Witnesses for Parliamentary Audit
The heads of Google Korea, Facebook Korea and Apple Korea have been selected as witnesses for the upcoming parliamentary inspection of the administration. Google Tax introduction, potential personal information infringement by Facebook, and the like are expected to be debated.
The Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee of the National Assembly held a general meeting on October 2 and finalized the list of witnesses and testifiers, which consists of the CEOs of 26 ICT companies. The CEOs of Naver, Kakao, the top three local mobile carriers, and major local mobile phone manufacturers are scheduled to attend the committee’s inspection on October 10. The issues to be debated there include the so-called "Druking scandal," reverse discrimination against South Korean ICT companies, network charges involving telecom operators and digital content companies, and 5G commercialization.
Apple Korea general manager Brandon Yoon, Facebook Korea CEO Damian Yeo Guan Yao, and Google Korea CEO John Lee are also expected to attend the inspection. When it comes to Facebook, it is said that a recent hacking incident has compromised the personal information of approximately 50 million users. Earlier, the Korea Communications Commission asked Facebook to confirm whether the users include South Koreans. Facebook has yet to reply.
SK Telecom president Park Jung-ho, KT chairman Hwang Chang-kyu and LG U+ vice chairman Ha Hyeon-hoe are likely to handle issues such as their cheaper calling plans, network neutrality and paid broadcasting-related regulations.
In the meantime, the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Committee’s inspection is expected to be attended by NCSoft CEO Kim Taek-jin, Bluehole chairman Chang Byung-gyu, and Google Korea managing director Min Kyung-hwan. The CEO of NCSoft is likely to become the first person in the 21-year-old company to attend a parliamentary inspection of the administration.