SORA RENTAL NOTE · 49
Do you need a three-year internet plan for one semester?
Check whether your room already includes internet, compare the full cost of a separate connection, and plan equipment return before leaving Korea.
Content checked · 3 October 2026
The key points
- Ask what internet is already included in the room before ordering a separate service.
- Compare the total cost for your actual stay, including setup and early-exit terms.
- Know who owns the router and modem and how they must be returned.
01 — 04
Start with the comic
Documents and screens are simplified illustrations. Check the sources below for actual forms and steps.
I’m staying one semester. Why does this internet quote run for years?
Compare a plan for your stay and check what happens if you leave early.
Before installation, I’ll confirm the total cost and whose equipment this is.
Before departure, return rented equipment and keep the receipt.
First check what the room already provides
- Included connection
- Router and equipment
- Check with provider
Ask the landlord whether the room has an included internet connection, whether a Wi-Fi router is supplied and whose name the service is in. An ethernet wall socket is not enough information to decide what you need to buy. If you can use the supplied connection, first ask for the connection instructions rather than immediately ordering another line.
If you need a separate service, tell the provider your exact address and expected move-out date. Ask about installation availability, the earliest appointment and any permission needed for the work. Keep the room lease and the telecom order separate in your notes so that you know who to contact about a connection fault, payment or cancellation.
Compare the whole stay, not only a monthly headline
- Duration
- Total stay cost
- Cancellation terms
A useful comparison includes the service period, total service charge, installation visit, equipment rental or deposit, early-exit calculation and any refund restriction. Ask for the figures in writing for the length of time you actually expect to live there. Do not rely on an advertisement’s monthly figure without knowing the term attached to it.
One example is KT’s prepaid home internet: the published terms offer 3, 6 or 12 months, end automatically, and exclude refunds or suspension during the selected period. Equipment deposits and installation charges are separate. This illustrates a possible short-stay structure; confirm the current offer and eligibility rather than assuming every provider has the same terms.
Plan equipment return while you are still in Korea
- 01Equipment return
- 02Receipt and breakdown
- 03Refund conditions
Photograph the installed equipment and note which items belong to the provider, landlord or you. Ask for the accepted return method, deadline, required accessories and any return receipt. If a technician removes an item or a landlord offers to keep it, check whether that actually completes your obligation to the provider.
Place the service end and return appointment before your flight where possible. Confirm how a refundable equipment deposit would reach you and keep your account details accurate. A room handover and a telecom return are different tasks: leaving a router in the apartment does not give you evidence that the provider has received it.
What to check
- Confirm the included connection, router and account holder with the landlord.
- Request a quote covering your actual stay and any early departure.
- Record equipment ownership, return instructions and refund arrangements.
- Complete the required closure and return steps, and keep confirmations before departure.
Common questions
Does “no long-term commitment” mean unused service is always refunded?
No. Read the selected product’s refund conditions. A shorter service period does not by itself promise a refund if you leave sooner.
Can I leave the router for the next tenant?
Only after checking ownership and obtaining an arrangement the relevant owner or provider accepts. Keep evidence of a completed return or agreed transfer rather than assuming the next tenant will handle it.
Official sources
Korean laws and guidance from public agencies, universities and service providers. Most originals are in Korean or English. School and product examples apply only within their stated scope.