"Google and Netflix CEOs May Not Appear Again at National Audit Hearings; Requests Made for Executive and Team Leader Level Attendance"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] Instead of the heads of the domestic branches of Google and Netflix, who have been criticized for issues such as free-riding on network usage fees and app toll controversies, practical-level executives will appear at the National Assembly audit next week. Questions arise as to how responsible their answers will be, given that the representatives are absent due to overseas stays and the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

According to the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee (STIBC) of the National Assembly on the 15th, witnesses for the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Commission scheduled for the 22nd and 23rd include Jaehyun Lim, Executive Director of Google Korea, and Joohwan Yeon, Team Leader of Netflix Services Korea. Initially, STIBC had requested Nancy Mable, CEO of Google Korea, and Reginald Shaun Thompson, CEO of Netflix Services Korea, who are currently overseas, to appear as witnesses, but when this was not possible, practical-level executives were designated as proxies for this comprehensive audit.

Accordingly, it is expected that the "Google-less Google audit" seen during the Ministry of Science and ICT audit on the 7th will not be repeated next week. Google's forced in-app payment and 30% app commission expansion policy, as well as Netflix's free-riding issue, are considered key issues in this year's STIBC audit. During the audit on the 7th, voices were raised that "responsible executives" should be summoned as witnesses through proxy designation during the comprehensive audit.

However, the key question is whether practical-level executives will provide responsible answers on major issues. In the 20th National Assembly, John Lee, a Korean-American president overseeing sales and marketing in Korea, appeared several times instead of the CEO of Google Korea, but consistently responded with "I don't know well as it is under headquarters' jurisdiction" or "It is beyond my authority," drawing public criticism. The executive director Jaehyun Lim, designated as Google's proxy this time, holds a lower executive director rank. This situation could again lead to "recording-like" indifferent answers.

Considering these concerns, STIBC has requested the executives of Google Korea and Netflix Services Korea, summoned as witnesses for the comprehensive audit, to obtain authorization from their headquarters. If authorization is not obtained, measures such as filing complaints are also under consideration.

Additionally, STIBC has requested Hong Wonhwa, President of Kyungpook National University, to appear as a witness at the Ministry of Science and ICT comprehensive audit on the 22nd. Questions are expected regarding the controversy over refusal to pay burn treatment costs for students affected by the laboratory explosion accident at Kyungpook National University that occurred in December last year. As a reference witness, Im Deokgi, the father of a victim of the accident, has also been requested. Yoo Jeonga, President of the IPTV Association, and Kim Jinwook, lawyer at Juwon Law Firm, are also listed as reference witnesses.

The attendance of witnesses from portals such as Naver and Kakao, which have recently been embroiled in controversies over portal dominance, has not yet been decided. Members of the People Power Party in STIBC have repeatedly urged Lee Haejin, Global Investment Officer (GIO) of Naver, to appear at the audit, claiming he did not keep his promise when he appeared at the 2017 audit.

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