[Edaily Reporter Shin Yeong-bin ] In South Korea, it costs about 60,000 won per month for a family of four to watch YouTube without ads. In Japan, a single family plan allows the same access for about 20,000 won.

This means that even when using the same service, the financial burden on households varies significantly depending on whether a family discount plan is available. Google maintains that it is difficult to introduce a family plan in Korea because it has not reached an agreement on royalty rates with domestic music copyright holders.

According to data submitted to the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting, and Communications Committee on the 27th by Han Jun-ho, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, Google stated that the reason for not introducing a family plan in Korea was that “an appropriate agreement could not be reached with Korean partners.”

The individual YouTube Premium subscription fee in South Korea is 14,900 won per month for web and Android payments. If four family members each subscribe, the total monthly cost would be 59,600 won.

In Japan, a family plan for up to six users costs approximately 19,200 won per month; for four users, the monthly cost in Korea is more than three times higher.

Family discounts are also available in the U.S. and the U.K. According to data from the lawmaker’s office, the U.S. family plan costs $26.99 per month (approximately 35,700 won), while the U.K. plan costs 19.99 pounds per month (approximately 35,400 won).

If the maximum number of users—six people—share the plan, the monthly cost per person drops to approximately 5,950 won and 5,900 won, respectively. In Korea, if six people each subscribe to an individual plan, they would have to pay a total of 89,400 won.

Google has identified “YouTube Music,” the music streaming service included in YouTube Premium, as a stumbling block to its launch in South Korea.

Google explained to the Korea Communications Commission, “To offer the service at a discounted price, we must obtain consent from all partner companies,” adding, “It will be difficult to introduce a family plan unless music rights holders agree to a rate reduction for it.”

In response to inquiries about the launch plan, Google stated, “We are actively exploring the launch of alternative products,” adding, “Discussions are underway with relevant government agencies—including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Copyright Commission—as well as our partners.”

Although there is a “YouTube Premium Lite” plan available in Korea for 8,500 won per month, it does not offer family discounts. If four people subscribe individually, it costs 34,000 won per month, and since YouTube Music is excluded, the service package differs from the existing Premium plan.

There have also been cases where users have fallen victim to scams while searching for cheaper ways to use the service. According to data from the Korea Consumer Federation, 480 cases of account-sharing scams were reported last year, in which scammers charged 4,000 to 5,000 won per month under the pretense of enrolling users in an overseas family plan and then canceled the service. Of these, 234 cases were concentrated in December.

One lawmaker stated, “There are so many people who want family plans that fraud cases are occurring one after another, yet progress toward a solution has been slow despite the cause being well known,” adding, “Google, copyright organizations, and relevant government agencies must work together to find a solution that protects creators’ legitimate rights while also reducing the burden on users.”