Net usage fees turned out to be a trade issue between Korea and the U.S

The issue of network usage fees(network usage fees), which used to be a confrontation between Korean mobile carriers and global big tech, is turning into a trade issue between the Korean and U.S. governments. The industry says that the U.S. government, which is on the side of global big tech, is blatantly driving the issue politically, but it seems that “there is nothing we can do” under pressure from superpowers.

President Lee Jae-myung (right of front row) and U.S. President Donald Trump (left of front row) attend the Korea-U.S. summit luncheon meeting at Gyeongju Museum in North Gyeongsang Province, Oct. 29, 2025. / News 1

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) told X on April 27 (local time) that no country in the world charges its own Internet Service Provider (ISP) network fees for Internet traffic transmission. “Only Korea is an exception.”

Network usage consideration refers to the price paid by content providers (CPs) such as Google and Netflix to ISPs such as SK Broadband, KT, and LG Uplus that provide Internet networks for traffic use.

The main body of USTR’s shooting is the National Assembly. On August 8, 2024, Rep. Lee Hae-min of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and Rep. Kim Woo-young of the Democratic Party of Korea proposed the Act on the Fairness of Network Utilization Contract, which prohibits the government from imposing discriminatory conditions or refusing to pay a fair price for network usage contracts between global big tech and domestic telecommunication companies. Since then, there have been constant calls for the government to regulate global big tech as a bill that has not paid for network use to domestic telecommunication companies.

The domestic industry refutes USTR's message, saying, “It is politically driving the issue of network usage fees between companies.” They say that the related bill, which is currently being pushed by the Korean National Assembly, is not only targeting U.S. big tech, but is explicitly siding with Google and Netflix.

An industry official pointed out, “The U.S. seems to be pressuring the Korean government beyond the Korean National Assembly with a claim that is different from the facts.”

Although the domestic industry is strongly opposed on the outside, the legislative push is expected to be delayed for a considerable period of time due to the strong message from the United States. If the Trump administration directly raises the issue of network usage in future trade negotiations, the burden on the Korean government will increase. The National Assembly cannot help but be conscious of this burden.

A National Assembly official said, “The push for global big tech bills has virtually stopped due to repeated pressure from the U.S..” Another official said, “Global big tech companies are continuing to use the U.S. government as a shield through lobbying to pressure the Korean government and the National Assembly. It has become virtually difficult to push for the online platform law.”