Broadcasting Commission Chairman Mentioning Telecom 'Ikwon Cartel' Says "Comprehensive Review of Fee System Needed"

Order to Reduce Communication Fees at Meeting with Representatives of the Three Major Telecom Companies
Criticism of Oligopoly System and Mention of 'Interest Cartel'
Plans to Hold Greetings with Additional Telecom Service Providers in the Future

Lee Dong-gwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, said at a meeting with representatives of mobile carriers on the 15th, "We need to comprehensively review the pricing of devices and the telecommunication service fee system," adding, "Citizens should be able to use telecommunication services at affordable rates." From the perspective of ordinary people, the high household communication costs are burdensome, thus raising the issue of the fee system comprehensively.

Lee Dong-kwan, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, is taking a commemorative photo during his first meeting with the CEOs of the three major mobile carriers at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the afternoon of the 15th. From left to right: Yoo Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom; Chairman Lee; Kim Young-seop, CEO of KT; Hwang Hyun-sik, CEO of LG Uplus. 2023.9.15 Photo by Lee Dong-kwan

At the meeting held at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the same day, Chairman Lee was joined by Yoo Sang-young, CEO of SK Telecom, Kim Young-seop, CEO of KT, and Hwang Hyun-sik, CEO of LG Uplus, representing the three major telecom companies. This was the first official meeting between Chairman Lee and the representatives of the three telecom companies since his inauguration last month. Chairman Lee also mentioned the "interest cartel." He stated, "The telecommunications business has been operated under an oligopoly system for a long time, and there are criticisms of an 'interest cartel.'" He added, "There are concerns that excessive and discriminatory incentives are given only to certain distributors, which hinders fair market order."

Chairman Lee also emphasized the need to work together to ▲ block illegal spam and voice phishing ▲ ensure fair competition among operators in the telecommunications market ▲ crack down on unfair practices ▲ prevent telecommunication failures and errors. The meeting ended in about 40 minutes. The telecom company representatives who left the complex were reserved in their comments, especially avoiding answers on sensitive issues such as fee plans. Kim Young-seop, CEO of KT, said, "We agreed to put our heads together and cooperate to solve illegal spam." Meanwhile, Chairman Lee plans to hold introductory meetings with value-added service providers and others in the future.

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