SK Telecom launches prepaid service for foreign residents

Posted on : 2020-08-03 17:30 KST Modified on : 2020-08-03 17:30 KST
Users can utilize service after minimum deposit and cancel at any time
An ad for SK Telecom’s Miri service for foreigners. (Provided by SK Telecom)
An ad for SK Telecom’s Miri service for foreigners. (Provided by SK Telecom)

On Aug. 2, SK Telecom (SKT) launched Miri, a telecommunications service catering to foreigners who are accustomed to prepaid mobile services.

With this service, users can make a deposit ranging from 10,000 won (US$8.37) to 5 million won (US$4,187), which can then cover phone bills, phone payments on an installment plan, and service fees, as well as micropayments. Users can draw upon their deposit as long as it lasts and cancel at any time, at which point they are reimbursed for the balance.

“This is different from previous prepaid services because it covers not only the monthly phone bill but also a variety of mobile benefits,” an SKT spokesperson explained.

According to figures provided by the Ministry of Justice’s immigration service, there are currently around 2.2 million foreign nationals residing in Korea on either a short-term or long-term basis. SKT explained that it had developed the service because most foreign residents other than Americans are used to paying mobile bills in advance. And in a survey carried out by the telecom, around half of foreign respondents said they don’t enjoy the same telecom benefits as Koreans.

“Foreigners are in the country for various periods and purposes, including employment permits (E9), visiting employment (H2), study abroad (D2 and D4); some people are on short-term visas, and some arrive without a visa. It’s not easy for people in such situations to access the same telecommunications services as Koreans,” the company added.

Service gives users all the benefits that were unavailable under previous prepaid plans

Using Miri should make it easier for foreigners to pay their phone bill and enable payments on shopping and food delivery apps. Currently, a large number of foreign residents have been obliged to visit telecom branches to pay their bill in cash every month, which people often forget to do. That’s an inconvenience that should be reduced by the automatic deduction of payments from deposits made to Miri.

Users who deposit at least 100,000 won will also be given a credit limit of up to 600,000 won (US$503) on mobile transactions. That will make it possible to make orders on shopping or food delivery apps.

“This benefit takes into account the fact that foreigners frequently use their mobile phone as an alternative payment method for online purchases because of the difficulty of getting domestic credit cards and because credit cards often record a different name from other services,” SKT explained.

The service gives access to all mobile benefits – including T membership, Baro roaming, and two types of discounts on mobile device purchases – that were previously only available under the deferred payment system. The same goes for mobile plans that give access to the 5G network.

“Korea’s rapid transformation into a multicultural society also demands the evolution of mobile services. We will continue to expand 5G service benefits for foreign residents,” said Han Myeong-jeon, SKT’s vice president of MNO marketing strategy.

SKT will be giving 5,000 won (US$4.19) gift certificates for the CU chain of convenience stores to the first 2,000 foreign users who make a one-time deposit of at least 100,000 won (US$84) by Aug. 31. T-Day membership benefits will also be available for the GongCha cafe chain and the Crystal Jade restaurant chain, both of which are popular with foreign residents.

By Choi Min-young, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]

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