By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff reporter

After weeks of media fuss about the iPhone 4’s delayed Korean release, Apple has finally submitted its latest gadget for government approval here, according to the country’s telecommunications regulator Thursday.

KT, the local carrier that exclusively provides Apple’s mobile devices here, said an August release for the new iPhone is a possibility, although a September debut remains more probable.

Apple has submitted the device for radio approval Thursday, and the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the country’s broadcasting and telecommunications regulator, said that the iPhone 4 could be officially permitted for sale in Korea by early next week.

However, it would take a number of more weeks for the device to actually arrive on Korean shelves, according to KT officials, as Apple needs more time to prepare the Korean shipments.

“Apple hasn’t even manufactured the phones for its Korean shipment yet, as the devices will be needed to be marked with the Korean government’s seal of approval,” said a KT spokesman.

“An August release is possible, although that would be mid-August and not early. Still, a September release is more likely as Apple would need one or two weeks, probably more, to secure the devices for the Korean shipment.”

The iPhone 4 is a crucial device for KT, which obviously enjoys riding the public’s love affair with Apple’s devices, but is also concerned about becoming a one-trick pony.

KT’s partnership with Apple has soured its relationship with Korean tech giant, Samsung Electronics, the country’s biggest vendor by a hefty margin, which has been providing the best and newest of its devices only to SK Telecom, KT’s bitter industry rival.

KT officials had confessed being dumbfounded by Apple chief executive Steve Jobs’ announcement earlier this month that the Korean debut of the iPhone 4 was slowed due to issues related to government approval.

With the iPhone 4 debut temporarily shelved, KT has been left essentially defenseless against the slew of new devices released by SK Telecom, which includes Samsung’s Android-powered Galaxy S, which has the makings of becoming a mega-hit. The delayed launch of the iPhone 4 may end up costing KT about 100,000 new smartphone customers, but the carrier, which has been scurrying to massage consumer egos, is delighted about the uncertainties coming to an end.