Since 2011, KISDI has tracked the cross-media usage of about 5,000 households and the members by means of household visits, interviews and self-reported written media diary on the media use patterns across 17 cities and provinces in South Korea.
According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, around ** percent of respondents stated that they owned a smartphone, up from about ** percent in 2011. Since 2023, 5G has made up the biggest share of all smartphones.
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 ** percent of smartphone users were considered to be dependent on their smartphone in 2023.Â
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 2024, South Korea saw around **** 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 ** percent in the global 5G market by 2026.
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KISDI. (December 2, 2024). Ownership rate of smartphones in South Korea from 2011 to 2024 [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from /statistics/777726/south-korea-smartphone-ownership/
KISDI. "Ownership rate of smartphones in South Korea from 2011 to 2024." Chart. December 2, 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. Accessed July 23, 2026. /statistics/777726/south-korea-smartphone-ownership/
KISDI. (2024). Ownership rate of smartphones in South Korea from 2011 to 2024. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 23, 2026. /statistics/777726/south-korea-smartphone-ownership/
KISDI. "Ownership Rate of Smartphones in South Korea from 2011 to 2024." ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ Inc., 2 Dec 2024, /statistics/777726/south-korea-smartphone-ownership/
KISDI, Ownership rate of smartphones in South Korea from 2011 to 2024 ÌÇÐÄÆÆ½â°æ, /statistics/777726/south-korea-smartphone-ownership/ (last visited July 23, 2026)
Ownership rate of smartphones in South Korea from 2011 to 2024 [Graph], KISDI, December 2, 2024. [Online]. Available: /statistics/777726/south-korea-smartphone-ownership/