South Korea's three major telecom carriers have begun pre-order sales for Samsung Electronics' new Galaxy S26 series, which features enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities.
According to industry sources on Jan. 26, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus will conduct pre-order sales from Jan. 27 through Feb. 5, with device activations starting Feb. 6. Each carrier is rolling out promotional campaigns to attract subscribers during the pre-order period.
SK Telecom is offering cultural and dining experiences through its "SKT S26 Market" promotion. The carrier will hold lottery drawings for subscribers to win entry to high-demand events including the 2026 Chuncheon Marathon, Pokemon Run 2026 in Seoul, and Seoul Jazz Festival 2026. Additionally, 100 customers will receive dining vouchers worth 200,000 won for restaurants operated by chefs Park Hyo-nam and Choi Yu-gang. The first 3,000 customers who trade in their existing devices can receive up to 150,000 won in compensation.
KT is providing a 10% discount coupon for the Buds4 series and five accessory discount coupons, all redeemable through the Samsung.com app. Ultra model purchasers will also receive a 30% discount coupon for a 60W charger. Content benefits include a three-month Welaaa subscription and eight special gaming themes from Galaxy Store. KT.com will exclusively offer the Ultra 1TB model in limited quantities. KT customers subscribing to plans of 69,000 won or more per month can purchase the 1TB model at the 512GB price. An additional 7% discount on monthly fees, up to 218,000 won, is available for 5G plan subscribers. KT also plans to operate experience programs at major stores nationwide where customers can test the Galaxy S26's AI features.
LG Uplus is offering access to Gemini 3 and up to 2TB of storage for customers who subscribe to the Google One Pack plan. Google One Pack, first launched among Korean carriers by LG Uplus, provides affordable access to Google AI Pro, normally priced at 29,000 won per month. Customers on 5G Signature or 5G Premier Super plans can access Google AI Pro for an additional 4,000 won per month.
LG Uplus is also offering the "New Galaxy AI Subscription Club with Compensation Pass" to reduce device purchase costs. This program guarantees compensation of up to 50% of the original retail price when customers return their devices after a two or three-year subscription period, regardless of market resale value. LG Uplus is the only Korean carrier offering a three-year subscription option.