Apple’s case of discrimination in Korea

Apple’s case of discrimination in Korea

Two young women try out the features of the Apple iPad at the KT headquarters in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, Tuesday. / Korea Times photo By Kim Yoo-chul Apple is often under fire for inadequate after-sale services. Now will the Cupertino, Calif.-based consumer electronics company improve with the launch of its tablet computer iPad? iPads come with the standard one-year AppleCare plan in Korea. But Apple is planning to give two-year warranties in China. Korean customers can extend both the one-year repair warranty by another year for an additional $99. After two years, they will be on their own, paying as charged for battery changes at $106, for instance. ``Apple is asking Korean iPad users to directly pay for repair and parts changes,’’ said a senior official at the Korea Communications Commission (KCC). “We see it desirable for Apple to extend the period for free or subsidized services.” iPad users will have to buy pricey “refurbished” devices after the one-year warranty expires, in the event of loss or breakdown. Previously, Korean lawmakers had taken issue with Apple’s policy that gives complaining that Korean iPhone holders refurbished devices” rather than allowing them to opt for either free repairs or new devices. KCC said it has recently asked Apple to make after-sales services more customer-friendly. A KCC spokesman said the regulator is reviewing more options for strengthened AS services for iPad users. KT, which is an exclusive local partner with Apple, has just begun selling the tablet PCs. KT has received 50,000 pre-orders for the iPad since it began accepting orders on November 17. The device starts at 218,000 won or $192 with a two-year contract. Pyo Hyun-myung, the president of KT’s mobile business division, said the iPad will better compete with Samsung Electronics’ 7-inch tablet ㅡ the Galaxy Tab ㅡ as the iPad’s 9.7-inch retina display supplied by LG Display offers enhanced visual images. ``I believe that KT and Apple will provide advanced AS services to iPad users,’’ said Park Sang-hee, a 29-year-old office worker in Seoul.

yckim@koreatimes.co.kr