iPhone controls 46% of Japanese smartphone market

My bet is we'll see the same thing in Korea. In both Japan and Korea the incumbents mounted campaigns against the iPhone and mustered means at their disposal (including major newspapers, TV and government agencies) to hinder Apple's entry.

The reality however is that captive customers in those economies have always yearned for better products. There will always be a segment of the population that is informed about alternatives and will buy what works, at the expense of purchase decisions based on nationalism. It's that group which will influence behavior over time.

This is how Toyota won against GM in the US.

http://www.electronista.com/articles/09/12/17/apple.crushing.sharp.willcom.in.japan/