Reuters News reported yesterday that, starting today, prosecutors in South Korea will be informing people they have been indicted by sending a text message via cell phone.
U R N DITD — CALL ME! 8-P
Officials said that the text messages would be cheaper and would reach the target more quickly. They expect to save 160 million won (which sounds like an awful lot but turns out to be $158,000 a year) by replacing paper notices with the instant indictments. Prosecutors said the change also made sense because about 75 percent of South Koreans now have mobile phones.
A spokesman said that the text messages would not be taking anyone by surprise, because people would receive them "only after they apply for the service." Boy, sign me up for that one.