No Family or Student Plans in Korea...
Low-Cost Ad-Free Plan Likely to Exclude Korean Users
YouTube plans to expand the countries applying a low-cost plan that removes ads, but South Korea is reportedly not included. As criticism that YouTube discriminates against domestic users continues to be raised, controversy is expected to persist.
Recently, Bloomberg reported that "YouTube is preparing to launch a 'YouTube Premium Lite plan' in some countries." According to the report, the Lite plan is expected to be offered at a lower price by excluding benefits such as YouTube Music. YouTube Premium provides benefits including ad-free video viewing, background playback, offline saving, and YouTube Music Premium.
The price of the new subscription has not been disclosed but is expected to be about half the cost of the existing YouTube Premium subscription. Countries where the Lite plan is expected to be launched include the United States, Australia, Germany, and Thailand.
As YouTube plans to expand the countries operating the low-cost plan, South Korea's exclusion is likely to intensify criticism of YouTube's subscription policy. The controversy over YouTube's discrimination against South Korea has persisted for years because, unlike in overseas markets such as the United States and Europe where YouTube operates three plans for individuals, families, and students, South Korea only offers a single YouTube Premium plan priced at 14,900 KRW.
In the United States, the family plan costs $22.99 (about 33,000 KRW) and allows sharing the subscription with up to five family members. This means each person can use YouTube Premium for about $4.5 (6,400 KRW). Additionally, consumers verified as university students can use the student plan, which is 43% cheaper than the individual plan (US standard $13.99), costing $7.99 (about 11,000 KRW).
Even compared to countries with similar economic levels to South Korea, the subscription burden on Korean consumers is higher. Since YouTube does not offer a family plan in South Korea, the effective per-person subscription fee difference widens. According to a recent investigation by the National Assembly Legislative Research Office last month, South Korea pays more than 30,000 KRW per month for YouTube Premium subscriptions for a four-person household compared to Italy, which has a similar gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita GDP.
As of October last year, Italy's family plan costs 17.99 euros per month (about 27,000 KRW). In contrast, in South Korea, where there is no family plan, subscribing to the individual plan means a four-person household pays 14,900 KRW each, totaling 59,600 KRW per month.
Meanwhile, at the National Assembly audit last October, Kim Kyung-hoon, head of Google Korea, said regarding the subscription plan controversy, "We are making every effort to add plans, but it is taking time because contracts with partners have not yet been finalized." When asked whether there are plans to introduce YouTube family plans, student plans, or Lite plans, he said, "We are reviewing everything," avoiding specific comments.
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