iPhone slated for South Korean debut on November 28
By Chris Ziegler 
posted November 23rd 2009 5:21AM
posted November 23rd 2009 5:21AM
Look, South Korea, we know it's been about four decades since a handset without an integrated DMB tuner or two launched in your neck of the woods -- and no, there isn't an app for that -- but just how badly do you want in on this Apple mojo? Following government clearance a couple months back, South Korean operator KT says that it's now ready to offer the iPhone to customers next Saturday, November 28 for prices ranging from 396,000 won ($343) on a 45,000 won plan ($39) for a 32GB 3GS all the way down to absolutely free for an 8GB 3G on a 95,000 won plan ($82). Given that KT and its competitors typically rival Japanese carriers for sheer technological insanity, it'll be interesting to see how the average Korean consumer responds to the late launch.
I teach ESL in Korea and have been wanting to get one for quite some time. If I happen to have KT in my rural area of the province of Gangwon-do, I'll be the first to sign up.
Most likely you'll get coverage with KT in Gangwon-do but the problem is with the data plans.
http://www.show.co.kr/index.asp?code=AHF0000&jurl=http://www.show.co.kr/sbrand2/iphone/fee/feeguide.asp
None of the data plans they offer will give you unlimited data. The lowest plan (45,000 KRW) they offer on that page only gives you 500MB of data a month. The one redeeming factor is that if you sign up for their plans you get free 'NESPOT' access which is KT's wifi access points. They are pretty common in Seoul, Incheon, and Kyeongi-do, but I'm not sure about Gangwon-do.
Well, good luck getting the quoted prices if you're on an E-2 Visa! I recently looked into the LG Chocolate 21:9 hot:ass phone, and LG Telecom wanted me to pay 920,000 won up front. It didn't matter to them that I'd been a customer for over a year or that I'd renewed my teaching contract. Ouch :-( I'm still making due with my Pantech S340L, without DMB, subway maps, and only one stupid game: Jumping Pop WTF!?! I'll still give KT and the iPhone a try.
In the meantime, at least I have my SNSD "Naengmyeon" ringtone :-)
http://www.imeem.com/tiffanyland/music/9R1UCa61/snsdjessica-park-myeong-soo-naeng-myeoncold-noodles/
I think a lot of Koreans will be amazed with the lack of DMB. It's on all the dumbphones and they do love their dramas.
You right, but for many of korean iPhone lovers, DMB is not matter, including me :-)
They'll probably make a DMB dongle in no time.
They are responding very well
Over 20,000+ reserved already...
It's about time actually...
Would this be a CDMA iPhone then? Korea does not have a GSM network.They have 2 networks that operate on EVDO and CDMA...
Maybe someone can unlock these Korean iPhones and bring em to Verizon.
Can't read? It's on KT, which also uses UMTS. 2 of S. Korea's operator have been on UMTS/HSDPA for their 3G network (CDMAone is 2G).
That picture is just horribly freaky.
That's so true! They have a TV channel dedicated to people playing Starcraft.
Can't wait for iPhone commercials featuring one of those Korean boyband/pretty boys, and iPhone variety show!
Kinda looks like she wants to throw it a la Krull.
REALLY?!?!?!?!? OMG!!!!!!!
KT confirmed that 22,000 iPhones were reserved on their website in less than two days - quite a feat for a foreign phone (sans Motorola). SE's XPERIA sold 15,000 units and was considered a "success".