Netflix Goes to Korean National Assembly "Please Consider Fair Network Usage Fee Setting During Legislation"

Assemblyman Kim Young-sik Meets with Vice President Dean Garfield
Urges Corporate Responsibility on Network Usage Fees and Producer Compensation

Netflix States "Not Saying We Bear No Network Usage Fees"
"Additional Compensation for Squid Game Also Under Discussion"

Dean Garfield, Vice President of Netflix, who visited the National Assembly (Photo), requested during a meeting on the 3rd with Kim Young-sik, a member of the People Power Party belonging to the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee of the National Assembly, to consider fair determination and use of network usage fees in the legislative process. Photo by Kim Young-sik's Office

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Dean Garfield, Vice President of Netflix, who visited the National Assembly (photo), requested on the 3rd during a meeting with Kim Young-sik, a member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee from the People Power Party, to consider fair network usage fee setting and usage during the legislative process.

Dean Garfield visited the National Assembly Members' Office Building at 11 a.m. that day and held a meeting with Assemblyman Kim Young-sik, stating, "We are currently engaged in a lawsuit with SK Broadband over network usage fees, but it does not mean that we will bear no costs at all," and added, "We are reviewing alternatives such as technical cooperation."

He also requested that Assemblyman Kim's amendment bill "consider fair network usage fee setting and the fair use of collected network usage fees without hindering the introduction of the latest technologies."

On the same day, Assemblyman Kim expressed gratitude to Vice President Garfield for Netflix spreading Korea's excellent content planning and production capabilities and diverse Korean culture worldwide. However, he also pointed out that Netflix has not fulfilled its basic corporate responsibilities in the market, such as tax avoidance and refusal to pay network usage fees in Korea, and urged improvement.

In particular, he explained that network usage fees are similar to the "traffic inducement charges" paid by buildings like department stores that cause traffic congestion. He also conveyed to the Vice President that there are plans to pass related legislation on network usage fees within the regular session of the National Assembly.

Assemblyman Kim stated, "It is common sense that businesses like Netflix, which cause internet network congestion, bear the costs associated with congestion inducement," and added, "Since the President and both ruling and opposition parties agree, we are pushing for the passage of the amended law related to network usage fees within the regular session."

From the left, Kim Young-sik, a member of the People Power Party, and Dean Garfield, Vice President of Netflix, are taking a commemorative photo after their meeting on the 3rd.

Assemblyman Kim also pointed out the issue that despite the tremendous success of Netflix's original drama 'Ojingeo Game' (Squid Game), the production company only receives 10% of the profits. In response, Vice President Garfield stated, "We are discussing additional compensation plans with the production company."

Meanwhile, Vice President Garfield held a meeting with Kim Hyun, Vice Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, the previous day to discuss current issues in the broadcasting and telecommunications sector such as 'media content investment,' 'creating a fair competitive environment,' and 'user protection.' On this day, Vice President Garfield is scheduled to meet not only Assemblyman Kim Young-sik but also Democratic Party members Lee Won-wook and Cho Seung-rae, as well as vice ministers from the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

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