Samsung to Release 400,000 Galaxy Note 7 Replacement Units in South Korea

Samsung will release over 400,000 replacement units of Galaxy Note 7 in local South Korean stores.

Approximately 100,000 new handsets will be available on Monday followed by 50,000 to 60,000 more units every day. By Sept. 25, the Seoul-based company is expected to deliver all replacements, Yonhap News reported.

"We plan to provide replacements to cover nearly all of the initial volume within the first week," Samsung official stated.

The company, regulators and telecommunucation companies are already discussing on how to distinguish the old and new handsets. The new will have green indicators and the old ones will be white in South Korea.

According to Korea Herald, consumers may opt to having their handsets replaced instead of taking refunds.

Samsung official said "it appears that customers don't need to rush out and swap their Note7 smartphones for new ones because they have time for replacements."

The official also added that several owners have already contacted the company saying that their phones are safe but would prefer a replacement. Majority of owners get their handsets through preorder sales which may be an indication of customer loyalty.

"Typically, customers who have higher confidence and loyalty tend to buy smartphones via preorder sales," said Park Gang-ho of Daishin Securities.

Mobile carriers in the country started issuing complete refunds last Saturday. Replacement of handsets will start on Sept. 19. The said exchange program is believed to run until March 2017.

Sources said that the number of owners applying for refunds is small.

A mobile carrier official said "some customers worried about their batteries returned the devices for a full refund, but such customers were few and far between."

Samsung announced an international recall of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 a few days after its release due to battery explosion and fire reports.