South Korea’s Stance on Line Messenger Dispute
In an unfolding dialogue between tech giants, Seoul’s science ministry has articulated its position on a recent development concerning Line messenger, an app developed by Naver, the largest internet firm in South Korea. The ministry voiced its disappointment with what it considers undue pressure from the Japanese government.
Following an announcement by Japan’s SoftBank about ongoing discussions with Naver regarding LY Corp, the operator of Line, South Korea’s Second Vice Science Minister, Kang Do-hyun, conveyed the ministry’s standpoint to the press. He highlighted the government’s discomfort with the Japanese administration’s approach, especially in the wake of a guidance issued to LY Corp after a data breach incident.
Kang emphasized the ministry’s commitment to react with firmness and resolve to any actions deemed discriminatory towards South Korean companies.
LY Corp sits under the umbrella of A Holdings, which is a joint venture equally owned by Naver and SoftBank, signifying a significant partnership between South Korean and Japanese interests.
The popular messaging platform, Line, has emerged as a central figure in this international corporate discourse, as depicted in the image from Yonhap News TV, underscoring the app’s widespread influence and the gravity of the ongoing negotiations.
