"Under 20,000 Won in Japan, but 90,000 Won in Korea"... Why YouTube Premium Costs 4.7 Times More

YouTube Family Plans Available in Japan, U.S. and Other Countries
Launch Delayed Amid Stalled Copyright Royalty Talks

In Japan, a family of six can use YouTube Premium for less than 20,000 won a month, while the same number of people in South Korea would have to pay about 90,000 won, according to a report. The difference is because YouTube’s family plan is not available in South Korea, where users must pay individually. Google says it is difficult to introduce the plan because negotiations over music copyright in South Korea have not been concluded.

Photo unrelated to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

According to data obtained from the Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission by Han Junho, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker on the National Assembly’s Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee, YouTube Premium family plans are available in Japan for 2,280 yen a month (about 19,200 won) and in the United States for $26.99 a month (about 35,800 won). The plan allows up to six people to use the service under a single subscription.

In contrast, South Korea has no family plan, so each user must subscribe to an individual plan costing 14,900 won a month. For six people, the monthly cost comes to 89,400 won, about 4.7 times the price of the Japanese family plan and about 2.5 times that of the U.S. plan. On an annual basis, they would pay about 840,000 won more than in Japan and about 640,000 won more than in the United States.

Music Copyright Royalty Talks Become a Hurdle... Alternative Plans Under Consideration

Google said it has been unable to introduce a family plan because negotiations with music copyright holders in South Korea have not been concluded. YouTube Premium includes YouTube Music, a music streaming service, as well as ad-free video viewing, and Google says an agreement on music copyright royalties is needed before it can launch a family plan.

Google said it was “difficult to introduce a family plan unless music copyright holders agree to lower rates for it,” adding that it was exploring the launch of an alternative plan. It is also understood to be continuing discussions on the matter with relevant organizations and industry representatives, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Copyright Commission.

Scams Target Those Seeking Lower-Cost Plans... 480 Cases Last Year

With no family plan available in South Korea, scams have also proliferated, luring people with offers to sign them up for cheaper overseas YouTube family plans. According to the Korea Consumer Federation, it received 480 reports last year from users who paid 4,000 to 5,000 won a month to intermediaries claiming to arrange subscriptions to overseas YouTube family plans, only to have the service discontinued. A total of 234 cases were reported in December 2025 alone, meaning nearly half of all reports came in that one month.

“So many people want a family plan that scams have become widespread, yet progress toward a solution has been slow despite the cause being known,” Han said. “Google, copyright organizations and relevant government ministries must work together to find a solution that protects creators’ rightful interests while easing the burden on users.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.