Getting a phone line

How to get a fixed line at home

Getting a phone line

In South Korea, using a fixed landline is considered almost primitive as a majority of the population uses mobile phones to make voice calls. However, if you plan on making a lot of international calls or long phone calls from Korea, a landline is recommended.

As a foreigner, it may be easier for you to make and receive calls on a fixed line - and cheaper, too!

Main providers

Many people choose either Hanaro Telecom or Korea Telecom (KT) as their service provider. They are the two leading telecommunications service providers in Korea. In terms of phones, Hanaro is relatively cheaper than KT and the more popular choice for fixed-lines.

Fees

Hanaro’s basic local fixed-line service is called Hanafone and can be combined with any other Hanaro Telecom service (mobile telephone and internet). Upon signing up for a basic fixed-line, Hanafone charges a 30,000 won ($32 USD as of April 2007) subscription fee for accommodation and equipment rental. When combined with other services such as mobile phone or internet, the subscription fee is waved. There is a flat monthly rate of 4,500 won ($4.8 USD) for use of the phone which is added to your call charges every month.

Rates are as follows:

Local Calls

39 won ($0.04 USD) per 3 minutes during standard hours
39 won ($0.04 USD) per 4 minutes and 18 seconds during night hours

Calls to mobile phones

88.98 won ($0.096 USD) per minute during standard hours
84 won ($0.09 USD) per minute during night hours (9pm-12am)
79.2 won ($0.085) per minute after midnight hours

Korea Telecom offers similar services and rates but the fees for their basic fixed-line differ. KT requires a higher subscription fee of 60,000 won ($64.5 USD) and a usage charge of 5,200 won ($5.6 USD) per month.

Both companies offer a wide variety of different products and services other than the basic fixed-line to fit your needs. To find out more details on features and prices, visit their websites:

Hanaro Telecom - www.hanaro.com/eng/iproduct/home.asp 

Korea Telecom – www.kt.co.kr/eng/main.jsp 

Getting a line installed

To get signed up, you can call, go online, or visit an office in person to get further information on subscribing to a specific service. There are representatives who speak foreign languages in order to assist you. Have an idea of what you want and prepare some documents before speaking to a representative. If you’re not a Korean citizen, when signing up, you will need your:

  • Alien registration card and
  • Passport
  • Social Security Card/Number

Before they can have installed anything, you must provide the necessary information and pay a deposit or installation fee. In most cases, you should have your fixed-line installed within 24 hours.

Dialling Codes

Country code of South Korea: 82

City codes:

Busan - 051

Chungcheong nam-do - 041

Chungchong buk-do - 043

Daegu - 053

Daejeon - 042

Gangwon-do - 033

Gyeonggi-do - 031

Gyeongsanbuk-do - 054

Gyeongsangnam-do - 055

Gwangju - 062

Incheon - 032

Jeju - 064

Jeollabuk-do - 063

Jeollanam-do - 061

Seoul - 02

Ulsan - 052

Mobile prefixes

When calling anyone from your mobile phone, you must enter their regional code whether you are in the same one or not.

Other useful numbers

Directory assistance: 114

English service directory assistance: 080-211-0114 (toll free)

Fire and emergency: 119

Crime reporting: 112

Note: Exchange rates, numbers and information were collected in April/May 2007 and are subject to change.

Further reading

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