2010 saw the smartphone wave take root in the country. The first smartphone to hit the domestic market was Apple’s iPhone, which made its inaugural appearance at the end of 2009.

The smartphone era heated up in Korea with Samsung’s release of its Galaxy S smartphone and Apple’s introduction of the iPhone 4.

The nation’s smartphone market grew sharply this year to nearly seven million. That’s in stark contrast with the 800-thousand smartphones that were sold 2009. An estimated 30 types of smartphones hit the domestic market this year alone, making the devices the top players in the nation’s mobile market.

1. N.Korea Stages Multiple Provocations Against S. Korea

2. North Korea’s 3rd Generation Power Succession

3. Seoul Hosts G20 Summit

4. Gov’t Efforts Fail to Revise Sejong City Dev. Project

5. DP Scores Upset Win in Local Elections

6. S. Korea, US Conclude Additional FTA Talks

7. KOSPI Tops 2000 Mark for 1st Time in 3 Years

8. S.Korean Athletes Take World Sports Stage

9. Looted Korean Cultural Assets to be Returned

10. The Era of Smartphones Opens