Google Abuse Prevention Act Referred to Agenda Coordination Committee... Ruling Party Likely to Pass Unilaterally

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] The so-called Google Gapjil Prevention Act (Amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act), which restricts the mandatory use of Google's own payment system, was referred to the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee's agenda adjustment subcommittee on the 24th.

Lee Won-wook, chairman of the Science and Technology Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee from the Democratic Party, said at the plenary meeting that day, "We will form the agenda adjustment subcommittee by the 25th with three members from the Democratic Party, two from the People Power Party, and one independent member."

The bill is expected to proceed directly to the plenary session after going through the agenda adjustment subcommittee led by the ruling party. If the agenda referred to the adjustment subcommittee is approved by more than two-thirds, it can be submitted to the plenary session.

The Democratic Party plans to pass this bill at the July National Assembly session at the latest, but the People Power Party is opposing it citing "overlapping regulations" and "trade friction."

A ruling party official from the Science and Technology Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee said, "Holding the agenda adjustment subcommittee is to encourage further discussion between the ruling and opposition parties," adding, "If no adjustment is made, the bill will be put to a vote in the plenary session and will pass."

On the other hand, an opposition party official said, "We are well aware of the negative impact of in-app payments on the domestic industry," but added, "However, we cannot agree to rushed legislation."

Google plans to expand in-app payments, which were previously applied only to games, to all sectors starting this October. However, on this day, Google officially announced that it will reduce the payment commission rate to 15% for digital content related to books (including webtoons), videos, and audio. Naver, Kakao, and others, which were previously excluded from the commission reduction, are also included.