The Korean phone number wall
예약과 한국 번호 본인인증
Some Korean services ask you to prove who you are with a Korean mobile number before you can book. It is identity verification rather than a rule aimed at foreigners, and it is a common reason a visitor gets stuck one screen before a reservation.
Where you hit it
Booking slots inside Korean portals, some restaurant reservation apps, some gym and salon booking tools, and services that send you a confirmation code by text message. Sometimes the wall appears at sign up. Sometimes you get all the way to the last step before it asks.
What actually works
A direct message to the shop's social account, covered in “Booking by Instagram message”. A phone call, which your hotel front desk may make for you if you show them the details. Walking in, where the place allows it. Or a service built for overseas visitors: the national tourism board lists one that advertises restaurant booking without Korean number verification, which tells you how normal the obstacle is.
What does not work
A data only eSIM gives you no Korean number at all, and even a travel SIM that includes a Korean number may not pass identity verification, so neither reliably solves this. Borrowing a friend's number ties their identity to your booking and can cause problems when you need to change it.
How we mark it
Where we have confirmed that a venue's booking route needs a Korean number, the details screen says so before you tap out to it. Where we have not confirmed it, we say that instead.
Phrases to show staff
Show the Korean line on your phone, or say it aloud: the spelling in brackets reads like English.
- 죄송하지만 이 가게에 전화로 예약 좀 부탁드려도 될까요?
- Sorry to ask, but could you phone this place and book for me?
- Joesonghajiman i gagee jeonhwaro yeyak jom butakdeuryeodo doelkkayo? (jweh-song-hah-jee-mahn ee gah-geh-eh juh-nwah-roh yeh-yahk jjom boo-tahk-tteu-ryuh-doh dwehl-kkah-yoh?)
- ___ ___에 ___명 예약하고 싶어요.
- I would like to book for ___ people on ___ at ___.
- ___ ___-e ___-myeong yeyakhago sipeoyo. (___ ___-eh ___-myuhng yeh-yah-kah-goh shee-puh-yoh.)
- 예약 없이 왔는데 지금 되나요?
- I do not have a reservation. Is it possible right now?
- Yeyak eopsi wanneunde jigeum doenayo? (yeh-yahk uhp-ssee wahn-neun-deh jee-geum dweh-nah-yoh?)