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Apple's iPhone continues to rack up accolades. The latest kudos arrive courtesy of a poll of 590 South Korean CEOs who voted the iPhone the "most inspirational invention" of last year.

The iPhone topped the list of 26 percent of respondents, even though the smartphone isn't even available in Asia yet and hasn't exactly gained a foothold in the enterprise in markets where it can be had.

Being voted "most inspirational" by South Korean CEOs is important for Apple, as awards like these can only help as it expands the iPhone's availability beyond North American and Europe into Asia and beyond. South Korea is one if not the most advanced mobile phone and smartphone market in the world.

An eBook reader form Readius with rollable and foldable light-emitting diode display came in second behind the iPhone with 22 percent of the vote, followed by a a solar and wind-powered car with a 17 percent response.

Ironically, the Samsung Economic Research Institute, of all organizations, conducted the poll that gave the iPhone its latest win.

Apple has thus far sold over 4 million iPhones, since its release last June.

One in four of these were unlocked for use by carriers other than Apple's official partners. Most of these mobile operators operate in markets outside regions where the iPhone is already available.

For instance, over a million unlocked iPhones have been smuggled into China, the very same place where they were built and shipped out of in the first place.

[Via JoongAng Daily]