Arrive in Korea Already Online — Korvia × Kimchi Mobile eSIM
Celebrating Korvia's 20 years (2006–2026) placing teachers in Korea with a special Kimchi Mobile partnership — 60 GB prepaid through 2026, then convert to a KT postpaid plan at a deeply discounted rate once your Residence Card arrives.
60 GB
Prepaid Data
2026
Promo Year
KT
Network
33–34%
Postpaid Discount
Why Every Arriving Teacher Needs Data Before Landing
Activating your phone after you land is a risk. The first 24–72 hours in Korea are full of small logistics that fall apart if you cannot be reached. Here is what we learned from 10,000+ teacher arrivals.
Stay Reachable on Arrival Day
Your recruiter, airport greeter, and new school need to be able to call or message you the moment you clear immigration. Wi-Fi at Incheon is fine for five minutes — not for a whole arrival day.
Housing Often Has No Internet Yet
Most teacher apartments and homestays do not have Wi-Fi set up on day one. Your phone data carries you through move-in, late-night food delivery, and video calls home until the router is installed.
Onboarding Is Real-Time
Contract reviews, bank-account setup, immigration appointments, health checks — the first two weeks are full of small logistics that require you to be online. Losing data for even a day costs you appointments.
Solve Problems Before They Cascade
Flight delayed, bag missing, wrong address, subway confusion — every arriving teacher runs into one. Being online means a five-minute fix instead of a four-hour ordeal.
What's in the 20th Anniversary Bundle
Built for the three stages of arrival: the flight over, the weeks before your Residence Card, and the year of postpaid savings after.
- ✓60 GB prepaid LTE/5G data usable through 2026
- ✓Instant QR activation via email — no shipping delay
- ✓KT nationwide network (works at Incheon, Gimpo, Jeju, Busan, everywhere)
- ✓English-speaking support from Kimchi Mobile
- ✓Free onboarding handoff to Korvia (we coordinate with Kimchi on your behalf)
- ✓Optional KT postpaid conversion at 33–34% off once your Residence Card is issued
- ✓Same phone number kept on conversion — no SIM swap required
- ✓Escape hatch: take only the eSIM, skip postpaid if you prefer no contract
Exact data allowance, top-up behavior, and postpaid terms are set by Kimchi Mobile. Final pricing is confirmed at checkout on the Kimchi Mobile site.
Why KT + Residence Card = Your Real Life in Korea
Having a Korean phone number is only half the story. To actually live online like a resident — shop on Coupang, use Naver Pay, verify your identity for banking, government sites, and food delivery — your mobile line must be registered to a Korean ID. For foreigners, that means a postpaid line bound to your Residence Card (RC). Prepaid lines issue a number but cannot unlock most 본인인증 (identity verification) flows.
Online shopping & banking need 본인인증
Coupang, Naver Pay, 배달의민족, Toss, and most Korean banks require 휴대폰 본인인증 — SMS verification tied to an ID-registered line. Prepaid numbers typically fail this check. A postpaid line registered to your Residence Card passes it.
PASS app — one-tap identity everywhere
Once you're on a postpaid KT line with your RC, you can install the PASS app (KT/SKT/LGU+'s shared mobile-ID service). It replaces 90% of the tedious SMS + form-filling identity flows with a single biometric tap — used for banks, government portals, online shopping checkout, etc.
KT is Korea's most trusted network for residents
KT is one of Korea's big three carriers (alongside SKT and LGU+) and the most widely used network among expats — strong English support channels, extensive national coverage including rural public schools, and deep integration with Korean services. The promo plan runs on KT's full nationwide infrastructure, not an MVNO reseller.
Postpaid can feel heavier — but it's the cheapest path
We know committing to 1 year of postpaid can feel intimidating compared to pay-as-you-go prepaid. But once you factor in 본인인증 access, PASS app convenience, and the promo's 33–34% discount, KT postpaid is both the cheapest and the most usable option for teachers staying at least a year.
If You Cancel KT Postpaid Early — How the Refund Fee Actually Works
The 25–34% postpaid discount is structured as a 12-month 선택약정 (selective contract). If you cancel before month 12, KT applies a discount-return fee (할인반환금) calculated by a continuous formula — not fixed buckets. The result is a U-shaped curve where very early and very late cancellations are most expensive.
KT Official Formula (선택약정 할인반환금)
refund fee = cumulative discount received × ( remaining months / (contract months − reference period) )
Reference: shop.kt.com/smart/supportAmtList.do. The exact amount varies by plan and remaining term — the curve below is illustrative, not a guarantee for your specific contract.
| Usage Period | Typical Cost Level | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Months 0–3 | Highest | Very early cancellation — KT reclaims nearly the full discount subsidy they pre-committed for the 12-month term. |
| Months 4–6 | Still high | Significant portion of discount still subject to return. |
| Months 7–9 | Lowest | The “safer” cancellation window. Simplified KT bucket docs sometimes cite ~20% of cumulative discount here — actual value varies. |
| Months 10–11 | Spikes again | Can exceed 100% of discount received in some KT simplified tables (~130% cited) — cancelling just before month 12 is almost always more expensive than finishing the contract. |
| Month 12 (full term) | Zero | Contract complete. Renew another 약정 via KT customer service for continued discount, or go month-to-month. |
Practical takeaway
- • Month 12 is always the cheapest exit (zero penalty).
- • Months 7–9 is the relatively safer mid-window if you must leave early.
- • Months 0–3 and 10–11 are the worst — comparable penalty weight at both ends.
- • The often-cited “0% / 20% / 130%” schedule is a simplified bucket view of KT's continuous formula — use it as a rough map, never as a calculation.
How to confirm your exact amount
- • MyKT app → 약정 / 할인반환금 조회
- • KT within Korea: dial 114 (Korean) or 080-448-0100 (English, free)
- • From overseas: +82-2-2190-0901 → press 6 for English
- • Official calculator & terms: shop.kt.com/smart/supportAmtList.do
This section is informational only. Korvia is not a party to your KT contract — the authoritative source for your actual refund amount is KT Customer Service or the MyKT app. The “U-shape” pattern reflects KT's continuous formula; published bucket percentages (0% / 20% / 130%) appear in some KT product documents as a simplified representation and should not be treated as exact values for every plan.
Important — The Promo Is Built Around the Postpaid Commitment
Korvia's partnership with Kimchi Mobile negotiated the anniversary pricing on the condition that arriving teachers actually convert to the KT postpaid plan once their Residence Card is issued. The steep prepaid discount and the 33–34% postpaid discount are subsidized by the postpaid commitment, not by Korvia.
- •If you do not convert to postpaid(and you didn't choose the eSIM-Only path at signup), Kimchi Mobile may recover the promotional discount — a penalty roughly equal to the subsidized amount.
- •Postpaid itself is a 1-year KT contract— the 33–34% discount is a 12-month locked-in rate. Cancelling the postpaid plan before 12 months have elapsed may incur KT's standard early-termination fee.
- •After the 12 months are up, the discount ends — but you're no longer locked in. To keep getting a discount, contact KT customer service (국번없이 100, or via MyKT / PASS app) and sign a new 약정 (commitment renewal) just like Korean residents do. Most KT plans offer ongoing 약정 discounts of 15–25% for 1-year renewals.
- •Not sure you'll stay a full year?Use the eSIM-Only path instead (see below) — prepaid data only, no postpaid commitment, no penalty exposure.
Final discount amounts, conversion deadlines, and early-termination fees are set by Kimchi Mobile and KT respectively and are disclosed in the Kimchi Mobile service agreement at signup.
From Pre-Departure to KT Postpaid
Five steps. Prepaid carries you from the plane to the Residence Card; postpaid takes over from there — same number, no SIM swap.
Order on Kimchi Mobile
Sign up directly on the Kimchi Mobile site — the Korvia 20th-anniversary promo pricing is applied automatically when you purchase through our partner link.
Receive QR by Email
Kimchi Mobile emails your eSIM activation QR code. Save it to a laptop or printed copy.
Arrive in Korea, Activate
Scan the QR on your phone — you are online the moment immigration clears you.
Receive Residence Card
Immigration issues your RC (formerly ARC). Prepaid eSIM keeps you online the whole time.
Convert to KT Postpaid
Send RC + Korean bank info to Kimchi Mobile. Same number, same phone — just reboot.
Order on Kimchi Mobile
Before departureSign up directly on the Kimchi Mobile site — the Korvia 20th-anniversary promo pricing is applied automatically when you purchase through our partner link.
Receive QR by Email
Same business dayKimchi Mobile emails your eSIM activation QR code. Save it to a laptop or printed copy.
Arrive in Korea, Activate
On landingScan the QR on your phone — you are online the moment immigration clears you.
Receive Residence Card
2–6 weeks after arrivalImmigration issues your RC (formerly ARC). Prepaid eSIM keeps you online the whole time.
Convert to KT Postpaid
Within 60 days of RCSend RC + Korean bank info to Kimchi Mobile. Same number, same phone — just reboot.
How KT Activation Actually Works (Why Kimchi Handles It)
KT's official prepaid and postpaid application forms are written only in Korean. Kimchi Mobile collects your details through a bilingual online form, generates a pre-filled PDF with the correct Korean fields, and walks you through the print / sign / scan steps. Once you return the signed form plus a clean scan of your ID, they process the line with KT on your behalf.
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1. Purchase your plan
Order prepaid or postpaid directly on kimchimobile.com. The Korvia 20th-anniversary promo pricing is applied through our partner link.
- 2
2. Receive the “Next Steps” email
After Kimchi confirms your payment and verifies your Korvia-teacher status, they email your eSIM QR code and next-step instructions — usually within the same business day.
- 3
3. Wait for your Residence Card, then start the KT application
Once your RC is issued, complete Kimchi Mobile's KT Application Form Request (link.kimchimobile.com/application_request). They use your information to pre-fill the official KT Korean-language application form.
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4. Print, hand-sign, and fill the KT application (4 pages)
Print the pre-filled PDF, hand-write your full name, and provide an ink signature in every box marked “Full Name and Ink Signature.” All four pages must be signed — this is mandatory by KT.
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5. Scan & upload your documents
Submit the signed application plus high-resolution scans (not smartphone photos) of your passport and Residence Card — both sides, clear, full color, all four corners visible, no cropping. Upload via link.kimchimobile.com/activation with your preferred activation date.
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6. Kimchi activates the line with KT
Kimchi submits everything to KT, processes the line activation, and emails you the final eSIM QR code once KT confirms.
- 7
7. Scan QR, reboot, you're live
Scan the eSIM QR in your phone's settings. Restart the device once to apply the new profile. Your Korean 010 number is active — check it under Settings → Cellular (iPhone) or Settings → About Phone → SIM Status (Android).
🛂 Passport scan requirements
- • Scan at actual size — do not shrink, enlarge, or crop
- • All four corners visible, no cropping
- • Clear, full color, no glare or reflection
- • At least 12 months of remaining validity
- • Mobile scan apps OK (Adobe Scan / CamScanner) — plain smartphone photos are not accepted
📇 Residence Card (외국인등록증) scan
- • Scan both sides — front and back
- • Actual size, all four corners visible, no cropping
- • Clear, full color, no glare or reflection
- • At least 6 months of remaining validity
- • Mobile scan apps OK — plain smartphone photos are not accepted
📱 Device info Kimchi may ask for
- • IMEI1 / IMEI2 — dial *#06# or Settings → About phone → Status
- • EID — unique ID for eSIM devices (same menu)
- • Serial Number — Settings → About phone → Status, or printed on box
- • iPhone: Settings → General → About (scroll for IMEI / EID / SN)
📞 KT Global Customer Support (EN)
- • Within Korea (free): 080-448-0100
- • From overseas: +82-2-2190-0901 → press 6 for English
- • Email: biz.global@kt.com (general inquiries)
- • Roaming + select support available 24/7
Two Ways to Use the Promo
Take the full anniversary bundle, or just the prepaid portion — whichever fits your situation.
Full Bundle — Prepaid + KT Postpaid
60 GB prepaid gets you through arrival and Residence Card issuance. Once your RC arrives, convert to KT postpaid for a 33–34% monthly discount on a 12-month contract — same phone number, no new SIM.
- ✓Lowest total cost over 12 months
- ✓Keep same phone number throughout
- ✓Kimchi Mobile handles the conversion
- ✓English-language support
eSIM Only — Skip the Postpaid Contract
Not ready for a 12-month commitment? Take only the prepaid 60 GB eSIM. No conversion, no contract. When your RC arrives you can switch to any carrier, stay on prepaid, or top up as needed.
- ✓Prepaid only — no postpaid signup
- ✓Data through 2026, use it when you need it
- ✓Freedom to compare carriers once you settle
- ✓Still qualifies for 20th-anniversary pricing
Why Postpaid Has to Wait for Your Residence Card
Korean mobile carriers require government-issued ID before they can bill you on a monthly contract. For foreign residents, that ID is the Residence Card (RC) — known historically as the Alien Registration Card (ARC). Until it arrives, prepaid is the only option.
Weeks 1–2 After Arrival
Apply for your RC at the local immigration office (your school and Korvia coordinate the appointment). Prepaid eSIM carries all your data during this period.
Weeks 3–6 After Arrival
RC is typically issued 2–6 weeks after the application depending on the office. You pick it up in person. Still on prepaid.
Within 60 Days of RC
Optional postpaid conversion window. Send Kimchi Mobile a scan of your RC and Korean bank info — they handle the rest. Same number, same phone.
After Conversion
You are on KT postpaid with a 33–34% monthly discount for 12 months. Billing goes through your Korean bank. Prepaid balance is not wasted — any unused data is absorbed into the transition.
Need the full RC process? See our arrival documents guide or read the Korean overview at 외국인등록증 발급·갱신 가이드.
Is Your Phone eSIM-Compatible?
Most teacher phones sold after 2018 support eSIM. Before you enroll, double-check so there are no surprises at the airport.
| Brand | Compatible Models (Examples) | How to Check |
|---|---|---|
| Apple | iPhone XS / XR (2018) and newer | Settings → Cellular → Add eSIM |
| Samsung | Galaxy S20 / Note 20 and newer, Fold 3+ | Settings → Connections → SIM manager → Add eSIM |
| Pixel 3 and newer | Settings → Network & internet → SIMs → Add SIM | |
| Other | Recent Xiaomi, OPPO, Motorola models vary | Search your model + "eSIM support" |
If your phone does not support eSIM, Kimchi Mobile also offers a physical SIM on the same KT network and promo terms — just email them before checkout and they will swap the format.
eSIM Promo FAQ
Why do I need an eSIM before I land in Korea?
Two reasons. First, your Korvia recruiter and airport contact will reach you on the day you arrive — if you walk out of immigration without data, you cannot confirm pickup, find a shuttle, or ask for help. Second, most homestays and teacher apartments do not have Wi-Fi ready on day one, so your phone may be your only connection for the first 24–72 hours. A prepaid eSIM solves both of those problems before you even board the plane.
What is special about the 20th Anniversary promo?
Korvia partnered with Kimchi Mobile (KT network) to mark 20 years of placing teachers in Korea. Throughout 2026, arriving teachers booked through Korvia receive a bundle built around 60 GB of prepaid LTE/5G data, delivered by QR code before departure, with the option to convert to a KT postpaid plan once your Residence Card (RC, formerly ARC) is issued. This package is not offered publicly — it is the anniversary pricing we negotiated for our teachers.
What is a Residence Card (RC), and why does postpaid need it?
The Residence Card — known historically as the Alien Registration Card (ARC) — is the government ID all foreign residents receive after arrival. Korean mobile carriers require an RC, a Korean bank account, and a local address before they can set up a postpaid contract. Until your RC is issued (typically within 2–6 weeks of arrival), a prepaid eSIM is what keeps you online. That is exactly why the promo pairs the two: prepaid to bridge, postpaid to save.
What if I do not want a postpaid contract?
That is fine. You can take only the prepaid eSIM portion — 60 GB of data for your arrival period — and skip the KT postpaid conversion entirely. You will not be charged the postpaid rate, and you can switch to any carrier (or back to prepaid) after your Residence Card arrives. We recommend postpaid only when the 33–34% monthly discount is worth more than the 12-month commitment in your situation.
How and when do I get the eSIM?
After enrolling through the promo page, Kimchi Mobile delivers a QR activation code by email, usually within the same business day. Save the QR on a laptop or second device — you will scan it into your phone once you land in Korea (or pre-activate a few days before departure, if your device is eSIM-ready). The eSIM works on the KT network nationwide, including Incheon and Gimpo airports.
Is my phone compatible with eSIM?
Most iPhone XS / XR (2018) and newer, Google Pixel 3 and newer, and Samsung Galaxy S20 and newer support eSIM. Phones sold in mainland China, Hong Kong, and some other markets may have eSIM disabled by the carrier. Check your device settings for "Add eSIM" or "Add Cellular Plan" before purchase — if it is missing, a physical SIM card (also available from Kimchi Mobile) works on the same network.
How do I convert to KT postpaid once my Residence Card arrives?
Kimchi Mobile handles the conversion. Send them a scan of both sides of your RC plus your Korean bank account info after you receive the card, and they complete the postpaid switch on the same phone number — no new SIM, no phone swap, just a reboot. Conversion must happen within the window noted in your Korvia welcome email (typically 60 days of RC issuance).
Do I pay Korvia or Kimchi Mobile?
You pay Kimchi Mobile directly through the enrollment link. Korvia does not charge for the eSIM — the 20th-anniversary pricing is simply what we negotiated with Kimchi Mobile for teachers who booked through us. The discount is applied automatically when you purchase through the Korvia promo URL.
What happens if I already bought a different SIM?
You can still take the prepaid eSIM — many teachers run two lines (one foreign, one Korean) for the first month so family back home can still reach them. If you truly do not need it, email support@korvia.com and we will skip the eSIM handoff from your welcome package.
Does this only apply to EPIK teachers?
No. The 20th-anniversary eSIM promo is available to any teacher arriving through Korvia in 2026 — EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, and private-academy placements alike. Your offer link goes out with your Korvia welcome email once your contract is signed.
Why is the discount so steep? Is there a catch?
The Korvia × Kimchi Mobile partnership negotiated this pricing specifically on the condition that teachers convert to the KT postpaid plan once their Residence Card is issued. The prepaid and postpaid discounts are subsidized by that postpaid commitment — not by Korvia. If you take the full bundle and then skip conversion, Kimchi Mobile may recover the promotional discount (a penalty roughly equal to the subsidized amount). That's why we offer the eSIM-Only path too: if you know you won't commit, take prepaid only and there's no exposure.
What happens after the 12-month KT postpaid contract ends?
The 33–34% promotional discount ends at month 12, but you're no longer locked in. From then on you can (a) do nothing and pay KT's standard rate, (b) switch carriers, or (c) keep getting a discount by signing a new 약정 (commitment renewal) directly with KT — call 100, or use the MyKT / PASS app, just like Korean residents. KT typically offers 15–25% off for 1-year renewals, which is how long-term expats stay on competitive pricing.
Why does Korean online life really need a postpaid line in my name?
Korean services built around 본인인증 (identity verification) — Coupang, Naver Pay, 배달의민족, Toss, banking apps, government portals — send a verification SMS to a phone number registered to a Korean ID. Prepaid SIMs typically fail this check because they're not tied to your Residence Card. Once you're on KT postpaid with your RC, you can also install the PASS app, which Korea's three carriers co-operate; it replaces the tedious SMS-verification loops with a single biometric tap used across banks, government sites, and most checkout flows. That convenience is the hidden value behind the postpaid step.
What if I want to cancel KT postpaid within the 12-month contract?
Early termination is allowed, but KT's discount-return fee (할인반환금) applies. It's calculated by a continuous formula — not a fixed percentage — so the real cost is U-shaped: months 0–3 are most expensive (KT reclaims nearly the full subsidy), months 7–9 are the lowest-cost window, and months 10–11 spike back up because you're almost at the end of the contract. Month 12 = zero penalty. See the "If You Cancel KT Postpaid Early" section above for the formula and a qualitative timeline. For your exact amount, check MyKT app or call KT (dial 114 / +82-2-2190-0901 + press 6 for English). If you're not sure you'll stay a full year, the eSIM-Only path avoids the postpaid signup entirely — no exposure.
Your First Hour in Korea, Already Online
Get your QR code this week, fly over next month, and walk out of Incheon connected. Full bundle for the best price, or eSIM-only if you'd rather stay flexible.