The document discusses the Korean Thumb Culture, which refers to young South Koreans between 15-30 years old who are constantly connected to the internet through their smartphones. Nearly two-thirds of Koreans own a smartphone, and there are more smartphones in Korea than people. Koreans have very high-speed internet access through investments in technology. Korean culture values competitiveness and moving quickly, shown through their eagerness to imitate new technologies. Social media is also highly prevalent in Korea, with many users of sites like Facebook, Twitter, and KakaoTalk. The ubiquitous use of smartphones is changing daily life and future uses of technology.

1. The Korean Thumb Culture
Alexandra Pujol – Licence ATC
alexandra.pujol@gmail.com
10/10/2012

2. Plan
1. The Korean Thumb Culture : definition & features
2. Connected People in a connected world
3. « Ppalli ppalli » : everything must go fast
4. « Self-made » Korea
5. The rise of social media
6. Consequences : is KTC reveals

3. « Eomji-jok »
Korean Thumb Culture
Definition & features

4. The Korean Thumb Culture refers to …
• Young South-Korean
generation from 15 to 30
years old, connected to
Internet through their
smartphones
• Use smartphones (or
tablets) everytime
everywhere for everything
• Cannot part with their
smartphone : they always
have it into their thumbs

5. Nearly 2/3 korean have a smartphone
http://www.france24.com/fr/20120822-pres-deux-sud-coreens-trois-possedent-smartphone, accessed on october, Tuesday, the 9th

6. There are more smartphones circulating
than Korean inhabitants
52 million smartphones 50 million
Iphones sales overtake the
circulating inhabitants
number of worldwide birth
http://bon-plan-mobile.over-blog.com/article-etude-plus-de-vente-d-iphone-que-de-naissance-dans-le-monde-chaque-jour-102018178.html
accessed on october, monday, the 8th

7. Connected people
in a connected world

8. Internet high speed access
81 %
Advanced
Internet
since 2000
Wireless broadband Governement’s
throughout the country investments in IT projects
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqGgGq2xzfY&feature=plcp accessed on october, monday, the 8th
http://www.mvfglobal.com/south-korea, accessed on october, Tuesday, the 9th

9. « ppalli ppalli ! »
Everything must go fast

10. Social Korean system is highly competitive…
competition between people is ubiquitous
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqGgGq2xzfY&feature=plcp accessed on october, monday, the 8th

11. Eagerness is a real
korean way of life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqGgGq2xzfY&feature=plcp accessed on october, monday, the 8th

12. Uses are fastly imitating and copying
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqGgGq2xzfY&feature=plcp accessed on october, monday, the 8th

13. Korean people are always looking for
«next generation»
technologies/equipment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqGgGq2xzfY&feature=plcp accessed on october, monday, the 8th

14. « self-made» Korea

15. Korean search engines
62 %
4%
http://searchenginewatch.com/article/2064243/Search-Around-the-World-South-Korea accessed on october, monday, the 8th

16. Korean social media
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqGgGq2xzfY&feature=plcp accessed on october, monday, the 8th

17. The rise of social
media in Korea

18. A fast broadcasting of social media
76 %
Prevalence
and ease of
internet
usage
http://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Society/view?articleId=98532 , accessed on october, Tuesday, the 9th

19. Social Media Preferences
7.6 million 19 million
unique visitors unique visitors
Microblogging
5.4 million More than 10 million
users users
50 million users
http://www.mvfglobal.com/south-korea, accessed on october, Tuesday, the 9th
http://www.business-internet-chine.com/instant-messenger/le-sud-coreen-kakaotalk-va-entrer-en-chine-en-fin-dannee.php , accessed on october, Tuesday, the 9th

20. What uses of smartphones /tablets?
• Send sms/email
• Managing social networks
• Building and maintaining
relationships
• Sharing information and
news

21. Korean Thumb Culture :
Consequences
on daily lifestyle
and future uses

22. Topics to discuss…
• Digital world is becoming
ubiquitous and is vanishing
in our daily lives
• A nomadic society is
booming
• new coming-to-the-fore
economic models
• Communication and
marketing stakes

23. Thank you for your attention !
Ask your questions and let’s discuss ;)
Alexandra Pujol – Licence ATC
alexandra.pujol@gmail.com
10/10/2012