Google Korea has appointed Yoon Koo, or Brandon Yoon, as its new country managing director, introducing a seasoned technology executive with over twenty years of experience in the industry.
Yoon will take on the position on January 5 and will manage the advertising sales operations for Google Korea, according to the company. Yonhap News Agency reported the appointment.
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Considered an expert in the field, Yoon possesses over 20 years of experience in the information technology and digital transformation industries in South Korea and the US He has formerly occupied high-level management positions at Microsoft Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., and Apple Korea.
"The company stated, 'We anticipate that Yoon's vast experience and leadership will contribute to speeding up Google Korea's future growth.'"
Yoon mentioned his intention to concentrate on enhancing Google’s artificial intelligence influence in South Korea, which he referred to as one of the globe’s most vibrant and pioneering markets.
“My goal is evident: to guarantee that Google acts as a genuine partner in the success of Korea,” he mentioned in a LinkedIn post.
"We will actively utilize the momentum of Gemini and AI to democratize growth, drive innovation, and enable our strategic customers, including global conglomerates, small and mid-sized businesses, and startups, to reach their highest aspirations," he states.
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Independently, Google plans to launch a cheaper variant of its YouTube Premium subscription in South Korea that does not include the music streaming service, stated the country's antitrust authority on Thursday.
The action comes after several months of inquiry by the Fair Trade Commission regarding claims that Google’s combination of YouTube Music and YouTube Premium breached fair trade regulations. The recent proposal is a result of a self-initiated corrective action accepted by the American tech firm and the regulatory authority.
The proposal includes Google introducing YouTube Premium Lite, a subscription for video content that provides ad-free viewing, offline access, and background playback. Current YouTube Premium and YouTube Music Premium subscriptions will continue to be offered.
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The Fair Trade Commission indicates that YouTube Premium Lite will likely cost 8,500 won ($5.80) monthly for Android and web users, while iOS users will pay 10,900 won monthly. The regular YouTube Premium subscription is priced at 14,900 won monthly, and YouTube Music can be purchased separately for 11,990 won per month.