Google has launched a new plan in Korea called YouTube Premium Lite, which offers ad-free video viewing only. After controversy over bundling YouTube Premium with YouTube Music, the move implements a voluntary corrective plan to improve the pricing structure that the company submitted to the Korea Fair Trade Commission.
Google on the 30th announced the domestic launch of Premium Lite and said it plans to roll out the membership to all users over the next few weeks. The timing may vary by user. Until now in Korea, only YouTube Premium, which bundles ad-free video and music services, and YouTube Music Premium, a standalone music product, were sold. Because users could not choose the ad-removal feature for videos on its own, the company came under investigation by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) for possible violations of the Fair Trade Act, and in Nov. last year the Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) approved Google's voluntary corrective plan and finalized a consent decision.
Premium Lite is priced at 8,500 won per month on the web and Android. YouTube Music is not included, so a separate subscription is required for the music service. It targets users who focus on watching videos. The key is the ability to watch most YouTube videos, including gaming, beauty, and news, without ads. It also supports background play and offline downloads, enabling uninterrupted viewing while on the move or in multitasking environments. It can be used on various devices, including smartphones, laptops, and TVs.
However, the benefits mainly apply to non-music content and do not apply to Shorts. Some ads may appear during search and discovery. YouTube said it is working to offer more flexible membership options to meet viewers' diverse preferences and noted it will support users so they can fully enjoy content from a wide range of creators and genres.
Meanwhile, users can continue to choose YouTube Premium (14,900 won per month on the web and Android), which includes all benefits, or YouTube Music Premium (11,990 won per month), as before.