South Korea +82
To call South Korea from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 82, then the local number without its leading 0. Written in full: +82 10-2000-0000.
The country calling code for South Korea is +82. A number starting +82 or 0082 is a call to or from South Korea. From abroad: +82 10-2000-0000.
To call South Korea from abroad, dial your exit code (or +), then 82, then the local number without its leading 0. The +82 code identifies the country; the following digits identify the line (landline or mobile).
How to call South Korea from abroad
011 82 10-2000-000000 82 10-2000-00000011 82 10-2000-0000+82 10-2000-000010-2000-0000 is a real-format South Korea mobile number (example from the ITU-T numbering plan): replace it with the number you were given, without its leading 0.
South Korea area codes
In South Korea, landlines usually include an area code after +82 (without its leading 0). Mobiles have no area code.
Number format
02-212-3456from abroad+82 2-212-3456010-2000-0000from abroad+82 10-2000-0000Landline numbers in South Korea have 5 or 6 or 8 to 10 digits after the country code; mobile numbers have 9 or 10 digits and start with 1. The national prefix 0 is only dialled inside the country — drop it after +82.
Calling abroad from South Korea
To call another country from South Korea, dial the exit code 00 + carrier code (or + on a mobile), then the country code, then the number. From South Korea to the United States, for example: + 1 201 555 0123.
A South Korea number in international format is written +82 …. The + stands for the exit prefix (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America). Switching to international format, drop the leading 0.
Cheapest ways to call South Korea
With internet on both ends, apps like WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime call South Korea for free. To reach a number without an app, VoIP services are usually cheaper than your operator’s international rate.
Frequently asked questions
What country has the code +82?
South Korea has the country calling code +82.
How do I call South Korea from the United States?
Dial 011, then 82, then the local number without its leading 0 — for example 011 10-2000-0000.
What does +82 mean?
It is the international dialing code for South Korea. The + stands for your exit code (00 in much of the world, 011 in North America).
Is +82 mobile or landline?
The +82 code identifies the country, not the line type; South Korea landlines and mobiles share it.
A country code covers a whole nation; the full number depends on the city and operator.
Mobile network codes in South Korea
Every mobile network is identified by a mobile country code (MCC) and a mobile network code (MNC). They appear on your phone when it roams, in SIM settings and in any network lookup. South Korea has 3 network operators with their own infrastructure:
| Network | MCC-MNC | Technologies | Subscribers |
|---|---|---|---|
| SK TelecomSK Group | 450-05, 450-12 | 31.2 MQ4 2023 | |
| LG U+LG Corporation (37%) | 450-06 | 4G · 5G | 18.4 MQ4 2023 |
| KTKT Corporation | 450-02, 450-04 | 4G · 5G | 17.2 MQ4 2023 |
A struck-through generation has been switched off on that network. MCC-MNC: ITU-T E.212 codes as listed on Wikipedia.
2G and 3G switch-off timeline
- KT — 2G (cdmaOne) switched off
- KT — 3G (CDMA2000) switched off
- SK Telecom — 2G (cdmaOne) switched off
- SKT — 3G (CDMA2000) switched off
- LG Uplus — 2G (cdmaOne) switched off
- LG U+ — 3G (CDMA2000) switched off
Keeping a number when changing network
- Mobile number portability
- since 2004-07-12
Because numbers can be ported, the prefix of a mobile number only tells you which network first issued it, not the network it uses today.
Received a call from a South Korea number? Check it with the phone number lookup: type of line, format and local time.
Source: Wikipedia — lists of mobile network operators, mobile network codes, 2G and 3G phase-out, mobile number portability (CC BY-SA 4.0). Subscriber counts as published by each operator or regulator at the date shown.
Phone rules in South Korea
The rules a caller, a visitor or a new resident runs into in South Korea, each with its source.
| ID to buy a SIM | Yes. Visitors buy prepaid SIMs or eSIMs with a passport, and products that include voice need passport verification at the airport counter. From 6 July 2026, anyone opening a new line or porting a number, with carriers and MVNOs through any channel, must verify identity by facial recognition, the government mobile ID or a resident registration certificate issued the same day. Alien registration cards are not yet supported: support is planned for the second half of 2026 and passport-based face checks are expected in 2027. Until then foreigners are limited to one mobile line per person and must justify any extra line. No IMEI registration of foreign phones found.koreaherald.com · koreatimes.co.kr · lguplus.com |
|---|---|
| Monthly contract | A postpaid plan with SKT, KT or LG U+ requires an Alien Registration Card, a passport and a Korean bank account or Korean-issued card for autopay. It is not available if 60 days or fewer remain on the legal stay; prepaid needs only a passport. (Expat guide, not an operator page.)seoulstart.com |
| Calling apps | None known. Freedom House (Freedom on the Net 2025: Partly Free, 65/100) lists 'social media blocked: No'.freedomhouse.org |
| Reporting scam calls | Report voice phishing, smishing, fraud and number spoofing to the police on 112 (free, 24/7) or online through the National Police Agency's cybercrime portal ECRM (ecrm.police.go.kr); a visit to a police station is still required after an online report. The 182 line gives counselling. No national do-not-call registry verified.ecrm.police.go.kr |
| Emergency numbers | 112 police; 119 fire and ambulance; 1330 Korea Tourism Organization travel hotline with interpretation.gov.uk |
Checked on 28 September 2026. Rules on SIM registration and calling apps change often: confirm with the regulator or the operator.