Pokemon Go Craze In South Korea

South Koreans play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. South Korea is not one of the initial Pokemon Go released countries, nor is the game likely to be released officially any time soon as the South Korean government does not allow Google to use its map; however, South Korean game enthusiasts are now visiting a handful of loophole areas in the north eastern side of the country near the border of North Korea to join the global frenzy of Pokemon Go.

Pokemon Go is a free-to-play location-based augmented reality mobile game developed by Niantic and published by The Pokémon Company as part of the Pokémon franchise. It was released in July 2016 for iOS and Android devices. The game allows players to capture, battle, and train virtual creatures, called Pokémon, who appear throughout the real world. It makes use of GPS and the camera of compatible devices. The game is free-to-play, although it supports in-app purchases of additional gameplay items.

An optional companion Bluetooth wearable device is planned for future release, the Pokémon Go Plus, and will alert users when Pokémon are nearby. The game quickly became one of the most used smart device apps after launching, surpassing the previous record held by Candy Crush Saga in the United States, and was a boon to the stock value of Nintendo, which owns a part of The Pokémon Company. It was praised by some medical professionals for potentially improving the mental and physical health of players, but attracted some controversy due to reports of causing accidents and being a public nuisance at some locations. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

Barbie Lim, Broadcasting Jockey for a Pokeon Go Korea Facebook, wears a Pikachu headpiece on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

A South Korean youth checks the landmark visible on Pokemon Go application on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Koreans play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

A South Korean youth checks the landmark visible on Pokemon Go application on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

Lee Jeong-hwan, foreground, and Barbie Lim (R), broadcasting jockeys for Pokemon Go Korea Facebook page, broadcast live as Lee plays the game at the Express Bus Terminal on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

A South Korean youth checks the landmark visible on Pokemon Go application on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

Lee Jeong-hwan (L), broadcasting jockey for Pokemon Go Korea Facebook page, broadcasts live as he plays the game at the Express Bus Terminal on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

Lee Jeong-hwan (L) and Barbie Lim (second from left), broadcasting jockeys for Pokemon Go Korea Facebook page, broadcast live as Lee plays the game at the Express Bus Terminal on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths who makes allowance by subsituting the process of opening the eggs in the first few kilometers of Pokemon Go wait for customers on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

Lee Jeong-hwan (R) and Barbie Lim (second from right), broadcasting jockeys for Pokemon Go Korea Facebook page, broadcast live as Lee plays the game at the Express Bus Terminalon July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths play Pokemon Go at the Express Bus Terminal on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

Barbie Lim (L) and Lee Jeong-hwan (C), broadcasting jockeys for Pokemon Go Korea Facebook page, look at one users mobile phone as they broadcast live on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths walk on the cross walk as they play Pokemon Goon July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

A South Korean Pokemon Go fan (L), hurrays as Lee Jeong-hwan (R) and Barbie Lim (C), broadcasting jockeys for Pokemon Go Korea Facebook page, broadcast live the interview on the street on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean youths who makes allowance by subsituting the process of opening the eggs in the first few kilometers of Pokemon Go look for customers on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)

South Korean children play Pokemon Go on July 15, 2016 in Sokcho, South Korea. (Photo by Jean Chung/Getty Images)