[2020 National Audit] Google, Controversial '30% App Commission', Ultimately Skips National Audit

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Google, which was requested as a witness for the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's audit, will not attend.

According to National Assembly officials on the morning of the 7th, the committee had considered holding a video conference with Nancy Mabel Walker, CEO of Google Korea, by the previous day, but it was reported that it did not materialize.

Initially, the committee had selected Nancy Mabel Walker of Google Korea as a witness, but Google Korea stated, "She resides overseas and cannot attend due to compliance with COVID-19 prevention guidelines," expressing a position of non-attendance.

There were expectations that John Lee, who oversees advertising sales and marketing in Korea, would appear instead of Nancy Mabel Walker, but he was excluded. Google also stated, "We have not even received a summons to appear."

On the 28th of last month, Google announced that starting from October next year, all payments made when using apps distributed through Google Play will be forced to use its own system, in-app payments, and a 30% commission will be deducted. Because of this, criticism has arisen that Google is leveraging its monopolistic position in the mobile platform to push through app fee increases.

With Google's absence from the audit, discussions related to the app market's abuse of power controversy will proceed without witnesses or reference persons.

Regarding this, Han Junho, a member of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a phone interview, "The audit is a place to listen to opinions, but Google's avoidance of such a place itself shows a lack of basic service attitude or cooperation attitude toward Korea," and added, "We plan to protest to Google about this and intend to respond using all available means such as legal measures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.