South Korea

There were 37,475,800 internet users in South Korea (representing 77.3% of the population) in December 2009, according to Internet World Stats. This was up by 96.8% since 2000. (Internet World Stats, April 2010)

38.1 million people will use the internet in South Korea by 2013, according to eMarketer. This would be up from 36.1 million in 2009.

Internet users in South Korea 2008-2013:
- 2008: 35.4 million
- 2009: 36.1 million
- 2010: 36.7 million
- 2011: 37.3 million
- 2012: 37.8 million
- 2013: 38.1 million

(eMarketer, May 2009)

28 million people in South Korea age 15 and older accessed the internet from home and work locations in April 2009, consuming an average of 4,158 pages of content and spending an average of 26 hours per person online, according to comScore's first overview report of Web usage in South Korea.

South Korea is regarded as one of the most wired nations in the world, with its high broadband penetration rate and tech savvy population, according to comScore. In contrast to other countries around the world where global brands comprise the top Web properties, the South Korean internet landscape is represented predominantly by local brands. That so many developed local players exist is a testament to South Korea's technological leadership and its early investment in the online industry.

Local South Korean companies represent the majority of top internet properties in the country. NHN Corporation ranked as the top internet destination in South Korea with 22.7 million visitors in April 2009, reaching 81% of the total online population. Daum ranked in second place with 20.5 million visitors (73% reach), followed by SK Group, which includes CyWorld, with 20.2 million visitors (72%). (comScore, June 2009)