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The World's Most High-Tech Nation
December 24, 2008 9:40 AM
By JOOHEE CHO, Digital Reporter, ABC News Seoul
If there ever is an "Easy Tech Adaptation for Dummies" book, I’d be the first one to grab it. Living in the most wired country in the world is quite a struggle for people with technology phobia like me. I’m not talking new gadgets or software that are released every few months or years. I’m talking almost every day learning how to use new functions on my mobile phone or keeping up to date with new ways to communicate.
Today, I joined the tech-savvy generation’s new thing: T-mobile money, only to find myself all frustrated because the whole concept is too good to be true and way too complex. It is a prepaid smart card that is embedded into your mobile’s SIM card, which works as a wallet, navigator or personalized weather forecaster. It even tells you how crowded -- not with car traffic but with human traffic -- certain places are so that you can avoid holiday shopping at those spots!
My new quest started when I encountered the Salvation Army last week. Next to the traditional red kettle with bell-ringing Santa-costumed volunteers, Korean Salvation Army showcased the new "digital donation screens" for which you simply flash your mobile phone onto a screen. It remotely deducts 80 cents from your T-money, so no more excuses for having no change in the pocket to spare for the poor. As I stood there watching, the generation gap was clear. The older ones dropped cash into the kettle; the younger ones proudly walked up and flashed their mobile phones. I certainly did not want to place myself in the former category.
Then I realized having ignored all those aggressive advertisements everywhere in the city on T-money, T-life, T-story, T-service, T-whatever...that, with a mobile phone market penetration rate of 93.6 percent as of last month, the big T was surely embedded into every aspect of Koreans’ daily lives.
As I get in the elevator every morning to work, three things I habitually double check in the bag are my two mobile phones – one for private use and the other for work – and my BlackBerry used only for internal ABC News e-mail. And now with the T-mobile money installed, those are all I need to get through the day.
For taxis, tolls, parking fees, theater tickets, and even a cup of tea at convenient stores, I simply flash my mobile phone onto the T-money counter.
Searching for a restaurant, SK Communications’ portal service Nate lists five popular Italian bistros within a certain range of a designated neighborhood, complete with reviews and sometimes menus on my mobile screen.
T-service then turns into a navigator. You can even specify whether you’re driving, taking the subway or walking. It will navigate you accordingly, avoiding crowded routes.
To pay bills or transfer funds, I also use the mobile service that directly links into my Shinhan Bank system. The tiny screen shows the status of the foreign exchange rate that has been so volatile since the financial crisis. At the click of a button on my phone, I can sell dollars right when the Korean won seems to be at the bottom.
Same goes with trading stocks on the mobile phone. One of my golfing buddies does that out in the field while checking distance to the pin, also calculated by his mobile golf service.
At a hospital waiting room the other day, I met a girl in her teen’s intently watching a music video of the latest hit song "Nobody" on her phone, over and over again. She was memorizing the moves, but it was too difficult. She grumbled, then downloaded a how-to choreography video program in less than 30 seconds.
Personally, I find the best use of my mobile is as a portable TV. I can watch all the terrestrial networks on the 2x1.6-inch screen with clear digital quality, anywhere in the city and even on the highways.
Soon to debut on the market early next year is the new digital vending machine that lets you can download a two-hour movie or an episode of "Desperate Housewives" in 10 seconds on the mobile phone.
All this is possible because Korea is considered a world leader in 3G mobile technology. At 95 percent, its broadband penetration in homes, including wireless broadband, is the world’s highest. Japan and Finland follow the lead, and at 57 percent, the United States ranks 15th.
Read more blogs from Joohee Cho
Read more blogs from ABC News Staff
December 24, 2008 in Joohee Cho | Permalink | User Comments (18)
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This article celebrates the addition of complexity over simplicity. The notion that cash is somehow antiquated is nuts in a world where cash is now king on the investment street.
The truth is that the human being can get "too connected" and there is no need to constantly be hooked in to everything. And the generation being raised is going to miss out on a lot of the more simple and reliable parts of life in exchange for complexity, plastic money and "fitting in" because some writer says you must.
Posted by: Jon | Dec 24, 2008 9:20:04 PM
Knowledge, Technology, Information.....does not come to be public knowledge until years after "any" and "all" governments have completely disected it. It has more to do with control than money. But, greed itself is the main factor. No country is immune. When "any" man decides to have control over his own life and not submit in anyway, only then can he be free. These governments going back to the start of man, have got to control the population in order to have power. If man does not give him power, he is not in control. COMMON SENSE HAS GOT TO KICK IN AT SOME POINT IN TIME!!!
Posted by: Johnny Truth Comes A Smacking | Dec 24, 2008 11:44:48 PM
you luddites... nothing wrong or insidious about what is happening in South Korea. Now, i dont like the monopolistic aspect of t-mobile in SK, but if the consumer is hapopy...what's the problem? sounds as if they have great service
Posted by: yall are nuts | Dec 25, 2008 8:41:11 AM
The 95% penetration into homes figure makes me wonder. I lived in South Korea for three years in the late 70's and I remember a great difference between how the folks lived in the big cities as opposed to the countryside.
Even so, it sounds like they are leading the way in this new technology. Can't wait to see it here.
Posted by: daliere | Dec 25, 2008 10:50:24 AM
"T-money, T-life, T-story, T-service, T-whatever...that, with a mobile phone market penetration rate of 93.6 percent as of last month, the big T was surely embedded into every aspect of Koreans’ daily lives" When it comes to the US to that degree, will that make it even easier for crooks (corporate and otherwise) to do their thing?
Posted by: LongT | Dec 25, 2008 3:17:43 PM
Yes.. Nations, businesses and organizations:
Need control in order to have power.
There is no power without control
Power requires the following:
1) Authority
2) Control (process and systems)
3) Ability to reward
4) Coercion - Ability to punish
5) Experience
6) Knowledge
7) Willing Followers (charisma helps)
Thank you. MikeView.
Be Kind and Be Blessed.
Posted by: Mike 3by4media | Dec 25, 2008 4:00:10 PM
what are you idiots talking about? the technology in korea is great
Posted by: ed | Dec 25, 2008 7:19:11 PM
It's going to be sooooo much fun to watch when the South Korean grid goes down due to a massive earthquake/North Korean war/whatever. Picture it - an entire country going through Internet withdrawal simultaneously. It'll be the biggest technological lab rat in the history of the world. Let's see if this new "cutting edge" generation so much as knows how to build a fire...
Posted by: Mikey | Dec 25, 2008 8:20:10 PM
"But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. Joo-hee had won the victory over herself. She loved Big Brother."
Posted by: King Baeksu | Dec 25, 2008 8:55:06 PM
Shameless self-promotion from a country out to prove they're worthy of any attention at all. To imply that so many of these technological aspects are widespread amongst Korean citizens strikes me as similar to the days when Korean internet companies were lying about the numbers of internet users in the country to remain competitive, leading the country to dub itself "most-wired in the world."
I am confident that some aspects of technology, particularly with cell phones, are cutting edge in Korea. I am simply skeptical that everyone is using them, which is what the author seeks to convince us of. 25 years in Seoul has taught me that the ability of Koreans to embelish facts knows no bounds.
Posted by: Who-jiro? Eul-jiro! | Dec 26, 2008 9:13:34 PM
I remember back about 6 years ago, when my daughter was crying, because our internet connection was down. It seemed she needed to find a short poem (any short poem of her choice) to memorize and recite the next day at school.
She couldn't surf the net to find a poem....
I was annoyed, because we had bookshelves full of books with loads of poems for her perusal.
She never considered that option until I reminded her. And *that* was in elementary school. They learn young.
Posted by: Debbie | Dec 27, 2008 9:51:37 AM
I may not agree with Joohee's statement that Korea is "the world's most high-tech nation," but I was impressed by her earlier article about adultery in Korea. It's nice to see a journalist from Seoul balancing fluff-pieces about almighty Korea with some articles that address real issues that tear at the fabric of this country with journalistic integrity.
I can only hope that articles like the adultery one begin to turn up more in Korean papers. We already have enough journalists telling us about the undeniable superiority of the Korea!
Posted by: P. M. Worthington | Dec 27, 2008 10:36:41 PM
I'm just glad to see a society integrating more tech. They will serve as an example for the rest of the world on what's good or bad about it. Personally, I think it's great. It's also making things simpler rather than more difficult... It's only people who don't understand new tech that think it's harder... It's just hard for them to change their ways. Developed tech reduces effort.
Posted by: PM | Dec 28, 2008 12:43:07 AM
I use only use the high tech that is required by my job. I have 3 computers at home connected to hi-speed DSL. I don't need nor want anything else. I got rid of my Cell phone service because its a waste of money. I don't need to be contacted everywhere I go. My cell phone was little use to me when my car broke down. It wasn't long before a cop stopped to check why my hood was up on my car.
Posted by: Johnathan | Dec 28, 2008 11:33:14 PM
"It's going to be sooooo much fun to watch when the South Korean grid goes down due to a massive earthquake/North Korean war/whatever."
That's going to be FUN, Mikey?? To see a whole society collapse and become devastated because of a war or natural disaster that would kill millions of people and create a ridiculous humanitarian crisis? I'm glad to see your concern for the lives of your fellow human beings.
I think it would be fun to watch you lose your money, home, and family during the economic collapse and see you fend for your life on the streets. I wonder if you would survive, but it would be FUN to see nevertheless
Posted by: Greg | Dec 29, 2008 12:41:50 PM
the top 3 would is 1. japan 2. sweden 3. Netherlands
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7610534.stm
Posted by: mb | Dec 30, 2008 7:40:20 AM
Posted by: mb | Dec 30, 2008 7:41:23 AM
Some tech-free celebs are recovering tech addicts. Tyra Banks told New York Times Magazine that her BlackBerry habit caused her physical pain. She has since gone low-tech and jots her thoughts in a notebook.
Technophobia, of course, extends far beyond cell phones.
Christopher Walken and David Sedaris don’t use cell phones or e-mail. Simon Cowell says he doesn’t know how to work a computer.
Posted by: didier | Jan 28, 2009 7:27:57 AM
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