When smartphones first came to our country, various problems arose, including frequent disconnections compared to regular phones, prompting the government to form a private committee to investigate the causes. The technical committee aimed to determine whether these issues were due to the smartphone's operating system, the network, or the device itself, and to inform the public. Since all parties involved, including companies with mobile operating systems, telecommunications companies, and device manufacturers, could face significant consequences based on the findings, it was a serious matter. During the review to identify the cause, an unexpected notice arrived from a government department responsible for trade with countries that hold the smartphones and their operating systems, expressing a hope that there would not be any unfair treatment of that country's companies. It was a very mild yet strong message that I found utterly incomprehensible. It implied that a government department was exerting a hidden pressure (?) on private enterprises.

This was my first experience realizing that behind visible trade or invisible services, even if it concerns ordinary businesses, there is a powerful state backing them. Even a committee reviewing such matters would like to say, "We had absolutely no burden performing the technical review." However, considering that even a small mistake in the technical review, or if any party perceives a disadvantage, could lead to trade disputes between countries, it was not something to be taken lightly. Fortunately, the result revealed that the issues were not just one or two matters but a combination of various problems, including shadow areas in smartphone communications, conflicts between operating systems and apps, and the device's antennas. However, even after finishing the work, I did not feel completely relieved.

For someone who only knew technology, it was a moment of deep respect and admiration for all our companies working abroad and the challenges they face while striving for success. Whether then or now, our country’s businesses are struggling with their fated overseas expansion. The reality is likely more challenging than what we hear or see. Moreover, it is clear that they are not only contending with competitors in that country, but also facing robust support from their local companies standing firmly behind them. The better our companies perform, the greater the likelihood that they will have to engage in fierce competition not only with rival firms but also with their supporters. Countries that fervently protect their domestic companies abroad are likely to view the overseas companies constantly growing within their borders with certain suspicion. Therefore, we also need a 'nation that does not dominate but exists as a reliable presence.' A notification, like one experienced long ago, expressing the hope that 'our companies do not receive unfair treatment' is necessary.

I took a long detour to bring up the LINE issue that recently occurred in Japan. The problem between the private companies Naver and SoftBank began to draw state intervention due to inadequate protection of Japanese citizens' personal information. This is quite similar to how countries without Amazon, Google, or Facebook control overseas platform companies using the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe. It’s a highly advanced method of corporate control.

However, I have heard that there are serious levels of concern that SoftBank intends to acquire even one share beyond a 50% holding. LINE has established itself as the first and most prominent global platform since the founding of the nation, influencing not only e-commerce, entertainment, and content but also finance and manufacturing, and it is still expanding in the present and future. Therefore, we all need to keep an eye on it. A confident notification stating that we will monitor whether our companies face any unjust or unfair treatments, anywhere, is necessary. This refers to the notification that delivers the 'mild yet strong message' mentioned earlier. (Choi Jae-hong, Professor, Department of Entrepreneurship, Gachon University Global Campus)