KCC chairman blasts SKT for illegal marketing

Choi Sung-joon, chairman of state Internet and telecommunications regulator Korea Communications Commission, said Tuesday the KCC would implement strict restrictions on illegal activity in the local telco industry in the future.

“(SK Telecom) continued utilizing illegal marketing tactics in very organized ways with computer programs to delete the data (of illegal businesses) aimed at intentionally hampering investigations of the KCC,” said Choi at a meeting with reporters to celebrate the first anniversary since he took the helm of the state agency.

He made the remarks while explaining the agency’s latest move to slap the mobile carrier with a fine of 23.5 billion won ($21.3 million) and a seven-day business suspension.

SK Telecom was handed the punishment last month for triggering overheated competition in the domestic mobile network market by giving out excessive subsidies to lure subscribers.

The decision came after several punishments and warnings from the state telecom regulator for the subsidy issue since last year and investigations into SKT by the KCC in January.

Choi also said Korea’s laws often lag behind fast-changing technology.

“I personally would like to see more services based on creative and cutting-edge technology like Uber coming up in our society, but those services that are against the existing laws are simply unacceptable,” said Choi, adding that the criminal charges filed against Uber was necessary.

The state agency filed criminal charges against the U.S.-based ride-sharing operator earlier this year for not registering the app at the KCC to show it properly protected data related to users’ locations.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)