Since smart phones first began storming the Korean market early last year, the so-called "smart life" has dominated Korean society.
Seemingly every possible product, from phones to TVs to a whole range of electronic goods, has been labeled "smart" and had their features enhanced.
The trend is so prevalent that Korean news agencies and industry experts have picked "smart phone" as the IT keyword of the year.
Now, users can have even more power as they make decisions about which services or products are necessary for them, and consumers actively engage in information production and consumption.
Nationwide trends in IT are now mainly being led by smart phones. As of the end of 2010, the number of smart phone users in Korea is estimated at 5.7 million. Experts say the number could reach as high as 20 million by the end of 2011. If this occurs, the number of smart phone users will account for more than one third of all mobile phone users.
The use of the wireless internet has become even more popular, too, thanks to the "smart phone revolution." For monthly fees of around 50,000 won, smart phone users can download an unlimited amount of data via wireless internet and 3G networks. As customers begin to use their mobile devices as small personal computers, lifestyles are changing to take advantage of the new flow of information.
As more and more people start using smart phones, cafes, subway cars and the sidewalks are all becoming places to watch the news, check email, play games and chat with friends through the internet. This new access to round-the-clock anywhere internet has lead to the expansion of social network services (SNS) like Twitter and Facebook, which are expected to grow even more this year.
Thanks to the "mobile big bang," social networking media have become a must-have communication channel for the public sector. A growing number of government organizations in Korea are actively using SNS to communicate with citizens, provide quick and accurate information on government policies and build a new trust-based relationship between the government and the people.
The total sales of Samsungs flagship smart phone, the Galaxy S, have exceeded 10 million units globally, thanks to its high-quality display, advanced technology and access to the Android applications market. In Korea alone, more than two million people bought a Galaxy S phone, according Samsung. North America is still the largest market, though, with 4 million Samsung smart phone customers.
Samsung isn't the only game in town, though, and more than 1.6 million Koreans have purchased an Apple iPhone in the first year of its Korean release.
In November of 2010, the Korea Communications Commission and the Korea Internet and Security Agency jointly conducted a survey over more than 2,100 smart phone users in Korea. According to the survey, most users spend almost one hour on the internet with their smart phone each day, and six out of ten use their smart phones for social networking services. Reflecting the survey results, the Korea Communications Commission said it will carry out projects to vitalize wireless internet to meet the needs of the smart phone communication era.
Source: APEC-VC Korea
