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iPhone 5 hits South Korea Friday, and 50+ new lands in December

As Apple begins to sort out its supply issues for the iPhone 5, it is widening the availability of its blockbuster smartphone.

Roger Cheng Former Executive Editor / Head of News
Roger Cheng (he/him/his) was the executive editor in charge of CNET News, managing everything from daily breaking news to in-depth investigative packages. Prior to this, he was on the telecommunications beat and wrote for Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal for nearly a decade and got his start writing and laying out pages at a local paper in Southern California. He's a devoted Trojan alum and thinks sleep is the perfect -- if unattainable -- hobby for a parent.
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Roger Cheng
Apple's iPhone 5.
The iPhone 5 will be available in even more countries soon. CBS Interactive

Apple said today that the iPhone 5 would be available in South Korea on Friday, with more than 50 additional countries getting its marquee smartphone later this month.

As the company has gotten its supply chain issues under control, with ship times in the U.S. dropping dramatically, it is starting to look to expand availability and reach of the iPhone 5.

Apple last week said that the iPhone 5, the iPad Mini, and the fourth-generation iPad would hit the China market in December.

As with previous launches, Apple has had a tough go of it this time around in meeting demand for the iPhone 5. Previously, consumers ordering online had to wait several weeks before getting the device.

The iPhone 5 is currently available in 47 countries.

Here are the new countries that will get the iPhone 5 in the coming weeks:

December 7: South Korea

December 14: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Ecuador, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Jamaica, Jordan, Kuwait, Macedonia, Malaysia, Moldova, Montenegro, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.

December 21: Barbados, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Egypt, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, St.Vincent & the Grenadines, Tunisia, Uganda and Vietnam.

Watch this: iPhone 5: Hands-on at CNET