The owners of explosion-prone large smartphone Galaxy Note 7 are able to refund or exchange their device from Thursday until the end of this year, according to Samsung Electronics.

The short-lived Galaxy Note 7, which first rolled out on Aug. 19 in the US and Korea, sold around 1.8 million units globally. Around 500,000 units were sold in Korea alongside 1 million units in the US, where refunds and exchanges began Tuesday. 


Samsung said Thursday owners of the Galaxy Note 7 would receive benefits of up to 100,000 won ($88) when they replace their devices with other Samsung smartphones.

Here are some questions and answers for those currently owning an original, or replacement, Note 7 device in Korea:

Q. Where should I get a refund or exchange my Galaxy Note 7?

A. You are able to refund or exchange your Note 7 at the store where you bought the device. Bring the device and your identification card.

You do not have to bring freebies that you received upon purchase, such as the smart band Gear Fit 2 or accessories. Even if you lost the S Pen stylus, the Note 7 is still refundable.

Q. Can I exchange the Galaxy Note 7 for a different brand smartphone?

A. Yes. You can exchange Note 7 for smartphones such as the iPhone series or LG Electronics’ V20. Check the release dates of other new smartphones before visiting the store. Make a phone call in advance to make sure the store has the phone you want to replace with.

Q. What if I exchange for a cheaper smartphone than the Note 7? Can I receive the difference?

A. Yes. Basically, consumers get the refund for the Galaxy Note 7 first, then choose what to buy. However, the refund policy is slightly different among telecom operators. SKT and KT will cancel credit card purchases or return in cash on the spot, while LG Uplus will transfer the money into the customer’s account or deduct it from the next month’s bill.

Q. I bought the Note 7 online. How can I get a refund or exchange the phone?

A. You should go to the telecom operator first to cancel the service and get a refund from the online store where you made the purchase.

Q. I bought a secondhand Note 7. How can I get a refund or exchange the phone?

A. In this case, you have to get a refund through the original seller, as otherwise, you will not be able to find out which store the device was sold from. The key principle of this refund policy is that consumers get a refund or exchange their Note 7 from the store where they made the purchase.

Q. What kind of benefits can I get from the refund or exchange?

A. Samsung provides mobile coupons amounting to 30,000 won for all owners who either exchange or refund their Galaxy Note 7.

The coupons can be used at Samsung Electronics’ mobile event mall, which sells household supplies, beauty products, fashion items and food.

If you exchange the device for the Galaxy S7 Edge, Galaxy S7 or Note 5, you will additionally get 70,000 won to help cover the cost. Details on how to get the 70,000 won will later be announced after Samsung completes negotiations with telecom operators.

Q. I changed the telecom carrier after I bought Galaxy Note 7. Can I return to the previous telecom operator?

A. Under the current communications law, consumers are not able to change the telecom operator within three months. However, since the Note 7 recall is a special case, Samsung Electronics is now in talks with telecom operators to alter the policy.

By Shin Ji-hye (shinjh@heraldcorp.com)