The Ministry of Science and ICT said it will reduce the burden through "AI for All" after criticism that AI and online video service (OTT) subscriptions have limited the effect of cutting communications costs.

Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Bae Kyung-hoon (배경훈) gave that answer on Oct. 23 at a comprehensive parliamentary audit of the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee. He was responding to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hoon-gi (이훈기) on measures to ease communications costs including AI and OTT subscriptions.

Lee said that cutting communications costs was becoming remote as more products combine mobile fees with AI and OTT subscriptions. He said existing policies to lower communications costs focus on mobile phone charges, while users also bear subscription costs for digital services such as AI and OTT.

OTT and AI service subscription fees in particular have become a factor increasing fixed household spending. Lee's office assumed a case in which a user subscribes to four services: YouTube Premium, Netflix Premium, ChatGPT and Claude Pro. Adding up the domestic prices for payment, the result showed monthly subscriptions of about 90,000 won and more than 1 million won a year.

Bae said, "As for AI subscription fees, from this December, 'AI for All' that all citizens can use for free will come out."

"AI for All," to be introduced in December, is a general-purpose AI service that anyone can use for free. The plan is to reduce the cost burden by enabling use of AI functions without a separate paid AI subscription. Bae said, "We will also look into OTT so that all citizens can use it without 부담 for digital livelihood stability."

Bae said, "We will also look into OTT so that all citizens can use it without 부담 for digital livelihood stability."

Lee also asked for a response at the ministry level to Coupang's personal information leak incident and its lawsuit challenging an administrative fine. Lee criticised Coupang for filing an administrative lawsuit to contest the fine imposed over a large-scale personal data leak.

Earlier, the Personal Information Protection Commission imposed an administrative fine of about 624.7 billion won on Coupang for violating the Personal Information Protection Act. But Coupang filed an administrative lawsuit on Oct. 7 seeking to cancel the fine.

Bae replied, "The party to the administrative lawsuit is the Personal Information Protection Commission, but the Ministry of Science and ICT will actively cooperate."

The ministry is also working to expand 5G-based WiFi in subways nationwide. It plans to encourage investment by the three telecom carriers to expand the model used on the Incheon subway. Earlier, Incheon Transit Corp completed a "subway WiFi upgrade pilot project" and replaced existing LTE-based WiFi equipment with 5G-based systems.

Bae said, "It is important to expand such meaningful cases nationwide." He said, "At a meeting with the three mobile carriers, I will actively offer opinions and encourage the spread of WiFi in subways nationwide."