KCC to probe YouTube over automatic service renewal

The Korea Communications Commission (KCC) announced Tuesday that it launched a fact-finding probe into YouTube for potentially hurting consumers by failing to properly notify users before automatically charging them for its paid premium service after a free trial period ended.

YouTube Premium, formerly YouTube Red, is the video platform’s paid service that gives users access to ad-free videos and original content for 7,900 won ($7.05) a month. It is currently offering one-month free trials.

The KCC said it will look into YouTube Premium’s service operations and penalize it accordingly if YouTube, operated by Google, is found to have hurt consumers. The commission added that the probe is a response to various media reports that YouTube Premium hadn’t properly informed users of the payment process.

By Kim Eun-jin