South Korea has been a historical leader in technology adoption. In 2010, broadband was already in over 90% of households, and the number of mobile connections had surpassed the country's total population. In 2012, South Korea is poised to outstrip Japan for the highest percentage worldwide of mobile phone users accessing the mobile internet, at 63%, according to eMarketer. That lead will grow until 2014, when South Korea nears maturity in the market and Japan begins to catch up.

Mobile internet users and penetration in South Korea, 2010-2016:
- 2010: 12.3 million (30.0% of mobile phone users)
- 2011: 20.2 million (49.0%)
- 2012: 26.2 million (63.0%)
- 2013: 31.4 million (75.0%)
- 2014: 34.6 million (82.0%)
- 2015: 35.7 million (84.0%)
- 2016: 36.4 million (85.0%)

Still, South Korea will remain the country with the highest mobile internet penetration among mobile phone users through 2016.