It was found that the interest rate applied when buying a mobile phone terminal in installments at a mobile service provider was 5.9% for over 10 years. Congressman Hong Ik-pyo (Democratic Party) of the National Assembly’s Science and Technology Information Broadcasting and Communication Committee said, “At the time of the introduction of the installment rate for mobile phones 10 years ago, the interest rate was 5.9%, and 5.9% is still applied.” Pointed out.
Loan interest rate fell, but only cell phones are in place
According to Congressman Hong, the Bank of Korea’s standard interest rate 10 years ago was 3.25% and is now 0.5%. The average credit rate of 10 years ago was 7.82%, compared to 3.26% now. The average household loan interest rate also fell from 5.47% 10 years ago to 2.75% recently. Rep. Hong said, “The standard interest rate, credit interest rate, and household loan interest rate have all fallen, but only the mobile phone installment rate is maintained.”
With Democratic Party, Ik-pyo Hong. Reporter Oh Jong-taek
He added, “The installment interest rate includes a number of things such as guarantee insurance premiums, financing costs for handset supply, and debt collection costs.” Interestingly, the interest rate is 5.9%, so it seems like an obvious collusion.” He then argued, “We need to discuss with the Fair Trade Commission to review whether collusion has occurred, and cut interest rates as soon as possible.”
“There seems to be a problem,” said Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission. “I will discuss (with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the FTC).” Rep. Hong also pointed out that “the mobile operator’s mileage and points must be changed not for the convenience of customers, but also for the mobile operator to arbitrarily change the terms and conditions of use and restrict use.” There is a part that can be done, and I will take action to find and correct the part that may be a problem.”
Sanghyuk Han “In principle, it is reasonable to introduce a separate disclosure system”
![Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, answers questions from members of the National Assembly on the 18th at the general meeting of the Science and Technology Information Broadcasting and Communications Commission. [뉴스1]](https://i0.wp.com/pds.joins.com/news/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/202102/18/0aa7a6b6-27bd-458c-b079-cc5cc768e301.jpg?w=560&ssl=1)
Han Sang-hyuk, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, answers questions from members of the National Assembly on the 18th at the general meeting of the Science and Technology Information Broadcasting and Communications Commission. [뉴스1]
Regarding user protection, Chairman Han expressed his willingness to introduce a separate terminal disclosure system in the business report on the day. Chairman Han said, “In principle, it is reasonable to introduce a separate disclosure system,” and said, “We will find a way to minimize side effects resulting from this.”
Separate disclosure means that the support fund from the manufacturer and the telecommunication company is separately disclosed from the terminal disclosure support fund. Although the government is in a position that it is possible to cut handset shipment prices through the separate disclosure system, the gap between manufacturers, mobile operators, and civic groups has suffered a great deal.
On the other hand, Chairman Han responded to an inquiry from Rep. Park Dae-chul (Power of the People) that KBS is pushing forward with a proposal to raise the license fee to the National Assembly in March. We haven’t discussed the schedule,” he replied, “It is unlikely that it will be (estimated) within March.”
Reporter Kim Kyung-jin [email protected]