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On the 30th, when Apple's first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, was officially released in Korea, citizens lined up at the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul to purchase the product. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] On the morning of the 30th, when the iPhone 12 was released, the area around the Apple Store was unexpectedly quiet. The long line of people waiting for the iPhone along Garosu-gil had disappeared. Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), both Apple and domestic carriers held contactless opening events.

In front of the Apple Store on Garosu-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 30th, there was no long queue on the iPhone 12 release day. This was because Apple changed its reservation system from the iPhone 12 launch, allowing online reservation holders to visit the store and pick up their devices at designated times. As of 7 a.m., about five people were waiting, but the number increased to more than ten around 8 a.m. Customers who had their temperatures checked and received reservation numbers at a waiting area set up outside the Apple Store were allowed to enter first. People who came to purchase the iPhone waited with their heads down, wearing thick padding due to the chilly weather. The scene from last year, when about 80 people waited during the iPhone 11 launch, has now become a thing of the past.

On the 30th, when Apple's first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, was officially released in Korea, a customer at the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, is holding up the product./Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 30th, the day Apple officially launched its first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, customers were entering the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, receiving congratulations from staff. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The first purchaser, a woman in her 40s, visited the Apple Store with her children to buy the iPhone 12 model. The second in line, a 23-year-old man waiting to enter, said, "I used a Galaxy S7, but I came from Yongin, Gyeonggi-do to buy the most popular model, the iPhone 12 Pro in Pacific Blue." He added, "I arrived at 1 a.m. and spent time at a cafe and PC room, then waited again from 6:30 a.m."

Apple prioritized entry for reservation holders to comply with social distancing due to COVID-19. Walk-in visitors without reservations could only enter sequentially if reservation holders did not show up at their scheduled times. When entry began at 7:45 a.m., Apple Store staff waiting outside greeted customers with applause and cheers. Most of the customers visiting the Apple Store that day were men in their 20s and 30s. According to SK Telecom’s pre-order results, women in their 20s and 30s accounted for 50% of iPhone purchases.

On the 30th, the day Apple officially launched its first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, customers were entering the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, receiving congratulations from the staff. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 30th, when Apple's first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, was officially released in Korea, customers were entering the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, receiving congratulations from the staff. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Carriers did not hold offline events on the opening day but organized online opening events starting the night before. KT held a 'Contactless Live Eve Festival' on YouTube from 11 p.m. on the 29th. Along with a countdown celebrating the iPhone 12 launch, KT revealed the iPhone 12 device and the second teaser for its iPhone 12 advertisement at midnight on the 30th. The first winner, Mr. Lim Ho-yeol, said, "I am happy to receive the iPhone 12 at 7 a.m. without having to visit a store, continuing to use KT, which first introduced the iPhone in Korea."

LG Uplus held an event called 'Meet Tteum Z as You Like' at the complex cultural space 'Ilsang Bi Ilsang-ui Teum' in Gangnam from 11 p.m. on the 29th, sharing iPhone usage tips. About 4,400 people watched the event on YouTube. LG Uplus also set up an iPhone 12 experience zone and usage guidance program at Tteum from the 30th until November 20. SK Telecom held a contactless iPhone launch party at the multiplex 'T Factory' opened in the Hongdae area from 7:30 p.m. that day, featuring performances by singers and a drone performance unveiling the iPhone 12.

Apple's first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, was officially released in Korea on the 30th and is displayed at the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 30th, when Apple's first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12 series, was officially released in Korea, customers were examining the products at the Apple Store on Garosugil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The iPhone 12 features a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, supports 5G, and is equipped with the A14 chipset. It is available in Blue, Green, Black, White, and (PRODUCT) RED colors, with an aluminum finish on the back. Prices for unlocked models are 1,090,000 KRW for 64GB, 1,160,000 KRW for 128GB, and 1,300,000 KRW for 256GB. Carrier models are priced at 1,078,000 KRW for 64GB, 1,155,000 KRW for 128GB, and 1,287,000 KRW for 256GB.

The iPhone 12 Pro has a 6.1-inch screen with the A14 chipset and improved camera performance with ultra-wide, wide, and LiDAR scanner cameras. The back is made of stainless steel and comes in Graphite, Silver, Gold, and Pacific Blue colors. Prices for unlocked models are 1,350,000 KRW for 128GB, 1,490,000 KRW for 256GB, and 1,760,000 KRW for 512GB. Carrier models are priced at 1,342,000 KRW for 128GB, 1,474,000 KRW for 256GB, and 1,738,000 KRW for 512GB.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.