KT and North Face showcase NFC technology on Team Korea uniforms for the 2016 Rio Olympics
Listen to music and view game cheering messages on the national team uniforms with The North Face

KT has developed an NFC service that incorporates near-field wireless communication into sportswear and will showcase it at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

KT announced on the 12th that it has developed sportswear incorporating near-field communication-based NFC technology in collaboration with The North Face (Youngwon Outdoor) and will apply it to the uniforms of the South Korean national team, 'Team Korea,' participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Based on the clinical findings that exercising while listening to music is effective for improving cardiovascular endurance and muscle performance, KT has developed a technology that allows users to select and listen to various types of music by placing a smartphone against sportswear equipped with an NFC tag. NFC is a near-field wireless communication technology that utilizes security chips for authentication, payment, and information transmission, and is currently applied in mobile transportation cards and mobile credit cards.


KT and The North Face (Youngwon Outdoor), the partner for the national team uniforms for the 2016 Rio Olympics, applied this technology to the uniforms of Team Korea competing in the 2016 Rio Games, enabling athletes to listen to the latest music and functional music. When a player tags the NFC, automatic access is granted via smartphone without a login, and they are immediately redirected to the music listening page to conveniently listen to music.

KT plans to apply this technology to the sports field in the future to enable customers to listen to music through various smart clothing, or to provide communication services that allow users to monitor their exercise status and listen to music tailored to it.

Lee Hyun-seok, Senior Vice President and Head of the Device Division at KT’s Marketing Sector, emphasized, “We have developed sports ICT technology by combining sports, music, and near-field wireless communication technology to help improve performance,” adding, “Moving forward, we will collaborate with various partners to develop diverse products that can expand the reach of sports ICT technology.”