High speed internet has spread rapidly in Korea, one of the world`s most internet savvy countries.
High speed internet services are available in many homes. There are three major companies offering high speed internet services: KT Megapass, LG Powercom and Hana Fos. If you call the numbers for registration consultation or register for internet services after signing up for membership online, an installation technician will visit you to install internet services.
To use an internet service, you need wired equipment for wired internet service and wireless equipment for wireless internet service. Initial cost for installment is 30,000 won and monthly service charges range from 25,500 to 30,000 won (VAT excluded). However, service charges vary depending on internet service providers and different products. In general, there are 1 to 3-year contract periods. Discount rates are applied, depending on the period of your contract.
If you cancel the internet service within the term of your contract or shorten the period of your contract, you should return the discounted amount you have received during the duration of your contract. You should also pay the rental fees for modem and AP.
Installation fees are exempted if
contract is set for longer than 1 year
Transfer to different
gu 10,000 won
Transfer within the same gu
10,000 won
30,000 won (for a new
10,000 won sign-up without contract)
Charges for IP use
Addition of moving IP
15,000 won per each IP (up to 3 IPs)
Addition of a terminal
5,000 won per each terminal (up to 3 terminals)
(Ex) LG Powercom (As of 2008, XPEED Prime)
(VAT excluded)
Term of Contract
No Contract
One-Year Contract
Two-Year Contract
Three-Year Contract
Service charge
29,500 won
28,025 won
26,550 won
25,000 won
Modem rental fees
7,000 won/mo
4,500won/mo
4,000won/mo
3,000won/mo
AP rental fees
10,000 won/mo
7,000 won/mo
6,000 won/mo
5,000 won/mo
Installation
fees
New member
30,000 won
Transfer to different building
20,000 won
Transfer within the same building
10,000 won
Charges for
IP use
12,000 won/mo (Up to 3 terminals)
Internet café (PC bang)
Throughout Seoul, there are many places where you can use the internet, thus it is easy to find one in your neighborhood. These places are called PC bang, a Korean word for internet cafe and include thewords such as `cyber,` `net,` and internet plaza in their names. When you need to use the internet to check your e-mail, surf the web, or work on or print documents, go to a PC bang in your neighborhood. You can use the internet at a reasonable price. Hourly rates are between 1,000 and 1,500won. If you havemembership or go to the PCbang during nighttime hours, it is cheaper to use the internet.
Cable TV
Cable TV is a means of communication that combines broadcasting and telecommunication and provides multi-channels relating to a variety of specialized fields of broadcasting. Depending on their needs, viewers can choose from many specialized channels, including movies, dramas, sports/games, news/information, entertainment, regional access/TV guide, home shopping, children, music, hobby/living, culture/documentary, women/family, education /public access and religion. In addition, viewers can watch not only territorial broadcasting, but also overseas satellite TV programs from America, Japan, China and Europe. Recently, cable TV providers offer additional services including high speed internet service. A foreigner who wants to sign up for cable TV service needs to provide his or her name, contact information, address, Alien Registration Card, and a bank account for automatic money transfer. (For money transfer by giro, a copy of one`s passport will be required.) Required documents may be different for each cable service company, so you should make inquiries at your local cable TV provider. You can contact the Korean Cable TV Association for phone numbers of each local cable service provider.
http://www.kcta.or.kr [K, E]
Tel. 080-398-3355
Rates are different depending on services and you should pay for installation and equipment additionally.
Satellite broadcasting refers to broadcasting TV programs and PCM programs using a BS (broadcasting satellite), which is located about 35,784km above the earth. Through satellite broadcasting, viewers can watch channels from all over the world, which are not available on territorial broadcasting. You can also videotape your favorite programs andwatch them later.
SkyLife is a representative satellite TV provider in Korea. It is a multi-channel digital satellite broadcast station that provides high definition screens and high quality sound based on digital technology, hundreds of channels, simultaneous broadcasting of the same quality programs throughout the nation, data broadcasting services through interactive communication and specialized audio channel services. For instance, interactive TV service indicates that viewers choose information through TV and remote controls. There are two kinds of interactive TV services: independent interactive services and connected interactive services. Independent interactive services are similar to web services and viewers choose information they want from the TV. Through connected interactive services, viewers can watch TV and see the synopsis of dramas or buy clothes of main characters in the dramas.
A foreigner can sign up for SkyLife services by calling the Skylife`s customer service center (Tel.1588-3002) or through registration consultation. Or if you leave a message via the following e-mail address (english@skylife.co.kr), the company will contact you. To watch satellite programs, you need an antenna, receiver, Smart Card and remote controls. The Skylife`s staff will install this equipment. Monthly rates vary depending on satellite TV providers, products and the term of your contract. In addition to the monthly rates, you need to pay for the receiver, antenna and installation.
It is not recommended that foreigners sign up for a three-year contract as it is unlikely they will stay in Korea for a long time. SkyFamily package is recommended for foreigners because customers using the SkyFamily service can cancel it any time and do not need to pay any fees on cancellations. In addition, it is advisable not to add Sky Touch service because all information of the service is available only in Korean.
There are a great number of newspapers and magazines in Korea, including dailies, weeklies and monthlies. You can get newspapers or magazines through a one-year subscription but you can also buy them at newsstands around bus stops or subway stations and 24-hour convenience stores and bookstores. In addition, many media companies offer updated news and information online. You should pay for hard copies of newspapers and magazines, but you can get information online free of charge. English-language newspapers in Korea include the Joongang Daily, Korea Times and Korea Herald. Seoul is a monthly magazine on Korean culture and tourism.
Korea`s three major broadcast stations include KBS, MBC and SBS. Each broadcast station has broadened the scope of broadcasting through territorial broadcasting, radio programming, cable, satellite programming, the internet and DMB. In particular, the development of internet homepages has enabled viewers to watch programs again. In addition, more programs have included viewers` opinions or information in the programs.
Arirang TV is an English-language broadcast station that provides news and information on Korea. All TV and radio programs of the broadcast station are available in English. AFN (1530 AM, 102.7 FM) is a 24-hour Englishlanguage radio station.