Here is my Korean Samsung Saturn (삼성 새턴) and Sega Saturn (세가 새턴) collection. I am missing a few cardboard boxes for some games but here is every known Korean Saturn game released so far. In total there are 22 releases (with 2 of those being re-releases by Kama). One Japanese Saturn disc released in Korean packaging (NHL Powerplay '96). Only 4 games were translated/dubbed into Korean (Albert Odyssey Oejeon, Myst, Samgugji IV, Sinbi ui Segye El-Hazard). The rest are completely in English. Samsung (삼성 전자) releases: -Daytona USA (GS-9501J / MK-81200-08) -Daytona USA Championship Circuit Edition (GS-9614J / MK-81213-08 / MK-81044-08) -Fighting Vipers (GS-9610J / MK-81041-08) -Nights Into Dreams...w/Samsung Multi Pad (GS-9608J2) -Panzer Dragoon (GS-9502J / MK-81009-08) -Sega Rally Championship (GS-9506J / MK-81207-08) -Virtua Cop (GS-9505J / MK-81015-08) -Virtua Cop 2 (GS-9613J / MK-81043-08) -Virtua Fighter 2 (GS-9507J / MK-81014-08) -Virtua Fighter Kids (GS-9609J / MK-81049-08) -Virtua Fighter Remix (GS-9503J / MK-81023-08) -Virtual-On - Cyber Troopers (GS-9612J / MK-81042-08) -Worldwide Soccer - Sega International Victory Goal Edition (GS-9504J / MK-81105-08) Kama Entertainment (카마 엔터테인먼트) releases: -Virtua Cop 2 (MK-81043-08) -Virtual-On - Cyber Troopers (MK-81042-08) -World Series Baseball '98 (MK-81127-08) Wooyoung System (우영 시스템) releases: -Albert Odyssey Oejeon (T-26804H-08) -Impact Racing (T-26806H-08) -NHL Powerplay '96 (T-7012G) -Myst (T-26801H-08) -Sinbi ui Segye El-Hazard (T-26803H-08) BISCO releases: -Samgugji IV (T-7601H-08) There are a lot of wrong information out there about the Samsung Saturn. Rumors of it being cheaply made, built on a mixture of old and new parts, non-working reset switch, non-working access led, being region-free, having the Japanese language option, being able to play all Japanese games, having a stock modchip...etc. After owning several units, I can say that all of this is false. All Samsung Saturn consoles are part of the VA1 hardware generation. It is not a mixture of old and new parts. It's the same hardware revision that every other region got. I have never come across a Samsung Saturn with a non-working reset switch or a non-working access led. This is most likely due to owners opening them up to mod them and not putting them back together properly. It seems that a lot of owners like to change the region code to Japan (to play the larger Japanese library) and install a modchip, like this guy: http://blog.naver.com/PostView.nhn?...wDate=&isShowPopularPosts=false&from=postView All Samsung Saturns use region code 2 (Asia) by default. They use a special v1.02a bios that disables the Japanese language option when the console is set to region code 2 (Asia). If someone switches it to region code 1 (Japan), the Japanese language option reappears. Strangely, Sega initially planned to use region code 6 for Korea and region code 2 for Asia, but for some reason they decided to use region code 2 for Korea and region code 1 for both Japan and Asia. There are a few Japanese and American games that are also coded for region 2, and those will play on a stock Samsung Saturn. The Samsung Saturn is the only Saturn console that has a multi-voltage 110v-220v power supply. This was because at the time, South Korea was converting it's power grid from 110v to 220v so most retro consoles came with a multi-voltage power supply to accommodate the change. South Korea now uses 220v and the current consoles only come with a 220v power supply. There is a youtube video where some guy unboxes a supposedly brand new Samsung Saturn (although if it really is new, it should come packaged with a region converter cart and 1 game: You can see that it functions normally (no missing buttons or leds), uses region code 2 (no Japanese language option) and has no modchip installed. There are 4 model numbers of the Samsung Saturn (SPC-SATURN, SPC-SATURN II, SPC-ST, SPC-ST2). The consoles themselves are identical; the only difference are some stickers between the SPC-SATURN/SPC-SATURN II and SPC-ST/SPC-ST2. SPC-SATURN/SPC-SATURN II were the early releases, and SPC-ST/SPC-ST2 were the late releases. I did discover something interesting. The model numbers indicate whether the console was sold with a game or a region converter cartridge. You can see on the side of the SPC-ST box, under the list of contents included, on the second line you can see "콘버터" (converter) listed. The SPC-ST and SPC-ST2 models were packaged with this region converter cartridge that looks like a Mega Drive cart (but doesn't actually fit into a MD). There is a Korean label on the back of the cart and I've only seen this together with Samsung Saturn consoles, so it's most likely the official cart included. Some Korean language sites also mention Samsung included a converter to play Japanese games late in the Samsung Saturn's life. On the side of a SPC-ST2 box, the converter is also listed under contents, with the addition of "S/W CD" (software cd). So the SPC-ST2 included both the converter and one game. This can also be seen in some of the old Korean magazine ads. It's unknown which game(s) were included with the console. It's unknown what the SPC-SATURN/SPC-SATURN II came with. I'm guessing that SPC-SATURN was just the base console and SPC-SATURN II included one game. The Samsung Saturn was a failure due to the high price tag, the lack of available games, and the availability of the cheaper imported Japanese console and games. This along with the 1997 Asian financial crisis led to Samsung's exit from the gaming business in February 1997. In September 1997, after Samsung's withdrawal from the market, the round-button model 2 Saturn was released in South Korea by Kama Entertainment and Korea Data Systems. Now the console and games have the standard Sega Saturn branding. The console uses region code 1 (Japan) and bios v1.01 with Japanese language option, so it's more like a standard Japanese Saturn, except that it's power supply is 220v. They can now play imported Japanese games without the need for a converter cartridge. At this time, Kama Entertainment and Wooyoung System were releasing Saturn games (with Wooyoung System actually translating some of them into Korean). Some old Korean magazine ads: Ad for the launch model SPC-SATURN. Ad for SPC-SATURN and available/upcoming games. The Samsung Saturn launch games were Virtua Fighter Remix, Panzer Dragoon, Daytona USA and Worldwide Soccer. Upcoming games depicted are Virtua Fighter 2, Virtua Cop, Sega Rally and King of Boxing. King of Boxing has never been seen, so it may or may not have been released. Ad for Daytona USA. Unfortunately it's blurry as there seems to be some information about the SPC-SATURN/SPC-SATURN II (probably what they came packaged with). Ad for Virtua Fighter 2. Ad for Virtua Fighter Kids. Ad for Fighting Vipers. It mentions that SPC-ST2 includes 1 game. Ad for Nights with Samsung Multi Pad. Ad for a price reduction for the consoles. It also mentions the "2" version includes a game. Ad for Samgugji IV by BISCO. BISCO was the South Korean distributor of Koei's games. Ad for World Series Baseball '98. Also features upcoming releases by Kama Entertainment and maybe some kind of promotion for the console, game and a skeleton controller. It's unknown whether these other re-releases exist (only Virtua Cop 2 and Virtual On are known). Ads for the model 2 console by Korea Data Systems. Very little is known about them. Kama Entertainment is the one mainly known for releasing the model 2 console.
This is great! I think I recognize a few of those magazine shots. ^^ Thanks especially for helping to set the record straight that this was not an inferior or poorly made system. It's also nice to see the model numbers and retail pack variants written out clearly. It's impressive that you got 4 of the big box releases. So many of these titles are incredibly rare and expensive now. Anyways, nice work!
This information is very helpful, thank you! Also you posted my wet dream collection.. if only I was rich
I found a better picture of the Daytona ad with some info. Below the console it lists the prices of SPC-SATURN (₩550,000) and SPC-SATURN 2 (₩595,000). The game included with SPC-SATURN 2 is Virtua Fighter Remix. And below that it lists the standalone price for the game (₩74,000). To the left in the yellow box it lists the upcoming games: Virtua Fighter 2 (December '95), Virtua Cop (December '95), Sega Rally (December '95), King of Boxing (early '96), Panzer Dragoon II (early '96).
Posts like yours are what I love about this forum. Great write-up! Really like the Korean "Nights" logo in that ad.
I've heard that towards the end Samsung put the mod chip with their Saturn consoles in Korean market. Heard this from too many people to be just pure speculation. Is your Samsung Saturn later release?
Congratulations for your amazing collection, I also have two questions. For how long was Saturn available and in demand in Korea? Did the Ps1 overshadow it completely, or was it widely available, like it was in Japan? Also, were the navi models officially available in Korea?
Nice collection, and very informative post - thanks! I still have some way to go with my Samsung Saturn collection, Sadly.... just like my Tec Toy Saturn collection!
I have 1 SPC-SATURN, 1 SPC-ST 2, and a few SPC-ST's. Only one of them had a modchip in it but it didn't work so I removed it. I think it was a SPC-ST. I also noticed one or two of them had the region jumpers set to Japan and some of the case screws misplaced. As for the rumor about Samsung installing these chips, who knows. From what I heard, the Samsung Saturn was available from November 10 1995 and Samsung pulled out in February 1997. Then the Kama Sega Saturn was available in September 1997. So it wasn't available for too long and probably not in demand. I've heard that the PS1 was not officially released in Korea, but Kama imported PS1's, fitted them with modchips and sold them. Sony officially entered the Korean market with the PS2. https://assemblergames.com/threads/korean-versions-of-game-consoles.65920/ I've also updated the segaretro articles and uploaded some cover scans.
A closer look at the Samsung Saturn console. I like the sun-ray design they have going. Unfortunately my box is in bad condition as someone decided to cut it up. It looks like they cut holes to keep the console hooked up while inside the box?! The cardboard tray is different than other Saturns.
The early models (SPC-SATURN and SPC-SATURN II) have 2 additional stickers on the bottom. One of them mentions something about tax exemption and the other is a quality assurance stamp. The later models (SPC-ST and SPC-ST2) do not have the 2 additional stickers and instead have the text printed on the back label. Also, the serial number stickers are made of poor quality paper and are prone to falling or rubbing off. You can see some used units that are missing the serial number sticker. Price difference between SPC-ST and SPC-ST2. The internals of a SPC-ST2 (all Samsung Saturn models are pretty much the same internally). The power supply is made by "CHUNG HWA ELECTRONIC" and has a distinct light-tan colored board. The sticker used to hold down the cd drive cable is different. Everything else is pretty much the same as any other region's revision VA1 console. The molded stamp on the casing points to MULTI. Japanese language disabled. Boot screen is the same as US/Euro consoles. The default setting is NTSC 2 V1.02a (NTSC output, region code 2, bios V1.02a). Some used units can be seen with NTSC 1 V1.02a, which indicates that someone changed the jumpers to Japan region (with Japanese language enabled).
A look at the converter included with SPC-ST and SPC-ST2. It's a ST-Key inside of a Mega Drive adapter casing. A look at a sold-separately controller, model number SATURN-0001. This is an example of a brand new one. Includes an envelope containing registration/warranty cards and some kind of quality assurance sticker.
I don't know if they ever made it to Korea, but there were at one point a lot of Korean spec PSone consoles (SCPH-103) in Hong Kong. The actual console was identical to the HK one, but the manual was English/Traditional Chinese/Korean and the supplied power adapter had a Euro style 220V plug with Korean labeling. It certainly suggests that Sony intended to sell them in Korea.
Here's something I just noticed on the back of the converter cartridge. The bottom line reads: *제조원: (주)하이콤 *판매원: 삼성전자 Which Google machine translates to: *Manufacturer: Haicom Co., Ltd. *Salesperson: Samsung Electronics So it was made by HiCom and it's definitely the official converter packed in with the console. I also remember seeing some later Mega Drive games released by HiCom.
Some good pictures of a SPC-SATURN box: http://m.ruliweb.com/hobby/board/300431/read/30554204 As I thought, it does not have the converter or s/w cd listed on the box. There are also some comments on how people would change the region code to Japan instead of using the converter, and modify it to play bootleg cds, so that might explain why some used Samsung Saturns are set to Japan region.
