Queues for the opening of the Apple Hongdae store.
For the first time since the iPhone 3GS, South Korea may get the iPhone 16 in September, at the same time as the US.
Apple’s smartphone launches tend to consist of day-one sales in a few key territories, with others arriving in the weeks that follow. For South Korea, this tends to be a release weeks, or even a month, after many other major markets.
For 2024, that could change. According to sources of The Korea Times, Apple is bringing the release in South Korea forward. Potentially making it one of the initial launch countries for the new iPhone models.
One industry official said that preparations are underway for the iPhone release. However, due to Apple’s culture of secrecy and of minimal communications with telecom partners, carriers cannot confirm release dates before Apple makes its official announcement.
Current speculation is that the launch of the iPhone 16 could occur on September 10.
Another spoken to by the report said that the early launch “remains at the stage of a likely rumor,” admitting that it is still “hard to predict” until Apple’s launch.
The delay in South Korea has previously been attributed to a few factors, including Apple’s confidentiality policies. However, Apple also has to contend with Korea’s certification system.
The National Radio Research Agency discloses information on new devices through its website. Submitting the iPhone to testing through the NRRA could mean specifications leak ahead of the launch.
While the risk of regulatory disclosure is present, Apple may push forward with a South Korean initial launch since it’s seeing good progress in the region. In the fiscal year ending September 2023, Apple saw a 550% increase in operating profit over the previous year.
South Korean users aged under 30 also have a tendency to buy an Android device, then half switch over to the iPhone.
Apple also opened a store in Gangnam in March 2023 and in Hongdae in January 2024, giving users in the country more opportunity to interact with the brand.
However, Apple’s existence in South Korea isn’t without troubles. Find My curiously doesn’t work in the country due to local laws.
There is also the ever-present dominance of local tech giant Samsung in the country to contend with.