5G plans will drop to as low as 30,000 KRW. Data rollover will be possible even on 5G, and there will be more options for low-data plans.
On the 18th, according to the Ministry of Science and ICT and KT, KT reported revised terms of service for 5G plans reflecting these changes. KT will launch eight new mid-to-low priced 5G plans on the 19th, ranging from the '5G Slim 4GB' plan offering 4GB of data for a monthly fee of 37,000 KRW to the '5G Slim 21GB' plan priced at 58,000 KRW.
With Samsung Electronics' first AI smartphone, the Galaxy S24 series, about to be released, KT is introducing a plan in the 30,000 KRW range.
Although some online direct plans, including LG Uplus's online prepaid plan 'Nugget,' already offer services starting at around 30,000 KRW, this is the first time that the lowest tier in general 5G plans has dropped to the 30,000 KRW range. Previously, the lowest tiers of general 5G plans from the three major carriers were in the mid-to-high 40,000 KRW range.
Applying a 25% discount for contract selection to the newly introduced KT '5G Slim 4GB' plan means users can actually pay in the 20,000 KRW range. The Ministry of Science and ICT estimates that users consuming 4GB or less per month can save 8,000 KRW monthly, those using 6 to 10GB can save between 5,000 and 10,000 KRW, and those using 11 to 21GB can reduce their communication costs by 3,000 to 6,000 KRW per month.
KT is also expanding the data allowance of the existing 45,000 KRW '5G Save' plan from 5GB to 7GB and the 55,000 KRW '5G Slim' plan from 10GB to 14GB by 40%, and subdividing the low-data plan tiers from two (5GB and 10GB) to five tiers (4GB, 7GB, 10GB, 14GB, and 21GB).
Subscribers can choose between an 'Ansim' plan, which allows continued use at a certain speed after the monthly data allowance is exhausted, and a 'Rollover' plan, which lets users carry over unused data from the monthly allowance. KT stated that this is the first time among the three major carriers that a data rollover plan has been introduced for 5G.
Additionally, KT is launching the 'Yogo' brand of online 5G plans, which are over 30% cheaper than regular plans, offering 13 Yogo plans (eight of which are new) ranging from 30,000 KRW to 69,000 KRW. The pricing structure is designed to be easy to understand, charging 2,000 KRW per 5GB increment. Users aged 34 and under will receive double the data.
With the realization of the 30,000 KRW 5G plans announced in the Ministry of Science and ICT's 'Measures to Reduce Communication Costs' in November last year, other carriers are expected to introduce similar plans soon.
SK Telecom has stated that it is reviewing the introduction of such plans, with a launch expected within the first quarter, and LG Uplus said it plans to prepare after assessing market conditions.
Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, said, "Since a significant number of users consume 20GB or less per month, the introduction of new plans will have a substantial effect in reducing communication costs when users switch to lower-tier plans. We plan to promptly conclude consultations with other carriers on introducing 5G plans starting at 30,000 KRW and subdividing low-data tiers as soon as possible."
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