Smartphone ownership in South Korea 2011-2023

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2023, around 94.8 percent of respondents stated that they owned a smartphone, up from around 22 percent in 2011. 

A digital life

The high smartphone penetration rate among South Koreans is by no means a surprise. In the homeland of smartphone giant Samsung smartphones are an integral part of everyday lives. From online shopping to communication, mobile tickets to mobile payment, smartphones have found their place in almost every aspect of the average South Korean’s life. Unfortunately, this also has its side effects – more than 23 percent of smartphone users were considered to be dependent on their smartphone in 2022.

5G

As 5G is still a fairly new technology, the whole world was watching when South Korea launched their 5G networks as early as in April 2019. While the initial enthusiasm of consumers is gone, the number of subscribers is rising. As of March 2023, South Korea saw nearly 30 million 5G subscriptions. With the development of the new technology, the country is hoping to be in the center of future smartphone developments and inventions. The government of South Korea is aiming for a market share of 15 percent in the global 5G market by 2026.