INTERIVEW-S.Korea's KT sees iPhone impact but no date set yet

SEOUL, Sept 28 (Reuters) - South Korea's KT Corp (030200.KS), which is holding talks to sell Apple's (AAPL.O) iPhone in South Korea, plans to introduce 3G smartphones supporting WiFi and mobile WiMAX from Samsung (005930.KS) and LG (066570.KS) soon, its chief strategy officer told Reuters.

Although the date and other details for iPhone's South Korean debut have yet to be set, Apple's blockbuster handset will likely create its own market segment among the country's smartphone users and may help jumpstart healthy competition, Pyo Hyun-myung said in an interview on Monday.

Pyo said KT, South Korea's top fixed-line operator and No. 2 mobile carrier, expected the government-initiated mobile tariff cuts, announced on Sunday, to have limited impact on its revenue. [ID:nSP395067]

He said KT was taking steps to preserve its operating profit next year amid weakening sales.

Pyo also said KT was willing to expand its WiMAX network, currently limited to Seoul and its nearby area, to the whole nation once the government finalises its support plan to boost the mobile technology. (Reporting by Rhee So-eui; Editing by Lincoln Feast)