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Regulating the Digital Industry for National Interest: Implications of the U.S. vs. Apple Antitrust Lawsuit and Its Insights for the Domestic Industry

Hyoung-Goo Kang1 · Seongmin Jeon2 · Taehi Hwang3

1 Hanyang University, 2 Gachon University, 3 Sungshin Women's University

Published: January 2025 · Vol. 29, No. 2 · pp. 137-153

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17287/kbr.2025.29.2.137

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Abstract

This study aims to analyze the antitrust lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against Apple through an interdisciplinary approach utilizing the theories of economics, management, and law, while deriving implications for South Korea's technological competitiveness. It forecasts the impact of the lawsuit's progression and its outcome on the South Korean technology industry, specifically seeking strategic opportunities for South Korean companies to enhance competitiveness and innovate in the global market. This study argues for the strengthening of antitrust regulations targeting global tech giants that benefit from discriminatory advantages in response to the dominant market behaviors of large technology firms. Additionally, it emphasizes the need to develop a new regulatory framework suitable for the digital economy. Such regulations will promote fair competition and prevent anti-competitive practices, enabling South Korean companies to attain global competitiveness in a more equitable market environment. Furthermore, it is essential to strengthen data sovereignty and rigorously apply privacy protection regulations for foreign companies in order to secure user trust. Simultaneously, there is a need to propose strategies that encourage domestic companies to utilize data strategically and enhance value-added processes. By referencing the intentions and efforts of the U.S. Department of Justice to enhance national interest and industrial competitiveness, South Korean companies should seize and leverage the global opportunities arising from the Apple lawsuit across various sectors, including super apps, cloud computing, streaming, health/wellness, and fintech. Lastly, it is concluded that collaboration between government and private sectors is critical, particularly in areas of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and app stores, which are especially significant from a national interest perspective.
Keywords: 플랫폼 규제반독점슈퍼앱미국 법무부애플