How to Stay Connected with Loved Ones from South Korea

Published on January 17, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Traveling to South Korea, whether for a few weeks or several years, no longer means cutting ties with family and friends. The country is one of the most connected in the world, with ultra-fast internet infrastructure, dense mobile coverage, and a multitude of local apps. But this hyper-connectivity also has its own codes, and technical and cultural constraints. Staying in touch from South Korea therefore requires some preparation, especially if you want to keep up with loved ones, integrate locally, and avoid nasty surprises on your phone bill.

Understanding the Digital Environment in South Korea

South Korea is often cited as one of the most connected countries in the world. Internet speeds are among the fastest, 5G and 4G (LTE) are widely deployed, and the population has one of the highest smartphone ownership rates on the planet. In practical terms, this means you can make high-quality video calls, send large files, or stream content without major difficulty… provided you choose the right connection solution.

Another thing to keep in mind: South Korea lives in its own application ecosystem. Google Maps, WhatsApp, or Facebook Messenger aren’t absent, but they are far from central to daily digital life. Most Koreans use Naver Maps for directions, Kakao T for taxis, Papago for translation, and especially KakaoTalk for messaging. Adapting to these tools is essential, not only for communicating locally but also to best enjoy local services.

Getting Online: Wi-Fi, SIM, eSIM, and Portable Routers

To stay reachable and keep talking with your loved ones, it all starts with a reliable connection. There are three main options: public Wi-Fi, a local SIM (or eSIM) card, and a portable Wi-Fi router.

Public Wi-Fi: Very Common, But Not Always Enough

Free Wi-Fi is omnipresent in the country, especially in large cities. Seoul alone has over 23,000 free access points, and the national total exceeds 90,000 hotspots. You can find Wi-Fi in subway stations, buses, many cafes (Starbucks, Ediya, Angel-in-us, Paris Baguette, etc.), airports, some parks, shopping malls, tourist offices, and even on the Airport Express (AREX) line.

The most frequently encountered networks include, for example:

Location Type	Examples of SSID / Service
City of Seoul	Seoul_Free_WiFi, Public WiFi@Seoul, SEOUL/Public Wifi Free, SEOUL_Secure
Airports & Tourist Offices	Airport_WiFi, KTO_Free_WiFi
Telecom Operators (paid or limited)	KT_Free_WiFi, U+Zone, T WiFi Zone, OllehWiFi

The quality is generally good for browsing, translation, and messaging. But two limitations quickly become apparent if you want to stay in regular contact with loved ones:

– Free Wi-Fi is not guaranteed everywhere, especially outside major cities or in certain areas like the interior of Jeju Island;

– Public networks are often open or poorly secured, making them unsuitable for sensitive uses (banking, passwords, private documents).

Local SIM Cards and eSIMs: The Most Reliable Daily Option

For a reasonably independent stay, having your own mobile connection is almost essential. In South Korea, three major operators dominate the market:

Type of Provider	Main Names	Role for Foreign Users
Major Operators (MNO)	SK Telecom (SKT), KT (Olleh), LG U+	Primary networks, very good 4G/5G coverage
Virtual Operators (MVNO, 알뜰폰)	Chingu Mobile, Hello Mobile, U+ 알뜰모바일	Cheaper plans, run on SKT / KT / LG U+ networks

All SIM cards and eSIMs, including those purchased via platforms like Airalo, Nomad, aloSIM, Holafly, Trazy, or Klook, actually use one of these three networks.

The options fall into two main categories:

– Prepaid SIM or eSIM cards, recommended for tourists, visiting students, and stays of a few weeks;

– Postpaid plans (billed monthly), intended for long-term residents with a resident card (Alien Registration Card, ARC).

Here is an indicative overview of eSIM prices for South Korea (data from several providers):

eSIM Provider	Example Plan	Duration	Approximate Price (USD)
Saily	3 GB	30 days	~7.6
aloSIM	5 GB	30 days	~18
Nomad	10 GB	30 days	~17
Holafly	Unlimited data	7 days	~29.9
Airalo (local)	Unlimited data	10 days	~32

Physical SIM cards are easy to buy:

– at the airport (Incheon, Gimpo, Busan Gimhae, Jeju, Daegu), often with English-speaking staff;

– online via travel platforms, with airport pickup;

– in certain convenience stores (GS25, CU, 7-Eleven) or carrier stores.

eSIMs have the advantage of being purchased and activated even before boarding the plane, via a simple QR code, provided you have a compatible and unlocked smartphone (iPhone XS and newer, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, Google Pixel 3 and newer…).

To register a tourist prepaid SIM, a passport is usually sufficient. For a standard monthly plan, you almost always need a resident card (ARC) and a local bank account.

Portable Wi-Fi Routers: Sharing a Connection with Several People

Another solution for staying connected, especially if you’re traveling with family or a group, is to rent a pocket Wi-Fi router (often called a “Wi-Fi egg”). These small devices are picked up and returned at the airport, allow multiple devices to connect simultaneously (smartphones, tablets, computers), and provide a shared 4G/5G connection.

Why a Korean Phone Number Can Really Help

For simply chatting with your loved ones abroad via WhatsApp, FaceTime, or others, a data connection is enough. But having a real Korean number starting with 010 makes life much simpler on the ground: some restaurant reservations, delivery services, taxi apps, or sending verification codes require a local number.

Many tourist SIMs provide a 010 number for receiving calls and SMS, and sometimes for making local calls at a per-second rate. Conversely, most travel eSIMs are “data only” and provide no Korean number, or sometimes a North American number via a companion app.

Before choosing a plan, it’s useful to ask yourself if you mainly plan to:

– use internet messaging to talk with your loved ones abroad;

– or also interact often with local services that require a 010 number.

Apps and Messaging: Navigating Between KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, and the Rest

Once connected, you still need to choose the right tools to stay in touch. South Korea is a special case: the vast majority of the population uses the same messaging app, KakaoTalk.

KakaoTalk, the Unavoidable “Super-App”

With over 50 million users worldwide and nearly all Korean internet users (over 90% of the population), KakaoTalk is omnipresent. The app, launched in 2010, is available on iOS, Android, Windows, and macOS and allows:

– free text messaging;

– voice and video calls;

– group chats with no participant limit;

– sharing photos, videos, documents;

– anonymous chat rooms via “Open Chat”.

To communicate with your Korean friends, colleagues, or a landlord, you won’t escape it: informal professional interactions very often go through KakaoTalk, including for announcing schedule changes, organizing team meals, or exchanging documents.

Other Popular Apps in South Korea

Even though KakaoTalk dominates, other messaging apps are used, each with its audience and uses:

– LINE, developed by Naver, is more focused on Japan and Taiwan, but is used in Korea to communicate with those countries;

– Telegram attracts users concerned about privacy (crypto, activism, tech) due to encryption and secret chats;

– Facebook Messenger remains common among students, expats, and those with many international contacts;

– Instagram Direct is widely used by young people for quick exchanges, especially around social life;

– iMessage is spreading with the growth of iPhone usage;

– Discord has established itself in gaming communities, clubs, some K-pop fan groups, and even in some startups.

Choosing the Right Channel Based on the Type of Relationship

To maintain vibrant relationships despite the distance, it can be useful to combine several tools:

– an instant messaging app (KakaoTalk, WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram) for quick exchanges and daily news;

– one or two video conferencing channels (Zoom, FaceTime, WhatsApp, Skype) for longer appointments, like virtual dinners or moments with grandparents;

– optionally a social network (Instagram, Facebook) to share photos, videos, and stories that keep your loved ones updated on your life in Korea without having to repeat the same stories to everyone.

Research on families separated by time zones shows that people overwhelmingly favor synchronous exchanges (audio or video calls) to maintain a real emotional connection. Emails or asynchronous messages remain useful but don’t replace this face-to-face where you hear the voice and see the expressions of the other person.

International Calls: Limiting the Bill Without Cutting Off the Voice

Staying in touch with loved ones from South Korea can’t rely solely on written messaging. Hearing someone’s voice, or even seeing them on video, helps combat feelings of isolation and homesickness. But you still need to choose a solution that doesn’t cost a fortune.

Classic Calls via Korean Networks: Use with Caution

It’s possible to make international calls directly from a Korean mobile or landline. The number structure is simple: international access code (001, 002, 003, etc. depending on the operator) + country code of the destination + local number. For example, to call a number in New York, you could dial 001-1-212-xxx-xxxx.

But these calls remain expensive: depending on the operators and destinations, we’re talking about 500 to 1,200 KRW per minute, quickly adding up to several euros for a 20 to 30 minute call. Before using this option, it’s essential to check the exact rates of your plan and keep this as a backup option, for example in case of internet outage.

VoIP and Voice-over-IP Apps: The Most Economical Solution

For dozens of hours of audio conversation, the most reasonable route is to use VoIP (Voice over IP) services, meaning apps that make calls via the internet rather than the traditional telephone network. There are two main categories:

The first ones generally offer free calls if both people use the same app, and low-cost paid calls to reach regular landlines or mobiles. The second ones offer prepaid credits with very competitive rates to a large number of countries and sometimes virtual numbers.

A few examples of advertised rates for calling South Korea or from Korea abroad give an idea of possible savings:

Service	Example Rate to Korea / from Korea (indicative)	Useful Particularities for an Expat
BOSS Revolution	~0.04 USD/min to Korea (landline & mobile)	Rechargeable credits, mobile app, $2 credit for new users
Rebtel	~0.049 USD/min to Korea	Connection via local lines, caller doesn’t need data
Yolla	~0.033 USD/min to Korea, ~0.01 USD/min to USA	Preserves your caller ID, international SMS, online top-ups
mytello	e.g., 500 min for 5 USD to Korean landlines	Local access numbers, works even without a smartphone
KeepCalling	~0.025 USD/min to Korea in some offers	Virtual calling cards, dedicated app

These examples illustrate the order of magnitude: for about ten dollars, you can talk for hours with your loved ones, provided you have a stable internet connection. Most of these services don’t require your contact to install the same app: you can call their regular landline or mobile phone.

International Roaming from Your Home Country

Last option: keep your French, Belgian, Canadian, etc. number and activate an international roaming feature. Some plans include “world” packages or daily passes, for example around 10 to 12 USD per day to use calls and data abroad.

This solution has two advantages:

– your loved ones don’t have to change their habits to reach you;

– you don’t have to set up a new SIM.

However, it quickly becomes expensive on a stay of several weeks or months, and doesn’t offer the benefits of a local 010 number for daily life in Korea. It’s better reserved for very short trips or as a backup option.

Video Conferencing: Recreating Presence Despite the Distance

Video calls became a reflex during the COVID-19 pandemic, for businesses and families alike. They remain a major asset for those who go to live far from their loved ones.

Studies on older adults show that video calls can reduce loneliness, improve mood, and even decrease some health risks linked to isolation. For example, they find that residents of nursing homes or geriatric institutions, often very isolated, benefit greatly from regular visual interactions with their loved ones via tablets or computers.

To organize these calls from South Korea, several tools are possible:

– Zoom, very popular for group meetings, with scheduling and meeting links;

– FaceTime, ideal if the whole family uses Apple devices;

– WhatsApp and Messenger, easy to use and already installed for many people;

– Skype, used for a long time, especially with people less comfortable with newer technologies.

The key isn’t so much the choice of tool as the ability to:

The key isn’t so much the choice of tool as the ability to:

– explain it clearly to less tech-savvy loved ones (grandparents, notably);

– test the setup in advance (webcam, microphone, app update);

– ensure a good connection (home Wi-Fi, sufficient mobile data).

Simple tips greatly improve the quality of exchanges: position yourself facing a light source, avoid a window behind you, place the device at eye level, use headphones to reduce ambient noise, and prioritize a quiet environment. The idea is to make this moment pleasant enough that it’s not experienced as a technical chore.

Time Zones: Organizing a Real Communication Rhythm

The time difference between South Korea and Europe or North America complicates live calls. Depending on where your loved ones are, you could have a 7 to 16 hour difference. With North America, South Korea is ahead, and with Europe, it is also ahead, but to a lesser extent. The country does not observe daylight saving time, meaning the difference changes seasonally in countries that do.

To simplify your life, a few best practices stand out:

The study also shows that sustained family communication works better when it becomes a “ritual”: a Sunday call, a joint video night per month, a long call planned in advance for a birthday. These fixed appointments avoid having to reinvent the organization every time, which is especially valuable when the workweek is busy on both sides.

Managing Emotional Distance: Not Isolating Yourself While Hyper-Connected

Staying in touch with loved ones from South Korea isn’t just about technique. Living in a culturally homogeneous country, where informal conversation with strangers is rare, can reinforce feelings of loneliness for some expats. Studies and testimonies show that many go through several phases: an initial honeymoon period, followed by a period of frustration or culture shock, then a more serene adjustment phase.

Several strategies prove effective for building a local network while keeping the connection with home:

Staying connected to loved ones can help get through difficult moments, but it’s just as important to cultivate your social life in Korea. It’s this dual anchoring – local and distant – that makes the experience richer and less taxing over time.

Mail and Packages: The Tangible Link with Home

Communication isn’t just through a screen. Sending a handwritten letter, a small package, or receiving a parcel from family has a strong symbolic impact. In South Korea, the postal service is handled by Korea Post, which offers several service levels for international mail: EMS (Express Mail Service), standard airmail, surface mail (by boat), registered services, tracking, insurance, etc.

In practice, expect:

– a few business days for EMS, more expensive but fast, with tracking;

– more time for standard airmail;

– several weeks, even months, for sea transport, the cheapest option.

– counters with a ticket system to manage crowds;

– free packaging supplies (official boxes, tape, bubble wrap, scissors, pens);

– boxes in several standardized sizes, some of which can only be sent by air or are limited to 20 kg for surface mail.

However, you must be careful of many prohibited or strictly regulated items: weapons, plants and agricultural products without a certificate, certain food products, batteries, perfumes, jewelry, or precious metals in certain types of shipments, etc. To know precisely what is allowed, it’s advisable to consult the official Korea Post website or ask at the counter.

Without replacing video calls, these physical exchanges – a printed photo album, souvenirs, gifts – give a more concrete dimension to the long-distance relationship.

Privacy and Censorship: Why a VPN Can Be Useful for Communicating

South Korea combines state-of-the-art infrastructure and significant internet control. A significant portion of online content is subject to censorship or blocking, notably content deemed favorable to North Korea, some political sites, gambling platforms, pornography, or some LGBTQ+ content. Authorities, via the Korea Communications Standards Commission, have extensive powers to filter and restrict sites deemed contrary to the “public interest.”

Internet service providers must also retain certain connection metadata, which intelligence services can access without a warrant in some cases. Major local platforms like KakaoTalk have in the past reported user data requests.

– prevent your internet service provider or a public Wi-Fi network from seeing the sites you visit and the services you use;

– access sites or services potentially restricted in South Korea, such as certain media, content, or social platforms;

– secure your exchanges when making video or phone calls via apps on public Wi-Fi (cafes, subway, hotels);

– continue to access some services from your home country (online banking, streaming platforms) which sometimes block foreign connections.

For simple communication with your loved ones, the issue isn’t so much escaping surveillance as securing your exchanges on open networks and being able to freely connect to services you’re used to in your home country. A subscription with a money-back guarantee allows you to test this type of solution without financial risk.

Practical Tips for Smooth Communication from South Korea

Bringing together the technical data, studies on long-distance families, and field experience, some simple principles emerge for truly staying in touch with your loved ones from South Korea:

Finally, don’t forget that staying connected also means staying present where you live. Opening up to local encounters, learning Korean social codes (respect for hierarchy, importance of the group, indirect politeness), participating in shared meals or group outings, can enrich your experience as much as long-distance exchanges. Your loved ones will be all the more eager to listen to you if you have stories to tell, photos to show, new perspectives to share.

From South Korea, technology offers all the means to maintain these bridges. The rest depends on the attention you pay to those who are far away, and the place you give, each week, to those moments of voices and faces that make you feel, despite thousands of kilometers, like you’re still together.