The iPhone 8's swelling battery problem has appeared in South Korea for the first time and the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) plans to officially investigate the issue.

The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (KATS) announced that it may carry out safety inspections on the iPhone 8s or even order a device recall.

"Because there were already cases of this problem in other countries, we have been paying careful attention to such problem." said a representative for KATS.

KATS added that it would carry out formal inspections based on legal grounds or order for recalls if the same case happen in other parts of South Korea.

Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT) is also taking a same stance as KATS. "If KATS orders for recalls, we are going to mediate based on a 'guideline for device recalls' so that there are not any problems between consumers, distribution network, and mobile network providers." said a representative for MSIT.

"We have yet to hear any follow-up measures for this problem that we requested from the president of Apple Korea." said a representative for Korea Mobile Distribution Association. "We hope that Apple shows some responsibilities."

Kim Min-cheol announced through its interview with The Electronic Times on the 14th that he exchanged his old iPhone 8 that he had purchased earlier this month with a new iPhone 8 at an Apple AS (After Service) center due to swelling battery problem.

"Gap between the front and the back of iPhone 8 widened as the battery swelled and I was even able to see the top of iPhone 8's sound button." said Kim Min-cheol."

Apple AS center acknowledged the problem and exchanged his old iPhone 8 with a new device.