Dean Garfield (L), head of public policy at Netflix, meets with Rep. Lee Won-wook (R), chairman of the National Assembly’s science and communications committee, in Seoul on Nov. 3, 2021. (Pool photo) (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — The vice president of Netflix Inc. said during his recent visit to South Korea that he had the intention to negotiate with SK Broadband Co., which is litigating with the U.S.-based streamer over network usage fees.
Nonetheless, he departed without doing so, industry sources said Wednesday.
Dean Garfield, vice president of global public policy at Netflix who visited South Korea on Nov. 2, clarified his position on the controversy surrounding network usage fees in his meetings with government and National Assembly officials.
However, Rep. Jo Seoung-lae of the ruling democratic party canceled his meeting with Garfield, saying that the latter was not ready to have a discussion on the pending issue.
The vice president has continuously stressed that Netflix has no intention to pay network usage fees.
In a press conference held on Nov. 4, Garfield showed intention to cooperate with local internet service providers (ISPs), including SK Broadband, adding that he’d like to sit together and talk with them.
Nonetheless, he wrapped up his official schedule in South Korea after the press conference ended, and departed on the next day.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
