Telecom carrier offers consultations in eight languages to reach growing foreign community
KT, a leading telecom provider in Korea, is significantly expanding its specialized services for the nation’s growing foreign resident community. This initiative combines comprehensive multilingual retail support with engaging customer events, strategically targeting an increasingly vital segment of the Korean telecom market.
Demonstrating its commitment, KT recently orchestrated a heartfelt reunion event, inviting the family of Curiba Ma Jo-velle, a Filipino KT customer based in Korea. Organized by KT’s Global Store in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, the event saw her husband and daughter arrive at Incheon International Airport on May 12, enjoying a memorable six-night, seven-day trip across Korea before their return home.
For Curiba, who has resided in Korea since approximately 2024, working diligently at a manufacturing firm and living separated from her family, reliable mobile service has been absolutely crucial for maintaining vital connections.
During an interview at KT’s Gwanghwamun office, facilitated by Kim Bi-na, a consultant from the Ansan Global Store who translated between Filipino, English, and Korean, Curiba shared her positive experience: “Since switching to KT, I no longer worry about contacting my family. I can reach them anytime, anywhere, with complete peace of mind.”
Curiba elaborated on her previous challenges, stating she had relied on a prepaid phone service that demanded frequent top-ups. Her decision to visit a KT store was prompted by its Facebook page, where she discovered the availability of dedicated Filipino-language customer support – a key factor in her choice.
She initially sought only a phone service. However, the discovery of a consultant who could assist her in Filipino made the entire process significantly more convenient and reassuring. She added, “KT felt like a major, trustworthy company, much like Smart in the Philippines.”
Kim Bi-na, a naturalized Korean citizen originally from the Philippines, is a dedicated consultant at the Ansan Global Store. She expertly assists Filipino customers with various needs, including new mobile subscriptions, understanding plan details, and resolving service inquiries. Her fluency in Filipino, English, and Korean was evident during the interview, as she seamlessly translated Curiba’s responses and provided clear explanations regarding prepaid services, comprehensive mobile plans, and international calling options.
Curiba emphasized that this personalized, language-specific support made her eager to recommend the store to other Filipinos in Korea. “It truly helps when there’s an approachable person who can clearly explain the mobile plans,” she stated, underscoring the value of accessible communication.
KT’s Ansan Global Store, strategically situated in Wongok-dong – a district renowned for its vibrant and extensive foreign community – offers comprehensive consultations in an impressive eight languages: Chinese, Russian, Filipino, Cambodian, Indonesian, Nepali, Vietnamese, and Burmese. Beyond telecom services, the store extends its offerings to include practical amenities such as airline ticket issuance, further supporting the needs of the international community.
This unique reunion event was meticulously organized by the operator of the Ansan Global Store. Kim Nam-su, an executive at the dealership, explained that candidates were initially selected by nationality via a transparent Facebook Live draw, culminating in a final, exciting electronic darts game among a select group of finalists.
Remarkably, Curiba, who had no prior experience with darts, emerged victorious in the final round. “It was my very first time playing darts, so I truly felt incredibly lucky,” she recounted.
KT proudly states its extensive network includes approximately 180 Global Stores positioned nationwide, demonstrating its widespread accessibility. The success of these specialized stores is evident in the significant growth of foreign customer activations, which surged from 23 percent in January 2024 to an impressive 32 percent by February 2026.
Ham Hyung-min, head of KT’s Seoul Metropolitan Customer Group, articulated KT’s forward-looking vision: “As the population of foreign residents in Korea steadily expands, we recognize them as a crucial segment of our future core customer base. KT is steadfastly committed to consistently delivering highly tailored services designed to effectively lower both language and cultural barriers, aiming to solidify our position as the most trusted and preferred telecom company for all foreign customers in Korea.”
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