The telecommunications industry is gearing up for an intense marketing battle leading up to the launch of the iPhone 15 in South Korea. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Oct. 3 (Korea Bizwire) – The telecommunications industry is gearing up for an intense marketing battle leading up to the launch of the iPhone 15 in South Korea. The primary focus is on capturing the attention and loyalty of Korean consumers, with companies offering services such as early morning and same-day delivery.
Telecom companies are in fierce competition to attract iPhone enthusiasts well before the pre-sale period, which commences immediately after the Chuseok holiday.
As per industry reports, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus will commence accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 15 series on October 6 at 12:00 a.m.
KT is set to initiate “early morning delivery” on October 13, the official release date, ensuring prompt delivery to the Seoul metropolitan area and five major cities. Meanwhile, SK Telecom will provide both same-day delivery and a “morning pickup” service for its initial batch of pre-order customers.
In addition to these services, all three telecom companies are enticing pre-order customers with valuable prizes through lotteries, and celebrity-driven promotional campaigns are expected to add to the excitement.
Nevertheless, it has been three weeks since the unveiling of the latest iPhone series, the iPhone 15. While many “major countries” have already started selling the product, Korean iPhone enthusiasts are growing increasingly frustrated, unable to get their hands on the iPhone 15.
The Korean release is slated for October 13, a significant 31 days after the initial unveiling on September 12. This delay has left South Korean consumers longing for an earlier release, but their hopes have been dashed.
This over-a-month-long wait has somewhat dulled the novelty of the iPhone 15. It’s worth noting that the next iPhone iteration is expected to launch in September 2024, just 11 months later.
Apple launched the first wave of new iPhones in over 40 countries and territories on September 22, focusing on key regions of strategic importance. On September 29, a second round of releases occurred in over 20 countries and territories, including Macau, Malaysia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam, but South Korea was not among them.
This has sparked speculation about Apple’s commitment to the Korean market. If it were a significant market, one might have expected Apple to expedite the release somehow.
While Samsung dominates the Korean market with its Galaxy lineup, the iPhone continues to gain popularity, particularly among individuals in their 20s and 30s. According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, the iPhone’s market share in South Korea reached 21 percent last year, up by 1 percentage point from the previous year, and it continues to climb.
Approximately 1 in 5 South Koreans now own an iPhone. Moreover, sales of higher-priced smartphones, priced at $800 (approximately 1.06 million won) and above, have surged, accounting for 60 percent of the market in Korea during the latter half of the previous year.
Considering that Apple’s entire iPhone range falls well above the 1 million won mark, South Korea could indeed be an attractive market for the tech giant. However, Apple’s intentions regarding the Korean market remain a mystery known only to the company itself.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
