'Pokemon GO' Phenomenon Challenged North, South Korea Divide? Niantic Game A Unifying Force?

"Pokemon GO" by Niantic and The Pokemon Company has impressively crossed many borders. However, has "Pokemon GO" challenged the North and South Korea boundaries?

The divide between North and South Korea has been a divide of many things - history, politics and culture. The land that has been the split between these politically differing countries is currently designated a demilitarised zone.

Near the border, however, are a few quiet towns, usually off the map for visitors wishing to look over at North Korea from the South. One of these remote towns however, Sokcho, seems to have been robbed of this quiet reputation by "Pokemon GO" players.

Trainers, only install Pokémon GO via the Play Store or App Store. Downloads from other sources may contain malware or viruses.

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) July 11, 2016

According to The Daily Mail the town has now been overrun by Pokemon pilgrims planning to catch Pokémon. This influx is due to a glitch in the "Pokemon GO" app software.

"Pokemon GO" has not yet officially been released in South Korea (or at the time of writing anywhere in Asia for that matter). However, the ability to download "Pokemon GO" and install Android APK files from other regions before its official release has been common prior to official release due to the phenomenal hype of the game.

The use of unauthorized "Pokemon GO" APK files opens up users to the possibility of security risks. Yet this has not stopped avid wannabes who wish to get into the "Pokemon GO" craze gripping fans globally as Parent Herald reports.

Even though the APK installation files can be obtained it does not mean that "Pokemon GO" hunters can see or capture the Pokemon. This is a setting that is enabled from Niantic's servers when they officially release "Pokemon GO" in a region.

In collaboration with Google maps, this then allows "Pokemon GO" hunters to see the Pokemon. Although in this particular case due to the way South Korea's mapping data is arranged this town has jumped the gun and is a pre-South Korean release Pokemon haven.

The quiet town in South Korea is populated by the pocket monsters and now by "Pokemon GO" hunters. According to the report, bus tickets from Seoul to Sokcho are sold out, and a South Korean Facebook group page for "Pokemon GO" are organizing group car and bike trips to bring people to Sokcho, some 160 kilometers from Seoul, Korea.