[THE INVESTOR] Samsung Electronics is struggling to speed up its ongoing Galaxy Note 7 replacement program in Korea with almost 50 percent of the customers still reluctant to exchange their phones due to safety concerns.

The Korean tech giant said it has delayed the resumption of the phone’s sales by three more days to Oct. 1 in a bid to “minimize the inconvenience of the current Note 7 users who are advised to have new phones and to swiftly complete the exchange program.”

On Sept. 26, Samsung said some 200,000 people have replaced their phones, almost half of the entire Note 7 buyers, since the recall program started on Sept. 19. In other markets such as the US and Singapore, the figure has already exceeded 50 percent. 

Many of the users say they are still doubtful about the safety of the new Note 7, while some of them seem to have just decided to use the current phone long enough until the deadline in March next year when the recall program ends.

“I want to take some time to make sure that the new one is safe,” said a Note 7 user who wished to be unnamed.

Samsung, which doesn’t want more explosions to affect their resumed sales, is making all-out efforts to persuade customers, providing a 30,000-won (US$27) cashback through local mobile carriers.

The amount will be deducted from Note 7 subscribers’ phone bill.

Some customers, who are not satisfied with Samsung’s rewards for the replacement, are said to be waiting for Samsung to roll out further reward programs.

Samsung said, however, it has no plan to offer extra benefits, other than the cashback, for consumers that participate in the recall program.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com">wone0102@heraldcorp.com)