Seoul Warns Consumers After 202 YouTube Account-Sharing Complaints
Seoul recorded 202 complaints from January through August involving discounted YouTube Premium account-sharing services and warned consumers against paying long-term fees to unofficial providers.
SEOUL — The Seoul city government has warned consumers about unofficial YouTube Premium account-sharing services after receiving 202 related complaints during the first eight months of this year.
The complaints filed with the Seoul Electronic Commerce Center concerned local businesses that promoted lower-cost access through subscription arrangements not normally offered in South Korea. Seoul officials said the city had informed Google, which operates YouTube, about the cases.
The businesses used two main methods to offer discounted subscriptions. Some placed Korean customers in family plans tied to overseas accounts. Others used virtual private networks to register accounts in countries where YouTube Premium costs less. Google has since blocked both methods, leaving customers exposed to sudden service interruptions.
Failure to provide the promised service accounted for most of the reported damage. Of the 202 complaints recorded from January through August, 144 involved services that were not delivered. Another 33 concerned providers that had shut down or could no longer be contacted, while 25 involved contract cancellations or refunds.
The figures represent only part of a broader pattern of consumer disputes surrounding discounted access to the video platform. The number of complaints rose from seven in 2023 to 229 in 2024 and 488 in 2025, according to the city. This year's eight-month count remains far above the level seen three years earlier, although it is below the total recorded for all of last year.
Seoul linked the growth in complaints to demand for cheaper subscription options after YouTube raised the monthly price of its Premium service in South Korea in December 2023. The fee increased from 10,450 won to 14,900 won, equivalent to an increase from about $7.70 to $11 at the exchange rate cited by the city.
City officials advised consumers not to prepay long-term fees to businesses selling unofficial account-sharing arrangements. They warned that users have no guarantee of continued access when the plans rely on methods subject to enforcement by YouTube. A provider's closure can also make refunds or other remedies difficult to obtain.
The city has also asked Google to widen the range of subscription choices available in South Korea. Korean users currently cannot access lower-priced options such as family or student plans that are available in some other markets. Seoul's request seeks to address the price gap that has encouraged consumers to turn to third-party sellers offering risky workarounds.