Official Prices and Numbers
Well, if you haven’t already done so, you can pre-order your iPhone at http://phonestore.show.co.kr/handler/N2 . My girlfriend and I each ordered one this afternoon.
KT’s iPhone package prices are as follows:
iLite Plan 45,000 won /month
Included: 200 talk minutes, 300 text messages, 500 megabytes of data transfer (3G)
Handset prices: 32 gigabyte 3GS for 396,000 won, 16 gigabyte 3GS for 264,000 won
iMedium plan 65,000 400 min/month
Included: 400 talk minutes, 300 text messages, 1 gigabyte of data transfer (3G)
Handset prices: 32 gigabyte 3GS for 264,000, 16 gigabyte 3GS for 132,000, 3G 8 gigabyte is free
iPremium plan 95,000 won/month
Included: 800 talk minutes, 300 text messages, 3 gigabytes of data transfer
Handset prices: 32 gigabyte 3GS for 132,000 won, the 16 gigabyte 3GS and the 8 gigabyte 3G are free
A Few Things….
-The actual phone costs 946,000 won for the 32gig 3GS and 814,000 won for the 16gig 3GS. KT is subsidizing 550,000 won of the cost of the phone.
-Foreigners cannot get the iPhone for some reason (which is why I’m getting mine with my girlfriend’s name. She says that a Korean can have up to 12 mobile phones in Korea. 4 phones from each of the 3 carriers)
-When you are outside of a WIFI network, the 3G network automatically kicks in and they start counting every byte of usage
-Each plan is a 2 year contract
-You cannot cancel the contract
-You cannot transfer your plan to another person’s name
-Unless you’ve got some serious Korean language skills, you better grab a Korean friend to help you out with the website application via the link above
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:07 am
Been doing a lot of reading on iphones in korea for a while now, then stumbled on your site a while ago. Thanks for the updates and translations. This is great. I would cringe to say that I’m a fanboy, but boy i’ve been waiting a while for iphones to finally get here. I guess I can stop reading about how to switch IMEI’s and or certify my current iphone to work here in korea. Gave a shout out to gizmodo about the arrival and mentioned you as well there.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:43 am
Foreigners can get the iPhone in Korea. The problem is that the online store it’s being pre-released in doesn’t authenticate foreigner Name/ID. Once the resellers get it, foreigners will have no problem getting it.
Dan
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:36 am
Ben,
Thanks for the compliment and getting the word out about iPhoneinKorea.com.
If you loved using your iPhone before coming to Korea, I think the easiest thing to do is just get a new iPhone through KT. It’ll be interesting to see how popular it will be here in Korea.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:38 am
Dan,
Maybe resellers can do something about it, but for the time being, the KT website states that foreigners cannot purchase the iPhone through KT.
My girlfriend did email them to see if there are any exceptions, or if this is temporary. I’ll reply to this thread as soon as I get news.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 22nd, 2009 at 10:20 am
The pre-order procedure is tedious, complex and difficult even for Koreans.
I agree with Dan. As soon as the iPhone hit the stores, foreigner will be able to buy it. It could not be otherwise.
Another reason is why it’s so difficult to register, pre-order, buy or do any transactions on Korean webs. It’s really annoying. First you need to use the “suck-all-malware” old friend IE. But it has to be in English. In Spanish, there were pages I could not access.
Besides all of that:
Thanks for the info.
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Anyone know what’s going to happen to the people who may already have an iPhone?
November 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
yeah,, all foreigners should just wait til next week or so to get the iphone at the Show retail stores… they might ask you to pay for the whole price for the phone itself though (although i’m not 100% sure) cuz thats what happened to me before….. but anyway i think that’s still worth it. it’s still pretty surreal that korea will be gettin the iphone finally. heh heh….
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Joseph,
If you don’t buy a new iPhone from KT, I think you may have to get your iPhone “certified,” and have to pay the $400 to do so. I’ll look into it further.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:59 pm
Jeremy,
I think you’re right. I’m finding out later today if foreigners will be able to purchase the iPhone through KT for sure. Sounds like it’s possible a week after its debut in Korea.
It does seem odd that the iPhone is finally coming. Especially after the countless delays.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Any info on whether there is actually a restriction on foreigners buying the iPhone?
Surely preordering is painful, what with the website being in Korean and not recognizing 외국인등록증, but I can’t imagine setting up a contract to be anymore painful than usual.
Please do provide information once you’ve confirmed with KT.
Thanks
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Is it possible to buy the phone only? without the plan.
If so, how much will it cost for a 16GB 3GS?
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
can i buy only i phone???
how much it will cost to me??
and from where i can buy only i-phone without any contract.?????
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Admin wrote:”If you loved using your iPhone before coming to Korea, I think the easiest thing to do is just get a new iPhone through KT.”
Actually I was nerdy enough to buy an iphone in korea knowing that it would not work, and this has been my first iphone. In the states I owned an ipod touch.
Jeremy wrote:”all foreigners should just wait til next week or so to get the iphone at the Show retail stores… they might ask you to pay for the whole price for the phone itself though (although i’m not 100% sure)”
If this is the case, then I’d rather try to get an account through a Korean friend rather than pay 946,000 won without the subsidization. The only way I’d consider the full price is if the iPhone has no lock on it internationally. And if I can get one with the subsidization, it would make more sense for me to get a new iphone 3gs rather than pay for certification of my 3g when they are both about the same price. Right? This makes the most sense to me, wouldn’t you all agree? Especially since I would like the better camera and faster cpu speed.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:21 pm
I will be HIGHLY pissed if they start pulling that “foreigners can’t have one” BS again. I ran into that attitude over and over again a few months ago when looking for a new phone + plan.
What, is my won not green or yellow enough?? I can have a contract plan for internet, apartment lease, etc, but not a phone‽‽ Or is it just that the local phone store employees are too lazy to help out a customer?
By law they are required to let me sign a phone service contract identical to what any Korean can get. They don’t even bother to ask to see my passport and VISA (not an E-2, btw). I even have a Korean bank account that they could verify and charge against. But no, just the same old “sorry … no …”, followed by the cross-armed “X”.
You know, I’ll go in with an open mind and good attitude this time. But, any flack, and I think I might start to make a much bigger issue out of it.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:04 am
it takes a little help from a korean, but if you type your name in exactly (including caps lock) in the form plus your ARC number, you should be able to order the phone online. i just completed two foreigner transactions so it can be done. it takes a little time and help from a korean, though.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 am
Ben,
I agree with you. It makes a lot more sense to buy the iPhone subsidized.
The tap-focus feature of the camera and the video camera are what I’m most excited about.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:21 am
Raj,
At this point, all iPhones are sold through KT with a 2 year contract. You could rig the phone to work in Korea through KT’s certification process which costs $400 USD.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:23 am
Tom,
The iPhone in Korea comes with a 2 year contract with KT. If there are options without contract that doesn’t requiring certifying the phone with the KCC, I’ll let everyone know.
iPhoneinKorea.com
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:26 am
I am a korean citizen living in the philippines. And the iphone here is around 800 USD. If I buy the iphone in korea and try to use it in the philippines will it work? I can unlock it myself.
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:55 am
i don’t think there will be any restrictions on foreigners trying to use an iphone in korea and IF they do, it will just be paying for the full price for the phone with no subsidization. any foreigner who’s turned off by rude koreans should definitelyjust go to Itaewon =D but if anyone insists on using their OWN iphone… yes you need to pay 500,000 won to “certify” or validate it and it has to be factory unlocked or jailbroken… (www.kes.co.kr is the agency where you get your phone certified, you’ll need a korean friend to help you). also you can’t go to any SHOW store and activate it after u get the certification as of now. you need to go to some special Show store or office somewhere. you def need help from a korean again =( i kno this stuff because i’m korean american and i been researching hardcore on iphone stuff in korea. so anyway, easiest way to get the iphone is just to go to a pretty big Show store next week since i believe the OFFICIAL release day is 12/1 … ok hope this helps.
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I just paid the $ 500.00 for the certification, for my US unlocked iPhone 3Gs, it took 4 day’s and they sent me the certification per Email. I then took my old Samsung phone, certification print out and iPhone to SK and they switched to the iPhone.
It took only 20 minutes, and then I had my iPhone working… this process was very easy, since I have had my SK contract for over 4 years. I am an American EXPAT working here in Korea so my phone number / contract is paid for by my company.
November 23rd, 2009 at 9:19 pm
o yeah… u can go to SK too… but i heard they dont offer MMS yet… but cool~
November 24th, 2009 at 9:06 am
Has it been determined if after the two year contract the phone is unlocked like in some European countries?
November 24th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I checked with KT yesterday, and even though you maybe able to log in to the Show site and even pay the KRW 30,000, foreigners cannot order online through their phone store. You have to wait until Dec 1 and go to a Show store directly to purchase it that way.
Hope this helps.
November 24th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
[...] it’s target of selling 500,000 iPhones in Korea, KT has already gotten a good start. They have 22,000 pre-orders from it’s website. Many news sources have headlines reading, “15,000 units sold in the [...]
November 24th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
I wonder if there are any other plans which have more minutes/messages, and less transfer. With wifi all over the place I don’t think I’d need massive transfer amounts.
November 25th, 2009 at 2:10 am
Well it looks like Samsung, LG & Pantech couldn’t delay the launch any longer. I just wonder if these phones are locked to KT?
Most countries in Asia do not allow locking – so if you buy a phone in HK, Singapore, or Malaysia you can use them with other carriers in any country.
November 26th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I see that you have written that only when outside of the wifi area will the data transfer thing kick in. Man that is some good news to hear. I had assumed that the data package meant any sort of web surfing on the iPhone will be charged to the data transfer you subscribed to. So unless you are absolutely devoid of wifi you might not actually use up your quota of data transfer. But I do have a question, does anyone know how much bytes Of data transfer occurs for an hours worth of web surfing? Best wishes from dubai Lol typing from my dads iPhone!
November 26th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Steven,
where did you go for certification??
i went to the kcc like 2 weeks ago with my factory unlocked phone. still waiting for them to get back to me.
November 27th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
we’re stationed in South Korea for the next two years and would love to get an iPhone, but havent been able to find out of we’d be able to use it in the States when we move back in 2-3 years. does anyone know whether an iPhone bought in Korea will/can work in the States after the contract is up?
November 27th, 2009 at 7:29 pm
I tried to order the phone through a korean friends name, the problem is that it has to be that friends bank account as well. Thought i could use her name and my account… oh well, something i’ve come to expect living here. Will just have to wait and pay some crazy price i guess
November 27th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
You need to call KT.
November 27th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
I’m sure there will be ways to modify your plan with add-ons and such, like unlimited text messaging for a set monthly fee
November 27th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
John-
Working on it. I’ll put up a post as soon as I find out. I’m wondering the same thing.
November 28th, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Wait but do you have to pay the amount every month? And only 300 text messages is a little bit pricey. How much is it for the actual phone?
November 29th, 2009 at 1:22 am
I’m very, very excited about this. I’m in the market for a new phone. I’m Canadian and I echo John’s question, admin. I’d like to know if I can take the phone back to Canada in a year or two. Also, can someone explain what this certification involves? How do they change a North American bought iPhone so it works in Korea and is this change permanent?
November 30th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Chris,
Yes, those are the monthly rates. Your cost for the iPhone varies depending on which plan you sign up for.
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:07 am
Foreigner in Korea cannot get an Iphone as we do not have over 2 years visa.
http://www.korea4expats.com/forum-south-korea/foreigner-cannot-get-iphone-in-korea-t2130.0.html
Did someone got one without using a korean friend ?
Cheers
December 10th, 2009 at 4:12 am
I’ve been trying to get an iphone for over a week now. It’s next to impossible to get any information in english and my Korean isn’t enough that I might tackle the Show’s Korean only website.
I went into the “show” store on the military base, but they told me I had to pay full price for my iphone, over $800. I then saw 4 iphones on the counter. I found it hard to believe that anyone would shell out $800 for an iphone, let alone 4 of them. I asked them if those were $800 iphones. They said they were not, that they were for foreigners, but they were purchased at the website at the normal Korean price of $300. I asked them how to do this and they just referred me to the Korean only website.
I’m desperate to get an iphone, but I’d like to avoid locking in a Korean friend in a 2 year contract if at all possible. The easiest solution would be to pay what we foreigners call a “deposit”, but this concept hasn’t reach the Korean cell phone companies. If any foreigners have found a way to get the iphone (even at full price), please let me know at aquilajedi@hotmail.com thx.
December 24th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
Hi,
I’ve been reading up on using a Iphone in korea for the past few days now. It seems like you guys are having a difficult time trying to get one. Anyways I live in the US but im coming over in Jan. I was wondering if i could just use my Iphone that i already have and just purchase a plan? And from the looks of it if i brought some iPhones over to korea it would sell rather well.
Please let me know at tulsalover@gmail.com
December 24th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Joo,
You can use your US iPhone, but you’ll have to pay $350 to have it “certified.” It sounds like you might have issues with service(i.e. texting, data, even calling). However, those issues may have been resolved since the debut of the iPhone in Korea. Not totally sure.
iPhoneinKorea.com
December 25th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Anyone interested in buying a 32GB 3Gs iPhone? email me. Tulsalover@gmail.com
Joo
December 25th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
To get it certified? wow thats not cool. So i cant just get a contract and tell them that i already have a phone?
January 8th, 2010 at 11:29 am
Even though I don’t have a Korean social security, luckily I opened a line before my Korean social security is no longer valid (I am a Korean-American mind you). However, if you go to a phone store that sells any phone and iphone in particular, you need to have your identification card that has your social security with you. Since I don’t have that. Luckily, my mom’s cousin works at KTF office, and I do have a work around for this. All I need to do is call my mom’s cousin and just tell him my old korean social security (since my number is tied to that social security and I don’t need to present the ID card itself), I also have a girlfriend who does live in Korea so I can use hers with her permission.
But I don’t find myself getting one in Korea because I do have one in the U.S, but trying to find a way to get my U.S iphone 3G S to work in Korea and able to use it instead.