YouTube Premium Lite is officially coming to South Korea
A lighter YouTube subscription is coming to South Korea, marking a big regulatory win and a boost for Korea’s music ecosystem.
YouTube’s Lite experience lands in South Korea
After months of speculation, YouTube Premium Lite will officially launch in South Korea by the end of the year. That’s YouTube’s stripped back version of Premium that gives users ad-free viewing without access to YouTube Music, offline downloads, and background play.
According to The Korea Herald, it will land at 8,500 won (roughly $5.80) for Android and web users, and 10,900 won (roughly $7.40) for iOS. Google has also committed to keeping these prices the same for at least four years, and to not raise Premium prices for at least a year after Lite launches.
The rollout will begin with limited access for select users, followed by a short pilot period before the full launch.
A launch after an antitrust investigation
The news doesn’t come out of nowhere either. It follows a lengthy investigation by South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission into whether the YouTube Premium bundle was anti-competitive. The issue centred around whether the bundling of YouTube Music within the Premium was unfairly hindering local streaming services.
Google negotiated with the FTC to resolve the investigation, and following their agreement YouTube Premium Lite is clear to roll out. But, it’s more than just that. It also includes a meaningful investment into Korea’s music ecosystem. The company has committed 30 billion won (around $20.4m) to create a co-prosperity fund supporting Korea’s music industry, and will be independently administered by the Educational Broadcasting System to ensure it operates transparently.
Why this matters
For Korea’s music industry, this news is huge. While critics argue that the measures don’t undo YouTube’s now dominant position in the Korean market, having a standalone option for ad-free viewing does reopen the choice for consumers to perhaps consider a local streaming service for music instead. And that could help address YouTube’s long-term dominance in the market.
Even if that’s not the case, one thing is for certain though. The large fund pledged by Google will help channel real financial support towards artists, creators, and other players in the industry.