Taiwan-based ASUSTeK Computer Inc., also known as Asus, said Tuesday it plans to tap deeper into the South Korean smart device market with its latest model, expanding its presence in the local market for tablet PCs and laptops.

“Through the third quarter of 2014, Asus will continue to focus on its tablet lineup,” said Shin Woo-yeol, a marketing official from Asus. “However, the firm will also focus more on laptops and smartphones later in the second half.”

Earlier this month, Asus showcased the 7-inch Fonepad 7 LTE phablet, which is powered by Google Inc.’s Android 4.4, or KitKat.

It marked the first time for the company to introduce a smartphone to South Korea, the home of the world’s biggest maker of smartphones: Samsung Electronics.

The entrance of the Taiwanese player came as a significant event for local tech players, as HTC, a major Taiwanese smartphone manufacturer, had moved out of the South Korean market in 2012, citing its weak performance here. (Yonhap)