The Korean government and the National Assembly have been showing a willingness to narrow the gap by introducing a `national agent designation system` as the opposition from the industry has been steadily arising that discrimination against domestic internet operators and overseas operators is deepening. However, there is also a reaction that this is not a fundamental measure for reverse discrimination.

At a public hearing on December 27 at the National Assembly Hall on the theme of `Discrimination and Resolution of Domestic and Foreign Nationals in the New Normal Period` hosted by the Kim Sung-tae Free Korean National Assembly, Kim added, "In addition to the revision of the Telecommunications Business Act, "I would like to introduce a revised bill that will resolve the problem.

The revised law, which Mr. Kim has introduced on the same day, is based on the principle of `application of offshore application` which can apply domestic law if domestic market or users are affected even if the action is carried out outside of the country, ？ treatment of complaints against domestic users, The introduction of agent designation system, the evaluation of competition situation with foreign internet companies and the evaluation of user protection work. It is the position that it plans to carry out the merger examination next February together with the bill which it initiated.

Mr. Kim said, "Global Internet companies are not paying corporate tax in Korea because of their headquarters overseas. While creating huge added value, they have a lukewarm attitude toward social responsibilities and roles." He added, and domestic operators should be balanced. "In order for domestic operators to gain competitiveness, it is imperative to shift to a regulatory frame that can be applied across the local economy and integrated."

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) recognizes that there is a limit to the law enforcement power of overseas operators, and said that the European Union (EU) is promoting the introduction of the GDPR (Personal Information Protection General Specification).

The Domestic Agent Designation System is designed to reduce the damage of domestic users who use the services of foreign companies that have no branch offices in Korea. It is designed to communicate with domestic users by designating a natural person or corporation qualified as a law firm or personal information protection as an agent. . However, it is the position of the Korea Communications Commission to discuss in detail the eligibility requirements, the responsibility of the agent, and the duty.

Meanwhile, Kim Jae-young met with reporters and said, "We are considering the introduction of a domestic agent designation system into next year`s law." In addition to corporations with branches such as Google, overseas businessmen who do not have a window to communicate in Korea enter this system. "He said.

However, it is pointed out by the industry that domestic agent designation system cannot be a fundamental solution to the problem of reverse discrimination. Cha Jae-pil, chief of the Korea Internet Business Association, pointed out that "the problem of reverse discrimination between Google and Facebook is not because they do not have agents in Korea, but because the enforcement power of regulatory authorities against overseas operators is not guaranteed."


By Jin Hyun Jin 2jinhj@


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