Cellular Phone Charge to Be Reduced Next Year

The discount system for the same phone carrier users will be abolished from next year. And the flat rate system for youth users will be modified in order to keep the phone companies from charging the wireless internet service fee exceeding a fixed amount.

The Ministry of Information and Communication announced yesterday to change the mobile phone rate system following the presumed rate cut (8.3 percent) by SK Telecom from Jan. 1, 2002.

The ministry decided to lower the basic rate from the current 16,000 won to 15,000 won, and it approved of the SK Telecom`s request for rate modification, which includes seven minutes of free calling time in basic rate every month. With this modification, under the optional rate system of the SK Telecom, the basic rate will be cut from the current 14,000-53,000 won to 13,500-52,000 won.

The Shinsegi Telecom, which will be merged into the SK Telecom next year, will lower its general charge by 7 percent. And the KTF and the LG Telecom also plan to cut their standard charge by 4-6 percent from next January, following the rate cut of the SK Telecom.

Tae-Han Kim freewill@donga.com