Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tathen · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

So basically, my wife and I want to buy a wii. My problem is, there are a couple different routes we could go here.

#1: Buy the Korean wii.
#2: Buy a Japanese wii (Mod-Chip)
#3: Import an american wii.

Basically, we want to play Mario Cart, and Smash Bros. Ideally I'd prefer it all in English, but having everything in Korean isn't a deal breaker for me. Unless I were to play an RPG I don't think it would be problematic.

So can I buy a Korean wii, and use American games on it?

Any advice would be great. We want it mainly for the two of us, as well as social gatherings at our place on weekends ( an even mix of english speakers on my side, and korean speakers on her side ).

~Tathen

skconqueror · Joined: 31 Jul 2005

You can play american games on a Korean wii IF you get it modded AND use the correct protective measures to not "brick" your wii. What this means is removing the updates and region coding from the games before you burn it / play it.

edit..

I play mario kart on mine (pal version). It works great and has no problems being played online.

mikekim · Joined: 11 Aug 2006

Yeah what Region is the Korean one?

I really want to buy a US wii and play original games instead of having to burn my own.

220k KRW is not a bad price for a Korean wii at E-mart. Have the Yongsan prices dropped?

skconqueror · Joined: 31 Jul 2005

Also, if you want to buy original english games and play them on a Korean dvd there is a program called "freeloader." You download it.. and put it on a dvd.. if you put it in your wii, the region will not matter for the next dvd. So you will have to use this every time you put in a new game.

For a link

http://us.codejunkies.com/Products/Wii-FreeLoader__EF000593.aspx

(it is free on the internet)

DJTwoTone · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 4:36 pm Post subject:

I'm having the same debate... I have no problem with chipped systems... Got a chipped PS2 years ago... I still use it... But it is time to upgrayedd.

From what I read, Nintendo created a completely new region for Korea... So if you want to use games from anywhere else... It has to be chipped.

I was talking to my video game guy on Saturday. He said 220,000 for the console, about 60,000 for the chip, and he's not sure how much for labor or if any of the existing chips with actually work.

I'm gonna wait a few weeks and see what happens.

livinginkunsan · Joined: 02 Dec 2006

I got this on another site I frequent

hanguker · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Location: Korea

not a bit of a knee-jerk reaction there livinginkunsan? Rolling Eyes

Do you believe every website you read? Don't worry, this thing will be modded and hacked with games galore is short order. Yes...even the Korean version. Give the hacker guys a little time.

Tathen · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

Sooo... I was thinking of just buying the Korean wii, on the assumption that I can get it modded later if I want to, and playing games in Korean shouldn't be a big deal anyhow.

Any big warning flags not to just go purchase a 220,000won nintendo wii ASAP?

Aside from having to take it to yongsan and back for mod chipping later, anything else I need to consider?

thanks,

~Tathen

livinginkunsan · Joined: 02 Dec 2006

hanguker · Joined: 16 Mar 2005 Location: Korea

Time will tell, I guess.

Tathen · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

Will I have basically all the same selection of games on the korean wii?

In other words, will the current games that are not here in Korea yet, eventually be translated and available here?

~Tathen

Tathen · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

No reply? Can anyone comfort me on making this purchase (I want to do it asap, like today)?

Is buying a Korean wii a mistake that I'll regret later due to some facts I've overlooked, or am I good to go?

Thanks!

~Tathen

DJTwoTone · Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject:

There are a lot of issues right now... Have a little patients and wait... People should know within a few days what the situation is... You definitely won't get all the games ported over to the Korean version of the Wii... But if the chip is any good that may solve the problem... or it may not... Hold on for a bit... Or go talk to a video game guy... I'm not in Seoul... but my guy should now what the deal is this weekend... That's when I'm going to make my decision.

Tathen · Joined: 10 Sep 2007

Alright, that's good advice, thanks.

It's not an overly expensive purchase really, so I figured I'd buy one, and figure out the modding later if I felt I needed to do so.

I'll likely wait like you said however, unless anyone has some more information to consider.

~Tathen

livinginkunsan · Joined: 02 Dec 2006

Ok, I just called my contact in Yongsan.

Korean wii - 200,000

Japanese wii - 280,000

He said with the new chip set in the Korean wii's that at this point there is no mod chip. He said that there is a "cube" or kinda chip that they solder to in the other wii's that is non existent on the Korean wii's. So none of the popular wii chips now (wiikey, D2C) are going to work. He has no idea when.

He told me that he is recommending all his customers to get a Japanese or American wii as there is no time frame for getting a mod. As another poster said, time will tell.

edit.

I assume that Nintendo has begun this new chip set in Korea, but will begin changing over everywhere else as well.

At this point also, a lot of the big titles are not available for the Korean wii. Check above the titles that are available.

edit 2 for those who would like to talk to a guy in yongsan (who speaks relatively good english) 02-3273-1490