Mobile phones in South Korea were the most expensive in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to government data released Sunday.

The initial price upon release for handsets stood at $230.56 last year, followed by Japan with $200.72. The U.S. ranked 18th place with $107.55.

Prices have been decreasing annually since 2011, but it still came higher than Japan, which had been considered generally expensive.

In contrast, prices of premium phones has been on the rise annually, reaching $512.24 last year, followed by the U.S. with $505.38. Japan ranked 14th with $359.90.

A government official said such high prices might be due to a price bubble or because manufacturers seek excessive profits, adding that it was a problem as the country’s gross national income per capita ranks 25th in the OECD.