Kimchi Data eSIM FAQ — Korea
Answer-first FAQ for the Kimchi Mobile Data eSIM in Korea, built from a year of real customer questions. A data eSIM is data-only and never includes a Korean phone number. This is general information; for anything specific to your order, the fastest route is KIMO, the chat assistant in the bottom-right corner, or email [email protected]. See also our KT Postpaid FAQ, the guides, and the general FAQ.
What you get
Does the Data eSIM come with a Korean phone number?
No. The Data eSIM is data-only and never includes a Korean (010) phone number. You get mobile data the moment you land and power on, but it cannot be used for calls, SMS, or any verification that needs a local number. A real Korean number requires your physical Alien Registration Card (ARC) plus a long-stay visa, after you convert to a KT postpaid plan — see our KT Postpaid FAQ.
Can a tourist or short-term visitor buy the Data eSIM?
Yes — anyone can buy it. Tourists, visa-waiver visitors, and any visa type are all fine, because it is data-only and needs no ARC and no passport copy. Short-term and tourist visitors cannot get a Korean number anyway, so the Data eSIM is the right product for them. Pick a size by trip length: 5GB, 10GB, or 20GB.
Issuance, QR code and activation
How do I receive my eSIM, and when does the QR code arrive?
After your order is processed, Kimchi issues your eSIM and emails you the QR code with activation instructions. If you have not received it, check your spam or junk folder first, then contact [email protected] with the email used at checkout (and your order number if you have it) so the team can confirm the status and re-send it.
Do I scan the QR code now, or wait until I am in Korea?
You can add the eSIM to your phone before you fly, and it is recommended so you are ready the moment you land. A data eSIM is designed to activate when you arrive in Korea and power on, so installing early does not waste your data.
How do I activate the Data eSIM?
Install the eSIM from the QR we email you (on iPhone: Settings, then Cellular, then Add eSIM), then turn on the new line when you arrive. A Kimchi data eSIM is designed to activate when you land and power on — there is no application form and no passport copy for a data-only eSIM.
Data isn’t working
I installed the eSIM but data isn’t working. How do I fix it?
Work through these in order. First, confirm your phone is unlocked, because an eSIM from another network only works on an unlocked phone. Second, set the Korea data eSIM (not your home line) as the line for Cellular Data, with Mobile Data ON, Data Roaming ON, Wi-Fi OFF, then restart once. Third, if you have two eSIMs active, temporarily turn off your home line so the Korea eSIM is used. Fourth, if you were given an APN, enter the current one from support under the new eSIM line. Still stuck? Email [email protected] with your device model and a screenshot of your Cellular settings.
How do I find the Korean phone number on my Data eSIM?
There isn’t one — the Data eSIM has no Korean number. If you need a number, you need a KT postpaid line after your physical ARC arrives.
Top-up, recharge and refunds
Can I top up or recharge after I run out?
Yes. When your data is used up you can buy more on the website, and a new eSIM QR is issued for the recharge. A recharge can sometimes ask you to re-verify your identity — for an MVNO prepaid line, when your ARC is renewed each year, you may be asked to resubmit clear front and back photos of your ARC, and the recharge resumes after the update.
My recharge failed and it is asking for a Residence Card photo. What do I do?
This is the yearly ID re-verification step. When your Alien Registration Card (ARC) is renewed, your prepaid line may need re-verification before a recharge goes through. Reply with clear front and back photos of your current ARC and the team completes the recharge. If you did not expect this, contact [email protected] first to confirm before sending anything.
Can I cancel my Data eSIM and get a refund?
A data eSIM is non-refundable once it has been activated. If the eSIM was not activated, it can be refunded, but a minimum US$2 processing fee applies, and a refund can take up to 14 days. To start, email [email protected] with your order number or the email used at checkout, and the team will verify whether the eSIM was activated.
Payment
How do I pay? Do you take credit cards?
Kimchi Mobile accepts payment via PayPal. We do not run a separate card gateway of our own, but you can still pay by credit card, debit card, or bank account through PayPal — either by linking one to a PayPal account, or, where PayPal’s guest “Pay with Debit or Credit Card” option appears, without a PayPal account. That guest option is not shown on every checkout (PayPal decides based on factors like location and history), so it is not guaranteed; paying through a PayPal account always works. If you cannot complete payment, contact [email protected].
Still need help?
Where can I get more help?
Ask KIMO in the chat, or email [email protected] with your order number or the email used at checkout. For the difference between a data eSIM and a real Korean number, see our KT Postpaid FAQ and the Korea SIM card guide.