Report: Wii coming to South Korea by May 5

by Kyle Orland { Mar 18th 2008 at 11:00AM }

We've known for a while now that Nintendo was planning to bring the Wii to PC-gaming mecca South Korea some time this year, but recent word has it that the system may be hitting the country's shores sooner than later. The Korea Times is reporting that Nintendo and Activision recently registered two Wii games each with Korea's Game Rating Board. The paper speculates this move means Nintendo Korea is looking to launch by Children's Day on May 5, a popular gift-giving holiday in the country. Though there's no official announcement from Nintendo, we can't think of a better holiday to launch for a system known for kid-friendly games like Super Mario Galaxy and Resident Evil 4.

Tags: asia, foreign, korea, launch, market, nintendo, south-korea

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

samfish @ Mar 18th 2008 11:11AM

Soon they'll have to change their name to South KorWiia.

Meanwhile, North Korea will adopt the slogan "Pine cones: it's what's for dinner".

...I hate North Korea.

Marry me Mario PSN: Killjebus @ Mar 18th 2008 11:19AM

You said it samfish. Saddam and Osama look like Mr. Rodgers compared to that sadistic SOB. Just youtube North Korea Prison camps and you will realize that the DPRK should be the FIRST country that we should have invaded.

FUCK Kim Jong Il
and FUCK China and it's FORCED repatriation of North Korean escapees, and FUCK the Governments who turn a blind eye to the suffering on a scale that has not been seen since the Nazi concentration camps.
Whatever happened to never again? Hmmm?

Marry me Mario PSN: Killjebus @ Mar 18th 2008 11:13AM

Good Gods South Korea does not have the Wii yet? It is good that they will finally be able to waggleon like the rest of the world.
Everytime I hear the word Korea, I cannot help but think about those millions of people living like animals under the Nazish regime of THE DEAR LEADER Kim Jong Il. That bastard has 3 generations of ENTIRE families in concentration camps where they are beaten, tortured, and worked to death.
He even has poison gas experiments carried out on entire families while his "scientists" watch.

Sorry for the rant but all the petty smack talk and bickering PALES in comparison to the pure EVIL that goes on everyday in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Its especially heart-wrenching for me because I have 2 young children of my own.

It is good to be American and part of the free world...is it not?

Marry me Mario PSN: Killjebus @ Mar 18th 2008 11:14AM

OR part of the free world. Not and...sorry.

Kye NFC: 7016 - 9552 - 1191 - 8991 @ Mar 18th 2008 11:35AM

The "free" part is highly debatable, but we'll leave that for another day. Otherwise I agree with the sentiments expressed.

And iI'l never complain of a delayed PAL release ever again.

Marry me Mario PSN: Killjebus @ Mar 18th 2008 11:42AM

Yes the "free" world is FAR from free. But all things considering...we are lightyears ahead of those poor people in the "Peoples Paradise"

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 18th 2008 11:52AM

Keep on rocking in the free world.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Mar 18th 2008 10:35PM

I fully agree with you for everything that is morally wrong, but I'll just point out that adjective "Nazish" just for semantics' sake.

Nazis were extreme liberals: North Korea is communist, therefore it'd be more accurate to compare their government with something Stalinistic, although North Korea really seems to be focusing on the military instead of heavy industries. The Nazis however were promoting economic growth through war corporatism (although it could be applied today for the US).

Either way, totalitarian governments aren't the way to go.

The Artist formally known as Jesus SSBB code: 0430-7963-559 @ Mar 18th 2008 11:15AM

If the Wii is going to survive in Korea, it's going to have to construct some additional pylons

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 18th 2008 11:32AM

Or spawn some overlords

Donald @ Mar 18th 2008 12:23PM

ZERG RUSH kekeekekeke

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 18th 2008 11:15AM

PSP is huge in South Korea...

But Nintendo has always had problems recognizing this region for gamers. I mean, hell, DS Lite is only just a little over a year old there... and then all the DS fantards bitch and whine about DJ Max never coming...

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 18th 2008 11:36AM

You would think they would fill the supply demands in the States before launching in a new market. Over a year on the market now and Nintendo still hasnt adjusted their supply accordingly? Something smells fishy here...

If I were Nintendo and my console was selling out like theres no manana then I'd have my factories churning out the Wii nonstop 24/7. When 360 launched there were crazy supply issues. Took them 4-5 months to fix it. But over a year?

On topic, S Korea? Who cares...

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Mar 18th 2008 2:08PM

Anyone with intelligence does. Not only is it the most wired country in the world, it's also the fourth largest gaming market (yes, one small country represents THAT many sales). This is also the one country where competitive gaming isn't limited to nerdcore conventions or Madden. In fact, competitions on several games do, in fact, fill arenas with spectators and are televised events.

Facing facts, S Korea is the shangrala of the gaming world. Where someone who's really good at Counterstrike or Starcraft has damn near rock star status.

Co @ Mar 19th 2008 4:10PM

"When 360 launched there were crazy supply issues. Took them 4-5 months to fix it."

lmao yea more like 4-5 months for the demand to die off. Lack of demand sure makes supply issues go away real quick. Not only has the demand for Wii not slid, but rather has increased.

Lard @ Mar 18th 2008 11:42AM

You can already get Wiis in the electronic market in Seoul (Yongsan) that are both Japanese....and modded.
I can also get them here in Taipei.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 18th 2008 11:53AM

Starcraft for Wii CONFIRMED!!!!

Donald @ Mar 18th 2008 12:25PM

I, for one, welcome the idea of an RTS on the Wii. Selecting would be a breeze.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 18th 2008 3:40PM

I'm actually eagerly anticipating the wii port of starcraft via the intrepid homebrew community.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Mar 18th 2008 10:37PM

Even over nine thousand shades of win wouldn't be able to describe that.

Batzarro @ Mar 18th 2008 12:48PM

Sure couldn't be much more late...

WiNG @ Mar 18th 2008 3:03PM

This is horrible news.

Good luck winning in ANY online Wii game once this comes to fruition.

Keiichi @ Mar 18th 2008 5:25PM

If they get Brawl before we do in the UK, I am going to play SO much hell...

ManekiNeko @ Mar 18th 2008 5:29PM

Wow, South Korea celebrates Cinco de Mayo?

scott @ Mar 18th 2008 6:12PM

DAE HAN MIN GUK!

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Mar 18th 2008 10:39PM

My out-of-stock wiis are being re-routed to Koreans? How scandalous! D:

Kust Jidding: can't believe they weren't serviced before, but hey, at least they're getting a good console at the right time (Twilight Princess, Super Mario Galaxy, Super Smash Brawl, ... and many more to come, but I just mentioned blockbusters).