YouTube is officially launching "YouTube Premium Lite," a video-only paid subscription plan, in Korea. The monthly fee is 8,500 won for Android and web, and 10,900 won for iOS. Considering that the existing Premium plan only offered bundled products including YouTube Music, this is the first standalone plan offered to Korean users. The price will be frozen for at least one year from the launch date.
This launch is the result of the Fair Trade Commission's approval during its investigation into Google's alleged violations of the Fair Trade Act. Google has been operating a Lite plan overseas, offering only ad removal, but has not launched it in Korea, leading to criticism that this has limited consumer choice. The Fair Trade Commission finalized a corrective measure after gathering feedback from stakeholders, and Google has accepted it.
The Lite version released in Korea boasts significantly expanded functionality compared to its overseas counterparts. It includes built-in ad removal for non-music content, background playback, and offline storage. Playback continues even when the screen is off, and saved videos can be played without consuming data. However, some music content, such as official music videos, may have limited functionality due to copyright restrictions.
The Lite plan is up to 6,400 won cheaper than the existing Premium plan. This expands options for users who don't subscribe to the existing Premium plan or who already use other music streaming services. The Fair Trade Commission predicts this will have the effect of stimulating competition in the online music market. The fact that several music platforms offer plans priced at 6,400 won or less per month is also expected to contribute to expanding choice.
Google must officially launch Lite within 90 days of receiving the resolution, and internally plans to expand the service to all users as early as the end of the year. A pilot service will initially be available to a select group of users. Google will also contribute 30 billion won to the Educational Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) to revitalize the domestic music industry. This fund will be used to support music programs such as the production of "Space Gonggam" and the operation of "Hello Rookie.".
