Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
To save on international call charges, many foreign residents use Internet telephony ser-
vices such as Skype, which allow people to make calls with a computer, Internet connec-
tion, and headset for little or no cost. Prepaid phone cards with steeply reduced per-minute
rates for international calls are also widely available at convenience stores and other retail-
ers, although the quality of service can vary.
About the only fault one could find with South Korean Internet services, if it is a fault at
all, is that it's nearly impossible to get a dial-up connection. Broadband is so stable and ubi-
quitous that few are prepared to settle for anything else. Ten megabit-per-second (Mbps)
connections—twice as fast as the typical DSL links seen in the United States—are standard,
and speeds in newer apartment complexes equipped with what are known as
kwang
(light)
broadband networks top out above 100 Mbps. Services of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps)
are also being rolled out countrywide. Fixed-line broadband is augmented with the coun-
try's homegrown wireless technology, known as WiBro, which blankets much of Seoul and
is being extended to other cities, and independent wireless networks in many retail spaces,
coffee shops, and offices. Near-constant lightning-quick connectivity and the good things
associated with it—streaming video, Internet phone calls, online shopping, media down-
loads—are a source of great pleasure for foreign residents and have made South Korea a
recognized authority in Internet-based industries such as online gaming. Also, to the chag-
rin of movie and music studios, such resources make it a hotbed for pirated content.
ONLINE SOCIALIZING
With high-speed Internet access and smartphones so ubiquitous, it's no surprise so-
cial networking is a major pastime—and big business—in South Korea. The coun-
try has an enthusiastic population of Twitter users—more than three million by most
counts—and Facebook is also popular. However, both are recent entrants to the scene
and have to compete for users with some heavyweight local incumbents.
The granddaddy of domestic social networks is Cyworld, operated by SK Com-
munications. It allows users to interact and cultivate friendships through mini-
avatars, and the avatars and their surroundings can be dressed up by spending virtual
