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By Lee Min-hyung
The nation's media watchdogs plan to revise a law that will allow Android users to delete Google's "non-removable" preinstalled apps.
The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MSIP) and the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) voiced a consensus that legal measures were necessary to stop customers from falling victim to such monopolistic schemes.
"The KCC is in talks with the MSIP over completing the revision no later than July," said an official. "There are guidelines for the same issue, but they have been under no legal compulsion. Some business operators have not followed the guidelines, hurting users' rights."
The MSIP previously issued the guideline to make non-essential apps that come bundled with the phone removable. The number of preinstalled apps has been scaled back over the past two years since the measure took effect in January 2014, according to the MSIP. But the regulator said this has failed to "completely root out" the so-called "bloatware." Most such apps have become user-removable due to the guidelines, but still some 10 Google apps remain uninstallable.
The KCC official added the EU's recent decision over Google is another major reason for the law revision.
Last month, the European Commission (EC) issued a statement of objection, saying the company has imposed restrictions on Android device manufacturers, a clear breach of the EU's antitrust rules.
At that time, the MSIP said the Korean government will also step up its monitoring of Google to take additional regulatory measures.
"The KCC and the MSIP have considered adopting some legal measures to end the antitrust controversy, even before the EU statement was released," said the official. "But we cannot deny that the EU decision has significantly influenced our recent decision."
In response to the EU statement, Google headquarters previously issued a statement that it is open to talks with the EC over resolving the issue. But the world's largest portal operator did not specify that it will make the controversial irremovable apps "removable."
Google Senior Vice President Kent Walker said in a statement that the company will do its best to demonstrate its Android model was designed in a way to foster constructive competition and consumer benefit.
The MSIP was also on par with the KCC's stance.
An MSIP official said, "We are going to take comprehensive measures not just on Google, but other Android business operators involved in the preinstalled app controversy."
This includes mobile carriers, handset manufacturers and Internet service operators, according to the official.
"At the moment, we need to gather opinions from experts over deciding which apps should be removable or not," he said. "For example, we are in dilemma over such apps as Google Play Store. Some experts argue the app should remain irremovable for some elderly users who are not accustomed to using smartphones."
