Mobile Phone Use and Communication in Korea
Staying connected while stationed in the Republic of Korea is essential for both personal and professional reasons. While many U.S. cellular carriers offer international plans, these options are often cost-prohibitive or limited in functionality during an extended assignment in Korea. Most service members and families find it more practical to use a local Korean mobile carrier during their stay.
Modern smartphones that are unlocked and compatible with Korean networks can often be used with a local SIM card. For convenience and support, personnel are encouraged to acquire Korean SIM cards through on-installation services such as the AAFES mobile phone service desks or USO cellular kiosks, available at many major bases.
Requirements for Using Your Phone in Korea
Before bringing your device overseas, ensure it meets the following conditions:
Unlocked status: Contact your U.S. carrier to verify your phone is unlocked and compatible with international SIM cards. Phones purchased through contract plans may be locked by default.
SIM card slot: Some devices—particularly those sold for CDMA networks in the U.S. and Canada—do not have SIM card slots. Without one, they cannot connect to Korean networks.
LTE band compatibility: For optimal performance, phones should support LTE Bands 3, 8, or 26 used in Korea. If not, your phone may only operate at slower 3G speeds.
WCDMA 2100 MHz support: This frequency is essential for 3G access and is widely used by Korean carriers.
Communication Tools While Overseas
Although acquiring a local Korean mobile number is recommended for daily communication, many service members and families also use third-party applications for international messaging and calls. The following apps are commonly used for staying in touch with loved ones back home:
KakaoTalk – Widely used in Korea for messaging, voice, and video calls
WhatsApp – Global messaging, calling, and video functionality
Skype – Voice and video chat, and international calling
Facebook Messenger – Messaging and video calls
Facetime – Video calls for Apple users
Viber – Messaging and calls
Voxer – Walkie-talkie style messaging
These apps are often free to use over Wi-Fi or mobile data. New tools continue to emerge, so check with your sponsor or unit for recommendations based on the most current and reliable communication methods.
Dialing Instructions: Calling To and From Korea
Calling a Korean number from the U.S.:
To call a Korean number from the U.S., dial:
011 (international access code) + 82 (Korea country code) + local number (without the initial “0”)
Example: To call a number with the prefix 010-1234-5678, dial 011-82-10-1234-5678.
Calling DSN numbers from the U.S.:
011-82-31-619-XXXX (for DSN prefix 754)
011-82-31-690-XXXX (for DSN prefix 753)
USFK general information: 011-82-2-7913-1110 or 1113
Calling a commercial number from a DSN line:
Dial 99 first, followed by the full number.
Calling DSN numbers within Korea (from a civilian phone):
DSN 753 = 0503-353-XXXX
DSN 754 = 0503-354-XXXX
DSN 755 = 0503-355-XXXX
DSN 756 = 0503-356-XXXX
Calling Osan Air Base (Air Force installation):
Dial 0505-XXX-XXXX
Osan AB Operator: 0505-784-1110
Understanding Korean Phone Numbers
Typical Korean phone numbers include a city or service provider code followed by an 8-digit number. When dialing from outside Korea:
Examples of Korean area codes:
More dialing information and updated codes can be found by searching “South Korea telephone country codes.”