A SK Telecom retail store employee changes the SIM card for a phone at a branch in Seoul on April 28. [YONHAP]
SK Telecom is offering a free subscriber identity module (SIM) card replacement service to protect its subscribers from recent hacking attempts. However, some users who have swapped their SIMs have reported issues such as their “transit card balance showing as zero” or that their “contacts disappeared.”
To avoid these issues, consider this information before and following your SIM change.
Transit card balance: Request refund via the application
If your transit card shows a zero balance following a SIM change, this isn’t due to a mistake. This outcome aligns with how SIM cards function. With prepaid transit systems such as Tmoney, which use near-field communication tech to keep balance data on the SIM itself, swapping out the SIM means losing that saved info, thus causing the balance display to reset to zero.
In order to prevent loss of balance, you must initiate a refund via the transit card application prior to swapping out your SIM card. Within the Tmoney app, press the “More” button marked with three dots located on the main screen, then choose “Refund,” and input your banking information to get back the remaining funds.
If you have only a small amount remaining, it might be easier to use up the balance before switching your SIM. Refunds are also available at some convenience stores and Tmoney customer centers. For postpaid transit cards, users should delete the card information before replacing the SIM and then reissue the card after installation, as there is no stored balance.
Exporting contacts: First export them, then proceed with importing.
The majority of contacts are stored directly on the phone, though certain gadgets may save them on the SIM card as well. For security purposes, ensure you backup your contacts onto your device prior to switching out the SIM card.
For Samsung users, open the “Contacts” application, tap the three-line menu icon, choose “Manage contacts,” and subsequently tap “Export” to store your contacts within the phone’s internal memory. Once you replace the SIM card, utilize the “Import” feature to recover these saved contacts.
For iPhone users looking to navigate through this process, follow these steps: go to “Settings,” proceed to “Apps,” move on to “Contacts,” and finally tap on “Import SIM Contacts.” When asked, choose where you want to import the contacts. Should these options not be visible, Apple recommends reaching out to your device’s manufacturer for additional help.
How to backup KakaoTalk chat conversations
Substituting your SIM card will not remove your KakaoTalk chat history. However, if you’re worried about this, you can utilize KakaoTalk’s backup options.
Open the KakaoTalk app, tap the gear icon to enter “Settings,” then select “Chats.” You can choose either the paid “Auto Backup” for chats and media or “Temporary Backup” for chat-only data. Temporary Backup saves text chats, allowing you to restore them within 14 days of reinstalling the app, and it’s free.
If you also want to back up photos, videos, and other media, you’ll need a subscription to the paid service, “KakaoTalk Locker Plus.”
Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
BY KIM JI-HYE [[email protected]]
