Baek Kyung-hoon, Deputy Minister and Minister of Science and ICT, was set to meet with the CEOs of South Korea's three major telecom companies—SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus—on September 17. However, the meeting was canceled due to a National Assembly session scheduled for the same day.
A Ministry of Science and ICT official stated, "We intended to discuss measures for living costs before Chuseok, but the National Assembly's schedule made the meeting difficult. We are currently coordinating a new date for the third meeting."
This meeting was expected to cover investments in artificial intelligence (AI) and network infrastructure by the three telecom companies, as well as review the progress on tasks agreed upon in previous meetings. Discussions on living cost measures in the telecom sector were also anticipated to be a key agenda item.
Earlier this year, Baek and the CEOs held their first meeting in April, agreeing to regular quarterly meetings. The initial meeting focused on reviewing the information security status of the three telecom companies and discussed expanding investments in AI data centers (AIDC), as well as next-generation intelligent networks based on 6G and AI.
During the second meeting in July, topics included AI infrastructure and basic communication rights. The telecom companies urged the government to create public demand in new technology sectors. At that meeting, SK Telecom and KT formally requested a long-term policy direction and a predictable roadmap for phasing out older mobile networks like 3G.
Choi Woo-hyuk, Director of the Information Security and Network Policy Office at the Ministry, responded, "We will discuss predictable schedules and policy directions to ensure user protection, prioritizing subscriber transitions and service continuity."
The meeting's schedule was reportedly communicated to the industry about a week in advance. While there is a recognized need for the government and telecom industry to regularly review key issues, concerns have been raised that expanding the discussion to individual companies' pricing and marketing strategies could stifle market competition.
Kim Dae-jong, a professor at Sejong University, noted, "Regular consultations between the government and the three telecom companies may be necessary to enhance network investments and user benefits. It allows for quick coordination on public interest tasks such as alleviating consumer burdens and supporting vulnerable groups."
However, he cautioned that if the government directly intervenes in pricing or marketing strategies of individual telecom companies, it could dampen market autonomy and competition. He emphasized that telecom companies should compete based on their management strategies and customer characteristics, while the government should focus on monitoring anti-competitive practices and ensuring fair market order. He concluded, "It is preferable for the government to act as a referee to ensure fair competition rather than participating as a player in the market."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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