - arriving at Busan Gimhae Airport and buying a Korean SIM Card in person at one of the SIM Card provider stands.
Though once you know what you’re doing, it’s relatively straightforward to get a SIM Card in Busan, it can still take a long time depending on the queue. Incidentally, buying a SIM card from the airport is one of our handy travel tips for South Korea because you will likely need data to make your way around the country with ease.
Head through the arrivals terminal and find the SIM Card provider counters between gates 2 and 3 on the 1st floor (International Terminal only). Thankfully, it is directly in front of you once you exit the customs hall.
There are 3 different providers operating in the Busan arrivals terminal - KT Roaming, T Roaming and LGU+. Typically, there are 2 separate lines, one for SIM Card collection and one for ordering a SIM Card at the counter.
As is to be expected, you are likely to wait significantly longer if you haven’t ordered the SIM card online prior to your arrival.
Once you get the SIM Card, the staff can put it into your phone (providing it is unlocked) and will make sure everything is working correctly before you leave the airport.
Something to be aware of: you will need your passport in order to buy a SIM Card at Busan Gimhae Airport.
Gamcheon Culture Village - one of the highlights of visiting Busan
Korean SIM Card Alternative in Busan Gimhae Airport - Unlimited 4G Portable Pocket Wifi Rental
While travelling around South Korea, we discovered many people were using an alternative to traditional SIM Cards. Instead, they used what many in the country call ‘wifi eggs’.
Essentially they are a small portable box, similar to a power bank charger for your phone, that uses a SIM Card to emit wifi for you.
You can take the portable wifi pocket with you wherever you travel in Busan, or further in Korea, and connect to the wifi whenever you need to use the internet on your phone.
The benefits of using the Portable Pocket Wifi:
Can often be cheaper than buying a traditional SIM Card
Up to 8 devices can connect to the wifi egg at any one time
Great for people that only need Data on their phones
Disadvantages of using the Portable Pocket Wifi:
You have to carry around the wifi egg at all times, which can become cumbersome if you only have pockets or a small bag while travelling
You can’t call and text using the wifi egg
You go through the same process as buying a SIM Card to purchase a Portable Pocket Wifi package. You can go through the arrivals terminal at Gimhae Airport and head towards the SIM Card providers’ counters.
You can pre-order this portable pocket wifi online and then pick it up from the KT Roaming desk in Busan Gimhae Airport - the desk is located next to gate 3, on the 1st floor of the arrivals hall. Instead of standing in a line for a SIM Card, you instead head for the lines offering ‘wifi eggs’.
South Korean e-SIM data plan
One final alternative for buying a Korean SIM Card in Busan Gimhae Airport is to purchase a South Korean e-SIM data plan that loads directly onto your phone without the need for a physical SIM Card.
We have used e-SIM data plans while working at summer camp in the United States and while we travelled around the Philippines, and they are very stress-free and efficient.
When ordering the e-SIM, you enter your phone number and the data plan is automatically loaded onto your phone. Often, this is done via a QR Code that pops up on your screen - it’s super easy!
Things to check before buying a Korean SIM Card
There are some things you need to double-check before purchasing a Korean SIM Card, regardless of whether you purchase it online or in person.
Check your phone is unlocked - you won’t be able to add another data plan to your exciting phone if it isn’t unlocked. If you are unsure whether your phone is unlocked, it is best to contact your phone provider.
Find out which SIM card size - SIM Cards come in 3 different sizes - nano, micro and regular - and only certain sizes will be compatible with certain phones. Knowing this before ordering a SIM Card is best so you can double-check that it is the best option for you.
Decide whether you need to make outbound texts and calls - if you need to make work calls or call home regularly, then you will need to buy a SIM Card package in Korea that reflects this. A ‘wifi egg’ wouldn’t be suitable, for example, as you cannot make texts and calls using this option. On the other hand, if you feel you can do without outbound texts and calls, you can save money by opting out of these when you purchase a Korean SIM Card.
Haedong Yonggungsa Temple - a great place to visit in Busan
So, there we have it, folks, that is our comprehensive round-up of how to buy a Korean SIM Card in Busan Gimhae Airport - there are plenty of options available to you when buying a SIM Card in South Korea, and we hope that by us outlining these options, you will find it easier to find which is the most suitable option for your South Korean travel plans.
Many of the best things to do in Busan require taking a bus or taxi, so having a reliable SIM Card for your Busan adventure is essential. Hopefully, this article has helped you find just that!
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