Samsung Galaxy S5 Hit Korea Today to Preempt Sales Ban

South Korean regulators caught the country's carriers violating laws that impose the maximum subsidy for a phone. The resulting 45 day ban of acquiring new customers that starts on April 5 would interfere with the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S5 on April 11.

The Galaxy S5 is going to be one of the hottest sellers for both Samsung and the carriers, so SK Telecom "strongly asked" Samsung to launch the flagship earlier. Starting today, SK Telecom stores and website will be offering the Galaxy S5 at KWR 866,800 ($810) off contract.

The other two major carriers – KT and LG Uplus – will also be able to sell the Galaxy S5 under some restrictions.

Samsung is "very puzzled" by SK's decision to move up the launch. The phone maker adds that the international launch of the device remains on April 11. Even if the company doesn’t entirely agree with the carrier's decision, investors are obviously quite happy as its stock went up 3.7%.