SK Telecom offers free year of YouTube Premium to mark Air service hitting 200,000 subscribers

SK Telecom announced Tuesday it will run a free YouTube Premium Lite subscription promotion to mark its SIM-free mobile service Air surpassing 200,000 subscribers.

The promotion, running for six months from Tuesday, offers new unlimited-plan subscribers a free one-year YouTube Premium Lite subscription along with bonus points. It is designed to let customers reduce their effective monthly bill to around 10,000 won ($7) by applying accumulated points toward their charges.

The promotion runs through Feb. 28, 2027, and is open to customers who newly sign up for the Air X unlimited data plan — priced at 58,000 won per month — through the Air app or website. Subscribers receive free YouTube Premium Lite access for one year from their activation date.

Customers who sign up during the promotion period also receive "bonus pack points," which can be used to pay monthly service fees or purchase from more than 1,000 products available in the in-app points shop.

Air X subscribers can pay their entire monthly bill with points through December. With maximum benefits applied, customers can effectively use the unlimited data plan — including free YouTube access — for around 10,000 won a month.

SK Telecom has been steadily expanding the utility of its points system to drive subscriber growth. In June, the company revised its point payment limits, allowing points earned through ad-based missions to be applied toward bills beyond the previous monthly cap of 5,000 won.

From August through December, the company significantly raised the ceiling on point-based bill payments. Air X subscribers can now cover 100 percent of their monthly fee with points, while subscribers on the other five plans can pay up to 50 percent. Since the benefit took effect, customers' point-based bill payments in August rose more than fivefold from the previous month.

New subscribers also receive an additional perk: eSIM issuance fees are fully waived for customers who sign up for any Air plan through Sept. 30.

Meanwhile, Air recently won a main prize in the brand and communication design category at the Red Dot Design Award 2026. The service's "telecom minimalism" concept — built around core functions and a lineup of six plans — earned high marks for user convenience.

"Air was designed from the ground up with users at the center, and we have continued to expand its services and benefits by actively incorporating customer feedback since launch," said Koo Hyun-cheol, head of SK Telecom's sales and marketing division. "We will keep working to make Air a telecom brand that adds convenience and enjoyment to customers' everyday lives."