Hot off the heels of Apple's iPad cannibalizing all product categories and the heated debate whether the iPad will be a groundbreaker or go the way of the tiger in Korea. In this disparity, there may lay hope because this is at a time when Korean electronics major companies are reshaping their corporate ideologies for eBook control.
One such company taking the plunge is KT Corp., which plans to launch an eBook business in April. KT plans to provide 50,000 items for eBooks for its release in April. Moreover, KT will be the first company to enter the eBook market based on telecommunications. In doing so, this could shake things up into the local eBook market due to the fact that analysts are saying; it is showing signs of growth. Korea Electronic Publishing Association (KEPA) claims, "eBooks are expected to make up 20 percent of all publications nationally by 2012 from an estimated five percent this year."
To further help transcend the eBook industry, South Korea plans to make a national blueprint to develop the eBook industry within the year, which will tap into new growth engines. Moreover, The Ministry of Knowledge Economy stated, "It will collaborate with different ministries to create necessary technologies and industrial standards to revolutionize the country into a global innovator in the rapidly growing eBook business."
