Korea Blockchain Week 2026 Checklist: Data, Money and Seoul Tips for KBW
KBW 2026 runs 29 September to 1 October at Walkerhill in Seoul. Seoul is easy once you are set up, and awkward if you are not. Here is the checklist.
Quick answer: Korea Blockchain Week 2026 runs 29 September to 1 October at Walkerhill Hotels & Resorts, Seoul, with the main conference on 30 September and 1 October. Before you fly: install a Korea eSIM at home, download Naver Map or KakaoMap (as of September 2026, Google Maps directions are still limited in Korea), plan a T-money card for transport, and check whether you need a K-ETA.
Key takeaways
- KBW 2026: 29 September institutional forum, 30 September to 1 October main conference, at Walkerhill in east Seoul.
- As of September 2026, Google Maps gives limited walking and driving directions in Korea. Install Naver Map or KakaoMap before you land.
- Side events spread across Gangnam, Seongsu and other districts every night of KBW week. You will navigate them on mobile data.
- A T-money card covers subway, buses and many convenience stores.
Which network you get, and what it really costs
In South Korea the Fizen eSIM roams on LG U+ (4G/5G). This is a South Korea-only plan. At 128 kbps you can still send messages and load map tiles, but not hold a video call.
| Plan | Days | Price | Per day | Per GB | After the high-speed data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | 3 | US$12.17 | US$4.06 | n/a | no throttle stated |
| Unlimited | 5 | US$20.25 | US$4.05 | n/a | no throttle stated |
| Unlimited | 7 | US$29.32 | US$4.19 | n/a | no throttle stated |
| Unlimited | 10 | US$35.43 | US$3.54 | n/a | no throttle stated |
| Unlimited | 15 | US$49.61 | US$3.31 | n/a | no throttle stated |
| Unlimited | 30 | US$70.16 | US$2.34 | n/a | no throttle stated |
| 1 GB | 3 | US$7.16 | US$2.39 | US$7.16 | slows to 128 kbps |
| 3 GB | 3 | US$8.09 | US$2.70 | US$2.70 | slows to 128 kbps |
| 3 GB | 7 | US$9.10 | US$1.30 | US$3.03 | slows to 128 kbps |
| 1 GB | 3 | US$9.94 | US$3.31 | US$9.94 | slows to 128 kbps |
| 5 GB | 7 | US$10.11 | US$1.44 | US$2.02 | slows to 128 kbps |
| 5 GB | 15 | US$10.12 | US$0.67 | US$2.02 | slows to 128 kbps |
| 5 GB | 30 | US$10.12 | US$0.34 | US$2.02 | slows to 128 kbps |
| 5 GB | 7 | US$16.68 | US$2.38 | US$3.34 | slows to 128 kbps |
Prices and carrier read from the Fizen catalogue on 23 September 2026. Data only, no calls or SMS.
Prices are before the welcome credit. A new user who opens the eSIM tab in the Fizen app for the first time gets US$10 of eSIM credit automatically, with no code, valid for 12 months. The app shows how much of it comes off your order. Paying by card on the web works too, but the credit only applies in the app.
Seoul during Korea Blockchain Week is a city-wide event. The conference sits at Walkerhill on the east side, while the dinners, parties and side events scatter across Gangnam, Seongsu, Itaewon and beyond. The people who get the most out of the week are the ones who can move between them without thinking: phone online, maps that work, transport card in pocket.
Here is how to arrive that way.
When and where is Korea Blockchain Week 2026?
| Day | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 29 September 2026 | Private institutional forum with Upbit | Walkerhill Hotels & Resorts, Seoul |
| 30 September 2026 | KBW main conference, day 1 | Walkerhill Hotels & Resorts |
| 1 October 2026 | KBW main conference, day 2 | Walkerhill Hotels & Resorts |
| Evenings all week | Community side events | Across Seoul |
Walkerhill is in Gwangjin-gu, on the east side of Seoul near Achasan. Gwangnaru Station on Line 5 is the usual rail access, with the hotel's shuttle and taxis covering the last stretch. Check the official KBW site for the latest agenda and access notes.
Pre-flight checklist for KBW
- Phone: eSIM-capable and carrier-unlocked. Check before you buy.
- Travel eSIM installed at home on Wi-Fi, switched on after landing. Keep your home SIM active for bank and 2FA codes.
- Power bank (carry-on only, check your airline's limits) and a short cable. Conference days drain phones fast.
- Hotspot plan check: if you demo from a laptop or share with a teammate, pick a plan that allows tethering.
- Hardware wallet or a separate event wallet if you will be signing anything on site.
- Offline copies: hotel address in the local language, booking confirmations, and your ticket QR as a screenshot.
- Naver Map or KakaoMap installed and set to English. Google Maps works for public transit but gives limited walking and driving directions in Korea.
- Kakao T for taxis. Registration and payment options for foreign users change, so set it up and test before you rely on it.
- K-ETA check: eligible nationalities are temporarily exempt until 31 December 2026. Confirm your status on the official K-ETA site.
Why mobile data matters more in Seoul than you think
Seoul has excellent coverage and free Wi-Fi in many places, which makes it tempting to skip data. The catch is event week: you are moving between the venue and side events in districts you do not know, and the map apps you need are only useful online.
- Walkerhill to Gangnam and other side-event districts is a real journey, not a walk.
- Side event details change last minute on Luma, Telegram and X.
- Taxi apps and translation need a live connection on the street.
- Venue networks are shared by thousands of attendees during keynotes and demo sessions.
Korea plans on the Fizen eSIM page are listed with their current prices in the app. For a full KBW week of maps, messaging and occasional hotspot use, pick a plan with comfortable data headroom, or unlimited if you hotspot a laptop. See also our South Korea eSIM guide.
Money in Seoul: cards, T-money and cash
| Situation | What usually works | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Subway and buses | T-money card | Buy at convenience stores; top-ups are usually cash. iPhone: add T-money in Apple Wallet via the Tmoney app and top up with Mastercard, Amex or UnionPay (not Visa yet) |
| Cafes, restaurants, taxis | International cards widely accepted | Carry a backup card |
| Traditional markets and small stalls | Cash, sometimes cards | Keep some won in cash |
| Getting cash | Global ATMs at banks and convenience stores | Check fees shown on screen |
Korea is one of the most card-friendly countries in Asia, so most attendees barely touch cash. A T-money card and one or two international cards cover almost everything. Keep a small amount of won for markets and the occasional place that does not take your card.
Wallet safety during KBW week
- Never connect your main wallet to a QR code you scanned at a booth or side event. Use a burner wallet with a small balance for mints, POAPs and raffles.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi for anything wallet-related. Venue and hotel networks are crowded and shared. Your own mobile data is the safer default.
- Treat DMs after the event as phishing by default. Fake speakers, fake sponsors and fake support accounts appear every conference week.
- Do not sign transactions you cannot read, especially approvals and permit signatures offered as a free claim.
- Exchange booths and giveaways: read terms before you connect, and never share a seed phrase with anyone claiming to be support.
Terms and conditions
- Information only. This checklist is general travel information, not legal, immigration, financial or investment advice.
- For readers in the United States. This article provides information only. It is not an offer, solicitation or sale of any product or service, and it is not financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Fizen is not offered to US Persons.
- Event details can change. Dates, venues and schedules are set by the organisers. Check the official event website before you book.
- Entry rules are official-source only. Visa, travel-authorisation and arrival-card rules are set by the destination's government and can change. Confirm them on the official sites linked here before you fly.
- Plans vary. eSIM prices, data allowances, hotspot support and validity depend on the plan and are shown on the checkout page, which takes precedence over this article. Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Travel eSIMs are data-only.
- No affiliation. Fizen is not affiliated with the event organisers, venues, transport operators or apps named here.
- Availability. Fizen is not offered to US Persons. Fizen is a self-custody app backed by an investment from Tether.
- Full terms. Master Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Disclaimer on the Fizen site.
Sources
- PR Newswire: KBW 2026 returns to Seoul September 29 to October 1
- Korea Blockchain Week official site
- K-ETA official site
- EY: Korea extends temporary K-ETA exemption until 31 December 2026
- Korea JoongAng Daily: T-money in Apple Pay for foreign visitors
