Seoul: Google plans to introduce a standalone premium subscription plan for YouTube in South Korea, offering video streaming without the music component. This initiative is a voluntary corrective measure to address alleged anti-competitive practices, as reported by the country's antitrust regulator.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the new subscription, called YouTube Premium Lite, will be priced at nearly half the current YouTube Premium plan, which includes both video and music streaming. The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) stated that Android users can subscribe for 8,500 won (US$6.15) per month, while iOS users will pay 10,900 won. These prices are lower compared to similar YouTube subscriptions in other countries such as the United States and Britain.
The proposal for YouTube Premium Lite comes as a response to Google's practice of bundling YouTube Music with its ad-free video streaming service, which the FTC began investigating in 2023. The FTC accused Google of limiting consumer choice by forcing users to subscribe to both services, thus abusing its market position.
Rather than facing a prolonged legal challenge, Google submitted a corrective action plan under the FTC's "consent decision" procedure. This allows the FTC to pause its investigation if the company offers measures that address consumer concerns. The FTC plans to gather opinions from ministries and stakeholders until August 14 before deciding on Google's proposal.
If approved, Google intends to launch YouTube Premium Lite by the end of this year. The company has also committed to freezing prices for YouTube Premium Lite and YouTube Premium for at least one year to ease financial pressure on users. Additionally, Google announced a 15 billion-won fund to support the Korean music industry by discovering new artists and facilitating their participation in international music festivals.