SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service is set to launch in South Korea on December 4, marking a significant milestone in the company’s global expansion. Starlink Korea has already begun accepting pre-orders for its Residential plan, priced at 87,000 won per month, which is roughly equivalent to $59 USD. The service will offer unlimited data with the Standard Starlink kit, including the dish and Wi-Fi router, for 550,000 won (about $375 USD), along with a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
Local industry sources have confirmed that Starlink Korea will activate service domestically starting Thursday morning. Sales are expected to be facilitated through local resellers such as SK Telink and KT Sat. The company’s rapid expansion comes as SpaceX recently announced that Starlink has surpassed eight million users across more than 150 countries and territories worldwide.
Starlink’s low-Earth-orbit broadband network relies on thousands of satellites orbiting at altitudes around 300 miles, providing high-speed internet connections with lower latency compared to traditional satellite offerings. The service caters to residential, enterprise, and even aviation sectors, with major in-flight Wi-Fi deals secured with international airlines. Additionally, Starlink has rolled out satellite phone connectivity in several regions, with Chile being the most recent country to receive the service.
In contrast, Amazon’s newly rebranded Amazon Leo service, which is a potential competitor to Starlink, is not expected to begin commercial operations until next year. With fewer than 200 satellites currently in orbit, Amazon’s service is still far from matching Starlink’s global reach.
With Starlink’s imminent launch in South Korea, consumers and businesses in the country will soon experience high-speed satellite connectivity for the first time. SpaceX’s global expansion shows no signs of slowing down, with the company even opening its first physical Starlink retail stores in the U.S. The future looks bright for Starlink as it continues to revolutionize the way people connect to the internet around the world.