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Online video service Netflix has raised its rates. Although the Korean content 'Squid Game' has been a worldwide hit, the court's decision to pay internet network usage fees has been ignored and criticized public opinion is high.
For more details, reporter Jeon Yeon-nam reports.
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Netflix's standard plan, which can be used by two people at the same time, from 12,000 won to 13,500 won per month, and the premium for four people at the same time, from 14,500 won to 17,000 won. They announced an increase of 12.5% and 17.2%, respectively.
This rate plan is applied from new subscribers, and according to the terms and conditions, existing subscribers will also be charged an increased rate after one month.
This is the first time Netflix has raised its subscription fee since its entry into Korea.
Netflix, which has recently made a huge profit from the global success of the squid game, expressed the impression that it is a dimension to continuously produce and invest in Korean content.
However, it is also analyzed that after the court's first trial ruling that telecommunication companies must pay network usage fees, the National Assembly is pushing ahead with the passage of a bill to make the network usage fee mandatory.
Domestic companies that use a lot of data, such as Naver and Kakao, pay tens of billions of won in network usage fees every year.
Netflix has been sticking to its existing position, saying it is considering a way to technically relieve the burden on the communication network.
[Dean Garfield / Vice President of Netflix Policy: It is not true that Netflix pays network usage fees to countries other than Korea.
We believe that we should collaborate with both Korean and overseas Internet operators on exactly equal terms.]
Netflix insisted that network usage fees and increase in usage fees are separate matters.
(Video coverage: Cho Chun-dong, video editing: Lee Seung-jin)