[The Chosun Ilbo, September 5 2007] Wireless Providers Battle Over Phone Digits

Three digits of a cell phone number. They lie at the heart of a battle royal between two of Korea's biggest wireless service operators.

Number two KTF has aligned itself with the government's policy of unifying the country's cell-phone numbers under the same first three digits of 010.

Not so fast, says number three LG Telecom. As it gears up to launch its own platform of third-generation cellular service in Seoul later this month LG says its 3G users should be allowed to keep the 019 protocol.