In South Korea, where Hyundais dominate the roads and everything electronic has a Samsung stamp, about seven out of 10 mobile customers own a smartphone, one of the highest rates in the world.

The vast majority use an Android device. In the land of Samsung, iPhones can be hard to find.

But Apple doesn't seem ready to give up the fight. It's trying to reach more Korean consumers than ever before.

Analyst Tom Kang thinks Apple has good chance of gaining ground on Samsung's home turf, especially if the upcoming iPhone 6 has a large screen.

And though they're in the minority, Apple already has a loyal local fan base. Some say they enjoy the exclusive image that Apple products have.

There's no question that in Korea, Samsung has a huge hometown advantage.

But with its fast-developing sales network, Apple looks set to make more inroads - and local Apple enthusiasts may soon have a lot more company.