Naver and Kakao Must Notify Users if Free Services Are Down for Two Hours

KCC Strengthens Notification Obligations for Service Providers
Notification Now Required via Email, Company Website, and SNS

Yonhap News

Free services operated by value-added telecommunications service providers such as Naver and Kakao must now mandatorily notify users if the service is interrupted for more than 2 hours. For example, if KakaoTalk service is down for over 2 hours, users must be immediately informed via text message, email, the company's website, or social networking services (SNS).

The Korea Communications Commission announced on the 25th that the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Telecommunications Business Act, which strengthens the notification obligations of service providers during value-added telecommunications service interruptions and diversifies notification methods, was approved at the Cabinet meeting that day.

In 2022, there was an incident where KakaoTalk service was interrupted due to a fire at the SK C&C Pangyo data center. Since then, to prevent user damage, the Korea Communications Commission has pushed for amendments to the enforcement decree. Previously, if a service interruption lasted more than 2 hours for basic telecommunications service providers or more than 4 hours for value-added telecommunications service providers, users were notified of the communication failure.

Above all, free services like KakaoTalk were not subject to mandatory notification. As concerns arose that users might not be aware of service disruptions, notification regulations were strengthened.

Online social networks (SNS) and other means were added as notification methods, allowing individual electronic notifications through social networking services in addition to existing text messages, emails, and company website announcements. However, the current regulation maintaining the scope of application to companies with sales of 10 billion KRW or more and over 1 million users remains in place.

Lee Jin-sook, Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission, stated, "With this amendment, users will be able to know about interruptions in free value-added telecommunications services as well," adding, "We expect this to prevent user damage and protect the rights and interests of the public."