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History
Daewoo was founded in 1967 by Kim Woo-choong. At the time, the South Korean government had begun a series of five-year economic plans under which the country’s large family-owned business conglomerates (chaebols) were required to meet specific targets. As a newly established company, Daewoo did not become involved until the second of these plans, when it was able to take advantage of government loans for export goods in the clothing and textile industries. Over the following decade, Daewoo continued to support the national economic effort through successive five-year plans. While its primary focus remained on these government objectives, the company also expanded into other sectors and began producing various goods, including consumer electronics. In 1984, Daewoo released its first computer, the DPC-100.
Note: There is some information about a possible DPC-80 that may have been released prior to the DPC-100, but no concrete evidence has been found to confirm this.
The DPC-100 was based on the MSX1 standard, a standardized home-computer architecture introduced in 1983. The MSX standard quickly became very popular, especially in Japan, where many companies produced MSX-compatible machines. Because South Korea did not yet have copyright legislation protecting computer software, numerous computer-store chains—such as Zemina, Prosoft, Clover, Topia, Screen Software, and Aproman—began producing bootleg copies of Japanese titles. These companies went so far as to add their own copyright notices to the games, presenting them as if they had developed the software themselves. This sudden abundance of MSX software created an opportunity for Daewoo, which in 1985 introduced the first MSX-based video-game console: the Zemmix.
Also known as the CPC-50, the Zemmix (whose name means “It’s Fun”) was well received in Korea. Priced at ₩70,000 (or ₩81,000 with a joystick), it was a bargain compared with the DPC-100, which retailed for ₩257,000. However, the Zemmix had one major shortcoming: its limited memory. While early MSX software ran adequately on the console, more complex games required more than the original 8 KB of RAM and 16 KB of VRAM. Daewoo addressed this with two successive updates—the CPC-50A in 1986 (which featured a new CPU) and the CPC-50B in 1987 (which increased memory to 64 KB of RAM and 16 KB of VRAM).
Although the CPC-50B represented a substantial upgrade, two new problems emerged. First, while the new model was offered in different body colours, the name and overall shell design remained the same across all variants, causing considerable confusion. Potential buyers found it difficult to distinguish the more powerful revision from earlier models and therefore did not always realise that it could run a much wider range of games.
The second problem concerned the 20-in-1 cartridge bundled with the console. On 1 July 1987 the Law for the Protection of Computer Programs (Bill No. 3920) came into effect. This legislation prohibited the sale and distribution of pirated software. Because the included cartridge lacked the proper licences, it became a legal problem for Daewoo to continue distributing it.
To resolve these issues, Daewoo released the first “new” model in the series: the Zemmix V.
Release
Released in 1988, the Zemmix V was hardware-wise an exact copy of the CPC-50B. The console did not include any pack-in game. It quickly became a fan favourite and outsold the earlier CPC-50 models.
It was initially released in a red-and-black colour scheme (model CPC-51). Because of its distinctive colour and shape, it was soon nicknamed the “Superman panties” and the “Red panties.”
The Zemmix V was so well received that Daewoo quickly expanded the range, offering the console in three colour variations:
- Red and black (CPC-51R)
- White and grey (CPC-51W)
- Blue, yellow and black (CPC-51B)
Demise
Two major factors explain the demise of the Zemmix V.
The first was the availability of MSX games. After the Law for the Protection of Computer Programs came into effect, the supply of new MSX titles was severely affected. While small computer shops continued to sell pirated games, the more reputable store chains—now under greater scrutiny—had to stop selling unlicensed software, leaving their shelves largely empty. Although the situation eventually stabilised as Korean companies secured proper licensing agreements with Japanese publishers, the overall availability of new MSX games was permanently reduced.
The second major factor was also linked to the same copyright law. With adequate legal protection now in place, Japanese and American companies became more willing to sell their products in Korea. In 1989, the Sega Master System was released in Korea by Samsung under the name Gam*Boy. The same console was also imported in its Japanese form by Oacs Korea and sold through HiCom. Later that same year, the Nintendo Entertainment System was released by Hyundai under the name Comboy.
To counter the influx of these competitors, Daewoo once again upgraded its Zemmix series with the Zemmix Super V (CPC-61). This model featured 64 KB of RAM, 128 KB of VRAM, and—most importantly—full MSX2 compatibility. Released in 1990, the Super V completely replaced the Zemmix V.
Color Variation
Three different colour schemes exist for the Zemmix V. It should also be noted that the CPC-51B model exists in two variations in which the blue and yellow sections are inverted.
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| Red and Black model CPC-51, CPC-51R |
Blue, Yellow and Black model CPC-51B |
White and Gray model CPC-51W |
Technical Specifications
- CPU: Zilog Z80A @ 3.58 MHz
- RAM: 32 KB
- VRAM: 16 KB
- Video: Texas Instruments TMS9918 (MSX1 standard)
- Sound: AY-3-8910 PSG (3 channels + noise)
- Media: ROM cartridges (MSX1 compatible)
- Video output: RF, composite, and analog audio
- Controllers: 2 joystick ports + optional keyboard connector
- Power: 100–220 V switchable