[2021 National Audit] Minister Im Hye-sook on Netflix Free Riding Controversy: "Actively Cooperate with Legal Amendments"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Lim Hye-sook, Minister of Science and ICT, stated that she will "take a more proactive interest and review" the controversy over overseas companies such as Netflix free-riding on internet networks.

At the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee (Science Committee) audit of the Ministry of Science and ICT, Minister Lim said, "There is also an issue of reverse discrimination against domestic content providers (CPs). The current concerns raised are appropriate criticisms."

In response, Kim Young-sik, a member of the People Power Party, requested cooperation for the passage of a bill he sponsored, and Minister Lim replied, "I will actively cooperate."

Assemblyman Kim recently proposed an amendment to the Telecommunications Business Act, which mandates payment obligations for network usage fees by large CPs. The amendment prohibits value-added telecommunications service providers above a certain scale from demanding network connections without paying fair compensation for their services.