Republic of Korea: Korea Fair Trade Commission initiated consent decision procedure in response to Google’s application concerning alleged violations of Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act

On 22 May 2025, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) initiated the consent decision procedure following Google’s application concerning alleged violations of the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act. In its proposal, Google offered corrective measures including the introduction of a standalone “YouTube Premium Lite” subscription in South Korea, excluding YouTube Music, to enhance consumer choice and address competition concerns in the online music service market. Google also pledged KRW 30 billion to support consumer welfare and the domestic music industry. The KFTC approved the initiation of the procedure after assessing the proposal’s alignment with public interest, its potential to improve market competition, and its proportionality to expected sanctions. The consent decision will be finalised following stakeholder consultations and further internal review.