"Repairing Phone Yourself Saves Labor Costs"…Samsung Introduces 'Self-Repair' in Korea Too

Applied to Some Models of Galaxy Smartphones, Laptops, and TVs

Samsung Electronics is launching a 'Self-Repair Program' in South Korea as well. From now on, Galaxy smartphone and Galaxy Book laptop users can purchase parts online and repair their devices themselves if they break down.

Samsung Electronics announced that it will introduce the 'Self-Repair Program' domestically starting from the 30th. The need for self-repair first emerged overseas to reduce electronic waste. The Biden administration in the United States signed an executive order in July 2021 declaring manufacturers' practices that restrict consumers' right to repair as illegal. Apple started its self-repair program in the US in April last year, and Samsung Electronics began its program in August. Samsung has announced plans for domestic introduction, unlike Apple, which has not yet revealed any plans for South Korea.

Galaxy Self-Repair Tool and Galaxy S22 Ultra Product Photo
[Photo by Samsung Electronics]

Samsung Electronics will initially introduce self-repair for certain models and limited parts, with plans to expand gradually. The eligible models include the Galaxy S20, S21, and S22 series, Galaxy Book Pro 39.6cm (15.6-inch) series laptops, and three 80cm (32-inch) TV models. Users of these models can purchase necessary parts and repair tools through the Samsung Electronics Service website. Repair tools cost 30,000 KRW for smartphones and 20,000 KRW each for laptops and TVs. If returned within 30 days after use, the full amount will be refunded.

For smartphones, three parts are eligible for self-repair: display, rear cover, and charging port. For laptops, seven parts including the touchpad and fingerprint recognition power button are covered. These parts were the most requested by consumers for repair. The three TV models allow panel replacement.

Users can check manuals and videos on the Samsung Electronics website for self-repair. After replacing parts, the 'Self-Repair Helper App' can be used to optimize the new parts for proper operation. Afterwards, the 'Self-Diagnosis' function in the Samsung Members app can be used to check for any abnormalities.

For example, repairing the Galaxy S22 Ultra display at a service center costs 429,000 KRW (without returning the old display). The self-repair version is sold for 364,000 KRW. When returning the old display, the final price is 309,000 KRW at the service center and 283,000 KRW for self-repair. After completing self-repair and returning the replaced parts to Samsung Electronics, users can receive an eco-friendly deposit refund. Samsung inspects the collected parts and either recycles or disposes of them.

Notae-moon No, President of Samsung Electronics MX Division, said, "Samsung Electronics always strives to ensure consumers can enjoy the best products and services for a long time," adding, "Through the self-repair program, we will increase consumers' repair options and continuously improve repair convenience."

However, there are criticisms that the effectiveness of self-repair is not high in the US, where it was introduced earlier. The Washington Post reported that the Galaxy S20 repair manual involves 41 steps just to disassemble the screen, making it complicated. The Wall Street Journal reported that buying an iPhone 12 mini display part from the self-repair website costs $225.96 (about 299,397 KRW), only $3 (about 3,984 KRW) cheaper than having it repaired at a service center.