I love my iPhone. It is the best phone/handheld device that I have ever owned. I still have the 1st generation iPhone, but with constant software updates from Apple and 50,000 applications available from iPhone app developers, there’s always something new and interesting to do with it. The new iPhone 3Gs looks even more incredible. I have particular interest in the new phone’s “touch focus” camera and at last, a camera with video capability. To have a phone, high quality internet browsing, iPod, great low-end camera, and a video camera all in one device would be incredible (I currently have to carry my Korean phone, iPhone, AND my camera just about everywhere I go).

This is why one of my first tasks upon arriving in Korea was to get my iPhone working. I walked into every cell phone store I could find and simply said “SIM card” while pointing at my iPhone. Each representative would respond by crossing their arms and repeatedly saying “no, no, no.”

Finally, after visiting several stores with bilingual friends, I realized I was beating a dead horse.

There seems to be many theories on why the iPhone does not exist in Korea, but I think I have finally gotten to the bottom of this. You cannot have an iPhone in Korea for one main reason – Korean cellular phones are required to use what they call WIPI (Wireless Internet Platform for Interoperability). This has prevented any global competition from interfering with the big domestic hand-phone business in Korea.

For now, I have to deal with carrying 3 devices in my pocket. But, of all three devices, my iPhone is still my favorite. With WIFI everywhere in Korea, I am at times able to get on a network and browse the internet, check my email, or even make calls on my Skype internet phone on my iPhone despite not having cell phone capabilities.

However, there seems to be a glimmer of hope. This past April, the WIPI requirement has been lifted, allowing for other wireless platforms to compete. Apple has received approval from the Korean Communications Commission (KCC) to sell the iPhone 3G in Korea.  It is speculated that both SK Telecom and Korea Telecom (KT) are in talks to with Apple to release the iPhone under their networks. Then again, I have read from numerous sources that the iPhone was supposed to come to Korea last summer, then this past winter, then this past spring. At this point, we can only hope.

After a day at the COEX Mall in Seoul, a McDonald’s caught the corner of my eye and I had to get a 2 cheeseburger meal.

Here are some tidbits about this McDonald’s-

-you can get a Big Bulgogi Burger which has a different sauce but has 3 buns and 2 hamburgers like a Big Mac… however, a Big Mac is also available

-this restaurant is huge, absolutely humongous…the biggest one that I have ever been to (see video below)

-although I wanted a 2 cheeseburger meal, they only offer a 1 cheeseburger meal

-the cost of my 1 cheeseburger meal with an extra cheeseburger was $6,200 Korean won, which is definately not cheap

-I was the only one in the entire McDonald’s who ordered a bottle of water with my meal (every other Korean restaurant except fast food restaurants provide really good filtered water for free)

-their fries don’t have salt on them

-they have a separate and smaller service counter/pay counter for desserts and coffees (Korean’s love coffee, ice cream, and frozen treats…. there’s a Baskin Robbins every other block of any busy area, just like Starbuck’s)

-items that are the same on the Korean menu as the American menu taste exactly the same

-McDonald’s, which we think of as the largest fast food chain in America (I know Subway technically is, but whatever), KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) actually seems to be the most popular American fast food chain in Korea

Full walk-around of the McDonald’s at Coex Mall in Seoul….

Order/service counter for everything but coffee and desserts….

Order/service counter for desserts and coffee (actually a great idea)

Familiar American brands, some in English… notice Minute Maid is in Korean