[2025 Audit] Deputy Prime Minister Paek Jonghun: "Considering Introduction of Fourth Mobile Carrier to Lower Telecom Fees"

Lee Hoonki: "Low Quality and Competitiveness of 5G Services and Pricing"

Paek Jonghun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, announced that he would consider introducing a fourth mobile carrier as a way to lower telecommunications fees.

Paek Jonghun, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, is responding to questions from ruling and opposition committee members during the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee’s audit held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 13th. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 13th, during the National Assembly Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting and Communications Committee’s audit held at the Government Complex Sejong, Deputy Prime Minister Paek stated, “Until now, the government has determined and led the allocation of frequency bands, but if a capable operator emerges, we will pursue institutional reforms to allow them to select their desired frequency bands and proceed accordingly.”

Previously, Assemblyman Lee Hoonki of the Democratic Party of Korea cited collusion among the three domestic telecommunications companies as the reason for the failure to lower telecommunications costs, drawing a comparison with Japan’s 5G pricing. Assemblyman Lee pointed out, “Recently, when Japan’s fourth mobile carrier, Rakuten Mobile, introduced an unlimited 5G plan priced in the 30,000 won range, existing carriers also lowered their prices,” and criticized the quality of domestic 5G services and the lack of competitiveness in pricing plans.

He further argued that the government’s insistence on the 28GHz frequency band led to the failure to launch a fourth mobile carrier, and asserted, “If the 700MHz frequency band is allocated to a new operator, it would be possible to launch a fourth mobile carrier.” To date, there have been eight attempts to introduce a fourth mobile carrier, all of which have failed.

Minister Paek responded that he agreed with Assemblyman Lee’s opinion. He added, “We will comprehensively review the entire system, including the structural environment in which the government designates telecommunications frequencies and only allows operators to enter under these conditions.”