SIM Card vs WiFi Egg: Which to Use in Korea?

SIM Card Vs WiFi Egg: Compare the two most popular mobile options in Korea!

Do you want to share your travel experiences in real-time on Facebook and Instagram? Or do you have to make calls and send text messages while traveling in South Korea?

Among many options for you to get accessed to the mobile internet and stay connected in Korea, here are the two most popular options that are commonly used by travelers: Prepaid SIM Card and Pocket Wifi.

See which option is ideal for you based on your needs and stay connected in mobile-friendly South Korea!

Prepaid SIM Card

Need to make voice calls and use mobile data & SMS? Purchase an all-in-one prepaid SIM Card!

If you are a traveler who needs to make local calls and also wants to use mobile data and text while traveling in South Korea, purchasing a prepaid SIM card is ideal for you instead of renting or buying a portable WiFi router.

You will receive a new local (Korean) phone number while using your own mobile phone and be able to make or receive local calls.

*Possible Downside
Do keep in mind that since you will be using a new Korean number, you will have to tell your friends, family, and acquaintances back at home about your new number.

*Tip
For those who don’t want to go through the hassle, bring another mobile phone that you do not use anymore along with the phone that you are using right now. Register and insert the SIM card in the old device and use the Korean number. This way, you can easily make local calls by just using your old phone.

Recommended SIM Card for Travelers: 

• Unlimited 4G/LTE Data + Voice Call/SMS Option (1/5/10/20/30 day) Sim Card
• Unlimited 4G/LTE Data Only SIM Card (3/7 day)
• T-Money Transportation Card + Unlimited 4G/LTE Data Only SIM Card (5~60 day)
• 4G/3G Unlimited Data Only SIM Card (1/3/5/10/20/30 days)

Recommended SIM Card for Long-Term Stayers:

• Data + Voice Call + SMS for 30 Days or More
• Monthly Plan 4G/LTE Data + Voice Call + SMS (No Contract) SIM Card
• 4G/LTE Data + Voice + SMS Options SIM Card (3~90 days) – Receive by Postal Parcel
• 4G/LTE Prepaid SIM Card: Data + Voice + SMS (90 days) – Pick up from Seoul

Recommended SIM Card for Self-Quarantine:

• Prepaid SIM Card for Incheon Airport Terminal 1 Passengers – Pick Up Within Quarantine Inspection Area
• 4G/LTE Korea SIM Card for International Delivery Service
  
• Korea 4G/LTE eSIM: Unlimited Data Only (5~60 days)

Recommended Service for Those Who Need a Smartphone:

• 4G/LTE Post-Paid Smartphone Rental Service – Pick up at Incheon Airport T1 & T2/Seoul/Bundang/Suwon

WiFi Pocket

Need to use loads of mobile data every day? Rent a Pocket Wifi!

If you do not need to use voice calls and text messages but need loads of mobile data for the internet, using a Pocket Wifi or a portable WiFi Router, is highly recommended.

According to research, the average daily usage of mobile data of travelers is 125MB/day.

The WiFi Egg usually provides 1GB a day. Using 1GB a day is like sending/receiving 28,000 emails, shooting 2,000 Instagrams, or making 6,000 posts on Facebook.

Taking this into account, the amount of mobile data provided by the SIM card is relatively smaller than that of the WiFi Egg.

If you choose to use the WiFi Egg, try to avoid heavy downloading and uploading online! There are extra charges when you exceed the data limit of 1GB. 😉

Share WiFi with your travel buddies with a Pocket Wifi!

WiFi Egg can connect up to 5 people simultaneously, which makes it perfect if you’re traveling with friends and family. If you do share the router with your friends, you can share the cost as well.

*Possible Downside
The battery life of the WiFi Egg lasts about 5-7 hours on a single full charge, which means that you have to carry around the battery charger when traveling. Plus, battery life drains quicker when the WiFi Egg is used simultaneously. So make sure that you have an extra charger to charge the Wi-Fi router device. 

Recommended Pocket Wifi  for Travelers: 

• Korea 4G/LTE Portable Wifi Rental 

Recommended Pocket Wifi  for Long-Term Stayers: 

• Korea Portable Wifi Rental for Long-Term Users (30 days): If you are renting for more than 17 days, it’s more cost-effective to get this one!

Recommended Blogs for Travel Essentials in Korea

• Survival Tip: All about SIM Card in Korea!
• An Ultimate Guide to Pocket Wifi (Wifi Egg) Rental in Korea
• Airport Essentials for a Trip to Korea: Half the Journey Done!
• Getting Around Seoul: Finding the Right Travel Pass
• A Complete Guide to Public Transportation in Seoul

Don’t forget to visit Trazy.com, Korea’s #1 Travel Shop, for all the latest, newest and trendiest things to do in South Korea that will make your travel the best.