Online platform law doesn't 'target' US tech firms, antitrust chief says

Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Ju Biung-ghi, left, responds to lawmakers during a hearing on Coupang at the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 30, 2025. On his right is former Coupang CEO Park Dae-jun. Yonhap

Fair Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Ju Biung-ghi dismissed the U.S. Congress’ claim that Korea’s proposed online platform law “targets” major American tech firms.

Reaffirming the antitrust watchdog’s commitment to regulating monopolistic online platforms, he also emphasized the need to impose heavier fines on Coupang and other dominant market players if they are found to have engaged in unfair business practices.

Speaking at a dinner with reporters Thursday, Ju clarified that the proposed online platform law would serve as an ex-post regulation to correct unfair transactions involving online platform operators. Under the previous administration in 2024, Korea dropped its plan to predesignate dominant platforms, shifting its focus to regulating them after instances of misconduct.

“Not only Coupang but also Naver and several other domestic platform operators will be subject to the law, which follows the principle of nondiscrimination against foreign companies,” Ju said. “It is not an ex-ante regulation that designates monopolistic operators or restricts their abuse of market dominance or practices that harm consumer interests.”

Despite Korea’s pledge to ensure that U.S. companies face no unnecessary barriers in digital service laws, U.S. politicians and business lobbies have expressed concern that Korea’s online platform legislation could advantage Chinese firms by curbing the expansion of American tech companies.

“The Committee is concerned about online platform legislation under consideration in the Republic of Korea that targets U.S. technology companies in relation to their non-U.S. competitors and would advantage competitors domiciled in the People's Republic of China,” the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations said in a Sept. 12 report attached to its proposed fiscal 2026 budget released Monday.

Robert O’Brien, who served as national security adviser during the first Donald Trump administration, and Republican Rep. Darrell Issa also cited Coupang last month as one of the U.S. tech firms allegedly facing hostility from the Korean government and lawmakers.

Outlining the Lee Jae Myung administration’s plan to strengthen economic sanctions on unfair business practices rather than pursuing criminal charges, however, Ju signaled the government’s intention to impose a tougher penalty on Coupang for multiple violations, including last November’s data breach that affected more than 33 million users. He also advocated for stronger sanctions on dominant players during a parliamentary hearing on the Coupang case last month.

“Economic penalties in Korea are relatively mild compared with those in other developed countries,” Ju told reporters. “It is more accurate to describe the government’s plan as a ‘rationalization’ of economic sanctions rather than a tightening of them.”

During the dinner, Ju also revealed that the FTC is investigating alleged price-fixing among CJ CheilJedang, Daesang, Samyang Corp. and Sajo CPK in the starch sugar market.