South Korea became the first country in the world to launch a nationwide 5G network and commercialize 5G services. The Korean government played an essential role in the development of 5G, creating a tailored institutional arrangement that allowed South Korea to be at the forefront of 5G. In particular, the government set up a detailed time plan on how to go about 5G deployment and commercialization. The government also facilitated collaborative work between companies, research institutes, and academia, and strongly promoted R&D work for the development of 5G equipment, devices, and applications, providing financial and administrative support, opportunities for field trials, and various forms of incentive, including tax benefits to companies. This study analyzed the 5G socio-technical system in South Korea through the lens of technology systems theory, identifying and discussing crucial factors that have propelled 5G development and major latent aspects, such as the lack of killer applications for consumers and in vertical industries, which may potentially hinder the further growth and stabilization of the 5G system in South Korea.

韩国成为世界上第一个推出全国性5G网络并商业化5G服务的国家。韩国政府在 5G 的发展中发挥了重要作用，制定了量身定制的制度安排，让韩国走在 5G 的前沿。特别是，政府就如何进行5G部署和商业化制定了详细的时间计划。政府还促进企业、研究机构和学术界的协同工作，大力推进 5G 设备、装置和应用开发的研发工作，提供资金和行政支持、实地试验机会以及多种形式的激励，包括对企业的税收优惠。