Korea Internet and Telecom Signup Bonuses (인터넷 가입 사은품): How Foreign Residents Get the Full Cash Bonus

Switch your internet or TV provider in Korea and the carrier owes you a cash bonus. The bonus can reach roughly ₩470K on a 3-year bundle. The catch: it never appears on the carrier's own website. You access it through comparison brokers, and the whole process happens in Korean. This guide explains the system and walks you through it step by step.

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Why the bonus exists: the 경품고시제 cap

Korean carriers compete aggressively for new subscribers. Left unchecked, that competition would push cash bonuses to unsustainable levels. The Korea Communications Commission (방송통신위원회, KCC) solved this with a regulation called 경품고시제, which sets a legal maximum on the cash bonus a carrier or reseller can pay for each new signup.

The result is a fixed legal ceiling. Every broker negotiates up to that ceiling. The ceiling is the same regardless of which broker you use. If a broker quotes you above roughly ₩470K on a 3-year internet plus TV bundle, something is wrong with that deal.

The eight carriers subject to 경품고시제 bonus rules are: SKT, KT, LG U+, SK Broadband, KT SkyLife, LG Hellovision, and their budget internet partners (as of 2026, verify at kcc.go.kr).

Why don't carriers advertise the bonus on their own pages? Because the main carrier site is designed for direct walk-in customers, not for broker-negotiated deals. The bonus tier you get through a broker is higher than what a direct sign-up earns. Carriers allow this because broker-acquired customers offset acquisition costs through longer contracts.

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The contract math: how bonus size scales with commitment

The cash bonus scales with contract length and bundle size. These are approximate figures as of 2026. Verify current maximums at ajd.co.kr before signing.

Bundle discounts are separate from the cash bonus

Adding a mobile plan to an internet and TV contract unlocks a 결합할인 (bundle discount) of 10-30% off the combined monthly rate. This discount is applied on top of the signup cash bonus, not instead of it. The two benefits stack.

If you already have a Korean mobile plan with SKT, KT, or LG U+, ask the broker to bundle it with the new internet and TV signup to apply the 결합할인.

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How to actually claim the bonus: step by step

Step 1: Check what is physically available at your address

Not all carriers serve all addresses. Older buildings may only support one or two providers. Before comparing bonuses, confirm which carriers are wired to your building. Ask your landlord or building manager, or call carrier installation lines directly. Rural addresses have significantly fewer options than Seoul apartments.

Step 2: Use a comparison broker

Go to a comparison platform rather than the carrier's own website. Ajeongdang (아정당) at ajd.co.kr is one well-known broker. Others exist. These platforms are Korean-language only. If your Korean is limited, bring a Korean-speaking friend, colleague, or neighbor to walk through the quote process with you.

On the comparison site, look for 3-year bundle quotes combining internet and TV. The cash bonus amount will be listed explicitly.

Step 3: Confirm your ARC covers the contract term

Major carriers typically require your ARC's remaining validity to cover the full contract period. On a 3-year contract, your ARC should have at least 3 years remaining, or you must be able to demonstrate visa renewal. If you have recently renewed your visa and have a fresh ARC with several years of validity, you are in the strongest position.

If your ARC has under 12 months remaining, most major carriers will reject the application. The fallback is a budget MVNO (알뜰폰), which offers lower monthly rates and accepts shorter visa windows, but does not offer the same cash bonuses. See the MVNOs section below.

Step 4: Sign up through the broker, not directly with the carrier

This step is critical. The broker negotiates the bonus into the deal as part of the contract. Signing directly with the carrier, bypassing the broker, means you receive no bonus or a much smaller one.

The contract itself is with the carrier. The broker is a registered reseller. Your ARC goes on the contract as the account holder (명의). The broker arranges the installation appointment.

Step 5: Installation day

The technician visits your home to connect the service. Have your ARC ready for identity verification. The cash bonus is paid either:

• Same-day at installation, before 4pm, as a cash payment or bank transfer, or
• As a credit against your first bill.

Confirm which payment method applies before installation day. If a broker tells you the bonus will be paid in monthly instalments over six or twelve months, this is a red flag. Walk away.

Step 6: What to verify on the day

Check three things on installation day:

1. The service is live and working before the technician leaves.
2. The bonus has been paid or the first-bill credit is confirmed in writing.
3. You have a copy of the contract showing the carrier's name, your ARC number as account holder, the monthly rate, the contract end date, and the 위약금 (early termination penalty) schedule.

Keep the contract. You will need it if you ever need to dispute a penalty calculation or confirm your account details.

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What changed when 단통법 was repealed (July 2025)

For roughly 10 years, the mobile phone distribution improvement act (단말기 유통구조 개선법, commonly abbreviated 단통법) capped handset subsidies at ₩500K. That cap applied to any subsidy a carrier paid toward the cost of a new phone bundled with a plan.

단통법 was repealed on 22 July 2025.

Post-repeal, carriers can offer any subsidy amount they choose on new devices. The average new-phone subsidy in the post-repeal market is around ₩750K. Some flagship devices at major carriers have seen subsidies well above that.

What this means in practice:

If you are signing a new mobile plan and buying a phone at the same time, expect the device to be significantly cheaper than it would have been before July 2025. Compare the subsidized device price across SKT, KT, and LG U+ before committing. Post-repeal, the subsidies vary substantially by carrier and device model, so comparison shopping is worth the effort.

What 단통법 repeal did not change:

The 경품고시제 cap on internet and TV cash bonuses is a separate KCC regulation. It was not affected by 단통법 repeal. The roughly ₩470K maximum on a 3-year internet plus TV bundle is still in force.

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Early termination: when switching mid-contract makes sense

Switching providers before your current contract ends triggers a 위약금 (early termination penalty). Under the penalty structure introduced in late 2025, the penalty follows this general curve:

• Months 1-6: high penalty, close to the full subsidy value
• Months 7-18: penalty peaks, highest total amount
• Months 18-36: penalty decreases steadily
• Month 36 (contract end): penalty reaches ₩0

After month 18, the new switch bonus from a competing carrier often clears the residual penalty. The calculation to run is:

New switch bonus minus residual 위약금 equals net gain or loss.

If the result is positive, switching now makes financial sense. If you are between months 6 and 18, the penalty is at its peak and switching is unlikely to be worthwhile.

To get the exact residual penalty, call your carrier's customer service line and ask for the 위약금 amount if you terminate today. Get this in writing or via the carrier app before making a decision.

One additional consideration for departing residents: some carriers offer a visa cancellation exception that reduces or waives the 위약금 on proof of departure (visa cancellation record or flight booking). Confirm this policy directly with your carrier before your departure date.

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How to spot a scam broker

Most comparison brokers operate legitimately under KCC rules. A small number do not. These are the red flags:

Bonus above the legal cap. If a broker quotes more than roughly ₩470K cash for a 3-year internet plus TV deal, the excess is either fabricated (you will never see it) or structured as a future payment that quietly disappears. The 경품고시제 cap is public information. A broker willing to lie about it will lie about other things.

Bonus paid over multiple months or years. Legitimate bonuses are paid same-day at installation or as a first-bill credit. Any broker who says the ₩470K will be paid in ₩40K monthly instalments over 12 months is giving you a different deal entirely, and the instalments may not all arrive.

Pressure to sign before seeing the contract. You are entitled to read the full contract, including the monthly rate, the contract term, and the 위약금 schedule, before signing anything. Walk away from anyone who rushes you past this step.

Verbal promises not in writing. The bonus amount, payment method, and payment timing must appear in the written agreement. If it is only promised verbally, it has no legal standing.

Carrier verification: After signing, you can call the carrier directly (not the broker) and verify the contract terms using your ARC number. Do this within 24 hours of signing if anything felt off.

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MVNOs (알뜰폰): when the major carriers say no

Budget mobile carriers (알뜰폰) resell SKT, KT, and LG U+ network capacity at lower prices. They are the practical fallback when:

• Your ARC has limited remaining validity (under 12 months)
• You want a mobile-only plan without a long commitment
• The major carriers have declined your application

MVNOs offer plans from roughly ₩9,900-₩13,000 per month on the same network infrastructure as the major carriers. Coverage and call quality are identical.

The trade-off: MVNOs typically do not offer cash signup bonuses equivalent to the major carrier 경품고시제 deals. The value proposition is lower monthly cost, not a cash upfront.

For internet and TV bundle bonuses, MVNOs are not in scope. The 인터넷 가입 사은품 bonus structure applies specifically to the major carrier groups operating fixed-line networks: SKT, KT, LG U+, SK Broadband, KT SkyLife, and LG Hellovision.

For mobile-only plans, MVNOs are often the right call even if you qualify for a major carrier, because the monthly savings over 24-36 months often exceed any mobile-only signup bonus.

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Common traps

Taking the first quote without comparing. Bonus amounts can differ between brokers even within the 경품고시제 ceiling, because brokers have flexibility on how they structure the deal (monthly rate, included channels, device bundle). Get at least two quotes.

Assuming the carrier's main site shows the deal. It does not. Carriers deliberately keep broker-tier bonuses off their main pages. Direct sign-up at a carrier store gets you the standard rate, not the maximum bonus.

Signing a 3-year contract without confirming your ARC covers the term. If your visa expires 18 months into a 3-year contract, you face a 위약금 at exit. Either renew your visa before signing, or choose a shorter contract.

Not verifying physical coverage at your address before signing. Some buildings are only wired for one carrier. If you sign with a carrier that cannot serve your address, you will face installation failure and a contract dispute.

Ignoring the bundle discount. If you already have a mobile plan with SKT, KT, or LG U+, bundling it with your new internet and TV contract adds a 10-30% discount on the combined monthly bill. Ask the broker to apply 결합할인 during sign-up.

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What to do next

If you are about to move in or your current contract is approaching renewal, here is the practical sequence:

1. Confirm which carriers physically serve your address. Ask your landlord or building manager.
2. Check your ARC expiry date. If it covers a 3-year contract, you qualify for the maximum bonus from major carriers.
3. Go to a comparison platform (Ajeongdang at ajd.co.kr, or similar). The site is Korean-language. Bring a Korean-speaking contact if needed.
4. Get a 3-year internet plus TV bundle quote. Confirm the exact cash bonus amount and payment method in writing.
5. If your ARC does not cover a 3-year term, price an MVNO (알뜰폰) instead for mobile, and a shorter internet contract.
6. On installation day, verify the service is live before the technician leaves and confirm the bonus has been paid or credited.

For internet setup basics (installation timeline, document requirements, short-term alternatives), see the Korea Utilities Setup Guide. For choosing a mobile plan, see the Korea SIM Card Guide.

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FAQ

Can I get an internet signup bonus as a foreign resident in Korea? Yes, if you have an Alien Registration Card (ARC). You sign the contract in your own name using your ARC. Major carriers (SKT, KT, LG U+, SK Broadband, KT SkyLife, LG Hellovision) typically require your ARC's remaining validity to cover the full contract term. On a 3-year contract, that means your ARC must be valid for at least 3 years, or you must be able to renew. If your ARC has under 12 months remaining, budget MVNOs (알뜰폰) are the fallback, though their bonuses are smaller or nonexistent.

Where do I find these bonuses? They are not on the carrier's website. Correct. Korean carriers do not advertise the maximum bonus on their own pages. The bonuses are available through comparison brokers and resellers. Ajeongdang (아정당) at ajd.co.kr is one well-known broker. These sites are Korean-language only. If your Korean is limited, bring a Korean-speaking friend or colleague to navigate the quote process.

How much can I realistically expect? On a 3-year (36-month) internet plus TV bundle, the maximum is roughly ₩470K cash (as of 2026, verify at ajd.co.kr). On a 2-year contract, the bonus drops significantly. On a 1-year contract, most brokers offer little or nothing. Bundle discounts (결합할인) of 10-30% off monthly rates stack on top of the cash bonus when you combine internet, TV, and mobile.

What changed when 단통법 was repealed in July 2025? 단통법 capped phone subsidies at ₩500K from 2014 until repeal on 22 July 2025. Post-repeal, carriers can subsidize handsets at any amount. The average new-phone subsidy is now around ₩750K. The 경품고시제 cap on internet and TV cash bonuses was not affected by the repeal, it is a separate KCC regulation that remains in force.

When is the best time to switch? Two moments favor switching. First, on arrival or before signing a first contract: no penalty applies, and the full 3-year bonus is available. Second, after month 18 of an existing contract: the residual 위약금 is often smaller than the new signup bonus. Calculate new bonus minus residual penalty. If positive, switching now is profitable. Between months 6 and 18, the penalty is at its peak, and switching rarely makes financial sense.

Is it safe to use a broker instead of the carrier directly? Legitimate brokers are registered KCC resellers. The test: a legitimate broker pays the cash bonus same-day at installation or as a first-bill credit. Walk away if the broker offers a bonus above roughly ₩470K, wants to pay in monthly instalments, or asks you to sign without seeing the contract terms in full. After signing, call the carrier directly to verify the contract terms using your ARC number.

What if I need to cancel early? Early termination triggers a 위약금. The penalty peaks around month 18 and drops to ₩0 at the contract end date. Call your carrier to get the exact current penalty amount before deciding to cancel. Some carriers offer a visa cancellation exception that reduces the penalty on proof of departure. Confirm this policy at your specific carrier.

Do MVNOs offer signup bonuses? MVNOs (알뜰폰) typically do not offer cash signup bonuses equivalent to major carrier 경품고시제 deals. Their advantage is lower monthly rates and shorter contract flexibility. The internet and TV bundle bonus structure applies to the major fixed-line carrier groups only, not to MVNOs.

@misc{seoulstart-korea-telecom-signup-bonus-guide,
  author = {{Seoulstart Editorial Team}},
  title = {{Korea Internet and Telecom Signup Bonuses (인터넷 가입 사은품): How Foreign Residents Get the Full Cash Bonus (2026)}},
  year = {2026},
  publisher = {Seoulstart},
  url = {https://seoulstart.com/guides/korea-telecom-signup-bonus-guide},
  note = {Last updated May 27, 2026}
}