The trend in online marketing is fast shifting into mobile advertisements, as smartphones have become a necessity for Koreans, according to financial investment industry data.

The shift comes as the number of smartphone users in Korea surpassed 30 million.

This year’s mobile ad business is expected to reach about 204 billion won ($190 million), about 107 times more than two years ago, when it was just 1.9 billion won.

Hanwha Investment & Securities Co. expects that the mobile ad market will keep growing next year as the number smartphone subscribers is expected to rise.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)