Number of Smartphone Users in Korea Approaches 40 Million

The number of smartphone users in Korea is expected to surpass 40 million next month, less than five years since the world's first commercial smartphone, the Apple iPhone, was released in November 2009.

According to the telecom industry on Sunday, 39.05 million people have smartphone contracts in Korea as of June. SK Telecom has 18.93 million subscribers, KT has 11.85 million and LG Uplus 8.27 million.


The number of smartphone users in Korea has continued to rise. The figure surpassed 10 million in March 2011, and exceeded 20 million just seven months later. As of August 2012, over 30 million people were using smartphones.

The number reached 37.52 million at the end of last year, and has risen by an average of 250,000 each month to break the 39-million mark in just half a year. At this pace, the industry predicts that the number will reach over 40 million in October.

via