IoT connectivity in South Korea
Updated
In South Korea, permanent roaming of foreign IoT SIMs is allowed with conditions. Of the 3 mobile operators we track there, 3 have switched off 2G and 1 3G, as of 26 October 2026. Sources are listed below each table.
Permanent roaming
Allowed with conditions. Regulatory analysts report that South Korea permits roaming-based IoT models under certain conditions, including some form of authorisation depending on the service type.
Sources: cullen-international.com, cullen-international.com, thingsdata.com. Confidence: medium.
2G and 3G shutdowns by operator
| Operator | Network | Status | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KT | 2G | Switched off | March 2012 | ddaily.co.kr, koreaherald.com 2G (CDMA) service ended March 2012, first of the three Korean operators. |
| KT | 3G | No plan announced | none | news.bizwatch.co.kr, ddaily.co.kr WCDMA (2.1 GHz) still running. As of Aug 2026 KT says it is preparing to stop new 3G sign-ups but has given no date; in Apr 2025 MSIT said no operator had applied to end 3G. Kore lists no specific planning; emnify lists a planned closure without date. |
| LG Uplus | 2G | Switched off | June 2021 | ddaily.co.kr, koreaherald.com 2G (CDMA) ended June 2021, the last 2G network in Korea; plan announced Jan 2021 and approved by MSIT for late June. |
| LG Uplus | 3G | Switched off | June 2021 | ddaily.co.kr LG Uplus never deployed WCDMA; its 3G-class data service was CDMA2000 EV-DO on the CDMA network closed with 2G in June 2021. Inferred: Digital Daily (2025) lists only SKT and KT as 3G operators; no explicit EV-DO shutdown source found. Conflict: Kore lists 31 Dec 2017 for LG Uplus 3G; emnify shows no service. |
| SK Telecom | 2G | Switched off | July 2020 | ddaily.co.kr, koreaherald.com 2G (CDMA) service ended July 2020. |
| SK Telecom | 3G | Planned | 2027 | news.bizwatch.co.kr, newstomato.com WCDMA (2.1 GHz). New 3G sign-ups stopped 20 Aug 2026; SKT targets ending 3G by end of next year (i.e. end-2027), gradually and subject to MSIT approval it has yet to request. Not a final date. emnify also lists 31 Dec 2027. |
What it means for IoT devices in South Korea
- Do not deploy 2G-only devices: every operator with a known status has switched 2G off.
- 3G is already gone on 1 network: devices that fall back to 3G will lose service there.
- Private delivery works the same from South Korea: device data reaches your cloud over private links. See private delivery.
Other countries in Asia-Pacific
Full tables: permanent roaming rules by country and 2G and 3G shutdown dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is permanent roaming allowed for IoT SIMs in South Korea?
Regulatory analysts report that South Korea permits roaming-based IoT models under certain conditions, including some form of authorisation depending on the service type.
When is 2G switched off in South Korea?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. KT: switched off (2012-03); LG Uplus: switched off (2021-06); SK Telecom: switched off (2020-07).
When is 3G switched off in South Korea?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. KT: no shutdown plan announced; LG Uplus: switched off (2021-06); SK Telecom: planned for 2027.