Nearly 100% Of Households In South Korea Now Have Internet Access, Thanks To Seniors
South Korea continues its mind-blowing internet penetration as nearly every household in the ｃountry is now on the web. That’s apparently thanks to both ends of the age spectrum getting internet-grubby, particularly with the rapid popularization of mobile phones.
There are about 19 million households in Korea, and 99.2% of them have internet access via optical LAN, xDSL, cable modem, mobile or otherwise, according to a government survey last year whose results were released Tuesday. That means 43.64 million people, or 88.3% of the whole population over age 3yes, 3are wired, up 3.2 percentage points from the previous year. That’s compared to around three-fourths of users in the U.S.
They’re also getting more addicted. Almost 99% of them go online at least once a week, spending an average 14.3 hours a week on the internet, 0.6 hours longer than last year. They’re doing everything, especially on mobile: Internet shopping, banking and cloud usage are all rising, even when PC usage is seeing a slight decline. That has spawned a healthy generation of mobile-first startups in fintech and on-demand services from food delivery to cosmetics boxes.
In the ｃountry with the world’s fastest internet speeds that’s in the race to be first with 5G, it might not be weird that over 90% of those in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s are connected. But the rising internet penetration is because a growing number of elderly, particularly those in their 60s, and kiddos younger than 10 are on the internet. More than five million Korean “silver surfers” aged 60 and over are surfing the web, over half of the age group, mostly for instant messaging. Meanwhile, only 30% of their U.S. peers aged 65 and over own a smartphone.
Even the surveyors seemed surprised about some of the latest findings.
People love messengers
Of internet users age 6 and up, 88.3% use a messenger service, and 99.2% of those use KakaoTalk, a local messenger with more than triple the penetration of Facebook Messenger (29.2%) and Naver’s LINE (13%). That means over 8 in 10 users in Korea are hooked on Kakao. The company’s addictive games and character stickers, which have spawned a massive merchandise franchise, certainly don’t hurt.
That’s reflected in the stickiness of social networks connected to those messengers: 71% of social media users (65.2%) are on KakaoStory, a social network inspired by KakaoTalk, while 61% use Facebook.
For Korean seniors, the messenger is the most natural first app as phone plans are more liberal with data than calls or text messages, making chat apps cheaper and more engaging. Phone maker LG even once featured a flip phone with a KakaoTalk button to cater to the older generation.
And maps
More than three-fourths of Internet users over age 6 were using localization information like maps (67.3%) and navigation (59.7%). That’s an interesting statistic considering that Google Maps still struggles with a foothold due to strict map data transfer regulations, leaving nearly the entire market of map apps to local giants like Naver and Kakao's Daum.
And games
Over half of Koreans aged 6 and over play mobile games, on average 12.6 times a week. Even 17.0% of users in their 60s and 6.3% in their 70s have gotten into it. That’s led to a booming game industry led by Nexon, NCSoft, 4:33, Netmarble and others and is probably the reason Pokemon Go still bothered to finally, finally launch in the ｃountry last week to an explosive response, months after its summer 2016 heyday took the world by storm.
What this means
Korea’s massive smartphone usage is no doubt largely thanks to electronics giant Samsung pioneering for world domination starting with its home turf. And with 5G envisioned by next year's Winter Games, the opportunities for makers of newer, faster smartphones and, increasingly, smartwatches will only grow.
But it isn’t all good news. While higher connectivity lets people communicate, navigate and entertain, the addiction has pushed some internet-addicted teens into rehab centers (and don’t even get me started on the subway zombies).
Article Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/elaineramirez/2017/01/31/nearly-100-of-households-in-south-korea-now-have-internet-access-thanks-to-seniors/#91299655572c
Image Source: https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/567175885/960x0.jpg?fit=scale
VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Spectrum (n.) ~ used to classify something, or suggest that it can be classified, in terms of its position on a scale between two extreme or opposite points
2. Spawn (v.) ~ produce or generate, especially in large numbers
3. Cater (v.) ~ provide with what is needed or required
4. Foothold (n.) ~ a secure position from which further progress may be made
5. Heyday (n.) ~ the period of a person's or thing's greatest success, popularity, or vigor
6. Home turf (n./ informal) ~ a familiar area, as of residence or expertise
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. What are the various popular usages of the internet for Korean people?
2. Why is messenger very popular in Korea? Which one do you use the most often? Why do you prefer it?
3. What are the adverse effect of fast internet connectivity in your ｃountry?
4. How does the internet and various gadgets affect your everyday life?
