O2 roaming in South Korea: what it costs, and when an eSIM is cheaper
With O2, data in South Korea costs £65.00/GB (Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On), so £390.00 for 7 days and 6 GB. An eSIM covering 7 days and 6 GB costs from $12.99 (GoMoWorld).
Rates checked on October 21, 2026 in the official price guide · Source: O2
The best eSIMs in South Korea for a week
For 7 days and 6 GB
- 1Best unlimited
Ubigi
Unlimited · 7 days
$25.00$3.57 per day- 25 GB at full speed, then reduced speed
- Networks: LG U+ and SK Telecom
- Hotspot allowed
- 2Cheapest
GoMoWorld
9 GB · 30 days
$12.99$1.44 per GB- Lowest total price for 7 days
- Hotspot allowed
- 3Best price per GB
Jetpac
15 GB · 7 days
$17.00$1.13 per GB- Lowest price per GB for this trip
- Networks: SK Telecom and KT
- Hotspot allowed
Three steps, three questions: the best unlimited plan, the cheapest and the best price per GB, from three different providers. How we pick the podium · Affiliate links
O2 or an eSIM in South Korea: our verdict
Depending on your plan and trip length, at the prices read on October 22, 2026.
Your O2 plan
Not included
No plan on O2’s rate sheet includes South Korea: data there costs extra.
With O2
£65.00/GB
Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On. For 7 days and 6 GB, expect £390.00.
Affiliate links
Data in South Korea with O2: our analysis
What O2’s rate sheet and eSIM prices show, as checked on October 22, 2026.
The right pass for your trip length
- 3 days3 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On£195.00
- 1 week6 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On£390.00
- 2 weeks12 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On£780.00
- 1 month24 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On£1,560.00
Against the cheapest eSIM
O2 charges in GBP and the cheapest eSIM is sold in USD: we convert nothing. For a week, expect £390.00 with O2 and $12.99 with the eSIM (GoMoWorld).
eSIMs in South Korea at a glance
- In South Korea, we compare plans from 8 eSIM providers: Airalo, GigSky, GoMoWorld, Jetpac, Nomad, Orange Travel, Ubigi, and Yesim.
- The cheapest unlimited plan for a week is from Ubigi: $25.00 (Unlimited · 7 days).
- Locally, the cheapest prepaid SIM card for a week costs ₩31,500 (KT, unlimited data, 7 days); see our SIM card comparison in South Korea.
- A pocket WiFi rents from ₩19,100 a week (WiFi Dosirak); see pocket WiFi rental in South Korea.
O2 applies the same rate in 2 other destinations we track, including Morocco and Vietnam.
Plan by plan
What applies in South Korea depending on your O2 plan.
What O2’s official rate sheet sets out in South Korea, offer by offer. No plan includes it: each offer below is charged on top of your subscription.
| Plan or offer | Data in South Korea | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Data roaming bundle (no O2 Travel Bolt On) | £65.00/GB | Calls GBP 3/min, texts GBP 1; Pay As You Go: GBP 2/min, GBP 0.50/text, GBP 7.20/MB. |
What your trip costs
With the O2 roaming rate, against today’s cheapest eSIM, for everyday use.
| Trip | With O2 | Cheapest eSIM | The offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 days · 3 GB | £195.00 3 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On | $7.49 GigSky | See the plan |
| 7 days · 6 GB | £390.00 6 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On | $12.99 GoMoWorld | See the plan |
| 14 days · 12 GB | £780.00 12 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On | $22.50 Jetpac | See the plan |
| 30 days · 24 GB | £1,560.00 24 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On | $25.00 Ubigi | See the plan |
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South Korea with other UK carriers
The same trip with the other UK carriers we track, from their official rate sheets.
Of the 4 UK carriers we track, 2 include South Korea in at least one plan: EE and Three.
EE
Three
VodafoneTurn off O2 roaming and use an eSIM
Four settings, before you leave or on the plane.
- 1
Install the eSIM at home
Buy it and scan its QR code before you leave: with most providers, the plan only starts when you first connect at your destination.
- 2
Keep O2 for calls
In your settings, keep your O2 line for calls and texts, and pick the eSIM for mobile data.
- 3
Turn off O2 roaming
On iPhone: Settings › Cellular › your O2 line › Data Roaming. On Android: Settings › Mobile networks › Roaming.
- 4
Keep eSIM roaming on
A travel eSIM uses the local networks: its data roaming must stay on.
O2 roaming in South Korea: your questions
Answered from the O2 price guide and today’s prices.
Is data in South Korea included in my O2 plan?
No, not with the standard O2 plan: £65.00/GB (Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On).
How much does data cost in South Korea with O2?
£65.00/GB (Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On), so £390.00 for 7 days and 6 GB. An eSIM covering the same week costs from $12.99 (GoMoWorld), checked on October 22, 2026.
Which O2 pass should I get for South Korea?
The best O2 option depends on how long you stay: for 3 days, 3 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On (£195.00); for a week, 6 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On (£390.00); for two weeks, 12 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On (£780.00); for a month, 24 × Data roaming bundle, no O2 Travel Bolt On (£1,560.00).
O2 or an eSIM in South Korea: which is cheaper?
O2 charges in GBP and the cheapest eSIM is sold in USD: we convert nothing. For a week, expect £390.00 with O2 and $12.99 with the eSIM (GoMoWorld).
Which UK carriers include South Korea?
Of the 4 UK carriers we track, 2 include South Korea in at least one plan: EE and Three.
Which network does an eSIM use in South Korea?
Depending on the plan, the 8 providers we compare in South Korea list SK Telecom, KT, and LG U+.
How do I avoid roaming charges in South Korea?
Use a travel eSIM for data and turn off data roaming on your O2 line. You keep your number for calls and texts.
Can I keep my O2 number with an eSIM?
Yes, on an eSIM-compatible phone: your O2 line stays on for calls and texts while the eSIM carries the data.
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