KTF Launches Mobile Comic
Portal 'Browsing Comics'

Offers integrated search for comic contents and instant viewing.

A new comic portal has appeared for mobile users, offering not just popular Korean comics, such as "Le Grand Chef,"but also popular comics from Japan.
KTF (www.ktf.com, CEO Cho Young-chu) announced on Jan. 22 the start of "Browsing Comics,"a comics portal service with a greatly enhanced range of comics and functionality to view comics on mobile phones.
Browsing Comics takes contents previously offered separately by different CPs and brings them together in one integrated service so customers can conveniently find the comics they want. The combination of contents and functionality brings Korean customers a redeveloped comic-viewing service for comics from Korea and also from Japan, one of the largest comic markets in the world, thus greatly increasing the appeal of viewing comics on mobile. The majority of comics on mobile can be viewed in a series of still cuts, but the new service distinguishes itself even from paper comics with vibration functionality and the ability to scroll horizontally and vertically.
And the content offering has been greatly bolstered. Now, mobile users can read comics from large Japanese comics publishers, including titles such as Naruto, Death Note, Water Drop of a Goddess, and Nodame Cantabile. New Korean comics, such as Ggol, are also available, as well as popular comics such as Taccha and Full House. There are even popular titles from the seventies and eighties, such as the Brave Troll and Iron Man Ta-woo Kang, thus expanding the market from the previous limits of younger customers only
The service, which will continue adding popular comics to its library, is planning to differentiate itself further with contents produced specifically for mobile.
KTF customers can access Browsing Comics by pressing **55 on their phones followed by the SHOW or Magicⓝ button, search for the comic they want and view it. The price of each comic ranges from free to 900 won. Data charges are 3.5 won / 1KB.
Customers who view comics frequently can subscribe to a flat-rate plan for comics released alongside the service. A new flat-rate data plan is also in the works for February 1. Each of the above costs 5,000 won each, so a customer could sign up to both for 10,000 won for unlimited access to the contents on Browsing Comics. Customers already subscribed to the SHOW Nationwide Data plan can just sign up for the flat-rate comics plan (5,000 won) for unlimited access with no additional costs.
In-soo Park, KTF IE business director, explained, "We plan to offer Korean comics through Japanese NTT DoCoMo from the second half of the year on its "Korean-wave"deck menu."Park revealed, "Rather than stopping with simply providing mobile versions of comics, we are working on a number of different methods to promote the comic market, such as scouting talented comic book artists."To help expand the target age of mobile comics, it is holding a "7080"event. Customers signing up for Browsing Comics between January 28 and February 28 will be entered into a draw with prizes including classic games, such as a snake dice game and paper dolls, and movie tickets.
CSO, FKI IMI Management Award
KTF received the 2008 IMI management award in the area of technological innovation on Jan. 25, 2008. The prize ceremony was held at the COEX Intercontinental Hotel. Among the participants were the IMI chairman, Lee Yoon-ho, and Chang Ji-jong, the vice chairman of the Korea Federation of Small & Medium Businesses.
The IMI (International Management Institute; chairman Lee Yoon-ho) is the management specialist education body of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI). Each year it selects the best managers with top managerial results and who are carrying out an excellent corporate social and welfare role.
In 2008, the IMI management awards were split into 4 areas: technology innovation, global competitiveness, intelligent management, and contribution to society. Cho took home the honors for the technological innovation award.
IMI explained the choice for its selection, "KTF CEO Cho Young-chu has secured global service competitiveness through determined next-generation telecommunication research and investment. He has raised the bar for Korean IT with the opening of the world's first 3.5G nationwide service, SHOW."Cho has led the 3G mobile telecommunications market after becoming CEO in July 2005 and overseeing the launch of leading 3G service SHOW in March 2007. nw

A new mobile comic portal "Browsing Comics"and (right photo) KTF CEO Cho Young-chu