The number of pay TV subscribers in South Korea reached 33 million in the first six months

of the year - up 540,000, or 1.67 percent, from the second half of last year - data from the Ministry of Science and ICT showed.

The figure includes paid subscriptions to system operators, satellite broadcasting services and internet protocol television service providers.

Fixed-line and telecom operator KT had the largest market share, over 21.4 percent, with just under 7.1 million subscribers. SK Broadband was next with 14.7 percent, followed by LG Uplus with 12.4 percent.

The next-biggest service providers, CJ Hello and KT Skylife, respectively held around 12.3 percent and 9.9 percent of the market. (Yonhap)