Overview
- FTC Chair Ju Biung-ghi said introducing platform-specific legislation is difficult for now due to unresolved trade issues with the United States, and he plans to rely on current laws to police conduct.
- Seoul reaffirmed that any platform rules will not discriminate against foreign firms, aligning with the nondiscrimination pledge referenced in a recent bilateral fact sheet.
- U.S. negotiators reportedly flagged South Korea’s non-tariff measures, including proposed platform regulation, during talks over the investment package.
- The FTC is finalizing its review of Woowa Brothers’ Baemin over alleged coercive practices, with a decision that could include corrective orders or fines after the company submits its formal opinion.
- The regulator urged extreme caution on loosening Korea’s separation of commerce and finance, calling it a last-resort option despite calls from conglomerates such as SK Group for more investment flexibility.