Well, even with WIPI gone since April 2009, there was still one hurdle remaining for Apple: privacy concerns over its devices' location-based services.

ENGADGET: Editorial: HTC's departure from South Korea proves a tough fight for foreign brands

Consequently, KT started selling the iPhone 3GS in November -- a bold move considering Apple's offering lacked many local phone features, especially DMB (mobile TV) which was, ironically, born in the same year as WIPI.

ENGADGET: Editorial: HTC's departure from South Korea proves a tough fight for foreign brands

Before 2010, featurephones were still the norm in South Korea, and thanks to a rule set in early 2005, those devices required a domestic, mostly Java-based middleware called Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability (or WIPI in short) that standardized network access to ensure fair competition between mobile companies.

ENGADGET: Editorial: HTC's departure from South Korea proves a tough fight for foreign brands