As the Chuseok holiday (Korea’s autumn harvest festival) approaches, LG U+ is launching a special overseas roaming promotion designed to make travel more convenient for its customers.

The promotion, which runs from September 18 through February 28 of the next year, includes 3 key benefits:

1. Free in-flight Wi-Fi
   Passengers flying internationally will be able to access in-flight Wi-Fi at no extra cost.
2. Up to 40 minutes of voice calls
   Users will get up to 40 minutes of voice calling time included in the offer.
3. Double data
   While roaming overseas, customers will receive twice the normal data allocation under their roaming plans.

These benefits are intended to reduce common pain points for travelers: staying connected in the air, keeping in touch via voice calls, and having ample data overseas without fear of high overage charges.

Why Now: Strategic Rationale

Several factors make this promotion timely and strategically sensible for LG U+:

• Holiday travel surge: Chuseok is one of the biggest domestic travel periods in Korea, not just internally but also for outbound travel. Many Koreans travel abroad or have relatives overseas. Promotions that ease roaming burdens become very attractive.
• Competition intensifying: Other telecom operators have been rolling out promotions around roaming, international calls, and in-flight connectivity. LG U+ needs to stay competitive.
• Consumer expectations: As more devices and services require constant internet connectivity (maps, messaging, work, streaming), roaming data and connectivity in transit (on planes) become more important in consumer decision-making.
• Differentiation: By bundling free in-flight Wi-Fi, voice calls, and double data, LG U+ can differentiate itself from carriers that might offer only one or two of those benefits or do so in a more limited way.

How It Stacks Up: Competitors & Market Context

To understand the value of LG U+’s offer, it helps to compare with what other major players in Korea are offering (or have recently offered) in the roaming / in-flight-connectivity space.

What It Means for Consumers

For users — travelers, expatriates, foreign residents, or even frequent flyers — this promotion offers several clear advantages:

• Cost-savings: Without needing to pay separately for in-flight Wi-Fi (which can be expensive), or for extra data or voice calling, customers save directly.
• Convenience: Removing friction (no extra fees in flight, doubling data) reduces planning hassles. Travelers may worry less about overage or surprise bills.
• Better coverage of “in transit” connectivity: Many roaming plans cover overseas cell networks but not the time spent in transit (airplane); providing free in-flight Wi-Fi fills a gap.
• Competitive leverage: Customers shopping between carriers may value these perks heavily, especially for frequent travelers. LG U+ may attract or retain customers because of these benefits.

Potential Downsides / Considerations

While the promotion is strong, there are always some caveats or things to watch out for:

• Scope of “in-flight Wi-Fi”: It matters which airlines, which flights, and which aircraft are included. Not all international flights may have Wi-Fi, or compatible in-flight systems. If LG U+’s free Wi-Fi only works on certain airlines or only for certain durations, its full value might be reduced.
• Voice call availability in flight: Even though 40 minutes of voice calls are included, consumers will need to check whether voice calls are permitted (airline rules, device settings, etc.). Many in-flight Wi-Fi systems restrict calls or require special apps.
• Fair usage / data speed / throttling: Double data is useful, but once data caps are reached, speed limits or throttling may apply. Also, “double” might still not be enough for heavy users.
• Roaming partner networks / coverage: Data abroad depends on where you go. If the destination’s network partners are weak, or coverage is spotty, having more data doesn’t always translate to better experience.
• Duration & terms: The promotion ends in February; after that, benefits revert. Also, fine print (e.g., roaming pass activation, eligibility) could limit who can use it when. Always check the terms.

Broader Impacts & Market Implications

• Raising the bar for roaming offers: When one carrier adds robust perks (free inflight Wi-Fi, voice minutes, double data), others are pressured to match or exceed to avoid losing customers. We may see SKT, KT, or MVNOs respond with their own enhanced roaming packages.
• Customer expectations shift: As connectivity becomes more ubiquitous (Wi-Fi onboard, strong roaming networks), customers begin to expect in-flight Wi-Fi and generous roaming data as standard rather than luxury. What’s new today may become the baseline tomorrow.
• Opportunity for alliances: Airlines, global network providers (for in-flight internet), and telecom carriers may form more partnerships to deliver seamless connectivity. We already see this with SKT’s automatic Wi-Fi authentication service. LG U+ may need to secure similar partnerships for consistent in-flight coverage.
• Focus on foreign demographics: LG U+’s recent moves (foreigner-exclusive plans, doubling roaming data, free international calling) show carriers are recognizing foreign residents and travelers as important segments. Promotions like the Chuseok roaming package align with attracting and retaining those users.

Conclusion about LG U+ Chuseok roaming promotion

LG U+’s Chuseok overseas roaming promotion is a well-timed, well-packaged offer that addresses three major pain points for travelers: connectivity in transit (via free in-flight Wi-Fi), voice communication, and data abroad. It is competitive with — and in some respects ahead of—what other major carriers are offering, especially when considering the element of voice minutes plus double data.