Exploring Korea with an eSIM: a smart travel move

“Don’t listen to what they say. Go see” is an old Chinese adage that encourages people to travel and discover places firsthand rather than rely on hearsay. If you have never been to South Korea, it’s time to add Hanguk to your must-visit destinations. 

This country boasts a unique culture, historical sites, and National Parks that will help you make unforgettable memories of your interactions with the people. It’s advisable to plan your trip before visiting this country to ensure you enjoy your stay abroad to the fullest.

For instance, eSIM technology provides flexible and affordable data solutions for travelers. These solutions ensure that travelers can access essential services such as communication and navigation abroad at affordable rates. Keep reading to discover the benefits of an eSIM on your Korean trip. 

Stay online from Seoul cafés to Hanok villages.

One of the biggest headaches for travelers is staying connected while abroad because of the high costs associated with roaming services. Additionally, roaming connections often fluctuate and fail to provide stable internet.

The alternative to roaming services is switching to a local mobile service provider when you arrive at your destination. While this option is feasible, it has its downsides, such as inconvenience before your registration is approved and additional costs of purchasing a phone and SIM card.

Switch to Holafly’s eSIM in South Korea and avoid these challenges. This solution offers unlimited data plans for as low as $6.90 daily, and you pay less when you buy a data plan for more days. For instance, a 30-day plan will cost you $2.50/day, while a 90-day plan will be $1.55/day.

South Korea enjoys 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile network coverage, allowing you to access high-speed internet in urban centers and remote countryside. You don’t have to rely on unsecured free Wi-Fi networks at cafes and hotels that are vulnerable to cyberattacks. 

Access real-time translations and menus

The official language of South Korea is Korean, although 10% of the population speaks English, mostly at home. Therefore, most of the people you interact with will speak in Korean. For this reason, consider investing in a translation tool, especially if you’re traveling solo.

An example of an effective translation tool is Google Translate. There are other audio translators you can use when conversing with the locals. These include  Votta, Kapwing, and Voxqube. 

These tools require a stable internet connection to work effectively. You can also scan menus at eateries and upload the text to your translation app. Holafly’s eSIM data plans offer high-speed connectivity, thus giving you an instant translator for added convenience.  

Another way to connect with locals is to learn Korean etiquette and common phrases that people use every day. For instance, avoid direct eye contact with older people, as it’s disrespectful. Also, dressing modestly and giving gifts is desirable.

Some of the phrases you can use to communicate with the locals are:

Capture & share: never miss a travel moment

One of the pleasures of traveling is creating good memories. Nowadays, smartphones have made it easy to capture such moments using videos and photos. You can also share such moments with friends and family through social media.

Sometimes, you may not have enough space to back up your content on your devices. Reliable internet enables you to upload videos and photos to cloud servers. This way you can extend your data storage capacity ensuring that no memories are lost.  

Examples of affordable cloud storage services include Google Drive, NordLocker, and Microsoft OneDrive. Most of these services offer free storage space, and nothing stops you from having multiple accounts. If you’re a heavy content creator, a paid plan would be suitable for you.

Additionally, individuals traveling for business, such as researchers and corporate entities, can connect to their private servers using the eSIM technology and upload data with ease.

Make local bookings on-the-go

When exploring Seoul and other South Korean cities, you may need to stay in different hotels, book flights, and request cabs. You also need to book special dinners or other events. Holafly’s eSIM data allows you to make these bookings on the go. 

This flexibility means that you make your bookings in time to avoid the last-minute rush, which can inflate prices significantly and affect your budget. Making early bookings ensures that you don’t miss out, especially when limited spaces are available.

Before you make your bookings, make sure you search for apps that work best in South Korea. You can compare various sites and pick one that offers the best rates. Examples of applications you can use include Booking.com, Klook, Yanolja, and Airbnb. 

Each of these apps comes with special features to serve different client interests. For example, sites like Yeogi-eottae accept local payments only, while Airbnb and Booking.com accept global payments. Therefore, choose a service that will appeal to your preferences.  

Connect to culture without tech hassles

South Korean culture is rich with unique festivals, music, and culinary delights. For instance, you can catch the Seollal (Lunar New Year ) celebrations, which are marked by traditional games and local culineries such as rice cup cake soup. 

Other festivals include Chuseok, Busan Sea festival, Seoul Drum festival, and Buddha’s Birthday, just to mention a few. If you want to connect with the locals on such occasions, you might need to research what to wear and how you are expected to conduct yourself during the events.

You also need to capture such moments or share them with family and friends. A stable internet connection makes your work easy, as you can discover local groups and fellow travelers who want to attend such events. 

Use the internet to search for markets and eateries near you where you can enjoy local foods on a budget, such as Bibimbap, fried chicken, and Tteokbokki.  These delicacies are served at local restaurants and street food stands.