Before New Release, Inventory Clearance... Galaxy S20 Price Cut and Increased Official Subsidy

KT Lowers Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition Price to Around 1.24 Million KRW
Galaxy S20 Ultra Official Subsidy Raised to 700,000 KRW
LGU+ Increases Official Subsidies for Note20 Ultra and iPhone 12

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Inventory clearance has begun ahead of the launch of new products such as the Galaxy S21. The retail prices of some older models in the Galaxy S20 series have been lowered, and official subsidies have increased. Coupled with the increase in iPhone 12 official subsidies, the competition among carriers to attract 5G subscribers is heating up.

According to industry sources on the 23rd, KT has reduced the retail price of the Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition to 1,248,500 KRW. The retail price was lowered by 104,500 KRW from the previous 1,353,000 KRW, and the official subsidy was raised to a maximum of 600,000 KRW.

The official subsidies for the Galaxy S20+ BTS Edition by plan are ▲5G Save 292,000 KRW ▲5G Slim 400,000 KRW ▲Super Plan Basic 550,000 KRW ▲Super Plan Special 600,000 KRW ▲5G Super Plan Premium Choice 600,000 KRW.

The official subsidy for the Galaxy S20 Ultra model has also been raised to a maximum of 700,000 KRW. The official subsidies for the Galaxy S20 Ultra model by KT plan are ▲5G Save 258,000 KRW ▲5G Slim 400,000 KRW ▲Super Plan Basic 600,000 KRW ▲Super Plan Special 700,000 KRW ▲Super Plan Premium Choice 780,000 KRW. When using plans in the 55,000 to 100,000 KRW range, receiving the official subsidy is cheaper than the discount from the selection contract rate.

On the same day, LG Uplus more than doubled the official subsidy for the 5G mid-range phone Galaxy A51 to 450,000 KRW. The previous official subsidy, which ranged from 90,000 to 189,000 KRW, was raised to between 300,000 and 450,000 KRW.

LG Uplus also increased the official subsidy for the Galaxy Note20 Ultra to 650,000 KRW on the 16th. This has led to a situation where the Galaxy Note20 Ultra, priced around 1,450,000 KRW, became cheaper than the Galaxy Note20, which is priced at 1,190,000 KRW.

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@

Following the launch of the iPhone 12, the official subsidy was unusually increased, intensifying the competition to attract 5G subscribers. To significantly boost the number of 5G subscribers by the end of the year, carriers have ignited subsidy marketing by adjusting official subsidies for new smartphones.

LG Uplus raised the official subsidy for the iPhone 12 to a maximum of 430,000 KRW as of the 19th. The official subsidy, which was up to 240,000 KRW at the time of its release at the end of October, increased by 160,000 KRW. A subsidy of 400,000 KRW applies for plans in the 80,000 KRW range, and 430,000 KRW applies from plans in the 100,000 KRW range.

In November, just one week after its release, the official subsidy for the 'iPhone 12 mini' doubled to a maximum of 420,000 KRW. From that point, collective markets and some retailers began distributing illegal subsidies for the iPhone 12 mini in large quantities.

The LG Velvet became a free phone just seven months after its release. On the 18th, LG Uplus adjusted the official subsidy for the LG Velvet to a maximum of 783,000 KRW. Although the retail price is 899,800 KRW, the highest official subsidy applies from plans in the 80,000 KRW range, and with an additional subsidy of 117,450 KRW, the actual purchase price is 0 KRW.

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