Samsung delaying Galaxy Note 7 relaunch in South Korea

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Samsung has delayed resuming sales of the Galaxy Note 7 in South Korea due to the recall process prompted by reports the smartphone has caught fire or exploded.

Sales for the phone were to begin on Wednesday but Samsung postponed the plan until Saturday. Only about half of Galaxy Note 7 owners in South Korea have returned the devices called in the recall.

"Samsung Electronics will do our utmost to promptly conclude the recall of the old units before resuming sales," Samsung said in a statement, CNN Money reported.

The recall requires some customers to return the phone through the original seller. In one of Samsung's service centers in Seoul, some people could not return their device because they purchased their phone through online retailers.

Samsung said the number of stores in South Korea where customers can get a replacement will decrease from more than 20,000 to about 160 when the new Galaxy Note 7 goes on sale.

The Galaxy Note 7 was released in August but Samsung issued a worldwide recall for about 2.5 million of the devices in early September. The company said the issue is the battery. Several airlines had banned the device being used aboard flights.