Iphone in Korea

The iPhone has arrived!!! Finally, Korea has permitted its citizens to join the iPhone craze. Starting in the end of November, Apple's iPhones have been selling like hotcakes to Koreans and foreigners alike. Little by little I've noticed that the Apple lifestyle has really been catching on in the South Korean peninsula and now its followers can finally complete their collections with this new smart phone.

Despite the craze, there have also been many negative points brought up by Koreans and foreigners alike. First, many purchasers have had issues with the functioning and support services of their iPhones. Like all newly bought Apple products, there is a warranty and you are able to receive technical support from the all that is Apple whizzes at any authorized Apple retailer. However, the problem with the iPhone is that should you come across a problem, it will need to be sent abroad and there's no guarantee how long the actual reparation might take. Another issue that people have, foreigners in particular, is that they can't benefit from the monthly payment plan for the actual telephone (over a span of 2 years.) Foreigners who are seeking to purchase iPhones independently--meaning without the help of a Korean national--are obligated to pay for the iPhone up front, which can be quite costly! Finally, iPhone users in Korea are concerned with the fact that only one cell phone service provider is available currently. (KTF)

Since the apparition of the iPhone 3G and 3Gs, blogs and websites dedicated to everything concerning the iPhone have popped up all over the Internet. iPhone in Korea, for example, is a regularly updated website that has information, tips and news about this much hyped mobile.

There are a few options when it comes to payment plans. See below for prices and what each plan includes :
~ 45,000 KRW/month --> 200 minutes of call time
500 MB of data
300 text messages
* 32 GB 3Gs = 396,000 KRW ; 16 GB 3Gs = 264,000 KRW

~ 65,000 KRW/month --> 400 minutes of call time
1000 MB of data
300 text messages
* 32 GB 3Gs = 264,000 KRW ; 16 GB 3Gs = 132,000 KRW ; 8 GB
3G = free

~ 95,000 KRW/month --> 800 minutes of call time
3 GB of data
300 text messages
* 32 GB 3Gs = 132,000 KRW ; 16 GB 3Gs and 8 GB 3G = free

If you're interested in purchasing the iPhone in Korea, it would be best to have a Korean friend that knows and trusts you to help you with this. Otherwise, it'll be a lot of cash money up front!

Enjoy the photos of our iPhone adventure!