[2021 National Audit] Yang Jeongsuk "Telecommunications Dispute Commission Useless... Over Half 'Refuse Mediation'"

Launched in June 2019~July 2021
138 out of 224 5G complaints rejected for settlement

[Asia Economy Reporter Minyoung Cha] The Telecommunications Dispute Mediation Committee, established in 2019 to resolve telecommunications disputes, has been criticized for failing to properly facilitate agreements between telecom companies and dispute applicants.

According to data submitted by the Korea Communications Commission to Yang Jeong-suk, an independent member of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee, more than half (61%) of the 5G disputes received by the Telecommunications Dispute Mediation Committee from its inception in June 2019 to July 2021 were not properly resolved.

Among the 224 5G-related cases submitted to the Telecommunications Dispute Mediation Committee, ▲138 cases were refusals to mediate, the highest number, followed by ▲15 cases of mediation agreements, ▲13 cases of withdrawal termination, ▲11 cases of pre-mediation agreements, ▲11 cases pending, and ▲36 cases in progress. Refusals to mediate accounted for 61%, and excluding 'pre-mediation agreements' and 'withdrawal terminations,' the actual number of 5G dispute cases was 200, representing over 69%.

Yang Jeong-suk, Member of the National Assembly (Independent)

By telecom company, ▲KT had the highest number of disputes at 574 cases, followed by ▲LG Uplus with 352 cases, ▲SK Telecom with 280 cases, and ▲SK Broadband with 93 cases. KT accounted for more than 40% of the disputes received.

The number of mediation refusals was also highest for KT with 177 cases, followed by SK Telecom with 116 cases, LG Uplus with 94 cases, and SK Broadband with 18 cases. KT accounted for 42% of all mediation refusals.

Yang Jeong-suk stated, “The Telecommunications Dispute Mediation Committee, established to professionally handle telecommunications disputes, has shown poor dispute resolution performance,” and added, “The results of 5G dispute handling indicate that conflicts between users and telecom companies are intensifying due to the inadequate establishment of 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz base stations.”

Yang emphasized, “With the enactment of the Google Fair Trade Act, the Telecommunications Dispute Mediation Committee will be responsible for disputes related to app payments, so it must enhance its expertise to address these disputes,” and added, “I hope the Telecommunications Dispute Mediation Committee will prepare agreements that can be accepted by the parties involved to resolve conflicts.”