A Report by the Korea Communications Commission Reveals Overwhelming Adoption of Streaming Services and Smartphone Usage

Courtesy of NETFLIX

In a recent report by the Korea Communications Commission, it was disclosed that a substantial majority of South Koreans in their teens and twenties have embraced over-the-top (OTT) media services. The survey, conducted between June and August on 7,055 individuals aged 13 and above, highlighted the pervasive nature of subscription-based streaming platforms among the younger demographic.

Key findings from the report indicate that approximately 97.8 percent of individuals in their 20s and 97.6 percent of teenagers aged 13 and above are actively using subscription-based streaming services. This marks a notable increase of five percent from the previous year, with 77 percent of the general population engaging with OTT services. 

▲ Courtesy of NETFLIXYouTube emerged as the frontrunner among streaming service providers, with 71 percent of respondents reporting its usage. Following closely behind were Netflix at 35.7 percent, Tving at 9.2 percent, and Coupang Play at 6.3 percent.

Moreover, the report reveals a rising trend in paid subscriptions for streaming video platforms, escalating from 40.2 percent to 43.9 percent compared to the previous year. Entertainment programs, particularly TV variety shows, dominated the content preferences, with 60.9 percent of respondents favoring this genre. Dramas followed at 54.4 percent, while news, sports, and current affairs and informative programs captured 27 percent, 20.8 percent, and 18 percent, respectively.

The survey also shed light on the preferred devices for accessing subscription-based streaming services, with 86.3 percent indicating smartphones as their primary choice. Notably, 22.1 percent reported using set-top boxes for IPTV. Additionally, 91.4 percent of the population confessed to using smartphones at least five times a day, suggesting a shift towards mobile devices as essential tools for entertainment.

While smartphone ownership was found to be nearly universal at 94.8 percent, older generations exhibited an increasing embrace of this technology. Notably, 66.5 percent of individuals aged 70 and above reported owning smartphones, reflecting a 7.3 percent increase from the previous year. Sixty-somethings displayed a high smartphone adoption rate at 96.2 percent.

The data also highlighted a diminishing reliance on traditional television, with 71.4 percent of individuals using set-top boxes at least five times a day, down from 75.5 percent the previous year. This shift underscores the evolving role of smartphones as indispensable tools for entertainment.

Conclusively, the survey found that 70 percent of the population views smartphones as a must-have item, with varying degrees of agreement across age groups, ranging from 95.5 percent for teenagers to 19.6 percent for those aged 70 and above.

Sayart

Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com