Constitutional Court upholds law restricting subsidies on mobile devices
SEOUL, May 25 (Yonhap) -- The Constitutional Court on Thursday upheld a law that restricts subsidies on the purchase of smartphones and other mobile devices.
The regulation, which sets the legal limit of subsidies at 330,000 won (US$295), was adopted to bring transparency and stability to the market long distorted by subsidies as telecom carriers vie for customers.
Eight plaintiffs filed a petition with the court three days after the law took effect on Oct. 1, 2014, saying it infringes upon consumers' rights.
In a unanimous decision, the eight-member panel said the law actually prevents excessive competition in giving out subsidies and protects consumers by establishing a transparent distribution order.
Regardless of the ruling, the legal ceiling will be abolished from October as it was adopted from the beginning with a three-year limit.
The revocation could be moved forward that was one of President Moon Jae-in's pledges. The National Assembly could pass a revised bill during its extra session next month, at the earliest.
Kim Yi-su (C), nominee for chief justice of the Constitutional Court, and other justices are seated at the courthouse in Seoul on May 25, 2017, ahead of delivering a ruling on the legitimacy of a law that restricts subsidies on the purchase of a mobile devices. (Yonhap)
scaaet@yna.co.kr
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