Estimated 1 mln S. Koreans download 'Pokemon Go' app

SEOUL, July 16 (Yonhap) -- An estimated 1 million South Koreans have downloaded "Pokemon Go," the popular augmented reality game not yet available in the country, an app analytics company said Saturday.

WiseApp said about 1.03 million people are estimated to have downloaded the Nintendo mobile game, which has quickly become a global sensation since its release last week.

The company said the figure was reached based on a survey of 14,439 users of Android-based phones from July 7-15. The survey has a margin of error of plus/minus 0.82 percentage point and a 95 percent confidence level.

Because the game uses Google Maps, restricted by South Korea owing to security concerns, Pokemon Go won't work properly in most parts of the country.

South Korea is technically at war with North Korea because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.

Last month, Defense Minister Han Min-koo said South Korea will not give Google a license to use South Korean maps unless the company blurs out sensitive military locations on its mapping service.

Eager fans of the game have been flocking to the northeastern city of Sokcho -- near the border with North Korea in Gangwon Province -- for a chance to play, because it isn't classified as South Korean territory in Google Maps.
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