Trouble is brewing for Korean Internet users. Government officials are actively considering legislation that would allow local Internet service providers to effectively inflict a tax—so-called “network usage fees”—on “global platforms” in order for their content to reach Korean consumers. This follows litigation by SK Broadband to require similar payments from Netflix, whose content apparently accounts for a large share of Korean broadband use.
President Moon Jae-In has publicly supported the idea of ISPs charging “network usage fees.” But if allowed, these fees would distort economic markets and harm not just foreign companies like Netflix, but ultimately Korean Internet users.
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