Korea phone verification failed: SMS code not arriving or ID check rejected
First decide which check you are facing. An SMS code from a restaurant or taxi app is a different thing from legal identity verification used by banks and government services. LG U+ says a data-only eSIM cannot receive SMS verification, voice/SMS can support restaurant and taxi app codes, and banking or government identity verification is not supported. A travel SIM is not a Korean identity.
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SourcesBefore you choose
- Name the screen. “Enter the 6-digit code we texted you” is an SMS check. “Verify with your carrier / PASS / real name / resident or alien registration number” is an identity check. Do not spend time on SIM settings for the second kind: a tourist plan is not designed for it.
- Check your plan. LG U+’s page says a data-only eSIM has no SMS verification and no outgoing calls or texts, and that you must choose a Data + Voice plan for those. Open your order and confirm it says voice/SMS. Another provider may differ, so read your exact plan.
- For an SMS check, do the basics: confirm the eSIM line is switched on for calls and messages, enter the Korean number exactly as the app asks, check you have signal, and request the code only once, then wait. LG U+ notes the eSIM number may only show in device settings after you arrive in Korea. Do not delete the eSIM to retry: a deleted eSIM cannot be restored.
- For an identity check, look inside the app for a foreign-visitor path: sign in with Google, Apple or email, add a foreign-issued card, or use a service built for visitors (see the restaurant waitlist guide). If none exists, choose another way to do the task, such as paying at the counter. Never use another person’s name, number or ID, and never pay a stranger to “verify” for you: that can break the law and lock the account.
- If it still fails, contact the app’s support and your SIM provider, giving the order number, screen text and time. Show or say: 인증번호 문자가 오지 않아요. (The code text isn’t arriving.) 외국인도 가입할 수 있나요? (Can foreigners sign up?) 한국 번호 없이 이용할 방법이 있나요? (Is there a way to use it without a Korean number?) KoreaPocket community help, if used, is optional peer advice, not an official or professional service.
Questions before you go
- Can a data-only eSIM receive a verification text?
- According to LG U+’s data-only eSIM page, no: SMS verification is not available with data-only service, and you cannot make outgoing calls or texts. Choose a voice/SMS plan if you need codes. Other providers’ rules may differ, so check yours before buying. Sources: LG U+ · Korea eSIM (data only) notice
- Will a voice/SMS tourist plan pass bank or government verification?
- Not according to LG U+. It says SMS verification for restaurant and taxi reservation apps is available with voice/SMS, but identity verification for banking or government services is not supported. Use the service’s foreign-visitor option or handle the task in person. Sources: LG U+ · Korea eSIM (data only) notice
- Can I buy a plan and get a refund if the code never arrives?
- Do not assume so. LG U+ states that data eSIM purchases cannot be cancelled or refunded after payment, and a deleted or damaged installed eSIM cannot be refunded or replaced. Ask the provider about your specific order before changing anything. Its FAQ list also has an entry on identity verification with a purchased SIM; read it for your product. Sources: LG U+ · Korea eSIM (data only) notice
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