{
  "id": 11386900,
  "title": "Korea, Japan trade claims over who has pricier mobile plans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/korea-japan-trade-claims-over-who-has-pricier-mobile-plans",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-10-02T07:47:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/business/tech-science/20261002/korea-japan-trade-claims-over-who-has-pricier-mobile-plans"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea and Japan are debating the average costs of mobile phone plans, after Seoul-based telecom industry groups disputed a recent Japanese government report. The Korea Telecommunications Operators Association (KTOA) recently criticized the Japanese government's international comparison of mobile service rates, claiming it \"undermined its objectivity and credibility.\" The KTOA argues that the comparison criteria favor Japan and select specific mobile plans for analysis. If the data were compared again using the same criteria, the KTOA claims Korean mobile service rates would rank third or fourth among six countries. The statement urged Japan to refrain from drawing conclusions about Korea's mobile service rates based on arbitrary international comparisons. The three major mobile carriers in Korea, SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus, are members of the KTOA. On June 30, Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications released a report comparing mobile service rates.",
  "summary": "Korea and Japan are trading claims over the average prices of mobile phone plans, with a Seoul-based telecom operators’ association challenging a recent Japanese government report that ranked Seoul as the most expensive cities for mobile services. The Korea Telecommunications Operators Association (KTOA) recently issued a statement arguing that the Japanese government’s international comparison…",
  "key_points": [
    "Korea disputes Japan's mobile plan cost comparison, calling it biased.",
    "KTOA claims Korean rates would rank 3rd or 4th if criteria changed.",
    "Japan released mobile rate comparison report on June 30."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea, Japan trade claims over who has pricier mobile plans",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/korea-japan-trade-claims-over-who-has-pricier-mobile-plans-11390385",
        "published": "2026-10-02T08:02:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}