"Used Phones and Self-Contract Phones Customers Also Eligible for 25% 'Choice Discount'"

Users with expired contracts can also sign up
Ministry of Science and ICT, telecom 3 companies and KOTA collaborate on promotional guidance

Promotional Poster for Selective Contract Discount

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] "Customers with used phones or unlocked phones can also receive a 25% discount on call charges."

The Ministry of Science and ICT, together with the three major mobile carriers and the Korea Telecommunications Operators Association (KTOA), will strengthen promotion and guidance regarding the 'discount equivalent to subsidies.'

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 17th, the discount system equivalent to subsidies under the Selective Contract was first introduced in October 2014 in accordance with the Act on the Improvement of Distribution Structure of Mobile Communication Terminals. As of the end of March, 27.65 million people are using it.

However, among users eligible for the 25% discount benefit, 12 million have not subscribed. This includes not only users who do not receive subsidies when purchasing devices but also users of used phones or unlocked phones, and users whose discount contracts or subsidy contracts have expired, who are also eligible to subscribe. Additionally, many customers are unaware that they can choose a one-year contract period instead of the usual two years when subscribing.

Eligibility can be checked independently by accessing the 'Smart Choice' website via smartphone or PC. After confirming the device identification information by entering *#06# on the device keypad screen, users can enter it on the Smart Choice homepage.

The Ministry of Science and ICT will distribute promotional materials to nationwide mobile carrier agencies and over 3,800 administrative welfare centers. Promotion will also be conducted through webtoons.

The three major carriers will revise their terms and conditions to strengthen guidance on subscribing to the selective contract discount. The carriers have expanded the number of SMS notifications about the 25% discount subscription sent to contract expiration users from two times to four times before and after the contract expiration.

The Ministry of Science and ICT stated, "We will continue to strengthen guidance and promotion targeting users who have not utilized the 25% discount to enhance user benefits."

For those who do not want a contract or find re-contracting burdensome when replacing devices or changing carriers, online and no-contract plans offering equivalent discounts without contracts are also available. Examples include SK Telecom’s Untact Plan, KT’s Y No-Contract Plan, and LG Uplus’s Direct Plan.