Seoul, Dec 22 (IANS): Facebook is the most popular social networking service in South Korea this year, out-doing other global and local platforms, a poll released on Tuesday showed.

According to a survey by market researcher DMC Media on 780 users aged between 19 and 59, Facebook emerged far ahead of others with 59.8 percent picking it out as their most-used social networking tool, The Korea Herald reported.

KakaoStory, a photo-sharing service, followed with 17.1 percent. 

Instagram came next with 10.3 percent, followed by group-interaction service BAND operated by Naver Corp. with 8.2 percent.

Naver operates South Korea's most-visited web portal and also has free messenger LINE under its wing. 

Twitter accounted for 2.4 percent.

By age group, those in their 40s and 50s preferred KakaoStory and BAND services which can be shared with only authorised acquaintances, while younger users in their teens and 20s chose global brands, such as Facebook and Twitter, the survey showed.