Wireless Internetting in Korea [v. 1.0]

If you are attached to your mobile computing equipment as much as I am – and are equally dependent on it for your well-being – you'll know how important it is to be connected to the Internet these days as one researches, writes, blogs, or even just looks to kill some time surfing around.

With that in mind, I encourage you, if you already haven't done it, to look into getting hooked up to SK Telecom's wireless Internet service Nespot. If your Korean isn't in full effect, I'd still suggest you go and burden a Korean friend of yours with the task of helping you out. And how many random resumés, emails to an overseas company rep, or other random piece of English text have you had to pitch in on? C'mon – you've got the help karmically coming. You've earned it!

So ignore the tons of animated icons, blinking crap, and doodads that Koreans like to cram into webpages; after the eternity letting everything load, simply go to the bottom of the screen and get the phone numbers. Or let me do that for you. The irritating, overloaded, little web page wouldn't let me pull of the little graphic they had, so I screenshat it out for you.

It's a bit blurry – so just call 100 from a cellphone or 1588-4520 or 080-2580-452 (toll free) from a land line. After 5 minutes or so of irritating your Korean friend by answering the operator's questions through him/her, you'll be able to fax in the docs you will have already prepared as a single copy, already ready to fax over from your office, local Kinko's, or very fancy computer/fax setup. Once the operator has it, you'll be good to go.

And for 15,000 a month to be connected to just about anywhere where there's civilization, that's a price that can't be beat. And the connection is standard at 11 Mbps, which is faster than most of your friends get on cable and DSL at home. Anyway, I depend on being able to use search engines, their image searches, and Wikipedia to get my work done. If you do too, you need to read up on some of my favorite little wireless hookup spots that I know throughout Seoul. You might already know them; but you also very well might not, on top of not knowing where you can get a cocktail or something to eat while you wireless the night away working. Anyone who'd like to add to this list, please do so in the comments and I'll add to the list as updates to this post.

Wireless Heaven
– Lotteria has got the sweet hookup when it comes to Nespot. I've never seen one that wasn't blasting out wireless power at the full four bars of the little wireless meter on my Mac. Four bars, baby. But – and there's always a big, fat "but" in life, isn't there? – they're outlet Nazis! They cover them over with serious duct tape and in all but two of the many Lotterias where I've dared to plug in, the employees went buck wild – BUCK – when I tried to plug in anyway. They were, rude, dude. Make sure your battery's got some serious crunk in its trunk, baby.

– Mickey D's are supposed to carry wireless, although that don't mean all of 'em, and they also generally don't have outlets lying open for you to use. But they are a pretty good marker that this is indeed "civilization" and that a Nespot signal will be streaming in from somewhere.

– TGI Friday's has the magic combination down. They are all official Nespot carriers, and they actually have outlets all over the place. In the Shinchon one, for example, they even have booths that have outlets and modem jacks leftover from the Ancient Times when people still were wetting themselves over being able to connect at 56K baud rates. And on top of that, you can order girlie cocktails and really get your creative juices flowing. Strawberry daiquiri, power jacks, and wireless access? It don't get no better than that.

– Starbucks either has them officially or they just happen to be around places that do. You can pretty much count on a signal in one, as you can in the States.

– Pretty much anywhere in downtown Seoul, or on a corner where there's lots of people and neon signs. Also, all of lower Myeongdong is basically a hotspot, because there are so many antennas overlapping that it's literally one big zone. Near corners where there's a lot of city action, sit near the windows and not above the 2nd or 3rd floor (if you're looking for random signals) and you should get something.

Where Wireless Doesn't Roam
– Outback. I now hate them, their food, and their lack of wireless. On the other hand, I got mad love for Krispy Kreme, but they gotta hook up the wireless down in Shinchon, although they got it in the Myeongdong outlet, but only because they're across from a Lotteria pumping wireless through half of the Lotte Department Store. I sometime wonder if their signals will cause cancer.

– Inside Seoul, there are some "dead zones" where the digital gospel hasn't quite shined its light of ever-connecting truth. In older parts of Seoul, especially along the #1 line, for example, there is just nothing. Last time I checked (last year), there was nothing even in Cheongnyangni Station, where there was a bank of computers for quick Internetting, yet nothing even resembling a signal, even right in front of the Lotteria. I was shocked and quite discombobulated. Actually, I'm quite shocked right now to see my spellchecker accept that "discombobulate" is actually a word; all my life I thought it was funny slang. Looking it up, it goes back to the 19th-century. Whoa.

– Outside of Seoul, I think you're gonna be having to hunt around, although it's been a couple years since I've been roving the streets of small towns looking for a wireless signal. Still, in some places, you might find something. On this, I am in the dark. Depending on how far wireless has penetrated the Outland outside Seoul, you may be, too. I'm sure it's hooked up in major cities, but I really wonder about when you go out the the East Sea for summer vacation. Anyone want to fill me in?

Some Links
– Here are a few links to some recommended Internet hotspots. They're just recommendations from sponsored vendors who've taken the time to actually register themselves. Don't take them as definitive or representative; I've found wireless in the most unexpected of places.
– Here's the brand new(!) English web page if you want to call and figure things out. Tip – you can't register for normal wireless through the English web page – they just provide some silly map to a counter in the Incheon International Airport (for those of you who will be here temporarily, definitely go over there and sign up, although I'm sure they're gonna gouge you a new eye socket) because I guess it's still common business practice to assume that all foreigners are not actually living here, but tourists on their ways to see Korea's amazing palaces and scenery. *AHEM* You still might want to call the normal main line with a Korean friend and just get signed up over the phone, like I did. All I needed was a copy of my passport, foreigner ID card, and bankbook. Faxed it over, got signed up.

Mac Users (and others, read this anyway)
– There's still some crazy people at Nespot who think that their system doesn't work with Macs. They be crazy – don't listen to them. They're just customer reps who just have the simple instructions that they can't install their special PC software on Macs; they don't have a Mac version. Well, because Macs are infinitely superior to PC's, they don't need any special software.  Just tell the rep to shut up and register you (if they say anything) – "Yes, ma'am, I know it won't work with my Mac; just do it, please" – and when you choose the two types of login, you will use your MAC address (this has nothing to do with "Macintosh" but rather with "Media Access Control"). The MAC address is the unique identification number that every computer – Mac, PC, or whatever – uses with wireless. The system knows your number when you register with Nespot, so when you appear on a network somewhere, you get instantly connected. Doesn't matter whether you're a Mac, so don't take no smack!

Comments

[wwidgirl]

thanks for that. very useful information!

[dan]

OK, this is interesting information. am i correct in understanding that when i go into a starbucks, and NESPOT pops up on my wifi radar, i won't be able to use it unless i'm a subscriber to NESPOT? i thought all starbucks were supposed to offer free wifi to customers?

[The Metropolitician]

You sure 'bout that? In Korea, Starbucks is s'posed to offer free wireless Internet?

I don't even think they're an official Nespot provider – at least I have been in Starbucks that didn't have a clean wi-fi signal, although all the major Starbucks I've been in lately seem to have one wireless antenna in them. I believe the last one I saw with my own eyes was a Nespot antenna, but I could have been mistaken.

If you're projecting a Starbucks USA to Korea, I think you're talking about a promise that hasn't been extended here. Starbucks Korea is part of the same chain, but it is managed and implemented through a Korean company (was it CJ?). So I'm fairly sure that Starbucks Korea operates under its own set of rules within the general rubric of Starbucks. And I doubt that an American wireless Internet promise would mean much over the big water.

This is also because Nespot (and hence, wirelessn Internet) saturation is pretty wide and deep here; I think Starbucks bragging about offering wireless Internet would mean a lot less here in a country (and city like Seoul) in which there are so many overlapping wireless signals that sometimes entire neighborhoods are considered hot zones.

In America, land of wide and open spaces, it's a lot harder to offer full coverage, I think. Major cities could and are doing it, but there's something about Korea, the Internet, and centralized planning that makes it so that I can get wireless deep in the recesses of the local shopping mall toilet, or a street corner in Chunchon, whereas I have to get in my car and go sniffing around for it in the US. And last I checked, it was like $40 to get subscription. Nespot is $15, baby.

Daehankminguk!

ㅋㅋ

[Elpinoymatador]

Hello. Pardon my ignorance but is the MAC address information I give to the network administrator? How do I find out what my MAC address is?

I'm a mac user staying in Chonnam University in Gwangju where Nespot's signal is strong. I've never been able to use the network even thought the university's IT administrator got our usernames and password and said that I should be able to use Nespot to connect to the net. Gamsahamnida.

[dan]

good insight, thanks for the comments--i suppose i was expecting a starbucks USA style internet commitment. anyhow, my girlfriend got NESPOT and it works pretty decently.

for elpinoymatador: on your mac, click on your system settings icon, then your network icon, and then select airport card from the pull-down menu. one of the tabs on the top of that window will give you a 12-digit (or 16?) address (a mix of letters and numbers). that's your mac

[The Metropolitician]

Sorry for not being on the ball about getting back to you on that one, Elpinoymatador.

Yes, that's the M.A.C. address, which is different from your Mac's IP address, in case that's confusing.

The M.A.C. address is the hardware-inscribed number of your network card. So you don't have to have a Mac to have a M.A.C. for your network softward.

[courtnee]

I own an ibook, i paid for nespot, and i am not getting nespot service despite the fact that my ibook is detecting the nespot connection. it detects it, but it doesn't let me use any webpages or anything, and i don't even know how nespot would know that my ibook *is* my ibook, because i haven't downloaded anything, logged in, or anything like that. did i mess up at some point? was i supposed to give someone my mac address? can i go back and fix it somehow?

ugh... this is becoming a very long process!!! maybe i should just pay the 37,000 won to get an internet connection in my apartment? it just seems so expensive... i could swallow the 15,000 no problem, but if it doesn't work on my ibook, then i've just wasted money, which is even worse!

[courtnee]

hi again - sorry i sounded so angry in that last message - it wasn't anything personal at all! i was just in the middle of the frustration with getting online. it would be great though if anybody has the answers to my questions. I am going to try calling KT tomorrow to find out if i can change my login name to my M.A.C. address. maybe that will help? thanks again in advance for your help!

[rmeurant]

I have having exactly the same problem as courtnee. I have Ti PB 1Gig MacOs10.3 with Airport card. I am in the KT office now. We simply can't connect following the directions given here. They just don't work. How does the network recognise my account and grant me access? You say "when you choose the two types of login, you will use your MAC address (this has nothing to do with "Macintosh" but rather with "Media Access Control")." - where exactly do I get to choose the two types of login? I presume Nespot has to validate my MAC number - how does it know it in the first place? This is incredibly frustrating... could you please post information that actually works?

[rmeurant]

Well, I posted too soon.

After considerably more frustration, suddenly everything is working fine, at least here on the KT hotspot. (I've not yet tried other hotspots). Special software is not required. I do not need to log in or give a password, I go straight in.

So it is worth perservering - it can be done!

My apologies for being a little snarky in my previous post... mea culpa!

[rmeurant]

A hundred thousand and one prostrations...

I wonder whether the same Mac success has been experienced with Korean online banking? The KEB internet banking site, like Nespot, requires download and installation of Windows software (which of course doesn't work on the Mac). Can this also be circumvented, without precipitating total collapse of the international monetary cartel? i.e. can a humble Mac (running MacOs10.3) be used to access KEB (or possibly an alternative Korean) internet banking? And in English?

I remain your most devoted servant, etc...

[The Metropolitician]

Internetting!

Nespot works fine, as you've found out. Your wireless card has that unique number (MAC address) that you must enter into your account on KT's Nespot site. It's called – as I think you found out – "인증방식" or something, which means "validation type" and it lets you choose between ID/PW login (which requires stupid PC software) or the system getting that MAC address, which your computer will communicate just fine to Nespot's. That's why you should choose the MAC address, since no additional software is required.

As for internet banking, specific PC software is required, so that leaves Macintosh our of luck. Sorry. No way around it – you just can't run software not made for the Mac on a Mac. HOWEVER, on the new Intel Macs, in which you can run Windows, you should be able to install just fine. It's Windows.

And after the next version of the system coming out next year, being able to run Windoze while running OS X is going to be possible.

In sum, though, without an Intel Mac, you're SOL. It's just the breaks in a PC-only, one-size-fits-all kind of culture. If you are fat, have big feet, or have a Mac, you're part of a very small minority that is easier for commercial interests to ignore than try to cater to.

Wait – shit. I'm fat, black, have big feet, and own a Mac.

Damn!

Hehe.

[The Metropolitician]

By the way, not all "NESPOT" wireless signals are the open service meant for mobile wireless internet customers. Especially if you are in residential (or even business areas), a lot of people use wireless HOME internet – wireless service set up in one's home or business sort of like an Airport card, and you sometimes pick up that signal, the default for which is "NESPOT" if you happen to pick it up from say, your next door neighbor. If the person hasn't bothered to password-protect their network, you can ride it, which is why sometimes people think they're riding "free Nespot" – but you're not.

And sometimes, when people do protect their wireless signal, but didn't bother to rename the network from the default "NESPOT" to something else, you try to login and fail, of course. Then you think "my fucking Nespot doesn't work" and try to strangle someone. It's happened to me, although the person lived. My advice - don't panic. There's a reasonable explanation, even if you can't figure it out.

Indeed, sometimes, very occasionally, it just doesn't work. A good example is the Nespot connection in the TGI Friday's in Shinchon. They've got a sign, I can see the transmitter, and I pick up their signal. It just doesn't fucking work. I even called KT about it after settling down to do some serious power blogging with a Diet Coke and some appetizer, fully assured that here was a killer Nespot zone I could use until they kicked me out, and it just didn't work. It was confirmed by KT as being on their list, currently sending out a signal, and indeed, I wasn't appearing on their network (they can check, apparently). They were perplexed as well. But, for some reason, I cannot use that Nespot zone. Oh, well. I can use it almost everywhere else. It's just a random fluke.

And then one time, I couldn't get on from a place I always used while eating there as part of my weekly routine. I call, and 'Lo and behold' I had been cut off. Hadn't paid my bill. Idiot. So they text messaged me the bank account number, transferred from an ATM next door, and I was on before I had finished my meal.

There are some smart mofos over there at KT and they run a pretty tight ship that I can't complain about – but they don't know Macs. Just get an account, choose the MAC option in it, and pay your bill. 95% of the time when you see "NESPOT" as an option, it'll work. If it doesn't. then it's probably:

- a private line that just happens to say "NESPOT"
- a weak signal (signal strength at even the 2nd bar on the wireless icon doesn't always mean you're getting good throughput in the connection, as I have seen in some of the wireless connection widgets I use
- a rare and random fluke like the Shinchon TGI Friday's
- you not having paid your bill

Good luck and good Internetting!

[rmeurant]

A belated thanks for your further clarifications, especially regarding online banking.

[meganugget]

this is very exciting...but can you just pay for one month? i'm only here till mid-Aug and am hoping they don't require a minimum obligation. thanks!

[rmeurant]

meganugget:

I don't know if you can only pay for one month, but you might be interested to know that once we got Nespot working (on my Mac Powerbook G4, OS 10.3.9), it has been flawless. Generally I have used it in fastfood outlets, also Incheon Airport (though the last time I tried (June 25th) it didn't seem available there).

[rmeurant]

Hmmm... Stevie has done his thing, with th'new iMacs and all, but the apple korea site is still promoting the now old models...

hhhrrrruuuuuummmmmpppfff...