[2025 Audit] Fair Trade Chairman Joo Byungki: "Closely Reviewing Whether MS Bundling Violates the Law"

Joo Byungki, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, stated on the 14th that the commission is "closely reviewing whether there has been a violation of the law" regarding suspicions of Microsoft (MS) bundling its business assistant artificial intelligence (AI) service, Copilot.

Joo Byung-ki, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, is reporting on business operations at the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee audit of the Fair Trade Commission held on the 14th. 2025.10.14 Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Chairman Joo made these remarks during the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee audit in response to questions from Yoo Youngha, a lawmaker from the People Power Party. He said, "Expanding market share and raising prices through bundling is a typical way to increase profits, so we will carefully examine this issue."

Lawmaker Yoo pointed out, "MS is effectively forcing users by pre-installing or selling as a bundle its AI service Copilot with its operating system (OS) and office software (M365)," adding, "There is a significant risk of abusing its dominant position in the domestic market." He emphasized, "It is reverse discrimination to impose strict regulations on domestic companies while applying more lenient standards to global corporations."

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