Jang Seob Yoon
Research expert covering South Korea
Smartphone usage in South Korea - statistics & facts
The vast majority of South Koreans own a smartphone. Given the integral part that smartphones play in the everyday lives of most people, this fact is not a surprise. The country has a reputation for being open to new technologies and most consumers adapt quickly to new trends. A prominent example is 5G connectivity; ever since its rollout in 2019, the number of subscribers with a 5G contract has steadily grown. The launch of 5G in South Korea was an effort pushed on a government level, and the country's citizens have been open to adapting emerging technology.
How long are South Koreans on their smartphones?
Nevertheless, this high smartphone ownership rate has come with its side effects. Survey results found that a significant portion of respondents in the younger generation were using their smartphones for more than four hours a day. Given the versatile ways to use a smartphone in everyday life, an increasing number of consumers are growing overly dependent on the device. A national survey shows that almost one in four people are dependent on their smartphone. This figure includes South Koreans as young as three years old.What are the most popular apps used by South Koreans?
Sampled data analysis found that YouTube was the application that was used the longest by South Koreans, with a total of more than 100 billion minutes spent monthly. The popularity of Youtube is evident in user data and the online video platform seems to stand the test of time as the years go on. Another leading application was KakaoTalk, a domestically developed instant messaging app. The company behind KakaoTalk has expanded into a conglomerate company with operations in games, online banking, and more, making itself a household name in various industry sectors.
