A simple guide for buying iPhone in Korea
1.General information
1) You can buy an iPhone only from KT. SKT and LGT DONOT sell iPhone.
2) If you have an iPhone which you bought in other countries, you can use it. But you should pass the test of certification by Raidi Research Agency. It cost about \330,000. After passing the test, KT can register your iPhone.
3) But if your iPhone is locked, you can't use it in Korea. You can find on Internet how to unlock the iPhone.
2.Understanding KT contract program and price plan.
1) KT provides two types of contract program for iPhone.
| Types of Contract | Contract period | Type of payment | Price plan |
| Show-king i | only 24month | Installment payment only | i-slim, i-light, i-medium, i-premium |
| Show-king standard | 12, 18 ,24 month | installment payment and upfront payment |
You can choose whatever you want. |
2) Only F2, F4, F5 visa holders can use installment payment. So non F-series visa holders can use only Show-king Standard program with upfront payment.
3) Detailed information for i-series price plan.
| i-Slim | i-Light | i-Medium | i-Premium | |
| Monthly Cost | \35000 | \45000 | \65000 | \95000 |
| Included Talk | 150Min. | 200Min. | 400Min. | 800Min. |
| Included SMS/MMS | 200 | 300 | 300 | 300 |
| Included Data | 100MB | 500MB | 1000MB | 3000MB |
4) Total subsidy and discount are varied to the combination of contract program and price plan.
| Contract Type | Show-king standard | Show-king i | Show-king i | Show-king i | Show-king i |
| Price plan | - | i-slim | i-light | i-medium | i-premium |
| Total | - | \418,000 | \550,000 | \682,000 | \814,000 |
| discount for price plan |
depends on your price plan | \120,000 | \192,000 | \312,000 | \528,000 |
| subsidy for handset |
\214,000 | \298,000 | \358,000 | \370,000 | \286,000 |
- Discount or subsidy for Show-king i contract is provided monthly for 24 month. For example, when you use i-medium about \28,416 will be applied monthly.
- When you use Show-king standard contract, discount for price plan cabl be applied. But the amount of discount is varied.
3.Then how much you should pay for iPhone?
1) Show-king Standard Contract + showfree200 + SMS500 + showsmart1000
[ Condition ]
- Handset : iPhone 3Gs 16G (\814,000)
- Price plan for talk : Showfree200 (\31,000 per month. included talk 200Min. No free SMS)
- Price plan for SMS : SMS500 (incl (\8,000 per month. included SMS is 500)
- Price plan for Data : Showsmart1000 (\15,000 per month. included Data is 1000MB)
[ Total payment for 24 month ]
- Handset : \814,000 - \214,000 = \600,000 (upfront payment)
- for talk, SMS, Data : \53,000 x 24 month = \1,272,000
\53,000 = \31,000 + \8,000 + \15,000 - \1000 (Show-king standard discount)
- Grand Total = \1,872,000
2) Show-king Standard Contract + i - Medium price plan
[ Condition ]
- Handset : iPhone 3Gs 16G (\814,000)
- Price plan for talk/SMS/Data : i-Medium (\65,000 per month. included talk is 400Min. included SMS is 300 and included Data is 1000MB)
[ Total payment for 24 month ]
- Handset : \814,000 - \214,000 = \600,000 (upfront payment)
- for talk, SMS, Data : \65,000 x 24 month = \1,560,000
*Show-king standard discount CANNOT be applied for i-price plan.
- Grand Total = \2,160,000
** So, actually 1) is the only choice.
4.Let's compare with F-series visa holder or Korean nationals.
1) Show-king i Contract + i-Medium price plan
[ Condition ]
- Handset : iPhone 3Gs 16G (\814,000)
- Price plan for talk/SMS/Data : i-Medium (\65,000 per month. included talk is 400Min. SMS is 300 and Data is 1000MB)
[ Total payment for 24 month ]
- Handset : \814,000 - \370,000 = \444,000 (installment payment)
- for talk, SMS, Data : \65,000 x 24 month - \312,000 (Show-king i discount) = \1,248,000
- Grand Total = \1,692,000
** Non F-series visa holders should pay about \180,000 more for 24 month.