Alphabiz - Starlink Pricing in Korea 25% Higher Than OECD Average on PPP Basis, Report Finds

Photo courtesy of Yonhap News

[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] The monthly residential pricing of Starlink in South Korea is approximately 25% higher than the OECD average when adjusted for purchasing power, according to a new report.

On April 8, the Korea Information Society Development Institute released a study analyzing pricing factors and the potential impact of Starlink’s entry into the Korean telecom market.

The report found that Starlink’s residential plan in Korea is priced at KRW 87,000 (about $61.16) per month, offering speeds of 135 Mbps download and 40 Mbps upload with unlimited data. Among 37 OECD member countries where the service is available, Korea ranks 30th in terms of price level, indicating relatively high pricing.

While the nominal price is only slightly above the OECD average of $60.59, the gap widens significantly when adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP). On a PPP basis, the Korean price reaches Int$107.50—about 1.25 times higher than the OECD average of Int$85.78.

Despite the higher pricing, the report noted that Starlink’s short-term market impact in Korea may be limited due to the country’s well-developed terrestrial networks and relatively low-cost fixed and mobile services.

However, it added that the introduction of satellite internet could help accelerate domestic capabilities in satellite communications ahead of the commercialization of 6G technologies expected around 2030.

Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)