Selfie Phones in Demand

Competition is intensifying in South Korea's market for smartphones equipped with high-quality front cameras to meet the booming trend of selfies, company officials said Monday.

A smartphone's high-quality front camera, mainly used to take selfies, is increasingly appealing to plenty of young consumers, they said.

Earlier this month, SK Telecom Co., the nation's top mobile carrier, began selling its Luna S smartphone, fitted with a 13-megapixel front camera.

Also this month, Sony Corp. unveiled its Xperia XZ smartphone with a 13-megapixel front camera for selfies.

Samsung Electronics Co.'s mid-range Galaxy A8 featured an 8-megapixel front shooter, while LG Electronics launched the U smartphone with an 8-megapixel front camera Monday.

"For young people who take a lot of selfies, they put their priority on camera capabilities when choosing a smartphone," said an official at a mobile carrier.