The South Korean web portal is continuing to press Google Korea on the company’s lack of transparency, with new CEO Han Sung-sook releasing a public statement on Thursday in which he said Google isn’t disclosing profits like it does in the U.K. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 10 (Korea Bizwire) – Naver has once again publically called on Google to disclose its profits and tax records, keeping alive its charges of lack of transparency against the international IT giant.
The South Korean web portal is continuing to press Google Korea on the company’s lack of transparency, with new CEO Han Sung-sook releasing a public statement on Thursday in which he said Google isn’t disclosing profits like it does in the U.K.
“It’s hard to accept Google’s claim that it is paying taxes fair and square, when it refuses to disclose profits and sales figures. It will put to bed all the rumors if Google reveals figures for profits, sales and tax records,” Naver said in a statement.
The latest attack by Naver follows company founder Lee Han-jin’s comment during a parliamentary inspection last month that Google doesn’t pay taxes fairly and makes little to no contribution to job creation in South Korea.
With the two constantly embroiled in a war of words, speculation is growing that a long-term battle over reputation and credibility is brewing.
Naver has also revived the accusations that Google doesn’t pay much for its network usage despite its video service YouTube generating heavy internet traffic.
“We paid 73.4 billion won in network fees in 2016 alone. Google should divulge how much it has paid for network usage when YouTube accounted for 72.8 percent of all videos played in September, nearly 27 times more than Naver TV,” the South Korean IT giant said.
Charges against Google went even further, as Naver raised questions over whether Google Korea has upheld an agreement to create R&D personnel jobs in return for major financial support from the government in 2006.
“Google needs to disclose information showing how many people were hired for its R&D personnel as promised in 2006, including the present condition of staff, and also disclose investment made to help South Korean startups in detail,” Naver said.
Naver has once again publically called on Google to disclose its profits and tax records, keeping alive its charges of lack of transparency against the international IT giant. (Image: Yonhap)
Google has in the past denied accusations that it is not creating jobs, and said it has made contributions to the South Korean economy.
“Currently, hundreds of staff members are working at Google Korea. In addition, we are proud of the contribution we made to job creation in South Korea by providing support for creators, developers and companies to establish a brand and bring about innovation,” Google Korea explained in a statement.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
