Mobile Phone in Seoul

Hello,

I%26#39;ll be in Seoul next weekend and I don%26#39;t have a 3G Korean frequency phone. Should I rent a phone from the airport for 4 days, or should I buy a new 3G phone while I%26#39;m in Seoul? (I need a new 3G phone anyway). Does anyone know of a good mobile phone store or electronics store? I want to check out a Samsung netbook also.

Thank you!

Mobile Phone in Seoul

EliasNYC,

As far as I know, Korean phone system is different from US%26#39;s phone. When I went there last year although my Verizon rep assured me that I can use my LG phone in Korea, it didn%26#39;t work out well. I was able to make phone calls to US number but not to Korean number. I ended up rent a cell phone so I can use it to call within Korea. Things may have developed more since then, and I am no expert in cell phone technology, but I wouldn%26#39;t want to risk it yet. There is KTF rental desk at Incheon airport.

Mobile Phone in Seoul

hi there,

korea has a unique cell phone system. (unformtunaletly i don%26#39;t know the technical name of it)

a phone which will work everywhere in the world will still not work in korea. they even had a special ';protection-law'; for there system, so that hardly no foreign companies were able to sell there phones there.

as far as i know they recently changed that especially for the iphone, so maybe there will be some changes in the next few months.

i would recommend to rent one at the airport.

If you are in korea frequently you could think about buying a used one at yongsan-electronic market. (yongsan subway station)

buying a ';normal'; phone will not be cheap and maybe even hard to find.

hope that helps.

Hello Blee and Takaramono,

thank you both, yes they use a special 3G frequency. I%26#39;ll check out yongsan also.