[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics started official sales of the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus smartphones in Korea on April 21.

The distribution of Galaxy S8 smartphones to preorder clients began earlier in the week ahead of the official release. Preorders for the Galaxy S8 and the Galaxy S8 Plus, which ran from April 7-17, surpassed the 1 million unit mark. On April 20, around 400,000 Galaxy S8 smartphones were estimated to have been registered by local mobile carriers.

Samsung has been focusing efforts to promote the device at home and abroad to put to rest the ill-fated Galaxy Note 7 controversy. Sales of the phablet were suspended last year after some caught fire while being recharged.

By Alex Lee and newswires (alexlee@heraldcorp.com)