South Korean mobile phone subscriptions edged up in October, with the country's top operator SK Telecom Co adding the largest number of customers, according to data from the companies on November 01.

The overall increase for the month amounted to a rise of 0.3 percent to 38.06 million users, or 78.86 percent of the country's population.

Second-ranked KTF Co Ltd gained a net 28,820 customers to bring its tally to 12.3 million users, controlling a 32.34 percent stake of the market, versus a 32.4 percent share a month earlier.

Shares in SK Telecom closed up 0.3 percent at 188,000 won, versus a 2.7 percent rise in the broader market.

Shares in KTF finished up 0.7 percent and LG Telecom closed up 3.7 percent.

Copyright Reuters, 2005