The reason is that they lack software called Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability (WIPI), which is required for cell phones sold in the Korean market. WIPI serves as the operating system for Korean cell phones, and installation was made mandatory by the government in 2005 to protect the domestic wireless software market. International mobile phone manufacturers have complained about the measure, saying that it is too expensive to develop WIPI software for a small Korean market.

The practicality of WIPI has been hotly debated. The Seoul YMCA, which is a consumer rights organization, held a forum on whether WIPI should be abolished on Wednesday. Lee Dong-won, the director of the business marketing division at KTF, said, “Installation of WIPI produces additional costs in the research and development process, and this pushes up the price of a phone.” Kim Yoon-soo, CEO of leading mobile phone software developer Neomtel, said, “In order for Korean companies to move to global market and grow the scale of Korean industry, it is imperative to remove the WIPI requirement and start a global competition.”

But there were voices of opposition as well. Small and medium-sized software companies which have heavily invested in developing WIPI programs are naturally against abolition of the WIPI requirement. Samsung and LG Electronics are also beneficiaries of the requirement as it means they face no competition from foreign phone makers in the domestic market.

The Korea Communications Commission is now listening to opinions from those involved parties to decide whether to keep or abolish the requirement.

(englishnews@chosun.com )