KTNFC included
How to activate a KT prepaid phone online
For a KT prepaid phone, buy a Baro SIM (8,800 KRW) at a convenience store, enter the SIM number on the application screen, and top up on the day of activation to start using it right away. You activate in your own name after identity verification with no credit check, and it usually takes around 10 minutes.
- SIM
- Baro SIM 8,800 KRW
- Plans
- From 12,100 KRW/mo
- New sign-up
- Every day 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
- Number porting (MNP)
- Mon to Sat 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
KT prepaid phone activation steps, follow along with screens
Tap the red marks in order. Swipe to the right.
Get a Baro SIM
Buy the mint-colored Baro SIM for 8,800 KRW at CU, GS25, Emart24, or 7-Eleven.
Choose a network
On the application screen, tap Activate KT (KT 개통하기), marked in red.
Choose a sign-up type
Tap new sign-up for a new number, or number porting to move your current number.
Face verification
Match your face and ID at the address shown. If you fail 3 times, you move on to the next step.
Simple authentication
Verify your identity with one of KakaoTalk, Toss Bank, PASS, KB Kookmin Bank, or Shinhan Bank.
Customer type, prepaid, SIM owned
Tap Korean citizen aged 19 or older, prepaid, and SIM owned, in that order.
Enter the SIM number
Choose Regular SIM (일반유심) and enter the 19 digits starting with 8982 in one field.
Choose a plan
Tap the KT Prepaid (KT선불) tab and find the name of the plan you chose.
Enter your details and activate
Check the details and tap Activate (개통하기). For number porting, a pre-consent step comes before this.
Sign-up complete and top-up
On the day of activation, top up one month of the plan you chose, then turn your phone off and on 2 to 3 times.
Answer the confirmation call
Within 3 days, you get one call from 1899-7700 on the number you verified and one on the number you activated.
What should you check before buying a KT prepaid SIM?
A Baro SIM may not be recognized on a phone with KT unpaid or overdue history, so check just three things before you buy a SIM.
Where can you buy a KT Baro SIM, and for how much?
The KT Baro SIM is a mint-colored SIM you can buy for 8,800 KRW at CU, GS25, Emart24, and 7-Eleven. It has NFC.
Stock may differ by store. Skylife SIMs cannot be used. For in-person activation, do not buy a SIM in advance. Compare all SIMs
How do you enter a KT SIM number?
Enter the KT SIM number as 19 digits, without the F, in one field. A Baro SIM number starts with 8982.
SIM number field (유심번호 칸)8982 0000 0000 0000 00019 digits without the F (example of the digit count)
Tap the question mark on the application screen to see where the SIM number is. For LG, enter the model name and serial number in two separate fields.
Which KT prepaid plan should you choose?
If you use data every day, start by comparing LTE 396 (39,600 KRW/mo), which gives 10.3GB and continues at 3Mbps after you use it all. Your first cost is the SIM price plus one month of the plan you chose.
| Plans | Data | Calls and texts | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|
| LTE Basic 1 | 300MB | 50 min of calls 30 texts | 12,100 KRW |
| 300MB Lite | 300MB 1Mbps after the allowance runs out | Calls included Texts included | 33,000 KRW |
| LTE 396 | 10.3GB 3Mbps after the allowance runs out | Calls included Texts included | 39,600 KRW |
| LTE 459 | 20.3GB 3Mbps after the allowance runs out | Calls included Texts included | 45,900 KRW |
| LTE 770 | 11GB + 2GB daily 3Mbps after the allowance runs out | Calls included Texts included | 77,000 KRW |
| LTE Video | 100GB 5Mbps after the allowance runs out | Calls included Texts included | 85,900 KRW |
When can you activate a KT prepaid phone?
Finish a new sign-up between 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. every day, and number porting between 10:00 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday.
| Category | Available hours | Days off |
|---|---|---|
| New sign-up | Every day 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. | Online works on Sundays and public holidays too |
| Number porting (MNP) | Finish by 7:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. | Not available on Sundays and public holidays |
To move the number you already use, check the number porting (MNP) conditions first.
What if you get stuck during KT activation?
Choose the screen where you are stuck and it takes you straight to the fix. If it is not solved, you can turn your choices into an inquiry message and send it on KakaoTalk.
- The SIM is not recognizedRestart the phone, check KT unpaid history
- The SIM number will not go in19 digits starting with 8982 in one field
- Face verification does not workAfter 3 failures, move on to the next step
- A subscription block is setUnlock it in M-Safer (엠세이퍼)
- Activation was rejectedCheck N-Telecom unpaid amounts and the 3 lines in 180 days
What do you do after activating a KT prepaid phone?
On the day of activation, top up one month of the plan you chose, and answer the two confirmation calls from 1899-7700 within 3 days.
- Top-upTop up through the virtual account sent in the activation text or the N-Telecom Membership app. After topping up, turn your phone off and on 2 to 3 times. How to top up
- Confirmation callOne call comes to the number you verified, and one to the number you activated. If you do not answer, the number may be terminated.
- ChargesKT prepaid charges are deducted daily. Top up before your balance runs short.
- International roamingYou can apply from day 15 after activation and use it for up to 3 months. You need to register a card in your own name.
KT prepaid phone activation FAQ
How do you activate a KT prepaid phone?
Buy a KT Baro SIM at a convenience store, enter the SIM number on the N-Telecom application screen, and finish face verification and simple authentication to activate. Top up on the day of activation and answer the confirmation call, and you are done. It usually takes about 10 minutes.
Does KT prepaid work only with a Baro SIM?
Yes. KT plans are activated only with a Baro SIM. Skylife SIMs cannot be used.
I inserted a Baro SIM but it is not recognized.
Turn the phone off and on. If it still does not work, that phone may still have KT unpaid or overdue history. If you keep using that phone, go with an LG SIM. If you use a different unlocked phone with no unpaid history, go ahead with KT.
Can you activate KT prepaid even if your phone was suspended for unpaid bills?
Yes. Even with unpaid bills at another carrier, prepaid is activated in your own name. Even on a suspended phone, you can use KakaoTalk and Toss verification over Wi-Fi. If you have unpaid bills with N-Telecom, pay them in full first.
Is there a credit check?
Prepaid activation has no credit check, but identity verification is still required. You activate in your own name after face verification and simple authentication.
Can you use international roaming with a KT prepaid phone?
Yes. You can apply from day 15 after activation and use it for up to 3 months. You register a card in your own name when you apply. Prepaid contract plans do not support roaming.
Can you change your plan later?
After 30 days from activation, you can change it once a month. It is best to choose a plan that fits your usage from the start.
When are KT charges deducted, and when is the allowance refilled?
Charges are deducted daily, and the allowance is refilled on the 1st of every month.
Does the hotspot still work after you use up your data?
Yes. With KT, you can still use hotspot and tethering at the set speed after the allowance runs out.
Can a KT prepaid phone be paused too?
Yes. Both a pause and a lost-phone suspension are available. You can do it twice a year, up to 90 days each time, and the base fee is still deducted during the suspension.
How do you pay for roaming?
It is not taken from your prepaid balance and is billed afterward instead. After you return, ask the customer center to cancel roaming so you go back to your original plan.
Can you move the number you use now?
You can if the number has been in use for 3 months or more and has no unpaid amounts or micropayment balance. Please check the number porting conditions.
Written by Chickphone (N-Telecom dealer) · Based on N-Telecom guidance as of November 6, 2026 · View pre-approval document
