Koreans will be free to buy Apple's hugely successful iPad tablet PC from next month. The Korea Communications Commission on Tuesday said consumers who bought an iPad in the United States for personal use will be able to bring it into Korea without having to go through mandatory registration at the customs office. One iPad per person is permitted, and mail order will also be allowed.

Since sales of the iPad began in the U.S. early this month, an increasing number of Korean consumers have been bringing it into Korea from the U.S. However, this is technically illegal since under the current law, any portable electronics without a government radio wave certificate are banned. Apple has not applied for a certificate for the iPad.

A KCC official said the decision to permit them anyway comes to reduce inconvenience for some consumers who were prevented from bringing in an iPad purchased in the U.S. by the customs office.

The KCC still plans to go ahead with tests to determine whether the iPad interferes with the radio wave environment in Korea. If it does not, the iPad will be treated as certified.