"Another Public Hearing on the 'Network Usage Fee Bill'... Ruling and Opposition Parties and Relevant Ministries Each Voice Their Own Opinions"

Outlook for the 2nd Public Hearing on the 17th of Next Month
Coordination Process Remains Within the Committee, Including Agreement Between Ruling and Opposition Party Whips

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] Discussions on the 'Network Usage Fee Act (Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act),' which mandates global content providers (CPs) to pay network usage fees and has been an issue through several public hearings and the National Assembly audit, are set to resume in the National Assembly. Despite Google mobilizing YouTubers and civic groups (Open Net) for a public opinion campaign, even the opposition party that prepared the related bill is experiencing internal disagreements, indicating ongoing difficulties ahead.

On the 31st, the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee plans to hold the second public hearing on network usage fees on the 17th of next month. This will be the second session following the first public hearing held on the 20th of last month. Since the date was proposed by the opposition party, it is expected to be finalized after coordination within the committee, including agreement between ruling and opposition party floor leaders.

During the first public hearing, which was arranged amid conflicts between the ruling and opposition parties, the ruling party side did not attend, citing "lack of preparation," and urged Chairman Chung Cheong-rae of the Science and ICT Committee to hold a subsequent hearing. After the ruling party members left, the hearing proceeded mainly with the opposition party, where the differing positions of internet service providers (ISPs) supporting mandatory payment of network usage fees and CPs opposing it were reaffirmed, but there was little in-depth discussion on the bill.

Within the opposition party, there are talks that it is important to organize the party’s stance before the second public hearing. The Democratic Party included the Network Usage Fee Act as a pledge during Lee Jae-myung’s presidential candidacy and as part of the party’s ‘22nd National Livelihood Legislative Agenda,’ but as public opinion supporting Google increased, Lee himself mentioned that "there seem to be problems with the mandatory network usage fee law," causing the legislative momentum to wane.

During the Science and ICT Committee’s National Assembly audit, opinions clashed over network usage fees. Yoon Young-chan, a Democratic Party lawmaker, pointed out, "As network usage fees become controversial, YouTube is actively engaging in a large-scale opposition campaign." Another Democratic Party lawmaker, Byun Jae-il, suggested the possibility of collusion, stating, "Open Net, a civic group, was effectively created by Google to form opposition public opinion against network usage fees." On the other hand, Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae urged the three major telecom companies to disclose the details of network usage fee contracts with individual CPs, saying, "According to reports, Twitch is paying network usage fees to the three telecom companies at rates more than 30 times higher than in North America and 15 times higher than in Asia."

Government ministries also hold differing views. Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT, said, "Currently, a lawsuit between Netflix and SK Broadband is ongoing, and we need to understand the regulatory situations in Europe and the United States. We are also giving this a lot of thought." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed opposition, stating that mandating payment of network usage fees would negatively impact the overseas expansion of Korean content.

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