"Trade-ins, bill discounts, and fee waivers"...Big promotions ahead of Galaxy S26 Unpacked

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With the Galaxy S26 series Unpacked event approaching, the domestic market is poised for a major sales push. As the Galaxy S26 Unpacked date draws near, the three mobile carriers (SKT, KT, and LG Uplus) have rushed to launch pre-order marketing campaigns. The mobile market went through upheaval last year, when a high-profile hacking incident triggered a wave of number portability. Carriers now need to both retain existing subscribers and attract new ones, and they appear ready to go all out. The three firms have already rolled out a range of offers, from "activate first, switch devices later" benefits and trade-in programs for used phones to bill discounts and temporary waivers of early termination fees, as they compete for new sign-ups. Since the number portability market typically expands right after a new flagship launch, they are aiming to lock in early demand.
\r\n\r\n■ Mobile market sees record number portabilityAccording to the Korea Telecommunications Operators Association (KTOA) and industry sources on the 19th, the number of subscribers who switched carriers in February last year, when pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S25 were underway, reached 575,642. This was the highest figure in seven years, since 2017. Domestic pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy S25 series surpassed 1.3 million units, setting a new record for the Galaxy S series, and expectations are high that pre-orders for the Galaxy S26 will be just as heated.■ "'Activate now, switch devices later' is available"The three carriers began offering promotional benefits immediately after the Galaxy S26 Unpacked schedule was announced on the 11th. SK Telecom (SKT) is the only one of the three to focus on SIM-free devices as a key strategy. SKT will give 50,000 won in Naver Pay points to customers who plan to later switch to a Galaxy S26 series SIM-free device but activate a USIM or eSIM line within this month. In addition, customers who activate in advance on certain Direct 5G plans—such as the 48, 55, 62, and 76 plans—will receive 33,000 won in Naver Pay points each month for six months. They can also use Tving and WEBTOON free of charge for up to 12 months.
Even without activating early, customers who pre-order through SKT and trade in their current device will receive up to an additional 150,000 won on top of the used device value, limited to the first 3,000 people. For the first 500 customers, SKT is also offering interest-free installment plans with Samsung Card, Hyundai Card, and Hana Card, plus up to 100,000 won in cashback.
\r\n\r■ Extra trade-in value, bill discounts, and even fee waiversKT is offering up to an extra 100,000 won on top of the used device value when customers trade in their old phones. It is also providing a 7% monthly bill discount, interest-free installments, and a deal under which customers who choose a plan priced at 69,000 won or more can get a Galaxy Watch for as little as 0 won. Additional benefits will be announced on the 19th, and the details will be finalized in stages.
LG Uplus will temporarily waive early termination fees for its own subscribers who have more than 18 months elapsed on their contracts but still have remaining contract periods. Customers who trade in their current devices will receive an extra 200,000 won on top of the used device value. They can also take advantage of up to 24 months of interest-free installments and 100,000 won in cashback when paying with partner credit cards. The specific details of these benefits may be adjusted depending on circumstances.
An industry official stated, "Because details such as device specifications, pricing, and the overall Unpacked announcement have not yet been fully finalized, the benefits may be released in stages or adjusted over time. Still, we created a pre-benefits page to quickly generate buzz." The official added, "We are even offering perks just for signing up for pre-order alerts, because customers who set alerts often go on to complete actual pre-orders, and we want to capture that early interest."
kaya@fnnews.com Choi Hye-rim Reporter