ANSWERS – Why is the iPhone Not in Korea?
1) iPhones CANNOT work on ANY phone network in Korea, including SK Telecom.
As of now, there is no iPhone in Korea. Nor can you use your iPhone with SK Telecom. Despite false rumors currently floating around the Korean blog space, no iPhone will function with SK Telecom’s networks, or any other Korean phone network for that matter.
There is no iPhone in Korea because iPhones lack WIPI (Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability) circuitry which is required for any mobile phone to function in Korea. This standard was created by, get this, the Mobile Platform Special Subcommittee of the Korea Wireless Internet Standardization Forum (KWISF).
2) Korean telecom companies are government supported MONOPOLIES and oligopolies that are protected.
It’s safe to say that the KWISF has ties with the chaebols of Korea. A chaebol is a huge multinational corporation owned by families and other entities. Chaebols are unique to Korea, and in Korean literally means “monopoly” or “business family.” The three largest chaebols of Korea are Samsung, Hyundai, and LG – names we are all familiar with.
Chaebols are financially and politically supported by the government. The two telecoms contending to offer the iPhone in Korea are KT/KTF (heavily speculated as the winner) and SK Telecom. They are the two largest mobile carriers in Korea. Big surprise, BOTH are chaebols!
3) The Korean GOVERNMENT is protecting Korean telecoms
The telecom chaebols in Korea are being protected by government at the expense of its consumers. Overpriced service plans are resultant of lack of competition. Limited selection of handset manufacturers (basically limited to only Korean) is due to restrictive barriers from foreign competition.
4) No WIFI on phones in Korea
Mobile phones in Korea do not have WIFI capability. The iPhone with WIFI will be an immediate threat to Korean telecoms profits. Korean telecoms count on subscribers paying for overpriced internet access on their mobile phones. Only a few years ago, Korean telecom companies invested a fortune in a network to allow for 3G technology for data connections on mobiles. They have fended off competition with WIFI enabled mobile phones to recover their investment in building the network and protect their bank accounts.
Final Thoughts
When and if the iPhone finally arrives in Korea, will they be the same as what the rest of the world gets? Will Koreans continue to be fleeced by government supported telecoms? Will the iPhone in Korea be stripped of features like WIFI to protect corporate Korea? What do you think?
September 9th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
WIPI was abolished earlier this year.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Could you comment with some more information about the removal of the WIPI requirement?
Where did you get this information? Thanks in advance.
October 13th, 2009 at 3:54 am
em’…. I am using my T-Omnia everyday with Skype via Wifi. Where did I get this?
True, SK & KT should be shot for disabling phone’s capabilities & charging arm & leg for internet access.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:38 am
[...] Why is the iPhone not in Korea? [...]
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
[...] Why is the iPhone not in Korea? [...]
December 12th, 2009 at 9:11 pm
I think phone service is cheap here in Korea. I mean is it true that a few years back (well maybe 10 or 15) didn’t the government subsidize phones and give millions of phones away? The price I pay a month is around 30,000 won a month. That includes random calls to the states, uploading videos to youtube (not a ton) texting to the states (not on a regular basis) and sending tons of mms texts with in Korea.
My phone bill in the states ran about 50 bucks a month and that was after I added unlimited texting. at least here you get free incoming everything… right?