Information Communication Information System Policy Analysis

Abstract

This research is an effort to analyze the changes in the mobile communications device subsidy policy of Korea, especially with a focus on regulation of asymmetrical competition and consumer welfare, by applying Kindon's Policy Stream Framework (PSF). Though a legislative bill to revise the laws on electric communications businesses banning the offering of subsidies for devices was passed by the National Assembly on November 12th, 2002, this was a temporary law that was only effective until March 26th, 2006. Thus it acted as a trigger, or political stream that was expected to give rise to debates about whether to maintain or relieve such regulations come 2006. Such a trigger opened a window for policy change and in this window interactions such as policy learning of the non-political area and legislate strategies of the political area. This became the connection that allowed the National Assembly to pass the '2+1.5' bill, the context of which was ban for 2 years and grant subsidies to users of 16 months or longer, on March 2nd, 2006, as it was a way to promote consumer welfare, such as the people's rights to usage. This law was put into effect on March 27th. As a result, the device subsidy policy has changed from banning subsidies to allowing them, and this process took 5 years.