Question Any purchase issues in Seoul for a tourist?

[cjkimmel]

I'm heading for vacation in Seoul for a week, starting this Saturday. I'd like to buy an S23 there. Does anyone have any advice on how that process works there? Best places to get it, etc?

I'm currently in Mongolia and eventually will head back to the States so I know I need to check bands.

TIA!!!

 

[amirage]

Is there anything special with Korean devices except for Korean bloatware? It used to be that Galaxy devices sold in Korea were made in Korea but I don't know if that still applies to the S23? I bought my S1 from Korea and it was made in Korea then... But, aren't you better off with US unlocked version?

 

[cjkimmel]

OK... I'm back from Korea... and figured I'd answer my own question.

Only Samsung Stores sell Samsung phones to foreigners in Korea! :-(
I found this out the hard way when I tried at multiple "cell phone stores". Nobody would help me at all, they wouldn't even talk to me. I finally forced someone to talk to me and they said, "you're not Korean and we don't sell to foreigners". I asked where to buy one then and I was told "Samsung Stores only".

Of course due to my lack of planning, it was the evening of my last day there and I didn't have time to go across Seoul, I came home without one :-(

Now I have a choice... buy from America and pay to ship to Mongolia... or buy in Mongolia and pay a premium for the same model. I'm currently undecided...

 

[Mrxyzl]

OK... I'm back from Korea... and figured I'd answer my own question.

Only Samsung Stores sell Samsung phones to foreigners in Korea! :-(
I found this out the hard way when I tried at multiple "cell phone stores". Nobody would help me at all, they wouldn't even talk to me. I finally forced someone to talk to me and they said, "you're not Korean and we don't sell to foreigners". I asked where to buy one then and I was told "Samsung Stores only".

Of course due to my lack of planning, it was the evening of my last day there and I didn't have time to go across Seoul, I came home without one :-(

Now I have a choice... buy from America and pay to ship to Mongolia... or buy in Mongolia and pay a premium for the same model. I'm currently undecided...

yeah its weird, i think you can buy normally here in Vn even if youre a foreigner

 

[zSyntex]

You could buy every product in every country without limits. Of course it's clear that has to be legal in that country, but it's strange that an USA citizen couldn't buy in SK..

 

[WesTokyo]

Phone shops sell plans and require kyc. It pretty much the same way with apple in Japan.