The number of smartphone users in South Korea has surpassed 20 million.

According to data released by the Korea Communications Commission, 40% of the Korea’s citizens have smartphones in use.

The data also showed that 10 million users are on SK Telecom Co.

The leading mobile service provider in the country, another 6.8 million with KT Corp., and 3.3 million with LG Uplus Corporation.

Figures released by the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) showed the number of smart phone users slightly exceeded 20 million as of Friday.

With 10 million of them subscribing to SK Telecom Co, the country’s top mobile service provider, 6.8 million to KT Corp and 3.3 million to LG Uplus Corp.

Since Apple’s iPhone arrived in the country in November 2009, smart phone subscriptions have increased rapidly.

The number of smart phone users stood 810,000 at the end of 2009, surging to 7.2 million at the end of last year, according to the KCC.

Industry experts forecast the smart phone market would be the fastest growing sector in the country’s already saturated wireless service market as service carriers focus.

Their efforts on offering much faster and larger data streaming long term evolution (LTE) services for their early adopting customers.

The 20 million milestone also meant over 80 percent of the country’s economically active population of 25 million signed up with wireless service providers using the smart gadget.