Korean MVNOs Push 10-Won Plans as Prices Jump Later
A review of 알뜰폰허브 listings shows some ultra-cheap promotional plans rising to 40,000–50,000 won per month once discounts end.
South Korean mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) are offering promotional plans priced at 10 won, 100 won and 990 won per month to new and number-porting subscribers, with several promotions running as of October 2026, according to digitaltoday.co.kr.
A review of listings on 알뜰폰허브, the plan comparison site run by the Korea Association for ICT Promotion (KAIT), shows that many of these plans revert to standard pricing once the discount period ends. A plan at 10 won per month with 10GB of data and 200 minutes of voice rises to 18,700 won per month after 7 months, while a 990 won per month plan with 4.5GB of data climbs to 9,900 won per month after 12 months.
Higher-data promotions carry steeper increases. A plan at 4,500 won per month offering 11GB plus 2GB daily rises to 36,300 won per month after 7 months, and some promotional plans priced under 10,000 won per month move into the 40,000–50,000 won range after the promotion ends. Some plans under 10,000 won per month do include tens of GB of data.
Maintenance periods and repayments
Some plans listed on 알뜰폰허브 require a minimum maintenance period of 93 days including the activation date, with the discount repayable if the subscriber cancels within that window.
The pricing comes against a longer push to expand the MVNO market. In a 2024 survey by the Korea Consumer Agency, MVNO users rated price satisfaction at 3.91 out of 5, against 3.10 for the three major carriers, and plan-choice satisfaction at 3.82 versus 3.53.
In July 2026, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced an MVNO activation plan that included partial 5G wholesale price cuts and expanded radio-wave fee reductions for small and mid-sized MVNOs. On September 30, 2026, the ministry met with the industry to discuss follow-up measures such as higher customer service standards and stronger user protection.
Quick answers
How much do the cheapest Korean MVNO promotional plans cost?
Some plans are advertised at 10 won, 100 won and 990 won per month for new and number-porting subscribers.
Do the prices stay that low?
No. According to 알뜰폰허브 listings, a 10 won plan with 10GB and 200 voice minutes rises to 18,700 won per month after 7 months, and a 990 won plan with 4.5GB rises to 9,900 won per month after 12 months.
Is there a minimum period before cancelling?
Some plans listed on 알뜰폰허브 require a minimum maintenance period of 93 days including the activation date, and discounts must be repaid if the plan is cancelled within it.