You must be kidding !!!

It was only the day before yesterday when Korean Communications Commission (KCC) announced that they will allow iPhone sales in Korea. It wasn't something to be so surprised about. They said they will discuss the issue which held back iPhone's debut in Korea in a positive manner. And they did. They finally legalized iPhone in Korea. Among a lot of people in Korea who were excited, I was also excited. However, I tried to stay calm, and not too excited just in case something happens. Yesterday, there were news articles about when KT and SKT  might start iPhone sales. Some estimated that we will be seeing them by mid November. And I was getting more excited. Then this morning, something that I knew might happen just happened to happen. It seems like another part or division of the government (Minister of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs - MLTM) is trying to keep iPhone from being legalized now.

They are claiming that GPS on a phone is more than enough to cause threat to national security. Why? Because accurate geographical information can be transmitted to anybody.

Oh My God !!!
A Threat to National Security !!!
I don't need iPhone anymore !!!

Maybe this is what they were expecting??? But the Koreans are no fool... And more importantly, they don't like to get messed around. Honestly, I think they have a point. It is important that we never forget that we are at war. Being cautious about national security is something worth it. Anyway, it's too late for that kind of crap. Here is why many people think that what the government is claiming is pointless even though we  all know that national security is by far the most important thing we must consider when making a decision.

GPS devices are all over Korea these days... if you have a phone and a GPS device... geographical information can be sent to anybody it is intended for. It it true that sending geographical information on a phone to someone might be much easier if GPS is embedded in it. However, here is what might be a few times more dangerous.

Laptop or PDA with a camera + GPS module + Internet

And the above combination isn't something hard you can get in Korea.

Whatever the government is saying is not so convincing... I heard that Nokia left out all it's GPS modules in the smart phone models that are being sold in Korea after inquiring about the GPS issue to the Korean government (read story). And yet, Samsung's Black Jack 2 and Sony Ericsson's Experia sold in Korea has GPS in it. So unfair and so inconsistent. Can Black Jack 2 and Experia be viewed as an exceptional case? Having an exceptional case and being inconsistent is different. The Korean government's attitude towards GPS devices on mobile phones is very inconsistent. It seems like as if they don't know what they are talking about.

Anyway... for many reasons, many people are thinking that someone is behind all this CRAP. Maybe, domestic wireless phone manufacturers? Or is it the government's own move to protect the domestic market? I would like to tell the government to stop messing around with us and just say NO IPHONE IN KOREA if they are eventually  not going to allow it, so I can go ahead and buy an iPod touch !!!